House Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (112)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB571
Act 1002
· 7 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “Members of Representative Chad Perrier moves that we place Senate Bill 571 back on second”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND ZONING REGULATIONS; AND TO PROHIBIT A MUNICIPALITY … | J. Petty | Notification that SB571 is now Act 1002 |
|
HCR1004
· 6 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “to amend. Now move to resolutions. Madam Clerk, please read House concurrent resolution 1004.”
|
TO CONGRATULATE GAME WARDEN AUSTIN POWELL ON RECEIVING THE MONTY CARMIKLE OFFICER OF THE YEAR … | Wardlaw | Approved by the Governor |
|
SB238
· 5 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB238 #1 J. Payton Gonzales TO AMEND THE USED TIRE RECYCLING AND…”
|
TO AMEND THE USED TIRE RECYCLING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. | J. Payton | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HR1045
· 4 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HR1045 Wardlaw TO COMMEMORATE THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE…”
|
TO COMMEMORATE THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM AS PART OF THE … | Wardlaw | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HB1003
Act 871
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…were your committee on house management for Homes and fired House Bill 1003, House Resolution 1102, House Resolution 1103. House resolu…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - STAFF APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL … | House Management | Notification that HB1003 is now Act 871 |
|
HB1288
Act 423
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…from regular session of the ninety-fifth General Assembly. House Bill 1288 at 423 hospitals 1167 Act 431. House 12:45. Act 432. House…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS HEALTH CARE CONSUMER ACT; AND TO REQUIRE A HEALTHCARE INSURER TO … | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1288 is now Act 423 |
|
HB1669
Act 509
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…ldren and Youth and Legislative Affairs to who was referred House Bill 1669,”
|
TO CREATE THE KEEP KIDS FIRST ACT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR PROTECTIONS FROM DISCRIMINATION FOR … | Bentley | Notification that HB1669 is now Act 509 |
|
HB1917
Act 839
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…are a committee onsurance and commerce to whom was referred House Bill 1917, House Bill 1918. Senate Bill 594, bigly report the same co…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS STUDENT-ATHLETE PUBLICITY RIGHTS ACT; AND TO AMEND THE LAW RELATED TO … | M. Shepherd | Notification that HB1917 is now Act 839 |
|
HB1918
Act 810
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…nsurance and commerce to whom was referred House Bill 1917, House Bill 1918. Senate Bill 594, bigly report the same consideration here…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SPECIE OR LEGAL TENDER; TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF A … | McAlindon | Notification that HB1918 is now Act 810 |
|
HB1964
Act 825
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “Youth and Legislative Affairs, to whom the House Bill 1964 House concurrent resolution 1010. beg leave portany. And th…”
|
TO MOVE THE CHILD WELFARE OMBUDSMAN DIVISION AND THE JUVENILE OMBUDSMAN DIVISION TO THE DEPARTMENT … | Brooks | Notification that HB1964 is now Act 825 |
|
HCR1010
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “Youth and Legislative Affairs, to whom the House Bill 1964 House concurrent resolution 1010. beg leave portany. And the same consideration here for”
|
REQUESTING A STUDY OF WAYS TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR YOUTH. | T. Shephard | Approved by the Governor |
|
HR1102
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…ee on house management for Homes and fired House Bill 1003, House Resolution 1102, House Resolution 1103. House resolution 1104. House resolu…”
|
TO HONOR REGINA RENEE HENSON FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF NORTH … | Steele | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1104
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…se Bill 1003, House Resolution 1102, House Resolution 1103. House resolution 1104. House resolution 1105. House resolution 1106. House Resolu…”
|
TO HONOR LARRY WALTHER FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS AND TO … | Beaty Jr. | Died in House at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HR1105
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…olution 1102, House Resolution 1103. House resolution 1104. House resolution 1105. House resolution 1106. House Resolution 1107, House Resolu…”
|
TO PROCLAIM APRIL 9, 2025, AS ARKANSAS LINEWORKER APPRECIATION DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND … | Pearce | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1106
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…olution 1103. House resolution 1104. House resolution 1105. House resolution 1106. House Resolution 1107, House Resolution 1108. House Memori…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE ARKANSAS STATE GAME AND FISH COMMISSION GAME WARDEN BRADY SMITH AS THE NATIONAL … | Pearce | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1107
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…olution 1104. House resolution 1105. House resolution 1106. House Resolution 1107, House Resolution 1108. House Memorial resolution 1009 Hous…”
|
TO PROCLAIM APRIL 24, 2025, AS TEACH CHILDREN TO SAVE DAY IN ARKANSAS. | Torres | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1108
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…olution 1105. House resolution 1106. House Resolution 1107, House Resolution 1108. House Memorial resolution 1009 House Memorial resolution 1…”
|
TO HONOR UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FAYETTEVILLE BASKETBALL SCORING STAR IZZY HIGGINBOTTOM. | Schulz | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
SB594
Act 705
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…erce to whom was referred House Bill 1917, House Bill 1918. Senate Bill 594, bigly report the same consideration here return the same r…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR NEW … | M. McKee | Notification that SB594 is now Act 705 |
|
HB1084
Act 884
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1084 AN ACT FOR ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE AUDIT OF THE LEGISLATIVE JO…”
|
AN ACT FOR ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE AUDIT OF THE LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING COMMITTEE APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1084 is now Act 884 |
|
HB1086
Act 784
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1086 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS APPROPRIATION FOR…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1086 is now Act 784 |
|
HB1089
Act 618
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1089 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - ARKANSAS WATERWAYS…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - ARKANSAS WATERWAYS COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1089 is now Act 618 |
|
HB1101
Act 787
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1101 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS GOVERNOR'S MANSION COMMISSION APPRO…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS GOVERNOR'S MANSION COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1101 is now Act 787 |
|
HB1106
Act 872
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1106 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE APPROPRIATI…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1106 is now Act 872 |
|
HB1164
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1164 J. Mayberry TO ALLOW A PHYSICIAN OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO…”
|
TO ALLOW A PHYSICIAN OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO OFFER COGNITIVE ASSESSMENTS FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS; AND … | J. Mayberry | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1191
Act 619
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1191 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY APPROPRIATION FO…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1191 is now Act 619 |
|
HB1265
Act 660
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1265 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROP…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Delivered to the Secretary of State |
|
HB1283
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1283 J. Mayberry TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECON…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO INCLUDE DIGITAL MEDIA STANDARDS IN … | J. Mayberry | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1444
Act 548
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1444 #1 Pilkington TO AMEND THE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR…”
|
TO AMEND THE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR DATA CENTERS. | Pilkington | Notification that HB1444 is now Act 548 |
|
HB1483
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1483 Gramlich TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUN…”
|
TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN ADULT … | Gramlich | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1484
Act 910
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1484 Gramlich TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAI…”
|
TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1484 is now Act 910 |
|
HB1491
Act 874
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1491 Wardlaw CONCERNING THE EXCISE TAX ON CERTAIN BEER AND SAKE;…”
|
CONCERNING THE EXCISE TAX ON CERTAIN BEER AND SAKE; TO CREATE AN EXCISE TAX CREDIT … | Wardlaw | Notification that HB1491 is now Act 874 |
|
HB1504
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1504 S. Meeks TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF MANUFACTURING, MODIFYING,…”
|
TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF MANUFACTURING, MODIFYING, SELLING, TRANSFERRING, OR OPERATING A ROBOTIC DEVICE OR … | S. Meeks | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1580
Act 801
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1580 Gramlich TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION…”
|
TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION ON TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETES WHEN … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1580 is now Act 801 |
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HB1590
Act 454
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…o 1327 Act 451. That 1509 Act 452. How to spell 1574 A 453. House Bill 1590, Act 454, House 5 91 Act 455. House Bill 1597 Act 456 House…”
|
TO COMBINE THE OFFICES OF TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR IN WOODRUFF COUNTY. | J. Moore | Notification that HB1590 is now Act 454 |
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HB1636
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1636 Ray TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS SOFT DRINK TAX ACT, AS AFFIRMED B…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS SOFT DRINK TAX ACT, AS AFFIRMED BY REFERRED ACT 1 OF … | Ray | Recommended for study in the Interim by the … |
|
HB1642
Act 916
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1642 Gramlich TO AMEND THE MEASURES CONSIDERED WHEN CALCULATING…”
|
TO AMEND THE MEASURES CONSIDERED WHEN CALCULATING A SCHOOL RATING; AND TO ENSURE A STUDENT … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1642 is now Act 916 |
|
HB1648
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1648 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTM…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS; TO ALLOW A MEMBER OF A MUNICIPAL … | S. Meeks | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1683
Act 924
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1683 McAlindon TO PROHIBIT THE PROCUREMENT BY A GOVERNMENTAL ENT…”
|
TO PROHIBIT THE PROCUREMENT BY A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR A COMPONENT … | McAlindon | Notification that HB1683 is now Act 924 |
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HB1685
Act 1008
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1685 Underwood TO CREATE THE GROCERY TAX RELIEF ACT; TO AMEND TH…”
|
TO CREATE THE GROCERY TAX RELIEF ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SALES AND … | Underwood | Notification that HB1685 is now Act 1008 |
|
HB1693
Act 458
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1693 Act 458. Sincerely, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Ark…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DAMAGED OR DEFECTIVE BALLOTS; AND TO ALLOW THE STATE BOARD … | Hawk | Notification that HB1693 is now Act 458 |
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HB1728
Act 906
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1728 Ennett TO REQUIRE REPORTING ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEI…”
|
TO REQUIRE REPORTING ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A DISABILITY AT INSTITUTIONS … | Ennett | Notification that HB1728 is now Act 906 |
|
HB1756
Act 803
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1756 Vaught TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDIN…”
|
TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDING IN LOCO PARENTIS TO A STUDENT … | Vaught | Notification that HB1756 is now Act 803 |
|
HB1766
Act 907
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1766 Ennett TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, A…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, AND EMPOWER (RISE) ACT. | Ennett | Notification that HB1766 is now Act 907 |
|
HB1790
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1790 B. McKenzie TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF S…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT. | B. McKenzie | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1793
Act 804
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1793 Duke TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF POSITIVE BEHAVI…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS. | Duke | Notification that HB1793 is now Act 804 |
|
HB1805
Act 805
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1805 Childress TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BULLYING"; AND TO CRE…”
|
TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BULLYING"; AND TO CREATE A PROCESS WHEREBY A PUBLIC SCHOOL … | Childress | Notification that HB1805 is now Act 805 |
|
HB1809
Act 880
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1809 Warren TO ALLOW FOR PROPERTY OWNED BY A TRUST OR A LIMITED…”
|
TO ALLOW FOR PROPERTY OWNED BY A TRUST OR A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TO QUALIFY … | Warren | Notification that HB1809 is now Act 880 |
|
HB1837
Act 999
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1837 McAlindon TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURE FOR MATTER…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURE FOR MATTERS REFERRED TO VOTERS; AND TO BAN FOREIGN … | McAlindon | Notification that HB1837 is now Act 999 |
|
HB1846
Act 946
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1846 S. Meeks TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS 2036 COMMISSION.”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS 2036 COMMISSION. | S. Meeks | Notification that HB1846 is now Act 946 |
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HB1852
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1852 J. Moore TO ESTABLISH A RIGHT TO REPAIR FOR CERTAIN AGRICUL…”
|
TO ESTABLISH A RIGHT TO REPAIR FOR CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT. | J. Moore | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1870
Act 840
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1870 Wing CONCERNING VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS; AND TO ALLOW THE…”
|
CONCERNING VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS; AND TO ALLOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROVIDE A VOTER … | Wing | Notification that HB1870 is now Act 840 |
|
HB1879
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1879 Lundstrum TO REQUIRE ALL CITY COUNCILS AND COUNTY QUORUM CO…”
|
TO REQUIRE ALL CITY COUNCILS AND COUNTY QUORUM COURTS TO POST VIDEO RECORDINGS OF PUBLIC … | Lundstrum | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1893
Act 819
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1893 M. Brown TO AUTHORIZE A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER OR BUSINESS…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER OR BUSINESS OWNER TO BAN AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL … | M. Brown | Notification that HB1893 is now Act 819 |
|
HB1895
Act 843
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1895 Dalby TO ALLOW A CORPORATION OR VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION TO EM…”
|
TO ALLOW A CORPORATION OR VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION TO EMPLOY IN-HOUSE ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT AFFILIATES OF … | Dalby | Notification that HB1895 is now Act 843 |
|
HB1913
Act 928
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1913 J. Moore TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DRIVER'S LICENSES; AND…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DRIVER'S LICENSES; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE QUALIFICATIONS … | J. Moore | Notification that HB1913 is now Act 928 |
|
HB1914
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1914 Long TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS MOTOR CARRIER…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS MOTOR CARRIER ACT, 1955; AND TO REQUIRE AN … | Long | Died in House at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1921
Act 824
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1921 Torres TO AMEND THE CHILD WELFARE AGENCY LICENSING ACT; TO…”
|
TO AMEND THE CHILD WELFARE AGENCY LICENSING ACT; TO AMEND THE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS … | Torres | Notification that HB1921 is now Act 824 |
|
HB1925
Act 846
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1925 Beaty Jr. AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ABSENTEE BALLO…”
|
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ABSENTEE BALLOTS; TO AMEND THE ABSENTEE BALLOT VOTER … | Beaty Jr. | Notification that HB1925 is now Act 846 |
|
HB1929
Act 797
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1929 McAlindon TO CREATE THE RECOGNIZING JUDEA AND SAMARIA ACT;…”
|
TO CREATE THE RECOGNIZING JUDEA AND SAMARIA ACT; AND TO PROHIBIT STATE AGENCIES FROM USING … | McAlindon | Notification that HB1929 is now Act 797 |
|
HB1937
Act 821
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1937 Jean TO AMEND THE METHOD OF VALUATION FOR MINERAL RIGHTS UN…”
|
TO AMEND THE METHOD OF VALUATION FOR MINERAL RIGHTS UNDER ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 16, § … | Jean | Notification that HB1937 is now Act 821 |
|
HB1943
Act 962
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1943 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE MEDICAID PROVIDER-LED ORGANIZED CAR…”
|
TO AMEND THE MEDICAID PROVIDER-LED ORGANIZED CARE ACT; TO IMPROVE THE ENROLLMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS … | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1943 is now Act 962 |
|
HB1954
Act 869
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1954 Andrews TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS BEHAVIOR ANALYST REGISTRATIO…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS BEHAVIOR ANALYST REGISTRATION ACT; AND TO INCLUDE QUALIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS UNDER … | Andrews | Notification that HB1954 is now Act 869 |
|
HB1957
Act 847
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1957 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL AND SEXUALLY E…”
|
TO AMEND THE UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT ELECTRONIC MAIL PREVENTION ACT TO INCLUDE UNSOLICITED … | S. Meeks | Notification that HB1957 is now Act 847 |
|
HB1958
Act 848
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1958 S. Meeks TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ENTITIES TO CREATE A POLICY CONC…”
|
TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ENTITIES TO CREATE A POLICY CONCERNING THE AUTHORIZED USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. | S. Meeks | Notification that HB1958 is now Act 848 |
|
HB1963
Act 963
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1963 Gonzales TO CLARIFY THAT AN ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NU…”
|
TO CLARIFY THAT AN ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE WHO PRESCRIBES A STIMULANT MAY SUBSTITUTE A … | Gonzales | Notification that HB1963 is now Act 963 |
|
HB1965
Act 870
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1965 McCullough TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL ACT O…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL ACT OF 2025; AND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES … | McCullough | Notification that HB1965 is now Act 870 |
|
HB1969
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1969 L. Johnson TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE ACCESS; TO…”
|
TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE ACCESS; TO AMEND THE ASSESSMENT FEES ON HOSPITALS; AND … | L. Johnson | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HCR1011
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HCR1011 McAlindon TO RECOGNIZE BENTONVILLE'S INVESTMENT IN CYCLING…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE BENTONVILLE'S INVESTMENT IN CYCLING AND ITS TITLE AS THE MOUNTAIN BIKING CAPITAL OF … | McAlindon | Approved by the Governor |
|
HJR1018
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HJR1018 Ray THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT.”
|
THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT. | Ray | Approved by the Governor |
|
HR1098
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1098 Beck TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE ENERGY COUNCIL ON THE OCC…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE ENERGY COUNCIL ON THE OCCASION OF ITS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. | Beck | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1100
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HR1100 Henley TO CELEBRATE THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF HOPE, ARKANSAS.”
|
TO CELEBRATE THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF HOPE, ARKANSAS. | Henley | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
HR1103
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…for Homes and fired House Bill 1003, House Resolution 1102, House Resolution 1103. House resolution 1104. House resolution 1105. House resolu…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE CHARLOTTE THOMAS ON THE OCCASION OF HER UPCOMING RETIREMENT FOR HER FIFTY-ONE YEARS … | Steele | READ AND ADOPTED. |
|
SB123
Act 553
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB123 G. Leding Vaught TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COVERAGE FOR M…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COVERAGE FOR MAMMOGRAMS AND BREAST ULTRASOUNDS. | G. Leding | Notification that SB123 is now Act 553 |
|
SB125
Act 611
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB125 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS APPROPRIATION…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB125 is now Act 611 |
|
SB127
Act 612
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB127 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - FAYETTEVILLE APPROP…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - FAYETTEVILLE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB127 is now Act 612 |
|
SB128
Act 533
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB128 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB128 is now Act 533 |
|
SB130
Act 534
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB130 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION FOR…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB130 is now Act 534 |
|
SB148
Act 587
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB148 J. English Achor TO ESTABLISH THE CREATING AN INVESTMENT OP…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE CREATING AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKERS ACT OF 2025. | J. English | Notification that SB148 is now Act 587 |
|
SB153
Act 588
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB153 J. Dotson Warren TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VARIOUS PROVIS…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF TITLE 24 OF THE ARKANSAS CODE; AND … | J. Dotson | Notification that SB153 is now Act 588 |
|
SB157
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB157 J. Dotson Perry TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING BENEFITS UNDER…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING BENEFITS UNDER THE STATE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS. | J. Dotson | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB160
Act 589
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB160 J. Dotson Warren TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM. | J. Dotson | Notification that SB160 is now Act 589 |
|
SB237
Act 554
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB237 J. Boyd Steimel TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE LICENSING A…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE LICENSING AND REGULATION OF CAPTIVE INSURERS. | J. Boyd | Notification that SB237 is now Act 554 |
|
SB241
Act 885
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB241 J. Scott Pilkington TO AMEND THE UNIFORM ATTENDANCE AND LEA…”
|
TO AMEND THE UNIFORM ATTENDANCE AND LEAVE POLICY ACT; AND TO GRANT PAID LEAVE TO … | J. Scott | Notification that SB241 is now Act 885 |
|
SB252
Act 590
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB252 J. Dismang Wardlaw TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF HEALTH RISKS CAU…”
|
TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF HEALTH RISKS CAUSED BY VAPOR PRODUCTS AND E-LIQUID PRODUCTS; AND … | J. Dismang | Notification that SB252 is now Act 590 |
|
SB322
Act 591
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB322 J. Bryant Pilkington TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CONSTRUCTI…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT; AND TO ALLOW THIRD PARTIES TO PERFORM … | J. Bryant | Notification that SB322 is now Act 591 |
|
SB332
Act 536
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB332 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMEN…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION SEXUAL … | J. Dotson | Notification that SB332 is now Act 536 |
|
SB343
Act 734
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB343 Irvin Clowney TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING STATE-OWNED MOTOR…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING STATE-OWNED MOTOR VEHICLES; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC PROPERTY; … | Irvin | Notification that SB343 is now Act 734 |
|
SB348
Act 567
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB348 C. Penzo Pilkington TO AMEND THE ANNUAL CAP FOR DIAGNOSTIC…”
|
TO AMEND THE ANNUAL CAP FOR DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY SERVICES WITHIN THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM; AND … | C. Penzo | Notification that SB348 is now Act 567 |
|
SB351
Act 592
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB351 J. Dismang Eaves TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ETHICS AND CAM…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ETHICS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE; TO AMEND PORTIONS OF INITIATED ACT … | J. Dismang | Notification that SB351 is now Act 592 |
|
SB357
Act 572
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB357 J. Bryant Unger TO AMEND THE UNIFORM ATTENDANCE AND LEAVE P…”
|
TO AMEND THE UNIFORM ATTENDANCE AND LEAVE POLICY ACT; AND TO APPLY MILITARY SERVICE CREDIT … | J. Bryant | Notification that SB357 is now Act 572 |
|
SB361
Act 576
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB361 Dees Beaty, Jr. TO CREATE THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHOR…”
|
TO CREATE THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES EXPANSION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF … | Dees | Notification that SB361 is now Act 576 |
|
SB371
Act 653
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB371 J. Scott Brooks TO ESTABLISH A STANDARDIZED SYSTEM TO AID I…”
|
TO ESTABLISH A STANDARDIZED SYSTEM TO AID IN THE SEARCH OF MISSING CHILDREN WHO DO … | J. Scott | Notification that SB371 is now Act 653 |
|
SB374
Act 751
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB374 B. Davis Wing TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CIVIL SERVICE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM. | B. Davis | Notification that SB374 is now Act 751 |
|
SB405
Act 555
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB405 J. Dismang Maddox TO AMEND THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE CONSUMER…”
|
TO AMEND THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE CONSUMER INFORM ACT. | J. Dismang | Notification that SB405 is now Act 555 |
|
SB407
Act 577
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB407 Gilmore Beaty, Jr. TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS CATFISH PROCESSOR…”
|
TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS CATFISH PROCESSOR FAIR PRACTICES ACT OF 1987. | Gilmore | Notification that SB407 is now Act 577 |
|
SB412
Act 614
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB412 J. Boyd McClure TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO SET THE PER-MILE AMOUNT FOR THE … | J. Boyd | Notification that SB412 is now Act 614 |
|
SB421
Act 578
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB421 Hester Beaty, Jr. TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS NATURAL”
|
TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT … | Hester | Notification that SB421 is now Act 578 |
|
SB422
Act 615
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB422 C. Tucker K. Brown TO ALLOW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO CONT…”
|
TO ALLOW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO A NEW OR EXISTING ARKANSAS BRIGHTER FUTURE FUND … | C. Tucker | Notification that SB422 is now Act 615 |
|
SB433
Act 573
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB433 J. Dotson A. Brown REGARDING THE DISPLAY OF THE NATIONAL MO…”
|
REGARDING THE DISPLAY OF THE NATIONAL MOTTO AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. | J. Dotson | Notification that SB433 is now Act 573 |
|
SB440
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB440 D. Wallace Rye TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FU…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE … | D. Wallace | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB448
Act 579
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB448 J. Petty Lundstrum TO AUTHORIZE THE FINANCING OF ENERGY EFF…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE THE FINANCING OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS, BUILDING RESILIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, AND … | J. Petty | Notification that SB448 is now Act 579 |
|
SB460
Act 697
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB460 Irvin Gramlich TO MODIFY THE COMPLIANCE ADVISORY PANEL; TO…”
|
TO MODIFY THE COMPLIANCE ADVISORY PANEL; TO REPEAL THE MARKETING RECYCLABLES PROGRAM OF THE COMPLIANCE … | Irvin | Notification that SB460 is now Act 697 |
|
SB463
Act 580
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB463 M. McKee M. Brown TO REQUIRE THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE CO…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO APPROVE OR DENY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS CONCERNING CLOSING … | M. McKee | Notification that SB463 is now Act 580 |
|
SB479
Act 593
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB479 K. Hammer Hawk TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VOTER ASSISTANCE…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VOTER ASSISTANCE; AND TO REQUIRE A PERSON ASSISTING A VOTER … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB479 is now Act 593 |
|
SB498
Act 581
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB498 J. Petty N. Burkes TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURE O…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURE OF DRIVER AND VEHICLE RECORDS AND TO PROTECT DRIVER … | J. Petty | Notification that SB498 is now Act 581 |
|
SB503
Act 616
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB503 Crowell Eaton TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AN EMPLOYER…”
|
TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AN EMPLOYER MUST HAVE TO BE MANDATED TO FILE … | Crowell | Notification that SB503 is now Act 616 |
|
SB505
Act 595
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB505 J. Bryant McKenzie TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL PL…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL PLANNING; AND TO REQUIRE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR CHANGES … | J. Bryant | Notification that SB505 is now Act 595 |
|
SB510
Act 594
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB510 J. Boyd Gramlich TO ALLOW FOR THE CROSS DEPUTIZATION OF MUN…”
|
TO ALLOW FOR THE CROSS DEPUTIZATION OF MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, STATE, AND TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ON … | J. Boyd | Notification that SB510 is now Act 594 |
|
SB545
Act 564
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB545 M. Johnson Dalby TO AMEND THE LAW RELATED TO THE PROPERTY A…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW RELATED TO THE PROPERTY AND FINANCES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER … | M. Johnson | Notification that SB545 is now Act 564 |
|
SB564
Act 596
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB564 Flippo M. Brown TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BEER" TO CHANGE…”
|
TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BEER" TO CHANGE THE ALLOWABLE ALCOHOLIC CONTENT AND TO INCLUDE … | Flippo | Notification that SB564 is now Act 596 |
|
SB64
Act 532
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB64 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - EDUCATIONAL TELEVI…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB64 is now Act 532 |
|
SB93
Act 1010
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB93 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR TH…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB93 is now Act 1010 |
Machine transcript
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Unknown speaker
0:00
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
.
Speaker 7
6:30
I invite the members, staff, press, and guests in the galleries to stand
and be led in prayer today by Pastor Anthony King of the Faith International Ministries of West Memphis, guest today of Representative Jesse Magruder and Representative Lincoln Barnett, and to
remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean.
Speaker 13
7:10
Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, in Jesus' name, we thank you for this day that you have given to us. Today we ask for your grace and your mercy. We lift up our governor. We lift up all the state representatives that represent this wonderful state of Arkansas. Father, we pray that you will continue to be our strength and our guide as we've been through the weekend of floodwaters. We pray that you will give wisdom, grace, and maneuvering through this ordeal that we're facing. We pray for the family members of every representative here, house speaker.
We pray that you strengthen them, give them the communication skills to be able to work together to do a great work in this wonderful city of Arkansas. all. This prayer we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. I pledge to
Speaker 15
8:00
the life of the United States of America and to the republic for which we stand, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Speaker 18
8:16
Members, please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Thank you very much.
Speaker 20
8:52
As everyone indicated their presence, cast up the ballot.
There are ninety-nine members present. Chair sees a quorum. Are there any requests for leave? Representative Furman, for what purpose? Leave. You're recognized. Leave for Representative Milligan. Is leave granted for Representative John Milligan? Leave. So ordered. Representative Matthew Shepard moves
that we dispense dispense of the reading of the previous day's journal.
Chair
Unverified
9:25
Representative Pierce, for what purpose? Leave.
Speaker 25
9:29
You're recognized. Representative Tosh, leave. He
granted for Representative Dwight Tosh? So ordered. Any others? Representative Matthew Shepard
moves we dispense the reading the previous
day's journal. No objections so ordered. Madam Clare do you have reports from select committees? You are
Chair
Unverified
10:09
recognized. Mr. Speaker we are your committee on house management, Mr. Holmes, the third house bill 1003, house resolution 1102, house resolution 1104, house resolution 1105 house resolution 1106 house resolution 1107 house resolution 1108 house memorial resolution 1009 house memorial resolution 1010 beg the report in the same consideration here for term of the same recognition that do pass respectfully submitted representative vault chair
thank you madam clerk do you have reports of standing committees you're recognized
mr speaker we are committing on aging children and youth
and legislative affairs to whom suffered House Bill 1964, House Concurrent Resolution 1010. Begley reporting the same consideration here for term of
the same recommendation that it do pass. Respectfully submitted Representative Eubanks, Chair. Mr. Speaker, we are Committee on Aging, Children and Youth and Legislative Affairs to whom is referred House Bill 1669. Begley
reporting the same consideration here for term of the same recommendation that it do pass to concurrent Senate Amendment No. 1.
Respectfully submitted Representative Eubanks, Barker, Chair. Mr. Speaker, we are Committee on Insurance and Commerce to whom was referred House Bill 1917, House Bill 1918. Senate Bill 594, beg to report the same consideration here, returns the same recommendation that do pass, effectively submit
it. Representative Maddox, Chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Do
Speaker 42
11:20
you have any unfinished business? Any executive communications? Please read the letter from the Governor. April 4th, 2025,
Speaker 44
11:27
to the Speaker of the House. Dear Mr. Speaker, this informed me that on April 3rd, 2025, I reviewed
Chair
Unverified
11:32
and approved the following measures from regular session of the 95th General Assembly.
House Bill 1288, Act 423, House Bill 1167, Act 431, House Bill 12:45, Act 4:32, House Bill 12:54, Act 4:33, House Bill 12:57, Act 4:34, House Bill 12:58, Act 4:35, House Bill 16:73, Act 4:36, House Bill 12:68, Act 4:50, House Bill 13:27, Act 4:51, House Bill 15:09, Act 4:52, House Bill 15:74, Act 4:53, House Bill 15:90, Act 4:54, House Bill 15:91, Act 4:55, House Bill 15:97, Act 4:56, House Bill 16:37, Act 4:57, House Bill 16:93, Act 4:58. Sincerely, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Arkansas.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Members, if I could draw your attention to the back of the chamber we have with us today Lieutenant Tiffany Dykus of the Regulatory Services Division and Corporal Trey Keller of the Highway Patrol
Administration. Thank you very much for your service to Arkansas in the House of Representatives also members
Speaker 48
12:36
also with us in the back of the
chamber with us we have our doctor of the day
dr. Shalandra Singh a rheumatologist from Searcy guest of representative Les Eves today Serving alongside Dr. Singh today, our
nurse Ms. Lee Fazio. Ms. Lee, thank you for your service to the house. Members, we have a lot of
guests here with us today. We're very blessed to have
them here be a part of our work today. I direct your attention to the North Gallery up over my shoulder with us today, if I could have them to stand. We We have members
of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. We have the Interim Game and Fish Commission Director, Chris Racey. We have Colonel Brad Young, Senior Corporal Ryan Nast, Commissioner Chris Caldwell, Commissioner Brandon Adams, Game
Wardens Brady Smith, and Austin Powell. They are guests today of Representative Shad Pierce. Would you please make them welcome?
Over in the West Gallery, to my right, we have with us the economic developer, the head of economic development for the
city of Clarksville, Mr. Stephen Hauserman, guest of Representative Aaron Pilkington. Stephen. Also down along the front walls on both sides
underneath the voting boards today, we have a number of pages here serving with us. We thank them for their interest in
the house and for the work they're going to do for us.
Speaker 64
14:23
Would you please make them welcome. Representative Bless Eves. for what purpose point of personal privilege you're recognized
Representative Les D. Eaves
Unverified
15:06
thank you mr. speaker colleagues one of the coolest things we get to do here is recognize folks from
back in our district I have a group here in the East gallery I want to tell you just a little bit about. It's the Searcy Lady Lions wrestling team. The Lady Lions wrestling team finished the season undefeated in duels 23 and 0. They have not lost a duel since 2021. They were the 5A girls dual state champions, the 5A North regional champions, and the 5A girls state tournament champions. And check this out. This is the fourth state
championship in a row for these girls. They have won five out of six state champions since the creation of girls wrestling in Arkansas in 2020, so they're doing pretty incredible. This year they had four individual state champions, Valeria Moreno, Gracie Webb, Emerson Pulley, and Isabella Pinson. They also had four other all-state athletes, McKenna Leiker, Elizabeth Bogan, Katie Nave, and Tori Seymour. If you would join me, please, and give this wonderful group of athletes a House of Representatives standing ovation, please.
Representative Randy Torres
Unverified
16:10
Thank you. Representative Torres, for what purpose? What a personal privilege. You're recognized to go to the Whale. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. and House members, I'm delighted to have some distinguished students here from
John Brown University, political science majors. If you could
help me welcome them to our house today, that'd be great. members representative Chad Puryear moves
that we place Senate bill 571 back on second reading for the purpose of
amendment without objection so ordered madam clerk please read amendment number one amendment number one is in a
bill 571 representative Puryear you're recognized to explain amendment number one to Senate bill 571 thank
Representative Chad Puryear
Unverified
17:25
you mr. speaker this simply adds me as the
a co-sponsor. Representative Puryear has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment, for the amendment? Representative Puryear is closed for the amendment. The question before the house is a passage of amendment number one to Senate Bill 571. All in favor say aye.
Opposed nay. The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Please send the bill as amended to
engrossing. Members, Representative Justin Gonzalez moves that we place Senate Bill 238 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment. Without objection, so
ordered. Madam Clerk, please read amendment number one. Amendment number one is Senate Bill 238.
Chair
Unverified
18:22
members want to pass over that motion to amend
now move to resolutions madam clerk please read house
concurrent resolution 1004 house concurrent resolution 1004 by representative
Chair
Unverified
18:45
board law to congratulate game warden austin powell on receiving the monte carmike officer of the year award in the 2024
robert m brantley law enforcement officer of the year award representative ward
law you're recognized to explain your resolution mr speaker can i ask permission for
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
19:03
representative pierce to join me representative pierce if you would join representative ward
Chair
Unverified
19:07
law in the well Members, it's been a long session.
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
19:24
In a lot of this session, we haven't appreciated the work that the Game of Fish actually does for Arkansas. There's been some bills aimed at slowing down their ability to do their job. And I wanted to use today, being the day the Sportsman's Caucus has its fish fry, to highlight some of the good things that these officers do for us in protecting the wildlife that we hold near and dear to our hearts. Mr. Austin Powell, who's up above me here, standing,
has been one of the leaders at just 26 years old in becoming the state game warden of the year. He went on to become the national game warden of the year with the Southeast Association of Game and Fish Agencies. This young man has put his heart and soul into protecting the wildlife that we all hold near and dear. And I just think it's very important that we highlight these things.
He's also one of the guys that you love to see at the boat ramp when you come out because you know you're going to be greeted courteously and professionally by a young man like Mr. Powell. and that's what we're asking for out of our game wardens today is that they stand out there and they protect our game but they do it in a way where the public can feel comfortable pulling up to them and talking to them where the outlaws try to run and hide and i promise
you they're not going to hide very far from mr powell so representative pierce you have anything to add i just
Representative Shad Pearce
Unverified
21:00
want you to understand what an accomplishment this is for this young man
many cannot say that they have been able to do this before in this profession and to be to be recognized nationally after i don't know how many states i'm sure the southeastern so somewhere around 25 states we competed against 26. so congratulations if you
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
21:22
guys would join me in uh sending him off well with a congratulations from the house representatives this
speaker if you would have clerk read the resolution
Chair
Unverified
21:44
resolution by title to congratulate game Warden Austin Powell on receiving the Monty Carmich officer of the year award in 2024 Robert M
Speaker 105
21:53
Brantley law enforcement officer of the year award representative Wardlaw has explained the
resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution? For the resolution? Representative Wardlaw is closed for the resolution. Question before the House is the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 1004. All those in favor say
Speaker 48
22:12
aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. Congratulations, Representative Wardlaw.
The resolution is adopted. Madam Clark, please read House Resolution 1045. House
Chair
Unverified
22:34
Resolution 1045 by Representative Wardlaw to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Program as part of the American System of Conservation Funding. Representative
Wardlaw, you're recognized to explain the resolution. Thank you, Mr.
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
22:44
Speaker. If you don't mind, I'd have Representative Pierce to join me again.
Yes. Thank you. So, ladies and gentlemen, there was a national tax put in place 75 years ago this year. I'm going to get my mind straight. I've had my mind on hospitals and insurance all day. It's called the American System. That's not right. Anyway, Dingle Johnson funds. We're going to go redneck on it.
the neat thing about the dingle johnson funds is we only started collecting data in 2007 so i want you to remember that when i go through some of these numbers so according to the 2022 u.s fish and wildlife service national survey of fishing hunting and wildlife recreation 907 000 residents and non-resident anglers spent 13.6 million days fishing in arkansas and 3.8 billion dollars on fishing-related expenses. So folks, this thing's been in place for 75 years. That data is only
back to 2007, so imagine what that looks like over the whole 75-year period. Arkansas has 600,000 acres of lakes, 90,000 miles of streams, and more than 30 species of sport fish. Arkansas has a network of more than 450 boat ramps to help hunters, to help anglers access fishing opportunities. Arkansas has been appropriated $207 million in sport and fish restoration funds since 1952.
If it wasn't for taxes like this, you wouldn't be able to access the water that you're able to access
today. It's what gives us the ability to put our boats in the lakes,
it's what gives us the ability to access what we love to do every
Representative Shad Pearce
Unverified
24:49
single day. Mr. Speaker, I'll recognize Representative Pierce. Representative Pierce. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, colleagues, the SFR, which
is a sport fishing restoration, it has put in since, like Representative Wardlaw said,
we've only been keeping data. They've only been keeping data since 2007, and one of the facts that I found I thought was interesting, over $207 million they have give us, appropriated for arkansas in this category to build these things to take care of our fish hatcheries our our net pins all the things like this and to put millions of fish back in the waters there's over 35 sport fish to my knowledge in the state of arkansas and this is what this does so thank you
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
25:38
mr speaker i'd ask the clerk read the resolution title only
Chair
Unverified
25:42
madam clerk please read the resolution by
title to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the sport fish restoration program as part of the american system of conservation
funding representative ward law has explained the resolution would anyone like to speak against the resolution for the resolution representative ward law is closed for the resolution question before the house is the passage of house resolution 1,045. All in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. Congratulations to
Representative Wardlaw. The resolution is adopted. Representative Pierce for what purpose? Point of personal privilege please.
Representative Shad Pearce
Unverified
26:41
You're recognized to come to the well thank you mr. speaker could I have mr. speaker
could I have representative Brown and representative Ward law to join me in the
well please please join representative Pearson well please Colleagues,
Representative Shad Pearce
Unverified
26:56
another national recognition. Today we have with us Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Brady, Game Warden Brady Smith with District C-1, which is in Clebron County, and that is in Ms. Elisa's district, so I'm going to let her take it from here, and Warden, would you rise, please?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Representative, for bringing this. We are really proud in Clebron County to have Officer Smith serving us. He attended the National Turkey Federation 49th Annual Convention and won Game Warden of the Year Award. But not only that, he had to compete against 26 of his peers here in the state of Arkansas to be nominated for this, and then he went to compete against 26 other states, excuse me, 26 other states. So we're honored that he
exemplifies all of the skills set to win this achievement. And so if y'all would join us in congratulating Officer Brady Smith for all his service to the state, we just want to honor him here today. Okay with that on this
Representative Shad Pearce
Unverified
28:15
resolution I think this is where I explained this is
forthcoming for for Warden Brady from Warren
Smith and so with that thank you for congratulating and his certificate will be coming you know will be forthcoming, but thank you. Members, Representative Justin Gonzalez moves that
we place Senate Bill 238 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment. Without
objection, so ordered, Madam Clerk, please read amendment number one, Senate Bill 238. Amendment number one is Senate Bill 238. Representative
Gonzalez you are recognized to explain the amendment the senator
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
29:02
Payton's bill my amendment I appreciate a good vote y'all get a chance to see it
again representative Gonzalez has explained the amendment would anyone like speak against the amendment for the amendment representative Gonzalez is closed for amendment the question before the house is passage of amendment number one to
senate bill 238 all in favor say aye opposed nay the ayes have it amendment is adopted please send the bill as amended to
engrossing madam clerk please read house concurrent resolution 1011. house concurrent resolution
Chair
Unverified
29:36
1011 to recognize bentonville's investment in cycling and its title as the mountain biking capital of the world representative
mcelinden you're recognized to explain your resolution can I
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
29:50
ask representative Scott Richardson to join me
representative Richardson if you'll join her in
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
30:00
the well yeah colleagues today I rise to present you with house concurrent resolution one zero one one recognizing something truly remarkable and it's for Bentonville but it's also for the entire state Bentonville has been recognized as the mountain biking capital of the world. And this is more than just a title. It's the result of intentional investment, tireless innovation, and community-wide commitment to excellence. Bentonville and Visit
Bentonville have built more than just trails. They've built a global destination with over 80 miles of local trails connected to regional network of more than 400 miles of trails. We are witnessing the power of vision brought to life on two wheels. And why does this matter? Because cycling in Bentonville isn't just recreation. It's economic development. It's tourism. It's health and wellness. It's a catalyst for community connection. Through collaboration with groups like the City of Bentonville Parks and Rec, Runway Group, Trailblazers, Friends of Arkansas, Single Track,
and our local businesses, this city has transformed into a thriving hub for outdoor adventure innovation. Elite athletes from around the world come to Bentonville. The U.S. Olympic mountain biking women's team trained in Bentonville, and the U.S. College Mountain Biking Championships were held in Bentonville as well. Families are drawn to the energy and the beauty of our trails. In fact, our success is now inspiring other cities both across the U.S. and nationally to follow in our tracks. This resolution is a tribute to the trail builders, the volunteers,
the businesses, and the city leaders who dared to dream big and to work even harder. They've They've shown what's possible when you combine Arkansas grit with creative ambition. So let's continue to build on this momentum and ensure that future generations inherent in Arkansas where outdoor recreation, community wellness, and economic prosperity go hand in hand. Please recognize Bentonville's place on the world stage as the mountain biking capital of the world. Mr. Speaker, would you please ask the clerk to read the title? Madam Clerk,
Speaker 124
31:52
please read the resolution by title. To
Chair
Unverified
31:55
recognize Bentonville's investment in cycling and its title as the mountain biking
Representative Mindy McAlindon
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capital of the world. And I would just like to recognize before we vote that the woman behind all of this, Kayleen Griffin,
is in the North Gallery. Representative McElhinden has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution for the resolution? Representative McElhinden is closed for the resolution. Question before the
House is the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 1011. All those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it.
Congratulations Representative McElhinden. The resolution is adopted. Madam
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Clerk, please read House Resolution 1100. House Resolution
Chair
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1100 by representative Henley to celebrate the sesquicentennial of Hope Arkansas. Representative Henley
you're recognized to explain your resolution.
Representative Dolly Henley
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Thank You Mr. Speaker. Members I'm
honored to present House Resolution 1100 to celebrate the sesquicentennial of Hope Arkansas. Hope was settled on Cairo and Fulton Railroad and was named in honor of the Railroad Commissioner's youngest daughter, Hope. Hope was incorporated on April 8, 1875 and is celebrating 150 years thriving on the backs of citizens past and present who
have and do instill a sense of community pride. Hope has been the birthplace of of many who have achieved prominence in this great state, nationally and internationally. Most notably, former Arkansas governor and president of the United States, the honorable William Jefferson Bill Clinton, and the former Arkansas governor and current US ambassador to Israel, the honorable Michael Dale Mike Huckabee.
Always striving to improve the quality of life, The citizens of Hope are successfully reviving their downtown and recently voted for improvements to the town's parks and construction of an indoor recreational facility. Collaboration between Hope Public Schools and the University of Arkansas, Hope Texarkana, has resulted in more Hope High School seniors graduating with associate degrees than any
other city in Arkansas, which serves as a role model for the rest of the state. For much of its history, Hope has been known as the home of the world's largest watermelons. In the North Gallery, please make welcome Hope's leadership that could be with us today, Board Member Reginald Easter, Assistant City Manager Daniel Shellman, and Parks and Tourism Director, Summer Chambers.
With that, I would appreciate a good vote for Hope. Mr. Speaker, have the clerk read the resolution
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read the title of the resolution. To celebrate the sesquicentennial of Hope, Arkansas.
Representative Henley has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution or the resolution? Representative Henley is closed for the resolution Question before
the house is the passage of house resolution 1100 all those in favor say aye
Opposed nay the ayes have it. Congratulations Rep. Henley resolution is adopted Madam Clerk, please House Resolution 1098. House Resolution 1098 by Representative Beck
Chair
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to recognize and commend the Energy Council on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Representative
Beck, you're recognized to explain your resolution.
Representative Rick Beck
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Thank you, Mr. Chair. Folks, this is the 50th anniversary of the Energy Council, started in 1975. What you may not know about the Energy Council is that Arkansas was one of five of the founding states that started the Energy Council. The Energy Council, the function of the Energy Council is really just to inform lawmakers of the ever-changing energy market and the new innovations that are coming forward, making
recommendations to Washington concerning those changes. Since that time, the Energy Council is now 14 states and 2 Canadian provinces. And with that, I would ask for a good vote. Mr. Speaker, please have the resolution read in title. Madam Clerk, please read the
Chair
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commend the Energy Council of the occasion of its 50th anniversary.
Representative Beck has explained the resolution.
Would anyone like to speak against the resolution? the resolution. Representative Beck is closed for the
resolution. Question before the House is the passage of House Resolution 1098. All those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. Congratulations Representative Beck. Your resolution is adopted. Madam Clerk, please read House Joint Resolution
Chair
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1018. House Joint Resolution 1018 by Representative
Ray the citizens only voting amendment.
Representative Ray you're recognized to explain
Representative David Ray
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the resolution. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, House Joint Resolution 1018 is the proposed constitutional
amendment that was referred out of the House State Agencies Committee for your consideration. It's a proposed constitutional amendment that would ensure that only United States citizens can vote in our state and local elections. It amends Article 3, Section 1 of
the Arkansas Constitution, which deals with the qualifications of electors, and that is all that the amendment does. I start from the simple premise that Arkansans should determine the future of Arkansas, and Americans should determine the future of America. And yet, there are four states, plus the District of Columbia which allow for non-citizen voting in certain local elections and in those four states there are 21 municipalities some of which are major
American cities like Oakland San Francisco and sadly even our nation's capital that allow for non-citizen voting in their elections. Chicago a city home to 2.7 million people allows for non-citizen voting in their school board elections. Most states, when they establish their state constitutions, they use language such as, every citizen who is of 18 years of age or older may vote, or is eligible to
vote. Arkansas's constitution uses the phrase, any citizen, instead of every citizen. Other states use the phrase, all citizens. But whether you're using the phrase, every citizen, all citizens, or every citizen, none of those phrases are sufficient because they constitute a floor rather than a ceiling. Language that says any citizen can vote protects your right and my right as a citizen, but it's insufficient. It leaves room for other people to be added to that list,
specifically the legalized voting of non-citizens. So by moving to the only citizen language, We're setting a ceiling for eligibility. It is exclusive, unambiguous, and absolute. A couple of things that I want to mention about this measure. We all have voters in our districts and across the state who are concerned about the crisis of illegal immigration. They want us to do something about it, and while our federal government ultimately holds the final responsibility for enforcing our border, the states can and should take measures
to help. But the main thrust of this amendment is trying to address legalized non-citizen voting in the states. Allowing non-citizens to vote undermines the importance of citizenship. Voting is a fundamental right of U.S. citizens, and allowing non-citizen voting dilutes the votes of legal citizens. Because of this effort in many states, other states are pushing back. There's now a nationwide movement on this issue, and we have the opportunity to either
be part of it or to be left behind. There are 20 states across the country that dictate citizen-only voting, and 15 of those 20 states have passed the citizens-only voting amendment that you have before you today. In fact, in the last election, in 2024, our neighbors in Oklahoma and Missouri amended their state constitution in this regard, along with Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin all on the same day. In 2022, voters in Ohio and Louisiana
passed this amendment. And in 2020, Alabama, Colorado, and Florida adopted this amendment. So there's a recognition around the country that this needs to happen. I firmly believe that if we refer this amendment to the voters of Arkansas, they will approve it. As I mentioned, every citizen-only voting amendment that has ever been referred to the voters has passed, and they've passed with at least 63% support. Some states, such as South Carolina, approved theirs with as much as 86% support.
The average level of support for this measure across the states is 73.5%. And recent polling shows that it's supported by more than 70% of Arkansans. Over the weekend, our newspaper editorialized that this measure wasn't necessary. What they failed to recognize is that we live in an era and time in which radical ideas can gain steam very quickly due to the fast transmission of information. For example, if you had told me 10 years ago that there would be a nationwide movement adopted by some of our national leaders to actually defund the police,
I would have told you that was crazy, that that would never happen. And likewise, if I had told you 10 years ago that half of our nation's politicians would embrace the idea that biological men should compete in women's sports, you would have thought I was crazy. But that's where we are. So, similarly with the issue of non-citizen voting, we're in a position where we can get in front of this. Fifteen other states already have. Non-citizen voting laws have been challenged four different times in courts and they've actually been upheld three of the four times because many constitutions were not written strongly enough to prevent this.
So I don't want to wait ten more years and just cross our fingers and hope that this idea doesn't become mainstream and I certainly don't want to leave it up to the courts to decide. So in closing, I just want to thank all of the members of the House State Agencies Committee for their support of
this measure, and I'd be happy to answer any questions. Seeing none, we'd
appreciate a good vote. Representative Ray has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution?
Would anyone like— Representative Gonzales-Worthin, you're recognized to speak against the
Representative Justin Gonzales
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resolution. Thank you, Speaker. We have no evidence of non-citizen voting in Arkansas. It is against the law. I mentioned this previously. No immigrant would risk their opportunity of ever becoming a citizen by voting and they're
not citizens. They would not do that. They are on the verge of becoming citizens and so they would not risk their chance of ever becoming a citizen to vote. In my community of Springdale, we have a lot of support for individuals that are on their pathway to citizenship to encourage them once they become citizens to register to
vote and to vote. Our naturalized citizens we have a lot of them on the path to becoming naturalized citizens and they are in that process. I mentioned also that I was part of a naturalized citizen ceremony and at the University of Arkansas recently and all of those individuals voted. So I will vote against I will vote against this resolution because there simply is no evidence of non-citizens voting in Arkansas.
It is against the law, and it will remain against
the law. Thank you. Representative Gonzalez-Werthin has spoke
against the resolution. Would anyone like to
speak for the resolution? Representative Beatty, you're recognized
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
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to speak for the resolution. Members, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate being recognized. I wasn't going to speak for this resolution, but after hearing the comments that were just made,
I just want to drive home the fact that this is a great resolution, something we need to lean into. If it's illegal and non-immigrants aren't voting, it shouldn't be a problem. It shouldn't be an issue, and if there's just one that's voting, then it's a huge issue, Just not for citizens and registered voters, but for the immigrants that strive to obtain voting rights and strive for citizenship. It's just as important to them, and that's why we should vote for this resolution.
If it's just one in the state, that's too many.
Representative Beatty has spoke for the resolution. Would anyone like to speak
against the resolution? For the resolution, Representative Ray,
Representative David Ray
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you're recognized to close with the resolution. Colleagues, I appreciate the debate. I never inferred that non-citizen voting was rampant in Arkansas. The purpose of this measure is to prevent legalized non-citizen voting. As I stated in my presentation, there are municipalities and states around the country
that are legalizing non-citizen voting in their local elections. I cited many examples, one of which was Chicago, a city of nearly three million people that legally allows non-citizens to vote in their elections. So that's what this is designed to prevent that from ever happening in Arkansas. The current language in our Constitution, the way it was constructed, is not sufficiently strong to prevent that if
someone tried to allow it.
And so that is the purpose of this amendment. I would
appreciate a good vote. Representative Ray is closed for the resolution. The question before the House is the passage of House Joint Resolution 1018. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted?
cast up the ballot with a vote of 82 yay six nay and three present resolution is adopted morning hour has ended members we're going to go to the yellow budget calendar first representative Jean moves
that we place House Bill 1084 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment that objection so ordered Madam Clerk, please read Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1084.
Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1084. Representative
Gene, you're recognized to explain Amendment 1. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this is the leg audit.
This is the pay plan that we just passed, the $139 million pay plan. This is now getting in here. This is what this amendment does for the operation budget. Any question on the amendment? Appreciate a good vote. Representative Gene has explained the amendment.
Would anyone like to speak against the amendment for the amendment? Representative Gene is closed for the amendment. Question before the House is the passage of Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1084. All
those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Please send the bill as amended to engrossing. Representative Gene moves. We place House Bill 1086. back on second reading for the purpose of amendment that objection so ordered madam clerk please read amendment number one to House Bill 1086 amendment
number one to House Bill 1086 representative Jean you're
recognized to explain the amendment thank you mr. speaker the same thing for the Court of Appeals this includes the pay plan into their ops budget any questions appreciate a good
vote on the budget on the amendment Representative Jean has explained the amendment. Would anyone like
to speak against the amendment, for the amendment? Representative Jean is closed for the amendment. Question before the house is the passage of amendment number one to
House Bill 1086. All those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes
have it. Amendment is adopted. Please stand the bill as amended to engrossing. Representative Jean moves that we place House Bill 1101 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment. Without objection, so ordered. Madam Clerk, please read amendment number one to House Bill 1101. Amendment number one to House Bill 1101. Representative Jean,
you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Same thing on the governor's mansion. This ties in the
pay plan that we just passed into their
budget. Any questions? Appreciate a good vote on the amendment. Representative Jean
has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment? For
the amendment? Representative Jean is closed for the amendment. Question before the house is the passage of amendment number one to House Bill 1101. All in favor
say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Please send the bill as amended to engrossing.
Representative Jean moves that we place House Bill 1106 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment, without objection. So ordered. Madam Clerk, please read amendment number one to House Bill 1106. - Amendment number one to House Bill 1106. - Representative Jean, you're recognized. - Thank
you, Mr. Speaker. This is the office of Treasurer. This includes the pay raises that were tied to the pay plan. Any questions? Seeing none, appreciate a good vote
on the amendment. - Representative Jean has explained the amendment.
Would anyone like to speak against the amendment? Anyone would like to speak for the
amendment? Representative Jean is closed for the amendment. The question before the House is the passage of Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1106. All in favor say aye.
Opposed nay. The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Please send the bill as amended to engrossing. Representative Jean, you're
recognized to present the budget calendar. Thank you, Mr. Baker. Colleagues, after a lot of discussion with members, I'm going to just batch two bills.
The rest of them we're going to take one by one. That's the way a lot of the members felt comfortable. The first two, the Department of Commerce, Arkansas Waterways, and the Department of Public Safety. I'm going to batch those two bills. It would be House Bill 1089 and House Bill 1191. Any questions, or do I need to separate these two? Seeing none, your one
vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker, the clerk, read the bill a third time.
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Madam Clerk, read the bills for the third time. House Bill 1089, House Bill 1191.
1191. We're in the machine, Madam Clerk. Members, your one vote is for
the bill and the emergency clause on each bill. Has everyone voted? Has everyone
voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote of 95 yay, zero nay and one present you pass the bill in emergency clause both bills in
the batch representative Jean thank you mr. speaker the last house bill is house
bill 1265 this University of Arkansas Little Rock this is the only bill they'll have to go down to the Senate so folks that have been voting against it we got allow a few more days because we've got to go to the Senate. Keep that in mind. I don't want to be back for a special session but anyway any questions on this
bill? Your one vote is for the bill and the Merchie Clause. Mr. Speaker, the clerk read the bill a third time. Madam
Clerk, read the bill for the third time. House Bill
1265. Representative Jean has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Rose, you're recognized.
Representative Ryan A. Rose
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Speak against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Good afternoon. Just wanted to
share a couple thoughts, and I appreciate Mr. Budget Chair's desire to not return for a special session, neither do I. Just a couple of quick thoughts on a couple of these appropriations: UALRs, UCAs, and U of A, but I'll keep this specific to one since that's what I'm standing on right now. There are programs that exist at some of these universities that are titled gender studies programs, which are divisive, ideology-driven, and have narratives that most taxpayers wouldn't agree with,
yet they're having to fund and pay for. I've had respectful meetings with leadership at these institutions, presidents, provosts, government relations, and they've been cordial but also unwilling to make any meaningful reforms for these programs that at best send out students for low-paying jobs. I'm grateful for the work that has been done on access and what it will do, and I'm grateful for Representative McElindon. She's
working on what I believe will be an interim study that will give us great tools a year from now, but my belief is that we never truly get to the negotiating table and uh if we pass these appropriations without those negotiations we fail to appropriately hold these institutions feet to the fire to actually negotiate on the areas that many of you have been supportive of and i'm appreciative of that support and with that i'll be a no vote and i encourage you to
be as well thank you representative rose has spoke
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against the bill would anyone like to speak for
the bill? Anyone would like to speak against the bill? Representative Jean,
close with the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1265. Prepare the Machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted?
Cast up the ballot. The vote of 670 yea, 18 nay, and 4 present. The bill has
failed. Representative Jean. Thank you Mr.
Speaker. I think we've done this several times. Senate Bill 64, Department of Education, AETN. Any questions? Seeing none, your one vote is for the bill and the mercy clause. Mr. Speaker, the clerk read the bill the third time.
Madam Clerk, read the bill for the third time. Senate Bill 64. Representative Jean has explained the bill. Would
anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Jean is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 64. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted?
Cast up the ballot. Your one vote is for the bill in the emergency clause. The vote of 76 yea, 17
nay, and one present. You have passed the bill and the
emergency clause. Representative Jean. At the request of several members, we're going to pass over the Department of Education. Just kind of let the Department of Education know some members have asked for some clarity and some issues.
I don't know what they are, but I've told these members we'll pass over them today to give an opportunity, so we're gonna pass over Senate Bill 93 and put it on tomorrow's calendar. And our next bill will be Senate Bill 125. This is the University of Central Arkansas. Any questions? Your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. The Speaker, the
Clerk, read the bill a third time. Madam Clerk, read the bill for the third time.
- Senate Bill 125. - Representative Jean has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Before the bill? Representative
Jean is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 125. Preparing the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted?
Cast up the ballot. For the vote of 71 yea, 18 nay, and 5 present,
the bill has failed. Representative Jean. Famous speaker, next appropriation is the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Senate Bill 127. Any questions? Seeing none, your one vote is for the bill in the Mercy Clause. Mr. Speaker, the clerk, read the bill a third time.
Madam Clerk, read the bill for the third time. Senate Bill 127. Representative Jean has explained the
bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Jean is
closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 127. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. is everyone voted is everyone voted cast up
the ballot the vote of 74 yay 12 nay and a present
bill is failed madam clerk our representative gene you're recognized thank you mr. speaker it'd be a 128 this
is the uams operation budget any questions your one vote is for the bill on the mercy clause mr. speaker at the clerk for the
bill third time madam clerk read the bill for the third time then about 128 reps in Eugene has
explain the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Before the
bill? Representative Jean is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 128. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Members,
your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Has
everyone voted. Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote
of 96 yay, zero nay, and one present.
The bill and the emergency clause has passed. Representative Jeanne. Thank you, Mr.
Speaker. Senate Bill 130. This is Arkansas State University Appropriation. Any questions? Your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker has the Clerk, read
the bill a third time. Madam Clerk, read the bill for the third time. I'm going to vote 130. Representative Jean
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has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill?
Representative Jean is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 130. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Members, your
one vote is for the bill in the emergency
clause. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up
the ballot. By a vote of 91 yay, 4 nay, and 0 present, the bill on the emergency clause is passed. Representative Gene.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, the last bill comes from Senator Dodson, Representative Lundstrom, and Representative Bentley. this is a four million dollar appropriation only they'll have to find the funding inside the uh agency it's uh i guess a uh secondary education trying to find the right word avoidance there we go i didn't want to use the other word avoidance program uh that is uh but it's not it's not
guaranteed funded uh if the department wants to fund it it can fund it on its own just appropriation only any questions seeing none your one vote is for the bill and mercy clause mr. speaker the clerk read the bill third time madam clerk read the bill for the third time
bill 332 representative gene has explained the bill would anyone like speak
against the bill and would like speak for the bill Representative Bentley, you're recognized to speak for the bill.
Representative Mary Bentley
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I just want to real quickly say these ladies, this group is doing Healthy Connections, doing an outstanding job. In the counties they've been in, they have decreased teen pregnancy by over 50%. Doing an awesome job. It's been a place since Mike Huckabee was here. A great group and I'd appreciate a good
vote. Thank you. Representative Bentley has spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
Speaker 18
1:05:37
bill. For the bill. Representative Jean is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 332. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Members, your one vote is for the bill in the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? everyone
voted cast up the ballot the vote of 83 a for nay and to present you have passed the bill in the
Speaker 6
1:06:09
emergency clause as we'll go back to the red calendar
Representative Pilkington recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment #1 to House Bill 1444. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment #1. Senate Amendment #1 to House Bill
Chair
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1:06:34
1444. Representative Pilkington, you're recognized to explain Senate
Amendment #1. Hi, this is just some clean-up language. The Department of
Representative Aaron Pilkington
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Commerce asked us to include in the bill, and so we made that change, and that's for a good vote. Thank you.
Representative Pilkington has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment?
Before the amendment, Representative Pilkington is closed for the amendment. The question before the House is concurrence with Senate Amendment No. 1 to
House Bill 1444. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone
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voted? Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 76
yay, 9 nay, and 5 present, you have concurred and Senate Amendment number 1 to House Bill 1444.
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1491. House Bill
Chair
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1:07:36
1491 by Representative Ward-Law concerning the excise tax on certain beer and sake to create an exercise tax credit
for certain beer and sake produced using Arkansas rice and for other purposes. Representative Ward-Law,
you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
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1:07:50
you, Mr. Beard. So, members, the farming world is
something that's near and dear to me. When I started in the House of Representatives, I had pine trees and tomato fields.
I'm going to end out of this place with rice fields, a few pine trees, and still got the tomato fields. But those rice fields have always been near and dear to me my whole life because that's where the ducks like to come south to. And right now, we're in a certain world. Rice prices across the world are the lowest they've been in a long time. This bill's not going to help the pricing, but what this bill does is secure the number one customer for Arkansas rice. And the way we're doing it is we're keeping all the money in the state of Arkansas.
So if you make alcohol with rice, which is the number one customer of rice, as I've already said, The distributor gets a tax cut on the excess tax up to the percentage of the ingredient. And we did that for sake. We've done it for beer. This bill does it for alcohol. So any alcohol manufacturer from beer all the way up gets this tax cut. And it goes to make sure that we keep Arkansas rice first.
We've already seen bills like this all over the nation just this year
to help different products that are farmed in their state with that mr chair
i'll take any questions represented painter for what purpose question recognized for a question
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can you explain to me what sake is is it socky just question mr speaker i don't really
Speaker 262
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know what you do with people like
that. It is sake. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Wardlaw has explained
the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
bill? Anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Wardlaw
is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1491. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted?
Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 55 yea, 27 nay, and 7 present. bill is passed request of representative Britt McKenzie we will pass over House bill 1790 today madam clerk please read
House bill 1879 House bill 1879 by representative
Chair
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Blundstrom to require all city councils and county quorum courts to post video recordings of public meetings and to
require all public meetings of city councils or county quorum courts to be recorded in
video format representative Blundstrom you're recognized to explain
Representative Robin Lundstrum
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1:10:59
your bill. Thank you, Speaker Evans. This bill is about promoting transparency. Every single day that we come down here, our citizens can see exactly what we do. They can look back at that beautiful bean footage for years and know exactly what we do. Same within the Senate, and we survived when the Senate got on camera, too. A lot of cities already do this, so it isn't a big lift, but this gives them a year to be
able to understand, one, how to post something on Facebook, and how to have transparency in their city. It is not a cost. They can use their cell phone and set it up where they can do the video right there. So it isn't an unfunded mandate, but it does give citizens transparency, and they can see exactly what's happening. An informed citizenry is how we all got here, and I would appreciate a good vote. Representative
Lundstrom has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
For the bill? Representative Lundstrom is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1879. Prepare
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the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 57 yea, 23 nay, and 7 present. The bill is passed.
Chair
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1:12:29
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1852. House Bill 1852 by Representative Moore to establish a right to
repair for certain agriculture equipment. Representative Moore, you're
Representative Kendra Moore
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1:12:45
recognized to explain your bill. thank you mr. speaker colleagues many of you may have heard the term right to repair many of you may have not but to put it in simple layman's terms I'll give you a very brief example if your car or vehicle and has its check engine
light come on you can take that car or vehicle to a dealership and X and see what codes have been thrown and see exactly what's wrong with your car but But you can also take your car to an O'Reilly Auto Parts, you can take it to an AutoZone, heck, you can take it to an independent mechanic or even your own home if you have the technology that gives you the ability to read what code has been thrown. You have the right to repair your own vehicle. American farmers have been repairing their own equipment since the birth of our country.
Just because technology improves, that does not mean that farmers shouldn't have the access to the specialty tools and software to replace their own equipment equipment costs more than ever and in some instances cotton pickers cost around a million dollars combines cost upwards of half a million dollars these investments cost more than the average american home citing specific needs to address this issue american farm bureau federation came to an agreement with the six major manufacturers of ag equipment they along with john deere case ih
Kloss, Kubota, etc. signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 that they ought to provide the software and specialty tools to farmers and independent mechanics at a fair and reasonable price. This does not infringe upon patents or force the manufacturers to give away their products for free. The problem is that MOU is non-binding. What 1852 does is it plucks that language from the the MOU that these manufacturers have already signed and puts it in state law and this would
help ensure that these farmers continue to have access at a fair and reasonable rate to this software and specialty equipment. This bill does not affect warranty work or even keep the manufacturer from voiding warranty should a farmer end up tearing into his own equipment and making the matters even worse. Fixing your own equipment is a part of the American ideal of self-sufficiency and it must be preserved for our farmers this bill will primarily be used for older equipment that's out of warranty and the bottom line is that this bill 1852 ensures that our arkansas
farmers will not and cannot be made to take their equipment into a dealership to be repaired and
with that i'll take any questions representative eaves for what purpose question
Representative Les D. Eaves
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1:15:25
you're recognized Representative, in reading some of the language in the bill, are you requiring the manufacturer to provide specialty tools and other proprietary information to these independent farmers or is it something they go to a dealership and use? Kind of walk me through
Representative Kendra Moore
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1:15:41
how that's going to work. So the manufacturers themselves have that proprietary information and then they offer
both that information or that software or specialty tools. I'm assuming they could offer it direct to producers or direct to farmers but if i had to guess it would go through the dealerships that's correct follow up you're recognized so say a
Representative Les D. Eaves
Unverified
1:16:01
local john deere dealership would they be required to provide specialty tools to a farmer so that he can repair his machine if that
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:16:08
farmer needed that those tools they may not have to have them in stock at that particular dealership but the manufacturer would have to show a good faith effort in making those tools and specialty
Representative Les D. Eaves
Unverified
1:16:18
equipment available to that farmer but you're putting the burden that seems like on the dealership the official dealership of like say john deere for example of keeping those tools in stock and providing them either for free or at a fair and reasonable rate to these folks who want to repair their own machinery are they i guess that's the question are they is the dealership being required to keep those tools in stock to let them do that on their
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:16:46
own so the dealerships are not going to necessarily be required to keep anything in stock even their
equipment that they have advertised for sale on the dealerships or on the manufacturer's website but the burden would be on the manufacturer to make sure that those clients of that particular manufacturer have the access to achieve i mean they could order them online for all i care but the simple fact of the matter is if you need a particular piece of software or a particular piece of specialty tool or equipment in order to change a fuel injector or shoot even read a code that was thrown on your on your tractor saying check engine you ought to have the right to be
able to acquire that information and acquire those tools at a fair and reasonable rate not free they can still charge for it but at a
Chair
Unverified
1:17:36
fair and reasonable rate representative duffield for what purpose question
Representative Matt Duffield
Unverified
1:17:40
you're recognized represent more just to clarify didn't get to speak with you about this beforehand does this bill include like for example in in my industry front end loaders track hose things that nature as well so
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:17:52
I've made a couple of amendments to this bill this bill does not include ATVs or UTVs and the second amendment I made was purely for construction
equipment so it does not include excavators things that were not primarily used for agriculture represent kavanaugh for what purpose question you're recognized represented
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
1:18:14
more and thank you for covering about the warranty because you know as you and i talked that was one of my big concerns is that we're not going to make it where they void a warranty um the other question i have is when you talk to farm bureau they talk about how this mou that they have changes every six months and when we put into statute we won't have the most current
language is that how is that going to be addressed so what
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:18:39
i would say is that the mou between american farm bureau and these manufacturers is one thing and they can continue to modify and adjust that mou every six months as they please but what this bill does is it takes some of that language from that mou that the dealership well not the dealerships the manufacturers have already signed off on american farm bureau has already signed off on as this is a good idea that we we provide these tools and software at a fair and reasonable rate for these farmers that's not going
to change that simple concept of being able to access these tools and the software that is what we need to enshroud in state
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
1:19:20
law follow-up mr. speaker you're recognized okay appreciate that also when we're talking about fair and reasonable pricing so are is someone who is a dealer I'm forced to pay whatever price the manufacturer tells me. It's the farthest from free market that you can experience.
Because we have one supplier, we pay their price, there's no negotiation, there's nothing. They do that also with their software update. They do that with their special tools. So are we going to get into a position where these businesses that have invested all this money to actually be a dealership are going to be charged higher than someone that's repairing it on their own. I don't think that's what this bill does and
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:20:00
if that's what the manufacturers do then maybe we ought to hold their feet at the fire. Okay, thank
Chair
Unverified
1:20:08
you. Representative Woodridge for what purpose? Question. You're
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
Unverified
1:20:10
recognized. Representative Kavanaugh kind of asked my question but to that point who
decides who determines or decides what a fair and reasonable rate is for this
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:20:22
information thank you representative Aldridge it's a very good question and when I spoke with John Deere about this they pushed back on me on fair and reasonable and I assured them that we pass as a legislative body we pass legislation quite regularly with those terms and far be it from me to put a percentage point or put a god forbid line item markup on these particular
tools and so fair and reasonable is common terminology that I think is the best for both both parties. Recognized. Thank you and
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
Unverified
1:20:55
I appreciate that and I think that I agree with you. My concern would be and I guess I'd
like to know if you agree with this or not do you think this puts maybe the dealer and their customers at odds and lets the manufacturer kind of hide behind that
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:21:10
a little bit? So I would state that this would put the manufacturer and customers at odds. The dealer's hands they're tied i mean they have an msrp and that suggested retail price comes from the top
down uh not from the dealership itself
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
Unverified
1:21:23
so it's your belief that the manufacturer would set the right
Representative Les D. Eaves
Unverified
1:21:30
that's correct okay represent abease you're recognized thank you mr speaker uh
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:21:36
you said construction equipment does that include trailers uh this would in the language that i have in my bill defines agricultural equipment includes without limitation to the following pieces of equipment tractor combine harvesting equipment tillage
equipment planting irrigation or cultivating implements a baler and other off-road vehicles primarily used for use in agricultural operation that does not include trailers and I would argue that when you sell a trailer to my knowledge they do not get the taxes and status for sales tax so I would say no follow-up
Representative Les D. Eaves
Unverified
1:22:25
you're recognized all right I'm not sure that's entirely accurate but I'll go with you on that one under manufacturer's obligations when you're talking about their obligations in providing tools and data to for the farmer for example is that something that the farmer would get direct from the manufacturer or do they have to go to in the case of John Deere a John Deere dealer and then that puts the burden on the John
Deere dealer to provide all of those things to the farmer to repair their own equipment so
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:22:56
that will be left it's not specified in this bill but I will say this and what this bill really the essence of this bill is if you buy a million dollar cotton picker that's a lot of money that's a lot of money that you're putting on the line for your family your business your crops and the simple idea that we don't have anything in law that protects you that says for this piece of equipment if it breaks down you don't have to be held hostage by a dealership
or a manufacturer and not I hate even using the word dealership because it's all top-down the dealership guys are really good people but if John Deere or case or Kubota and I don't want to single out any one manufacturer but if they're withholding that software that keeps people from actually reading the codes that were thrown on their equipment or if they're withholding a specialty tool that keeps you from being able to we'll just change your oil or do something simple or even something more complex and your tractor is no longer
under warranty and you have to take it into that dealership to me that just seems on our cans and under mayor un-american the MOU has done a great job but everybody agrees that the manufacturers should provide these tools and these this software at a fair and reasonable rate to the farmers Seeing no other questions, I would
Speaker 273
1:24:29
appreciate a good vote. Representative Moore has explained
the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
Before the bill, Representative Moore is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1852. Prepare the machine,
Speaker 193
1:24:57
Madam Clerk. Is everyone voted? Is everyone voted?
Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 67
yea, 17 nay, 5 present, the bill is passed.
Chair
Unverified
1:25:13
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1937. House Bill 1937 by Representative Jean. To amend the method of valuation for mineral rights under Arkansas Constitution, Article
16, Section 5, and to clarify the method of evaluation for oil and
gas well production equipment. - Representative Gene, you're recognized. - Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this is a bill that came from the industry four years ago. We did an evaluation on what assessment
and the assessors can assess oil equipment. All this does is taking gas equipment at the wellhead it clarifies what the equipment there can be assessed at. The Arkansas Association of Counties is okay with it, the Assessor's Association is okay with it, and it has no known opposition. Any questions? Appreciate a good vote. - Representative Jean has explained the
bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill?
Representative Jean is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1937. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone
voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote of
92 yea, 0 nay, and 1 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1921.
Chair
Unverified
1:26:48
House Bill 1921 by Representative Torres to amend the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Act to amend the training and certification process for foster parents and to streamline the
process of training and certifying relatives as
Representative Randy Torres
Unverified
1:27:04
foster parents. Representative Torres, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, House members.
House Bill 1921, this bill aims to make it easier for people, especially relatives, to become foster parents in Arkansas all by capping the training requirements the bill caps the number of training hours required for
foster parents to 15 hours of initial training to get approved and six hours of training each year to stay approved the division of children and family services can lower these requirements if needed dcfs is already working on this in rules and has made progress this bill simply places their current standards and statute and gives them the flexibility to continue working to get more foster families certified in the state. With that, I'll take any questions. Seeing none,
I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Torres has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
bill? For the bill? Representative Torres is closed for the bill. Question before For the House is the passage of
House Bill 1921. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
The vote of 97 yay, zero nay, and zero present. Bill is passed. Madam Clerk,
please read House Bill 1870. House Bill 1870
Chair
Unverified
1:28:34
by Representative Wing, concerning voter registration lists and to allow the Secretary of State to provide a voter registration list to federal courts. Representative
Wing, you're recognized to explain your bill.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This bill is brought to us by the Secretary of State. It's after some model legislation in
Tennessee, and all this does is, very simply, it allows us to provide voter rolls to the federal courts.
The federal courts could then in turn provide some information to us with regards to when they take somebody off of jury duty for something that might also affect their ability to be a registered voter. So things like if they have deceased, if they don't live in Arkansas anymore, if they're convicted of a felon, that's information that could be valuable to us as well. such to good cleaning the voter rolls bill and happy to answer any questions.
See you none, appreciate a good vote, thank you. - Representative Wing has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against
the bill, for the bill? Representative Wing is closed
for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1870. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone
Speaker 193
1:29:55
voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
The vote of 96 yay, 0 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House
Chair
Unverified
1:30:13
Bill 1837. House Bill 1837 by
Representative McAlinen to amend the law concerning disclosure for matters referred to voters and to ban foreign funding
for ballot measures to amend portions of Arkansas the Arkansas code that resulted from initiated Act 1 of 1996.
Representative McElhinney, you're recognized to explain your bill.
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:30:34
Thank you. Good afternoon, colleagues. This is House Bill 1837. It's a critical piece of legislation
that is designed to protect the integrity of our democratic process and to safeguard Arkansas voters from undue foreign influence. It seeks to amend existing laws concerning disclosure for matters for voters
and most importantly, bans foreign funding for ballot measures. It is a loophole currently in our law that foreign people cannot donate to elections or to candidates, but they can donate to ballot measures, and this seeks to close that loophole.
Arkansas has a proud tradition of direct democracy through ballot measures.
It allows citizens to shape laws that directly affect their lives, but this process is very vulnerable.
This addresses that vulnerability by prohibiting foreign funding and ensuring that decisions about Arkansas's future are made by Arkansans, not by external interests. And with that, I would
Speaker 330
1:31:24
ask for a good vote. Representative Pilkington, for
what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
1:31:33
sorry, I was traveling the weekend, so I wasn't able to review this, but I just noticed this, and I'm curious if you could explain the difference.
I mean, if you were a member of like the Choctaw Nation or Cherokee Nation, they would still be able to fund ballot measures, right? Those are not considered foreign nations under your law. Okay, thank you. That's just needed
that clarification. Thank you. Thank you. Representative McElindon has explained the bill. Would anyone
like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative McElindon is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1837. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Is everyone voted? Is everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
The vote of 81 yea, 10 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1683.
Chair
Unverified
1:32:35
House Bill 1683 by Representative McEllandon to prohibit the procurement by a governmental entity of an electric vehicle or a component of an electric vehicle that was manufactured in
whole or in part using forced labor.
Representative McElindon, you're recognized to explain your
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:32:52
bill. Thank you. So House Bill 1863
is a critical measure to ensure that Arkansas taxpayers do not support industries that are built on forced labor. This bill specifically prohibits governmental entities from procuring electric vehicles or their components if they are manufactured using forced labor. This is not a hypothetical issue. It is happening right now. A significant portion of the world's cobalt, a mineral essential
for electric vehicle batteries, is mined using children as young as four years old, according to a congressional commission. In the Congo, these children spend up to 12 hours a day in dangerous gravel fields or in perilous mine shafts, not by choice, but by force, because the demand of cobalt has skyrocketed, driven largely by the global push for more batteries. Likewise, in China, where over 60% of the world's lithium and cobalt are refined, Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities are subjected to forced labor under state imposed labor transfer programs.
These programs involve coercion, mass detentions, constant surveillance with workers forced into mining and refining operations for critical minerals. I am a firm believer in the free market. An educated market can and should regulate itself. But there are moral lines we should never cross. One of those lines is allowing children to be exploited for the sake of electric vehicle production, especially when ethical alternatives exist. Just like the diamond industry took steps to eliminate blood diamonds, automakers are
working to source minerals responsibly. Many leading manufacturers are shifting towards battery technologies that reduce or eliminate the need for cobalt. Tesla uses a lithium-ion phosphate battery in some models which require absolutely no cobalt. General Motors is transitioning to a nickel, magnesium, cobalt, aluminum, as well as the LFP battery chemistries, which significantly reduce the cobalt. Rivian is also working to ethically source and develop battery technologies that, again, reduce our reliance on cobalt.
Federal guidelines already encourage this shift. By 2025, at least 60% of battery components will be manufactured or assembled in the U.S. Critical minerals must be sourced from the U.S. or free trade partners, according to federal guidelines as well. So this transition is already underway, and HB 1683 ensures that Arkansas leads by example. As legislators, we are entrusted with taxpayer dollars, and we have a duty to spend them wisely and ethically. This means ensuring that we do not fund an industry that exploits and enslaves children.
HB 1683 upholds Arkansas's commitment to human rights and moral responsibility. The Auto Alliance has engaged extensively on this discussion and is neutral on the bill. have no objections and the governor's office also supports it and with that I ask for your support on HP 1863 to ensure that Arkansas does not contribute to forced labor in the electric vehicle supply chain and I ask for a good vote thank you representative
McElinden has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Collins you're recognized speak against
Representative Andrew Collins
Unverified
1:35:55
Bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, it goes without saying everybody in this chamber is against forced labor. Obviously, that's something that we all would love to have a hand in stopping or avoid participating in any kind of market that supports it. But there are some real issues with this bill. And Representative McElhin and I have talked about these, but I want to make sure that everyone knows exactly these two big issue areas of this bill. First of all, there are penalties here against state agencies
as well as individual state employees or city employees who engage in a contract to buy an electric vehicle. This is really unusual. I have yet to find any example of where we've done this anywhere else in law. And the other aspect of it is, would it go to a court or Or would it go to an agency to assess the fine? If it goes to a court, you've got sovereign immunity. The state is usually immune from suit in its courts, so that would be a waiver of sovereign
immunity by the state in violation of our existing law. So that would be a huge legal problem with this. If it's an administrative agency, then you've got due process as a problem. So you've got an agency finding that there was some sort of an issue in fining a state employee or a city employee for buying an electric vehicle. It's just, it's all a little bit vague. And then you have another issue related to all this, which is that the fine can actually be assessed against a car manufacturer or dealer as well.
So does that go to an agency? What agency has jurisdiction to assess that fine? And if it's a court, who's going to sue? Because there's no private right of action in the bill. I realize this is all probably just a lot of legalese for some people, and it may not move your vote, but for me it's a huge concern, and I think that I don't think the Attorney General's office is totally resolved on this bill either, although they can speak for themselves. The other thing I want to mention is who came and testified for this bill and committee.
It is a fringe group that is really noted for their climate change denial. They were famous for putting up billboards at the Unabomber, and when they were asked about it, they said people who have supported climate change are some of the most vile, you know, people who have existed, et cetera. That's not a direct quote. But if you look at the bill and what it's doing, it's making it a lot more difficult to buy electric vehicles. And if you look at who's behind the bill, it's an anti-climate change group, or I guess pro-climate change group.
Maybe that's fine with you. Maybe you like it for that reason. That's fine. we should be aware of what we're doing. And if we're saying that it's about forced labor, we should acknowledge that the group behind this bill has an agenda that goes way beyond forced labor. And for these reasons, I'll be a no. Thanks.
- Representative Collins has spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the
bill? Against the bill? Representative McElhinden, you're recognized to close for your bill.
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:39:09
- Thank you. Representative Collins did bring up those
issues in committee, and they were somewhat resolved. He did speak with the Attorney General's office. I spoke with the Attorney General's office after that. We made an amendment based on some of his changes, and they were very comfortable with where we are and how this process will go through. And so myself not being a lawyer, I fully trust their ability to handle that and the legal side of that. So I feel very comfortable about that. As far as the people who came and testified, I did not get the bill from them. I got the bill from somewhere else where I feel like it was a really important issue
to me. I feel like we can do something about that in our state. We have the ability to make a very small change that can mean a lot to a lot of young children. So I think that's really important. The fact that someone came and testified on forced labor in electric vehicles but has other opinions is irrelevant. It doesn't matter. I didn't ask them to come and speak about any climate change. I don't care what their opinions are on climate change. I cared about this woman's expertise in the area of forced labor,
and that's what I asked her to come and testify on, and that's what matters as far as this bill goes. So with that, I would ask
for a good vote. Representative McElindon is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1683. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted?
Cast up the ballot. The vote of 74 yea, 14 nay, and 5 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1846. House
Chair
Unverified
1:40:53
Bill 1846 by Representative Meeks to create the Arkansas 2036 Commission. Representative Meeks, you're recognized
to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, colleagues, when
I was a freshman lawmaker, One of the pieces of advice that I got from a congressman was that the difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician is only concerned about his next election,
whereas a statesman is worried about the next generation. And that's kind of the genesis of this bill. I've been the senior member of this body for the last, I don't know, 12 years or so. My time is coming to an end, and so I wanted to do one last thing, if you will, a gift to the next generation, and that's what the genesis of this bill is. especially to the freshman class as you can see the Arkansas 2036 that's our 200th birthday as a state and so the freshman class they will be the senior class for our state's 200th birthday. Now I've had the opportunity to travel
across our country we've got a beautiful country and I noticed that if we go back a hundred years people that lived then they were building all sorts of wonderful things. We have the Arch in St. Louis, we have the Golden Gate Bridge, The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Mount Rushmore, the Space Needle in Seattle, all these icons of our country. We haven't done any of that lately. What is our generation going to leave so that when our state celebrates our 300th birthday, they'll have something that we've left?
Our 100th birthday, we had this great capital, so what comes next? So obviously we're going to do all the normal things you would do for the celebration of a state, but I want us to go beyond that. And I want to cast a vision. What could we build that would be amazing, that would cause people to say, hey, you've got to go to Arkansas and see this thing? And I have no idea what that is, but what my hope is is that with the establishment of this commission, that we would send out that challenge to all the East Labs across the state, to all the architectural firms across the state.
Send us your best ideas about what we could do as a state to build whatever this great thing is. And I don't know what this is. One idea could possibly be a state museum. I don't know if any of you have ever been down to the Department of Heritage. We have all sorts of wonderful state artifacts down there that nobody ever gets to see because they're stored away and there's nowhere to show them to the public. You know, if I were to ask you, have you ever seen the U.S. Constitution? You can go to the National Archives. You can see an original copy of the U.S. Constitution.
Has anybody in this body ever seen the original Arkansas Constitution? It's somewhere stored, but it's not out there for the public to see, right? And so that is one idea. A lot of states do this. Tennessee's got a beautiful one. Representative Ray told me about one. It was Alaska that has one. State of Illinois has one. Again, I don't know that it is a state museum. I'm just saying let's explore these ideas so as we get ready for our 200th birthday, maybe we can celebrate the grand opening of something fabulous for our state.
This sets up a commission to the Department of Heritage. They're on board with it. They're ready to get going. It says the people who are on this commission don't receive compensation. They're doing it for volunteer. And with
that, I will happy to take any questions. Seeing none, appreciate it. Good vote. Representative Meeks has explained
the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Meeks is
closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1846.
Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. is everyone voted it's everyone voted cast up
the ballot the vote of 84 yay four nay and seven present the bill is passed madam clerk please read house
Chair
Unverified
1:44:49
bill 1925 hospital 1925 by representative Beatty to amend the law
concerning absentee ballots and to require an oath for an
absentee ballot. Representative Beatty, you're recognized
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:45:01
to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, I'm here to present House Bill 1925, which is an amendment concerning absentee ballots. Basically, the amendment to strengthen the integrity of absentee ballots by emphasizing the importance of accurate information, confirming voter identity, and introducing a witness requirement on the absentee ballot for verification.
That I appreciate a good vote. Representative Beatty has explained the bill. Would anyone
like to speak against the bill? For the bill? Representative Beatty is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1925.
Speaker 242
1:45:37
Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. The vote of 78 yay, 17 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed.
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1929. House
Chair
Unverified
1:46:04
Bill 1929 by Representative McElhinney to create the Recognizing Judea and
Samaria Acts and to prohibit state agencies from using the term West Bank and official
government materials. Representative McElhinney, you are recognized to
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:46:20
explain your bill. All right, last one today, I promise. House Bill 1929 recognizes Judea
and Samaria. It's not really just language. It's a matter of historical accuracy.
It also reflects Arkansas's enduring relationship with Israel, a partnership that is built on shared values, mutual respect, and economic cooperation. Arkansas has a longstanding connection with Israel that transcends politics. Since 1948, Arkansas has been a friend to Israel, recognizing the importance as a beacon of democracy in the Middle East. This relationship has been strengthened through trade agreements, cultural exchanges, and partnerships and innovation. The connection between Arkansas and the area of Judea and Samaria is deeply rooted in cultural heritage that is shared.
Cities across Arkansas bear the names of inspired biblical locations in Judea, Samaria, Bethel, Hebron, Shiloh, Salem, highlighting how these regions resonate with Arkansans on a spiritual and historical level. By recognizing these areas by their historical name, rather than a political-charged term like the West Bank, we honor this shared heritage, and we affirm the importance of these regions to millions of people worldwide. Arkansas has demonstrated its commitment to supporting Israel through legislation like Act 710,
which prohibits state agencies from contracting with companies that boycott Israel. This act reflects Arkansas's stance against economic discrimination, targeting one of our closest allies. This bill continues the tradition by ensuring that official state materials use a language that respects the historical truth rather than perpetuating politically motivated terminology. This legislation is not about taking sides in an international dispute. Instead, it represents an opportunity for Arkansas to lead with integrity, honoring the history while building a brighter future alongside Israel.
And with that, I ask for a good vote. Representative McElindon has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Before the bill? Representative McElindon is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1929. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Is everyone voted?
Is everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With
a vote of 79 yea, 11 nay and one present, the bill is passed. Members, at the request
of Representative Wayne Long, we will pass over House Bill 1914 today. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1913. House
Chair
Unverified
1:49:03
Bill 1913 by Representative Moore to amend the law concerning driver's licenses and to amend the law concerning the qualifications for an immediate driver's license.
Representative Moore you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:49:26
you Mr. Speaker my apologies. House bill 1913. This bill was brought to
me because a dear friend of mine has a son who had his learner's permit. At that time he got into a slight fender bender. He did everything by the book. His mother was with him in the vehicle. They exchanged insurance. They called the cops to issue a
police report, and everything was fine. In fact, it did more damage to his car than the person that he bumped into. Fast forward, this 17-year-old now turns 18, goes into the revenue office, and takes his driver's license exam, both the written and the skills portion, and tries to get his license. Turns out that he was turned down because he has to wait a year from the point of that accident before he can get his license. Now, what's kind of funny is that
if he had taken the exams before his 18th birthday when he
was still 17, he would have been eligible for what's called an intermediate driver's license. Now, an intermediate driver's license has a curfew on it, I believe, and you can only have one other minor in the vehicle, but it still helps you get from point A to
point B so if he had taken his exams before his 18th birthday when he goes off to college this fall he would still be able to drive himself from point A to point B but because he simply turned 18 the state is now punishing him
for doing the right thing this bill 1913 fixes
that and allows anybody to achieve their intermediate driver's license while still waiting a full year from the point of a serious accident to get their full-fledged driver's license. Well, if that'll take any questions. Seeing
that, I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Moore has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Moore is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1913. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
has everyone voted has everyone voted cast up the ballot the
vote of 96 yay zero nay and one present bill is passed madam clerk please read House Bill 1809 House Bill 1809
Chair
Unverified
1:51:52
by Representative Warren to allow for property owned by a trust or limited liability companies to qualify as homestead for purposes of a property tax exemption for disabled veterans in certain circumstances Representative Warren you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank You Mr.
Representative Les Warren
Unverified
1:52:08
Speaker. Colleagues this bill is being presented at the request of the tax collectors throughout the state. There has been an issue for disabled veterans with respect to the homestead exemption on their primary residence. For a multitude of reasons the disabled veterans primary residence can be held in a revocable trust an irrevocable trust or an LLC. As long as the trust or LLC names the disabled veteran as the beneficiary or sole member the disabled veteran will be able
to claim the homestead exemption for their primary residence any questions i'll be glad to ask i'd appreciate a good vote representative warren
has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill for
the bill representative warren is closed for the bill question before the house is the passage of house bill 1809 prepare the machine madam clerk
everyone voted it's everyone voted cast up the ballot with a vote of 94 yay
zero nay and zero present The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read
Chair
Unverified
1:53:31
House Bill 1685. House Bill 1685 by Representative Underwood to create the Grocery Tax Relief Act to amend the law concerning
the sales and use tax levied on food and food ingredients
as affirmed by Referred Act 19 of 1958 and to exempt groceries from state sales and use taxes.
Representative Underwood, recognize to explain your bill. Thank you,
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
1:53:49
Mr. Speaker. colleagues, this is the Grocery Tax Relief Act that eliminates the state grocery tax in Arkansas. I do want to thank the members of Revin
Tax who voted to pass this out of committee. I appreciate that. This bill aims to provide a little more relief to all of our constituents in an effort to combat historic inflation and rising costs nationally in recent years. As many of you know, we are number one in the low cost of living, but a recent study that I read in the news recently said that Arkansas ranked third in the
percentage of income that's spent on groceries. And this is also an effort by Governor Sanders administration to cut over burdensome taxes. So quickly I just want to go over some things that the bill does. It only eliminates the state sales and use tax on food and food ingredients while maintaining local government's ability to tax those items. Municipal League and the counties suggested some amendments. I accepted every single one of their amendments so they were fine with the bill. I also want to note that prepared foods like dining out and candy, soda,
alcohol, tobacco, those are not included in the exemption so they'll still be subject to taxation and foods that are simply cut, repackaged, or pasteurized are exempt from taxes. So that essentially means meat, produce, and of
Speaker 370
1:55:00
course eggs. I'm happy to take any questions. Seeing none, I appreciate a good vote. Representative Underwood has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for
the bill? Representative Underwood is closed for the bill.
Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1685. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote of 96 yay, 2 nay,
and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1636.
Speaker 363
1:55:51
House Bill 1636 by Representative Ray to amend the Arkansas Soft Drink Tax Act as affirmed by
Chair
Unverified
1:55:56
Referred Act 1 of 1994 and to phase out the soft drink tax based on sales tax collections from sales of soft drinks. Representative Ray, you're recognized
to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Representative David Ray
Unverified
1:56:08
colleagues. This is House Bill 1636, a bill to phase out the excise tax on soft drinks. So I know a lot of you have been lobbied on this bill. You've received a lot of email. So I want to try to do my best to go into as much detail as I can. I want to start with, I see Representative Shepard laughing
back there. Maybe I shouldn't go into so much detail. I wanted to start with how in the world did we get into this mess where we have a soft drink tax. In 1992 there was a special session called at the behest of Governor Jim Guy Tucker and it was to address a one-time budget shortfall in the Medicaid budget. And part of what they did to address that was they passed this soft drink tax. So even though we had a temporary one-time problem, the tax never went away. 33 years later we
still have the tax. It's sort of like President Reagan said, there's nothing quite so permanent as a temporary government program. In 1994, there was an unsuccessful referendum on the tax. That is why it takes a two-thirds vote to do anything related to this measure. If it were not for that referendum, I have a good feeling this tax would have gone away a long time ago. So fast forward to 2017. Governor Hutchinson at the time decided he wanted to exempt the military retirement income from the income tax. But he didn't want to do just a straight income
tax cut. He wanted to include pay-fors with that. So one of the things that was included in that bill was it removed soda soft drinks from the definition of grocery. So at that point in time, starting in 2017, soft drinks were subject to double taxation. Once on the excise tax, which is substantial in its own right, and second, you pay full freight on the sales tax, which is also substantial since we have the third-highest combined state and local sales tax in the entire country.
And if that's not bad enough, the soda excise tax is literally a tax on top of a tax because it's levied on the final cost of the product, which includes the sales tax. So of the $42.8 million a year that the soda tax brings in, Several million dollars of that is literally just the excise tax being applied to the sales tax. So in that sense, it's a tax on a tax on a tax. To give you some context of just how much the soft drink tax is,
I was trying to think of a comparison. You can't really compare it to any other states because we're the only state that has it. But it's a tax that's levied per gallon on the finished product. And so I turned to beer taxes because every state has an excise tax on beer. And if you were to rank all of the state's excise taxes on beer, you would find that Arkansas taxes soda more than 22 different states tax beer on a per-gallon basis.
The money generated from this tax does not go into general revenue. It is special revenue. It's one of six funding sources that go into the Medicaid trust fund. So here we are today. Arkansas is the only state that has this tax. So how would this bill work? The bill is set up in a way to initiate a minimum of a five-year phase-out of this tax, decreasing it gradually each year until it's finally phased out. And I think that's important to mention because the phase-out is a
method that we've used successfully on a lot of different taxes. It was used successfully during Governor Beebe's years on the grocery tax, except for the last part that we just got rid of. We used it last session with Representative Beatty's bill on the throwback rule, phasing it out over time. It's basically the same way we have done income taxes in the state over the last 10 or 12 years, gradually reducing them bit by bit. But that's -- the other thing I want to mention is this legislation contains revenue triggers
to ensure that the money going away from the elimination of the excise tax is fully replaced by the sales tax portion of the soft drink coming in to general revenue. This will be certified each year in an annual report by DF&A, and the bill is set up to ensure that no more than one step of the phase down can occur in any given year. It could take six years to phase out, it could take seven years to phase out, but there's no scenario in which it would phase out sooner than five years. So a couple things I want to mention
about this. Arkansas is the last state in the country to have this onerous tax. Since we passed this tax in 1992, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Maine, Washington State, and finally last year, West Virginia, repealed their soda tax. So we're an extreme outlier in this area of policy, and not in a good way. Also, I mentioned this before, but this is double taxation. It's totally unfair what we are doing to these
businesses, businesses that invest in our state and create jobs for our citizens. No one in here would want their business and the input products in it to be double-taxed. We often talk about government picking winners and losers, and usually when we say that it's a reference to government picking winners, subsidizing favorite industries or giving them special sweetheart deals in the tax code. But that's not the case in what we're doing here. These folks aren't asking for some sort of special credit or carve-out, these businesses are only asking
for their product to be treated the same way we treat all other similar products, which is to tax it once at the final stage of production on a consumption tax. We know this tax is economically damaging. The beverage industry in Arkansas employs over 1,600 Arkansans, including hundreds of people in the soft drink and distribution jobs. And just six months ago, the industry invested $25 million in an expansion in West Memphis, creating more workers and expanding
their footprint. The number of employees indirectly impacted by this business is also substantial. Hospitality is the second biggest industry in our state. Passing this bill would help our grocery stores, our convenience stores, the restaurants in all of our towns, as well as consumers who enjoy these products. It's also worth mentioning that the soda tax is extremely regressive. Tax Foundation has a report on this that shows that three-fourths of soda tax is paid by
families that make under $100,000. So your poorer Arkansans are shouldering a larger share of the burden than upper-income families. why, because it's so regressive, a lot of even progressive politicians nationally have opposed soda taxes. This tax also has a lot of downstream effects that people don't often think about. It is so poorly constructed that it captures way more than just full-calorie soda. It captures diet soda, it captures bottled and canned tea, bottled and canned coffee,
even fruit juice. If it doesn't have just the right amount that the government prescribes, includes exercise drinks like Gatorade, Powerade, vitamin water, even Propel, which is basically just water with electrolytes added. And another point I would make is that voters do not want these sorts of taxes. Shortly after the tax was passed in 1992, it was subject to a referendum that was unsuccessful. And so because there was a referendum 33 years ago, there are some people who will try to claim that it's the will of the voters that we have this tax. The reality is that
That was 33 years ago at a time when our state was dramatically different, politically different, and we were in the shadow of that 1992 budget crisis. Nothing at all like the situation we find ourselves in today. And when this issue has been subject to a referendum in other states, it has prevailed overwhelmingly. In fact, in 2009, when Congress was debating Obamacare, there were some people that wanted a national soda tax to be included as part of that. That idea was so unpopular that President Obama even rejected it out of hand.
So I know the issue that has been brought to everybody's attention is what effect will this legislation have on Medicaid. I know that's what you've all been lobbied on and contacted about. Most Medicaid is funded out of general revenue, and it's category A funding. It receives the highest priority in our budget, just like our public schools, just like our state police, the idea that we are not going to fully fund Medicaid is just not a realistic
suggestion. I've mentioned several times that we're the only state in America that has this tax. There's 50 states in America, they all have Medicaid programs and they all fund their Medicaid programs and there's 49 other states that fund their Medicaid programs without this tax. To believe that the only way we can fund Medicaid in Arkansas is to have this special tax that no one else has is preposterous. You know, we spend well over $2 billion a year on Medicaid. This tax
is $45 million, so you can do the math. And because of these concerns that have been expressed to you is precisely the way, the reason that the bill's been structured this way. Those of you who were here in 2021 remember Representative Lanny Fite's proposal that was a three-year phase-out of the soda tax. This bill is a five-year phase-out, so it is even more gradual, more incremental, including revenue triggers, designed in a way to lessen the impact to the budget as much as possible.
I think that explains the bill, and with that, I'll take questions.
Speaker 376
2:06:23
Representative Wardlaw, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. I asked the same question
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
2:06:27
a few years ago to Representative Landy Fike, so I'll ask you. If you go to Springfield, Missouri, and you buy a Coke at a McDonald's, you come to Harrison, Arkansas, and you buy a Coke at McDonald's, the price is the same. So when we cut this sales tax, who gets the money? Does the consumer get it, or does
the guy that owns McDonald's that's paying the actual syrup tax get
Representative David Ray
Unverified
2:06:50
it? That's a fair question. And what I would tell you is that all taxes on business
are eventually borne by the consumer. You know, it was asked in committee, you know, what will this do to the price of a can of Coke? You know, what I can tell you is that when we lower taxes on our hardworking businesses in this state, it enables them to hire more workers, to pay their workers more, to pay their workers overtime, maybe to expand, invest in their business, open a new location, and yes, even sometimes lowering their prices to be more competitive.
I know that you've gotten emails, because I've gotten them too, that sort of ridicule the amount of tax that's placed on this product. That's a tactic that we often hear in this chamber. Every time we try to cut income taxes, there's somebody that takes the overall amount of the tax cut, and then they divide it by the number of days in a year and try to say, oh, well, you're only saving $1.16 a day or something like that. If we don't think that lowering onerous taxes on businesses ends up helping consumers,
I don't know why anybody in this chamber ever voted to lower the corporate income tax. So we know that lowering our tax burden makes us more
Speaker 332
2:08:09
economically competitive. Representative Pilkington, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized.
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
2:08:14
David, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is obviously we use state revenue to bring in a certain amount of federal dollars. There's the match. Obviously, when this first idea was out there, I was in favor of it.
The FMAP looked good, but things have changed. And now that our match is different, there's concerns about the Medicaid trust fund and insolvency. Can you speak to that insolvency issue with the Medicaid trust fund and then also shed some light on how many federal dollars we'll be turning away if we
Representative David Ray
Unverified
2:08:45
pass this? Thank you. Yeah. So thank you for the question. But talking about the match, Medicaid gets
the match when it's spent on Medicaid. It doesn't just get matched when it's put into the trust fund. There's nothing magical about the trust fund that happens when money goes in there
and then, you know, manna from heaven rains down from Washington. It's matched when it's spent on that Medicaid purpose. So, you know, like I said a moment ago in my presentation, The idea that we would not fund Medicaid, which is one of the highest priorities in
our budget, is just not a realistic scenario. So I have full confidence in
that. Representative Allen, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized.
Representative Fred Allen
Unverified
2:09:27
Thank you, Representative Ray, for your bill. We are talking about cutting approximately $40 million. Is that correct?
Yes. Yes, sir. When you cut $40 million out of our budget, some services will be reduced or eliminated. So what services will be
Representative David Ray
Unverified
2:09:50
cut? I don't anticipate any services being cut. The bill is structured in
a way so that the only way that the tax is phased out or phased down is if the sales tax portion of the soft drink tax meets or exceeds the amount that's being reduced.
Representative Fred Allen
Unverified
2:10:08
So explain to me how can you cut $40 million out of a budget and nothing will
Representative David Ray
Unverified
2:10:17
be cut? Well, the same way in that, you know, we've cut income taxes three times over the
last two years and it has totaled several hundreds of millions of dollars, probably close to half a billion dollars. And I'm not aware of any services that we have cut as a result of lowering those taxes. So, in the same manner that I just described. Representative Woodridge, for what purpose?
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
Unverified
2:10:38
Question. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I kind of want to follow up to Representative Pilkington. I think originally, you know, I felt good about this as well, and to follow up on Representative Wardlaw, if we were passing this directly to the consumer, that's a different situation for me. But with the climate that we're in now, the changes, the uncertainty of Medicaid, the math as he mentioned you know those dollars that are in the trust fund are spent and they are returned back so I guess your solution to that or the the argument would be that we'll just spend that out of general revenue and there's not going to be a loss in revenue to that program is that what you're saying
Representative David Ray
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2:11:11
or your understanding would be yeah so the soft drink the sales tax on soft drinks does go into general revenue and that in the amount the bill is set up in a way to ensure that the amount that's going in far exceeds the amount that's being phased down, so the excise tax will not go away unless that revenue is replaced. As far as your concern about the timing and what might happen with FMAP and those other sorts of things, I would say that this tax has been on the books for 33 years.
There's never going to be a perfect time to do the right thing. I think that this tax has gone on long enough. at a point, you know, when we passed it in 1992, we were one of, I think, 12 states that had it. We're now the only state that has it. There will never be a perfect time to make hard decisions like this,
but, you know, 33 years is long enough to fix a one-time problem that occurred in 1992. Follow-up. You're recognized.
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
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2:12:13
Thank you, sir. I appreciate that. I understand that, yes, there is
no good time to make a hard decision. So a lot of folks in this chamber, and I know you've been part of discussions too are working to help get some additional funding for
senior citizens and things like that do you feel like that that with the elimination of this tax that we put
Representative David Ray
Unverified
2:12:31
any of that funding in jeopardy I don't think it's gonna put it in jeopardy at all and in fact in revenue and tax this morning we passed out a bill that representative McClure's bill that I think sends seven million additional dollars to our
Speaker 386
2:12:45
senior centers thank you seeing that representative Lynch for what purpose question you're recognized
Representative Roger D. Lynch
Unverified
2:12:49
Representative Ray, how can you guarantee that the monies lost in this special revenue will be replaced out
of general revenue? It's in the bill. And there's
Representative David Ray
Unverified
2:13:00
a mechanism in the bill stipulates that DF&A will certify— Oh no, what the bill stipulates is that— No, I'm not going to argue with you. You asked a question, and I'm going to provide you an answer. Will you? Repeat your question.
Representative Roger D. Lynch
Unverified
2:13:16
Okay, so how can you guarantee that the dollars that are replacing the money that's being lost,
that are going into general revenue, will then be placed back in Medicaid to support those programs that this tax is currently supporting? Because
Representative David Ray
Unverified
2:13:31
the only way there would ever be an issue funding Medicaid is if the members of this body, for some inexplicable reason, decided to make it an issue. So, thank you. Representative Breyer, for what purpose? a question sir you're recognized uh
Representative Johnny Rye
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2:13:49
represent david what i'm concerned about is we like about a week getting out of here and we are looking at everything and the budgets have basically almost
have all been set and i i'm concerned about this uh i wouldn't have stood up but you
Speaker 396
2:14:03
know can you can you hold your mic a little bit okay you're talking about 40
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
2:14:09
million dollars okay but then you've got matching funds from the feds well i mean david excuse me uh representative david uh the budgets have basically been almost set and I'm concerned about that because this is a mass amount of money that we possibly have not got a replacement for at this time.
Representative David Ray
Unverified
2:14:27
Representative Ryan, as I mentioned in response to a previous question,
the money is not matched when it's put into the trust fund. That's not the way it works. There's nothing magical about it when it goes into the trust fund. The money's matched when it's spent on Medicaid. As far as the replacement revenue goes, I've mentioned the the bill is structured in a way that the total amount of the tax, if it was fully phased out, would be $42.8 million. The amount, that last revenue trigger will not kick in until there's north of $50 million
in soft drink sales tax revenue coming in. So that's built into the bill.
Speaker 399
2:15:07
Representative McKenzie, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Thank you, Speaker. Representative Ray, I just
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
2:15:11
want to make sure we're not losing the forest for the trees. Can you help me understand more about these triggers? There's a lot to be said about the match that's going on right now and what happens with general revenue. I know it's in the bill, but I want to understand $40 million does provide sticker shock, but it seems through a five-year phase-out you've done some work to help alleviate that.
how did you get to that
Representative David Ray
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2:15:38
per annum basis? Okay. So the way the triggers will work is at the end of the fiscal year, the legislation tasks DF&A with certifying through a report the amount of sales tax revenue that is generated through Softrix. When that amount meets the benchmarks set out in legislation that will initiate one step of a phase down in the in the tax in the
excise tax there can be no more than one step down in a fiscal year so if the trigger is not met then the tax will not be reduced if the trigger is met then the tax is reduced for that year and then we move on to
the next year that's how it works representative kavanaugh for
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
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2:16:26
what purpose question you're recognized and representative ray thanks for
taking all the questions and I just want to clarify when the trigger happens and the reduction happens in the soda tax and we talk about the sales tax on soda drinks there's nothing in the bill
directs that that sales tax on the sodas goes to the trust fund it just still stays in general revenue correct that's correct
Speaker 405
2:16:51
it goes into general revenue and as I mentioned the
Representative David Ray
Unverified
2:16:55
vast majority of Medicaid is funded out of general revenue. Very few states actually have a Medicaid trust fund. We're one of seven or eight states that do. And those trust funds in other states are not meant to be a slush fund for all sorts of monies that go in. They are, in other states, intended to collect provider fees, various and sundry provider fees, to sort of keep them from being commingled
with general funds to ensure that they're used on the purposes that they were levied for. So that's the reason that the bill is
Chair
Unverified
2:17:30
put together that way. Representative Carolyn Brown for what purpose? Question.
You're recognized for question. Representative Bray, this soda tax is not the only source of revenue for the Medicaid trust
Representative David Ray
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2:17:42
fund. Is that correct? That's correct. There's six different revenue sources in the trust
fund. It also includes ambulance license fees, Medicaid transport provider assessment fees, quality assurance receipts,
intermediate care facility fee receipts, and hospital assessment fees. So all these other fees are going into that trust fund.
And the current balance is $524 million. It's over a half
Representative David Ray
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2:18:01
a billion dollars. So we have sufficient money. I am certain of that. Thank you. All right. With that,
I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Ray has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak
Speaker 132
2:18:23
against the bill? Representative Wooten. Are you speaking against the bill?
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
2:18:30
After that, I can hardly walk over here. Let me share with you my position has been that if the funds were replaced, that I would be forward doing away with the tax. There's no guarantee in this bill. none whatsoever. 880,000 people in Arkansas depend on the trust fund. I don't care whether
you call it federally or state funding, but 880,000, 420,000 of them are children. They didn't ask to be a part of that. They didn't ask to be a part of the federal funding part of the bill, but they are, and we owe them the responsibility to take care of them. Now, let me share with you something else you need to consider.
The stock market is down 6,000 points today, not in total, but over the past week. down to about $34,000. Let me also share with you, there's no guarantee on the federal funds right now. $179 million has already been taken away from the Health Department and the Department
of Human Services, $179 million, $139 million for a new pay plan. You add those numbers up. It doesn't take you long to see and to get to a billion dollars perhaps that could be taken away from Arkansas. We need to keep that in mind and I'm surprised I'm gonna refresh Representative Ray's comments.
30 years before 1992, I appeared before the Revenue and Taxation Committee in the Marion hotel with a petition in favor of a soft drink tax for higher education in this state to be able to build buildings. Thirty years before 1992 and we enacted it in the wisdom of the legislature because the
state was in dire straits and we enacted it. We may be the only state, but that doesn't mean we're wrong. It's just the fact that we have a solar drain tax. And if you think for one minute that that industry is going to cut the bill or the convenience stores and I'm part of that industry, I own them all over the state, had truck stops, I can
almost guarantee you that you won't see a reduction in cost of your soda drinks. And Representative Ray, in the last two efforts by the Revenue and Taxation Committee to support three billion dollar industry coming into Southwest Arkansas and a fifty billion dollar remodeling craft Arkansas craft or Green Bay packing he voted
against it and he's down here today asking you to take a tax away and did you just well sit down because I'm not going
Speaker 419
2:22:47
to represent a wooden representative Rose what purpose point of order I'll hear
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
2:22:52
your point of order would request that the representative keep his comments to the bill and not the bill sponsor and other related bills or unrelated
bills. Representative Wooten if you would speak against the bill not against the member or the bill sponsor.
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
2:23:11
What I said was true. We owe it to the disabled. We owe it to the children of this state to give them a guarantee that it will be funded and it's not in this bill. The money will not be replaced and we've already lost 179 million. I'm repeating myself because I
think that's a critical point that we all need to be aware of. This is a serious matter that needs your total attention and you don't need to be confused by the fact that the general revenues will be used. You don't need to be
confused by someone trying to force me out of the well. Thank you. Representative Wooten has
spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Hawke, you're recognized to
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
2:24:30
speak for the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And look, I understand this can be a very challenging thing. When we're
talking about the Medicaid and the money, but Representative Ray has already outlined multiple times that we're not cutting the funds out of the Medicaid trust fund. He has said that multiple times and it's stated in the bill it's going to come out of the general fund. And look, any time that we go to do a corporate tax, almost everybody in this
room voted for the corporate tax the last go around. In fact, I believe this morning we also did a bill on rice to give a tax exemption on that to help businesses in Arkansas. Look, Coca-Cola Bottling Company right here in Little Rock just made a $25 million investment in West Memphis, Arkansas to expand here in Arkansas. If we cut that tax off of them, that's going to allow them to give more back to Arkansas. I was thinking about what Representative Wardlaw said earlier today about the McDonald's Coke going from Missouri to Arkansas. I actually went and spoke to Coca-Cola
Bottling Company, had an in-depth conversation, and with the rise of inflation right now, if they didn't have this tax, they would be able to bring down costs, whether you see it immediately or not. But those bottles of Coke that are distributed out of Little Rock or West Memphis, they could bring those costs down by not having not one, but both of these taxes. And so with that, this is an economic development deal as much as anything else, and I'll be voting yes on this. Thank you. Representative Hawkins spoke for the bill.
Chair
Unverified
2:25:59
Would you like to speak against the bill? Representative Mayberry, you're recognized to
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
2:26:10
speak against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Representative Ray. I know that you're trying to cut taxes.
I just think this is the wrong tax. I think we need to continue to work on the income tax. I thought that's what our goal was, was to eliminate the income tax. And by getting rid of this, it's going to make it a lot harder to do that.
Let's rewind the clock a little bit to why we got this tax to begin with. Back in the early 90s, the voters in the state of Arkansas voted for this tax. And I believe it's because it aligns with their values. They know that this tax is helping the most vulnerable people in the state of Arkansas. They know that it's helping the elderly. They know it's helping those with disabilities. know it's helping children. That's why we don't want to get rid of this tax. This is
a safety net. There was problems in the early 90s. Not really clear if they were going to be able to pay the bills. And I think we can all agree that there's a lot of stuff going on nationally, and I think we want to make sure we can pay our bills here in the state of Arkansas, and this is going to make it harder. Let me tell you what happens if this passes. You're going to go back to your community, and I doubt you're going to have anybody come up to you
and say, oh, yay, my Coke was cheaper. My soda was cheaper. Thank you. You're not going to hear that, but what you are going to hear is you're going to get emails. You're going to get phone calls. You're going to get stopped in the grocery store. You're going to have someone sitting next to you at church. And they're going to come up and tell you that they are not able to get the services that they used to be able to get. You're going to have senior citizens, grandparents coming and talking to you about those problems.
You're going to have families with children with disabilities who already struggle to get what they need covered. Right now, we have in the state of Arkansas, dentists all over the state who have not had a raise in their rates in 18 years for Medicaid. 18 years. What they're getting for a Medicaid patient right now in their dental clinic is exactly what it was 18 years ago. Yet we know that everything has gone up in price.
We know that minimum wage has gone up significantly. They are dropping Medicaid patients. They're not accepting Medicaid anymore because it's so low. Getting rid of this tax is not going to help us get dental care for our kids. I'd appreciate a no vote. Representative Mayberry spoke against the bill.
Would anyone like to speak for the
bill? Against the bill? Representative Ray, you're recognized and closed for the bill.
Representative David Ray
Unverified
2:29:30
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this tax was initiated 33 years ago in response to a specific problem. That problem has gone away. But the tax has remained. It has for decades punished our businesses, our restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, and our consumers. You know, we just passed a bill earlier today to provide a tax break and a sweetheart arrangement for beer and whiskey manufacturers.
I'm not asking for any sort of sweetheart deal. I am only asking that this product not be subject to the most anti-competitive laws of any state in the country. I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm just asking that we don't double-tax this product in a way that we don't do this to any other similar product. And no other state does this. You know, for over a decade, we ridiculed the big government nanny state policies of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
for pushing just this sort of policy all across the country. But Arkansas laid out the blueprint for him. We were doing it decades before he started doing it. You know, and this might sound corny to some of you, but the people that started this country, our founders, literally revolted against their colonizers over a beverage tax. And if we can't bring ourselves to eliminate this ridiculous double tax and phase it out responsibly, gradually, incrementally over time
with revenue triggers in place, then that gives me a lot of concern for where we're going to be in terms of our economic competitiveness as a state. I appreciate the debate today, and I know it's
gone long. I appreciate a good vote. Representative Ray is closed for the
bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1636. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. has everyone voted has everyone voted cast
up the ballot for the vote of 49
yeas 38 nays to present bill has failed madam clerk please read house bill 1893
Possible 1893 by Representative Brown to authorize a private
Chair
Unverified
2:31:58
property owner or business owner to ban an emotional support animal from the private property or the business premises and to regulate liability on private property related to emotional support animals. Representative Brown, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank
you, Mr. Speaker. Don't worry, y'all. No puns
this time. This bill does exactly what the
title says. You may recall last session we passed a bill to help landlords out with the abuse that they're having with emotional support animals.
This bill simply provides two things. Number one, if you have a private business, such as a restaurant, you can ban emotional support animals from your business by putting a sign on the door. I noticed this session that several of the restaurants here in Little Rock have had to start doing that. This simply gives a little bit of a legal effect to that in the background. The second thing this thing does is if you are a business that, whether you ban them or not, and somebody brings in an emotional support animal and it bites someone, the business is not on the hook for that unless the business acted with gross negligence. With that, I appreciate a good
vote. Representative Brown has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill?
Representative Brown is closed for the bill. The question before the
House is the passage of House Bill 1893. Prepare the machine, Madam
Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the
ballot. The vote of 91 yay, 1 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1954.
Chair
Unverified
2:33:27
House Bill 1954 by Representative Andrews to create the Arkansas Behavior Analyst Registration Act and to include qualified
behavior analysts under the Arkansas Behavior Analyst Registration Act.
Representative Andrews, you're recognized to explain your bill.
Representative Wade Andrews
Unverified
2:33:40
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues. This is a pretty simple bill. It's pretty much identical to the one Representative Clowney ran a while back. All it does is add qualified Applied Behavioral Analysis Credentialing Board to the bill besides that's the same one that we passed earlier. With that, I hope for a good vote.
Representative Andrews has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill?
Representative Andrews is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1954. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. everyone voted so everyone voted cast up the ballot the vote of 69 yay 16 nay and
9 present bill is passed madam part please read
Chair
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2:34:42
house bill 1943 House Bill 1943 by Representative Johnson to amend the Medicaid provider-led organized care acts to improve the enrollment and selection process in
risk-based provider organizations and to empower the beneficiaries with information. Representative Johnson, you're
recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr.
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
2:34:56
Speaker. Colleagues, what we're trying to do with this bill is improve the enrollment process for individuals going into passes. So right now, if you get diagnosed with tier two, tier three behavioral condition and or you get a place on the waiver wait list, you get enrolled into a pass.
There's a 90 day open enrollment period, but there's not a lot of great information out there to differentiate the four different passes we have. So what we're doing with this bill is we're requiring the passes to create a rating system based on satisfaction, follow up, multiple different factors. The passes then have to post that rating system online. We're also requiring the passes to post their network of providers online so that if you do are trying to look into which pass you might want to be into, you can see, does your provider belong to this pass or maybe a different pass? We're also currently, we have an ombudsman in the Department of Human Services for passes, but now we're going to require that ombudsman to be able to provide information to
individuals about the rating system, about the provider networks, and how to navigate the websites on these passes.
Happy to answer any questions on this bill. Thank you. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Johnson has explained the bill.
Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill, Representative Johnson is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1943. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted?
cast up the ballot madam clerk by a vote of 83 yeas two nay and nine present the bill has passed madam clerk please read house bill 1965.
Chair
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2:36:40
house bill 1965 by representative mccullough to create the arkansas healthy food retail act of
2025 and to provide financial incentives for healthy food retailers in underserved communities
representative mccullough you are recognized to explain the
bill thank you mr speaker i'm here to present hb 1965 known as the healthy food retail act
it addresses the issue of food deserts in our state two years ago i filed a similar bill late in the session and put it into interim study and i've worked on it since i've met with agencies department secretaries associations affiliated with grocers i'm glad to have senator hammer as the senate sponsor the first two pages address important information about why the bill is needed. I'm not going to go through all of that. I'd only make a couple of points. The lack of access to healthy food contributes to diet-related diseases that are way too
prevalent in our state, and we have considered and acted favorably on several bills that focuses on healthy food here in the chamber. The next sections deal with the program's administration. This was a stumbling block a couple of years ago. The bill allows an outside entity like a community development financial institution to manage the program, meeting with Secretary McDonald and others at AEDC helped me to improve the bill in this way. Secretary Putnam and the Wholesale and Retail Grocers Association also offered suggestions
which we've incorporated. This bill clearly states that implementation will only occur as funds are available. The bill lists what funds can and can't be used, what they can and can't be used for, and provides details about the process to create the program and about reporting. Most everyone in this room has an area in their district that would be considered a food desert. Creating this program would be an important first step and is not without precedent. It's an
important issue without a one-size-fits-all answer as shown in this bill. Representative
Underwood, for what purpose you're recognized? Representative McCullough, I watched the
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
2:38:52
committee testimony on this bill, and I think you had mentioned, and I don't know if you said it today, but you mentioned that some of the money could be used for getting a grant or a loan to open like a brick-and-mortar grocery store. Tell me if I'm wrong on that, but if that's the case, would those grocery stores be competing with private
industry grocery stores? I mean, I would
say no. Honestly, the amount of money that it takes to do a brick-and-mortar grocery store, to have some type of grocery store that's like that, that could actually compete with a Kroger and Edwards or Walmart, would be very difficult to put together. If there was any type of grocery store that would be applied for in this program and that would be granted funds, it would be funds that would be from loans and grants
or stacked loans and grants, and it would be such a small community-type place that it wouldn't be competing with any of those stores. As a matter of fact, probably to stock a little community store, People would use vehicles and go to one of our already brick-and-mortar stores that's away. Would also apply for money maybe for that transportation to take it from there and bring it
back. So actually, I think it would help our established grocery stores.
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
2:40:15
Follow-up. I guess, and maybe you've addressed this some, but you did mention that they would take out a loan or they could get a loan to open a grocery store, even if it's a small grocery store. What happens if somebody can't pay back the loan or if, you know, they're being propped up by government funds? Is the government going to have to continually, permanently fund those things to keep them running? No, that's
a good question. Thank you for that. No, that wouldn't happen. I mean, when you apply for it, you have to prove sustainability,
that you would be able to sustain that type of thing and that you would be able to pay back loans and would use grants in a way that would be
Speaker 469
2:41:02
credible. So that shouldn't happen. Representative Meeks, for what purpose? Good question, please. You're recognized. Thank you. So
my concern about the bill, and maybe just to follow up to what he was saying here, it says that the Healthy Food Retail Program would provide funding directly or indirectly to the retailers So I guess my two-fold question is, what is the source of that funding, and then does government do this in other cases?
I mean, is this what you would
Speaker 470
2:41:33
consider a good use of taxpayer money? Well, I don't know
about government doing it in other ways, but this program would be
strictly if we had funds available. I mean, those could come from money here in general revenue or something, but there's nothing set up for that. Right now, it would strictly come from grants that we would try to find to start out with. Representative Beatty, for what purpose?
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
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2:42:02
Question. You're recognized. Representative McCullough, do we have an estimate of what the needs are and what potential funding is needed
for this program? The needs for the program? like a funding
estimate of what would what the actual need is yeah I don't have an estimate but I think the need is I think if we if we really put together what we needed I think that would be very high this would merely be a way to start most of these areas are economically depressed there's elderly there's children there are people without good transportation to travel to where
they would have to to a grocery store so I think this would just be a mere start I think the need is much greater. Follow-up, you're recognized. Do you
Speaker 475
2:42:45
have businesses and philanthropic organizations that are just standing in wait for this
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
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2:42:49
bill to pass to contribute and donate to set up these grants and funds? And if so, what are they? Yes, sir. I mean,
I don't know. I'm not sure about that. I know that we have a lot of food pantries. I know we've had all of those things, and those haven't quite solved this particular type of problem.
But, I mean, that would be a place, obviously, to reach out to. But, no, I haven't explored that. Thank you. Appreciate a good
vote. Representative McCullough has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Underwood, you are recognized to speak against
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
2:43:30
the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate Representative McCullough's intention on this bill. I think it's well-intentioned, but I think my concern
with the bill is that a lot of these
government programs are well-intentioned and then over time they balloon and they more liabilities for the government to fund and so it'll never go away if we pass this and you know I think that if you take out a loan or you get a grant and you're starting a little community grocery store that's great but now you're gonna be dependent on the government to make sure that those things are funded so that it can continue to go on and I think I might have been representative Beatty who mentioned ask the question that alluded to general revenue being
used for this. So I think that's likely what's going to happen at some point. And so ultimately, you know, if somebody doesn't pay back a loan or whatever the situation is, the taxpayers are going to be on the hook for this. And I will say, too, my wife, she works for Walmart, and I often hear the executives there saying that 90% of America lives within 10 miles of a Walmart. And so I just don't think this is necessary, and I would ask for you to vote against this
bill. Representative Underwood has spoken against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Against
the the bill. Representative McCullough, would you like to close for your bill? You are recognized.
Thank you, Representative Underwood, for bringing up some of those issues. I think a government program is really strong language for this bill. We would be applying for grants that are already out there, not taking anything from anywhere else, trying to get those kind. And yes, there are Walmarts within 10 miles, probably from everybody, but 10 miles is an extreme hardship for some people to get to that don't have any transportation as a matter of fact that's one of the definitions if you live over five miles in a rural area from a grocery store
of some kind you live in a food desert but we would just be existing using existing grant money that's already out there these this has been done all across the south these types of programs a lot of them have been done in conjunction with kroger and done in conjunction with edwards foods done in conjunction with Walmart so this is this is something that I think will help everybody. With that appreciate a good vote. Representative McCullough has
closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill
1965. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? has everyone voted cast up the ballot madam clerk with 58 yeas 28 nays and five present the bill has passed madam clerk please read house bill 1963 hospital 1963 by representative
Chair
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2:46:25
gonzalez to clarify that an advanced practice registered nurse
who prescribes a stimulant may substitute a therapeutically equivalent medication representative gonzalez you're recognized to explain the bill
thank you mr. speaker colleagues this is not
Representative Justin Gonzales
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2:46:38
a hundred percent self-serving bill but it will make my wife's life easier which therefore makes my life somewhat easier representative johnson and i had worked on this bill a few years ago and got the original version of it passed there was some misinterpretation i think at the nursing board on how they could
operate this just clarifies that a nurse practitioner can continue the prescriptions that were started by a physician as long as those drugs are in the same therapeutic class of medication representative johnson has asked for an amendment on this that we will work on in the senate end if he is just adamant that we do so i think it's unnecessary but you know if he wants it on there it doesn't it doesn't hurt anything just makes it a little more cumbersome we'll we'll get it done if that's what he wants so anyway i'd appreciate a good vote on this
representative gonzalez has explained the bill would anyone like to speak
against the bill for the bill representative johnson you are recognized to speak for the bill appreciate that
Representative Lee Johnson
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2:47:47
representative gonzalez and yes i am in favor of this bill in principle and yes i do think we have the opportunity to make it an even better bill to provide continuity of care through our nurse practitioners and our primary care physicians on the other end into the Senate, and so I'll look forward to those discussions, but I think this is a reasonable thing
that he's trying to do, and I do think it'll help Karen, so I hope
you all vote in support of the bill. Thank you. - Representative Johnson has spoken in favor of
the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Gonzalez is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1963. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? has everyone voted cast up the ballot madam clerk with 85 yeas four nays and
three present the bill has passed madam clerk please read house bill 1164 1164 by representative
Chair
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2:48:44
mayberry to allow a physician or health care provider to offer cognitive assessments for certain patients and
to mandate the insurance policies cover assessments for cognitive function for certain patients Representative Mayberry you
are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you
Representative Julie Mayberry
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2:49:04
Mr. Speaker. The Department of Health brought to us the Alzheimer's Disease
and Dementia Advisory Council something to add into our 2024 annual report and it was an idea to make sure that we are getting cognitive testing at the earliest of stages. As we've discussed there's new medicine that's out there to treat Alzheimer's, but you have to have that diagnosis at a really early stage. So we worked with the Department of Health. We worked with the Arkansas Medical Society on this bill. We worked with Blue Cross on this bill and with DHS. And it does allow our doctors to offer cognitive testing.
It is a may, not a shall. I'd appreciate a good
vote. Thank you. Representative Mayberry has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill, Representative Mayberry is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1164. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 72 yays, 17 nays and 7 present, the bill has passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1969. House Bill 1969 by Representative Johnson
Chair
Unverified
2:50:33
to improve the quality of health care access to amend the assessment fees on hospitals and to create the hospital directed payment assessment. Representative Johnson, you
are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you,
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
2:50:44
Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, I want to start by talking about what supplemental payment programs are. Some of you may
know already a supplemental payment program is a program set in place by the federal government to try to help hospital providers compensate for undercompensated pay through Medicaid patients so we have currently in the state a supplemental payment program it's called the upper payment limits this is the program that's set in place federally for fee-for-service Medicaid which is what we have in our state right now that program helps hospitals by Hospitals have a provider tax that they pay. That tax then is the state portion of the match, and then the federal money is drawn down,
and then that money gets distributed to hospitals in a way that's proportional to their burden of Medicaid patients. What this bill does is this bill creates a mirror program as a just-in-case, just-in-case we end up putting more populations in managed care. Currently in our state, the only managed care programs we have is the passes. But there's been discussions throughout the session, and there's even been legislation introduced that would allow our governor to move more people into managed care. Now, whether you're for managed care, against managed care,
this is the program we would need in place to provide supplemental payments if we move to managed care. Again, this bill does nothing to move people into managed care. It doesn't encourage managed care. It just recognizes that there is a possibility in the future that populations might be moved into managed care. And if they are, this is the program that would replace our upper payment limit program. The bill in particular also accounts for the premium tax. If we ever move people into managed care, there will be, based on law already, a 2.5% premium tax.
It creates an allotment of that premium tax. It would put 50% towards an incentive program to try to provide better care. Currently, in this bill's version, it would be around primary care and around obstetrics and maternity care. It puts 10% into graduate medical education, and then 40% would just go into general revenue. All of the things in this bill are flexible. Nothing in this bill is locked in place. If we ever move people in managed care, there would be opportunity to come into this bill and discuss different factions of this bill if we wanted to try to change some of these apportionments.
I know it's a complicated topic. I know there's going to be a few questions. I know not everyone here in this room is in favor of this particular bill for different reasons, but I'd be happy to try to answer
questions if people have some. - Representative Wooldridge, for what purpose?
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
Unverified
2:53:22
- Question. - You're recognized. - Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Representative Johnson. You and I agree most all
the time. Unfortunately, we don't agree on this. I definitely am not supportive of us moving towards managed care. I think that no one cares for our patients better than the state of Arkansas could.
Do you consider this necessary if, I know if we were to go into managed care, and we talked about this a little bit in committee, I mean, that would have to be in a special session or in a session. Couldn't a bill like this be done at that time? Don't you consider this to be
Representative Lee Johnson
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2:53:52
unnecessary currently? I don't, and I'll tell you why. I mean, I think there's two reasons. One is I don't know for
sure that we would have to have a special session for the governor or the administration to move populations into managed care. I do know that we'd have to have legislation in place for this to happen.
The second thing is there is a lot of unpredictability federally. These state-directed payment program programs are under scrutiny. There is absolutely a possibility at some point in the future that there's a moratorium on any future state-directed payment plans. If our plan was in place, it would be exempt under that moratorium, which is why I think it's important to take advantage and get it in place now. Follow-up. You're
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
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2:54:30
recognized. And that was my second question. So I have looked at
some of the things that talk about these being under scrutiny, but I've not seen where anybody that's currently working would be grandfathered in under a moratorium.
Representative Lee Johnson
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2:54:41
Yeah, I don't know that it would, right? It's speculative, but I think you could certainly see a case where in the future they said, hey, look, starting on this date, we're going to put a moratorium on it. We're not going to allow any more state-directed payment programs past July of 2025. If that were to happen, our payment program would be in place, and it
would be exempt from that moratorium. Representative Lundstrom for what purpose? You're
Representative Robin Lundstrum
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2:55:07
recognized. I'm completely confused. You can, I'm sure you can tell by my face I am completely confused and
concerned. Does this mean that we're committing to covering adults even if something happens on the federal level? No, there's no commitment.
Representative Lee Johnson
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2:55:20
So the last page of this bill is the trigger language. The only way this bill would go into effect is if new populations are moved into managed care. If new populations were moved into managed care then it would create the supplemental payment program so this bill does nothing until the time in which managed care patients are moved into managed care and if that never happens the bill just sat there it really is truly a trigger bill okay follow-up you're
Representative Robin Lundstrum
Unverified
2:55:45
recognized with this mean it would also cover able-bodied adults that was one of
Representative Lee Johnson
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2:55:50
my other questions it would depend on which populations were moved into the managed care so if QHPs at some point moving managed care then yes if let's say there were discussions around traumatic brain injuries being moved into the passes. If that population was moved into the passes, it would be, so it would depend on what
populations were moved in. Okay, thank you. Representative Wooten, for what
Representative Jim Wooten
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2:56:16
purpose? Question. You're recognized. Thank you. Representative Johnson, will
this make managed care better for hospitals? If, and again,
Representative Lee Johnson
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2:56:22
you know, the hospital association at the table said they were
opposed to managed care but if in the future we have to go to managed care in some capacity beyond the current space then yes this would absolutely help hospitals get better reimbursement through state-directed payments so are we
Representative Jim Wooten
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2:56:41
incentivizing them to do better if if we ever go
Representative Lee Johnson
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2:56:45
to a plan like this there's a portion of this money that could directly be used to
incentivize better performance through value-based point payments but again this all would be dependent on, at some point in
the future, managed care expanding in the state of Arkansas. Thank you, thank you, Mr.
Chairman. Members, I'll just say, you know, there is unpredictability, we know this.
We know that managed care is something many states are moving towards. Whatever your opinion on managed care is, I think having a supplemental payment program is essential if we're ever going to move people to managed care. I don't
think anyone's disagreed with that. It's just about the timing of whether it's important to do now or wait and do it later. I would vote for being prepared and reassure everyone there's trigger language in there so that this won't go into effect only if we move people into managed care at some point. Thank you. I appreciate a good
vote. Representative Johnson has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Woldridge, you're recognized speak against the bill.
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
Unverified
2:57:53
Thank You Mr. Speaker and thank you colleagues. This is
my first time to speak against a bill and I hope that for some of you that'll mean something. I try not to come down here and speak unless that I feel like that there's something specifically that I have a little bit of knowledge that I can share with you. I've worked in this space for a long time as Representative Johnson has and the state state-directed payments that we're talking about, that is under scrutiny. There's no guarantee at the federal level that there's going to be anything that's grandfathered in. I feel like this bill is unnecessary. If we move to managed care, that is definitely not a step in
the direction that we have chosen to do with the state of Arkansas. So we have felt like that we take care of patients or our patients, our Kansans, better than a company out of Minnesota or Chicago could. This opens the door for a possibility there I believe I think that this is preemptive there's no reason for us to pass a bill like this right now we cannot go into a managed care system without being called back into a special session or a vote of this body to do so we have had a bill this session that was filed to allow the executive branch to
move populations into managed care that did not pass so I definitely think that there's no way that we could go and move a population into that managed care system without a vote of this body. For that reason and many others I would ask you to vote no. I think this is something that we could deal with in the future if we ever got put into a situation where we needed to. I don't know why we would need a 20 page bill to obligate or tie our hands to an ever-changing system. We don't know what this will look like in the future if we're put in this position.
That would be the time for us to pass a bill like this and it would need to be tailored and focused to the current situation that we're in. With that I'm voting no and I'd ask you to do
the same. Representative Woldridge has spoken against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Pilkington you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you everyone.
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
2:59:50
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I wasn't planning to speak to this but I do want to address a few things. Currently you can already move the tier one population into the PASS program it's my understanding. So that is one group of population that can already
be moved and the legislation in the past as well also include that ALC approval would have to be part of that and so if that's the direction go but some of this too didn't say we write a federal waiver that we hope the feds will renew if they do not because we have who knows what the feds do it's always good to have some things in place and I think if we have a situation where our expansion is denied through the rejection of our latest waiver and we have to come in and we're trying to keep people still covered there could be a possibility that we could have managed care and it'd be better to have this in
place in case we are in a situation like that to make sure our hospitals get taken care of. Now granted the reason why the legislation around the passes was around is so that we can prevent a company from out-of-state management that we have a provider-led organization here in Arkansas that's already operating but that's a different matter on a different bill. But I do want to say I think this is a good bill. I think this is about protecting us and with the uncertainty that's going on at a federal level right now I just think it's better to have some triggers and options and so that's why I say this is a good vote and I appreciate a yes vote.
Thank you, thank you. Representative Pilkington has spoken in favor of the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill representative wardlaw you're
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
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3:01:07
recognized to speak against the bill thank you rish speaker i'll start us off with a light joke but now that representative woolridge
has found out this is easy maybe he'll do it more often um no members we we've fought for years almost my whole career against medicaid moving towards managed care and i look at this like it's a baby step in that direction one of the problems of managed care is there you call your friends in Tennessee they'll tell you
real quick the managed care is absolutely not the right way to go for your Medicaid population. Providers left
Tennessee when TennCare was enacted back in the early 2000s and the reason they left and I was one of those that left is because you couldn't get paid and
there was no one to call. When your constituents call you under managed care who are you calling? You can't call the department because the department gave all those duties off to a private company and they have no you have no leverage to get them to do anything for your constituent or for your constituent's
family this is just a baby step in
that direction and i'm telling you right now it's not a it's not a step you want to take it's with that
i ask for a no vote representative wardlaw has spoken against the
bill would anyone like to speak in favor of the bill against the
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
3:02:35
bill represent Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yeah, colleagues, I understand the concerns about lower reimbursement through Medicare managed care through Medicaid. The purpose of state-directed payments is to try to offset that lower reimbursement. These programs came into place in 2016. And since that time, you've
seen in states that have managed care that have been active state-directed payments, you've seen improvement of reimbursement back to health care providers.
And you've also put control back in the states through these state-directed payments. We have some control with state-directed payments over how providers are reimbursed and over important quality metrics around how they may perform. Again, this is not about are you for managed care, are you against managed care? This is about if we have managed care, are you for a state-directed payment system? I don't know of any state that has a managed care system in place that doesn't have a state-directed system in place because it's a great way to help control costs.
It's a great way to help offset costs through federal funding. And it costs no general revenue. This is all provider-led assessments. This is an important piece of legislation to have in place. And again, I understand why now. I think one of the most important is why now is because we don't know the future of state-directed payments. We don't know the future of Medicaid in Arkansas. But there is a possibility, good or bad, that we may have to extend to more managed care in the future. And if we don't have this in place now, it may not be an option to put in place in the future.
So with all of that, I'd appreciate a good vote. I hope you can pass
this for us. Thank you. Representative Johnson has closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1969. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk.
With 18 yeas, 48 nays, and 18 present, the bill has failed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1957. House Bill 1957
Chair
Unverified
3:04:43
by Representative Meeks to amend the Unsolicited Commercial and Sexually Explicit Electronic Mail Prevention Act
to include Unsolicited Commercial and Sexually explicit text messages. Representative Meeks, you are recognized to explain
the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, colleagues, I got the next four bills with
a brief intermission by Representative Dalby, and all three of these four are actually preparing us for the future.
So, this first one, if you're old enough, you may remember back in the early days of the internet, you'd get home from school or work, you'd dial up the internet, and after some various tones, you'd hear those three magical words, you've got mail. And you remember how exciting that was, 'cause you'd get an email from a friend or grandparent. Nowadays, you can't hardly use your email because it's so full of all sorts of junk and it now becomes more of a chore. What this bill does is I'm afraid we're going down the same road with text messaging.
Right now in Arkansas law, it is currently against the law for you to receive unsolicited commercial or sexually explicit emails. Any commercial emails that you get must include an opt out. So basically all I'm doing with this first one is I'm adding text messaging to that. So if this is passed, it will be against the law to receive unsolicited commercial text messages. Any commercial text messages you have, it must clearly define who
it's coming from, have an opt out provision, and it will make it against the law if you receive unsolicited sexual messages. With that, I'm happy to answer any questions. Seeing none,
appreciate a good vote. Representative Meeks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill? Representative Meeks
is closed for the bill. The question for the House is the passage of House Bill 1957. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 94 yeas, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1958. House Bill
Chair
Unverified
3:06:59
1958 by Representative Meeks to require public entities to create a policy concerning the authorized use of artificial intelligence. Representative
Meeks, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, colleagues, last session you all helped me
pass a bill that requires state agencies to have a technology use policy in place.
And what we're doing with this bill is we are updating that technology use bill to make sure we include artificial intelligence so state employees know when we do and do not use artificial intelligence. Here's where the concern is at. If a state employee uploads information to an artificial intelligence to get information or answers, what is uploaded then actually becomes part of the property of that AI. So it can create issues there with security. The other thing that we want, though, is we want state employees to be able to use artificial intelligence, though,
where appropriate, to be able to improve services and make their jobs more efficient. So this bill would require training and guardrails. and I think the most important aspect of this bill is it will require that regardless of what an artificial intelligence comes up with as far as a decision, that a final decision will always be made by a human. So we're not going to have a situation where a computer is making a final decision on anything. It's always going to be a computer, or excuse me, we're going to make sure that a human always has the final decision on any decision that is made. Happy to answer any
questions? Saying none. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Meeks
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For
the bill? Representative Meeks is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1958. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. is everyone voted it's everyone voted cast up the ballot the vote of 93 yay zero nay and two
present the bill is passed madam clerk please read house bill 1895.
Chair
Unverified
3:09:06
house bill 1895 by representative dalby to allow a corporation or voluntary association to employ in-house attorneys to represent affiliates of the corporation or voluntary association
representative dalby you're recognized to explain
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
3:09:21
your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This bill does exactly what the title says it does. It's going to allow a corporation or voluntary association to employ in-house counsel to represent their affiliates. That's all it does. I'd appreciate
a good vote. Representative Daube has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak
against the bill? For the bill? Representative Daube is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1895. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot.
For the vote of 96 yay, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please
Chair
Unverified
3:10:13
read House Bill 1504. House Bill 1504 by Representative Meeks to create the offense of manufacturing, modifying, selling, transferring, or operating a robotic device or an uncrewed aircraft that is
equipped or mounted with a weapon. Representative
Meeks, you're recognized to explain your bill. All
right, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back again, this is, again, another future-looking bill. So this last summer I had the opportunity, again, to attend one of these AI sessions,
and a group from Boston Dynamics gave a talk about some of the technologies that are coming, especially as related to humanoid robots. And one of their concerns is that as humanoid robots start to become more commonplace in society, and I have very little doubt that by the time the freshmen, by the time y'all are the senior class, there'll be humanoid robots walking around the Capitol helping you do your job. That's how close we are to this. Last couple of weeks, Tesla has put out information saying that as early as next year,
For $300 to $400 a month, you can rent a humanoid robot that will do all your chores, will cook dinner and have it ready for you when you get home, will tutor your students, will help you answer questions, you know, what's the score, what's the weather like, and will guard your house at night. I mean, who wouldn't want to pay $400 and have all that taken care of, right? So we're going to see a proliferation of these things. They're geared up to provide 10,000 of these in the next year. Other manufacturers are doing the same thing. So the concern that these manufacturers have is as these become more commonplace is that somebody is going to arm them or place a bomb on them and send them into a school or, you know, movie theater or what have you.
And so these manufacturers have requested that states start passing legislation to outlaw that, and that's what this does. I worked with the state police, the local sheriffs and so forth. They are, although they don't have an official position on the bill, the officers I've spoke to are all supportive of what we're trying to do here. I'd be happy to answer any questions. Representative
Chair
Unverified
3:12:17
Beatty, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Representative Meeks, I
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
3:12:21
understand what you're trying to do here,
but if we do pass this bill, does this bill guarantee that bad actors won't use the latest technology to
do the exact attacks that your bill is trying to prevent? Is there any guarantee of that? Uh, well, the
answer would be no. Um, but I, I'm going to, um, but I, but here, but I, but let,
let me finish my, let me finish my thought here. Okay. Let me, let me finish my thought here. We outlaw murder. People still commit murder. We outlaw theft. People still commit theft. Every single law that we do down here, someone's going to violate at some point. And that's why we have a punishment attached to it.
This is what this bill does, because without this, what would happen is if someone put a bomb, say, on a, they've got these new robot dog things, if someone put a bomb
on that, as of right now, that's legal, and it would not become illegal until it went in and exploded and killed
people. So what we're trying to do is to stop it before it becomes a tragedy, give law enforcement the tools that they need. And then another very important component that we did, and Representative Richardson helped me with this one,
is we also make it legal for them to take the programming and modify the programming, because these robots are strong enough that in and of themselves, they don't necessarily need a
Chair
Unverified
3:13:48
weapon where they could go and harm somebody. Representative Richmond,
for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Representative Meeks, on page 4, beginning with line 29, basically it says that a person may not bring any type of lawsuit or something like that against law enforcement or an accredited bomb squad if they're acting in good faith.
Why is this including, I know in your next bill you intend to give arrest authority to bomb
squads. Right. But why do you think that these people should be, you know, free from
that type of thing? So this was actually at the request of the law enforcement. This is the immunity that they typically have in the course of their duties. So if a law enforcement officer acting in the goodwill of faith in the course of their duties, if they do something that somebody doesn't like, then they have certain immunities there,
and this is to make sure those immunities carry
over. For what purpose? They could still bring a lawsuit against the department.
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
3:14:54
So just make sure that that's still out there. Question. You're recognized. So Representative Meeks, you know, there are some drones that have like a flamethrower on it to do control burns and things like
that. Under this bill, those would be outlawed, correct? No, incorrect. So the way the bill is defined,
I know there's some confusion on this. The way the law is defined is it has to be either fully or partially automated.
So if there's a human fully in control of it, it is not captured by
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
3:15:21
this. Follow-up. Recognized. On page three, when you talk about the exceptions and talk about for use for robotic competitions. Correct. What kind
of competition would involve a weapon that would need a drone or a robot that had a weapon? What kind of competition would that be? So we actually
just passed that bill just a couple days. It was the last week to do the grant program for these. So this is, honestly, that was not even on my radar when I filed this bill.
That's one of the amendments I did. But it's these BattleBot competitions that they do for, like, educational purposes. Okay, thank you. Representative
Chair
Unverified
3:15:59
Currier, for what purpose? You're recognized. So kind of catch
Representative Chad Puryear
Unverified
3:16:04
me up to this. So these accredited bomb squad members, are they required to be police officer certified? So
the next bill is actually going to get
into that a little bit. So the vast majority of the bomb squad technicians within the state are certified law enforcement officers, so that part's already handled.
There are about 20 members of local bomb squads that are firefighters, and the bill that we're about to do next would give them arrest authority if they undergo police training. They'll have to have 120 hours. I'll get into all that, but in that case, yes. But the vast majority of the bomb squads
in the state are certified law enforcement officers. Follow up quickly. You're recognized.
Representative Chad Puryear
Unverified
3:16:51
So if they've already, if they went through that certification, why would,
so this is to safeguard the ones that don't want to go through the certification and allow
them. Let me just restate that. So why would we give them the same powers and liability protections we give police
officers that are certified? Because the main users right now of these robots are the bomb squad guys because they're the ones who, whenever there's a bomb threat, they will send these robots in to assess the situation and maybe dispose of the ordinance, and so that's why they're mentioned.
Chair
Unverified
3:17:26
Representative Richardson, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized.
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
3:17:30
Representative Meeks, we've discussed this bill a number of times, and I appreciate you making modifications to the bill as we kind of went through it. I still have some concerns around what the, uh, your definition associated with, um, partially modified or excuse me, um, automated,
Scott Richardson
Unverified
3:17:50
um, a robotic device means fully or partially automated mechanical device. What is, what is a partially automated mechanical device?
Speaker 543
3:18:03
So I would see that as someone programs it and then sends it off
to do its thing. So a human has input to what it does, but then sends it off to do its thing. Whereas a fully automated robot, there's no human programming it, it just, when it arrives from the factory, it responds to
Scott Richardson
Unverified
3:18:26
stimuli and stuff that it sees. Follow up, Mr. Chair. You're recognized. would you agree that a drone that has automated systems for establishing stability maintaining
height landing a lot of other functions that are built into our current drone devices would be considered partially automated not for what we're trying to do here so
and i know that some attention has gotten here but what i'm trying to capture with drones is if someone were to put a say a Molotov cocktail on that drone with the intention of dropping it on your house because they didn't like a bill you passed that this would allow law enforcement officers to stop that from happening okay so I'm just going to make my closing comments here because I know it's been a long day
colleagues this technology is coming to our state and it's going to be here sooner rather than later And I have no doubt that over time that this will need to be changed and adjusted as the situation occurs. But we're in a situation where either we're going to have these tools in place for our law enforcement officers to be able to deal with this on the front end or not. And so what I'm hoping to do is make sure they have the tools that they need to keep us safe if these devices are misused.
So with that, I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Meeks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Richmond,
you're recognized to speak against the bill. I think I understand what Representative Meeks is trying to do, but again, my concern comes back to the fact that more immunity, protection of law enforcement,
Yeah, I'm for that, but we keep expanding, that seems like. And I can't get past the fact that here a year or so ago, I think it was a year ago. I'm getting old. I can't keep up. But a year or so ago, right here in Little Rock, we had law enforcement basically dress up in their battle rattle, show up at a house to serve a search warrant. Now everybody goes, well, he was a bad guy. Well, if he was such a bad guy, why didn't they show up with an arrest warrant? and they ended up gunning that guy down, and I think it's good for law enforcement to have
something in the back of their mind at all times that am I in the right other than having coverage to be able to say hey I'm acting in good faith. I mean not even your military can get away with going gunning somebody down in a combat zone and say well I was acting in in good faith. We have restrictions as well. We always do. And there's a lot of people walking around today, still walking around, that in my mind, there's a lot of things I would have liked
to have done to them personally, but I couldn't. So again, that's why I'm going to be a no on this. I'm just concerned about us, the civilians out here, giving more and more power to law enforcement and them not thinking things through. You don't show up with battle rattle to serve a search warrant in the dark. That may never happen here, but because that did happen, it bothers me.
Representative Richmond has spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Would anyone like to speak against the
bill? Representative Beatty, I recognize to speak against
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
3:22:15
the bill. Members, we heard this bill in committee. I believe in all
sincerity that Representative Meeks is well-intended with what he's trying to do with this bill. You can tell by the number of amendments that were made on it that he was trying to make folks happy with the bill.
My problem is all the things that it's to protect us about, his answer here in the well was no. It's not going to protect us. So I think it's a bill that right now is unnecessary and that we don't need. And I'm all for less regulations, less rules on the books that we don't need at this time. So I just ask you to vote no on this bill. Representative
Beatty, you spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill, against the bill? Representative Meeks, you're recognized to close for your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
And obviously I have great respect for the two gentlemen that came up here and spoke on this bill. So to Representative Richmond, the immunity that this provide is only in a civil action. So if they do something that they're not supposed to be able to, the attorney general, the prosecutors can still bring action against that law enforcement as an individual. I, as a citizen of the state, if they do something acting, you know, negligently,
I can still bring a lawsuit against that department. So I think that civil protection is still there. A lot of times when these guys are making decisions, these are highly charged situations, and I don't want them to not take the actions that they need to because they're afraid someone's going to sue them in the future. So that's the reason why this is in here. And again, Representative Beatty is correct. These robots are not roaming around out in society now. The Arkansas State Police just acquired the first one of these robots here in the last, I don't know, couple weeks or so.
They're fairly expensive, but y'all know what's going to happen over time. These are going to become more common. They're going to be proliferated. And so y'all understand kind of what I'm after here. I want to put protections in our place for our citizens. If y'all deem that this is the right time to do that, I would highly encourage a yes vote. So our law enforcement officers have the tools that they need to be able to deal with this new technology Again, if y'all think we need to wait and leave no protections in place, then
We'll have no protections in place But as your technology chair I'm trying to prepare the state for the future and I would just ask that you would help me do so in this instance and
appreciate a good vote Representative Meeks is closed for the bill question before the house is the passage of House bill 1504 prepare the machine madam clerk
is everyone voted everyone voted cast up the ballot the vote of 14
yay 65 nay and nine present the bill has failed madam clerk please read house bill 1648 House Bill 1648 by
Chair
Unverified
3:25:29
Representative Meeks to amend the law concerning municipal fire departments to allow a member of a municipal fire Department bomb squad to make
arrests under certain circumstances and to declare an emergency Representative Meeks you're recognized. All
right colleagues one last one for me for today. This one I hope will be a lot less controversial
So the the issue that we're trying to fix with this is right now in Arkansas as I had mentioned when speaking with Mr. Representative Poirier here just a minute ago in the Arkansas we have some of our bomb squads are organized under the police and we have some of our bomb squads that are organized under fire departments and the issue that has come up is the US Marshals Service requires that our bomb technicians be given
arrest authority so that they can be martialized by the U.S. Marshal Service. They have to have that deputization for a number of reasons. Number one is in the, you know, God forbid we have another Oklahoma City bombing or Nashville bombing. It allows our members to go into those states to provide backup and bring extra resources. More importantly, what it does is it allows our members of our bomb squad to receive the FBI training that they need to be able to fulfill their duties.
So without that arrest authority, we can't help neighboring states, and these guys cannot receive the FBI secret level training that they need in order to fulfill their duties. So what this bill does in a narrowest scope as possible, and I appreciate Representative Tosh who helped me get this all worked out. What this bill does is it requires our bomb squad technicians to get 120 hours of law enforcement training. According to the Law Enforcement Standard Training Academy, it's similar to what a reserve deputy law enforcement officer would be required to get.
And then they would have that arrest authority only in the very narrow circumstance when they're responding to a bomb-related threat. They can hold the perpetrator until the regular law enforcement arrives to actually finish out the arrest. Worked with all the various stakeholders, agencies, everybody's good with the bill, no opposition that I know of. But again, this just allows our bomb guys to be able to fulfill their duties.
So happy to take any questions, seeing none, but I appreciate a good vote. Oh, wait.
Representative Chad Puryear
Unverified
3:28:17
Representative Puryear, you're recognized. Question? Recognized. So again, if they've got to go through all these parameters to do this, why would they not just go be a certified law enforcement
officer in Arkansas? So this is kind of a crazy situation that we ended up. So back in the, as I understand the story, back in the early 2000s, when the FBI, right after 9-11, when the FBI approached the state of Arkansas
about setting up bomb squads within the state, The original intent was that this be done through law enforcement agencies. Well, in three of the municipalities where they designated, so we want a bomb squad, Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Conway were the three. The sheriffs at that time didn't want the responsibility. So the fire department said that we'll do it, and so we ended up with three fire department bomb squads located across the state. And so that's kind of how we end up where we're at.
Representative Chad Puryear
Unverified
3:29:10
So if we pass this legislation, we'll circumvent that authority and allow these fire department
bomb squad members to have arrest authority without going through police officer training. Is that correct? No, they'll have to go through the police officer training. That's 120 hours of
certified training that they'll have to go through. They'll follow up one last follow-up and I'll quit. So if
Representative Chad Puryear
Unverified
3:29:29
they did all that, they would be law enforcement officers, then they would have arrest authority. Is that correct, yes or no? No, not as I
understand it. Because they have to, as I understand it, again,
I'm not an expert in this field,
they would have to be deputized like under a sheriff or somebody in order to have arrest authority. So in this case, they would be working under the purview of the city. And for what it's worth, right now, fire marshals within the state have arrest authority, and they actually have more arrest authority than what we're asking for here, and they work under the fire department. Representative Hawk, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. so if if you're a
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
3:30:09
bomb squad guy wouldn't you why wouldn't you just go become a reserve officer or
something like that to be able to get that accreditation i mean it seems like you're going through the same steps as what the reserve officers
are right just about um the difference is is that um these bomb squad guys they're not going to be making
traffic stops they're they're not going to be involved in domestic disputes or so they're not going to be involved in a lot of things that your traditional reserve deputy or police officer will be involved in uh and so we we had discussions about should we just make it the full deal um but it becomes a waste of time
because the the technique these guys they're they're not going to use any of that stuff and so it becomes a waste of uh you
know tax dollars and all that to send these guys for training that they're not going to need
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
3:30:59
follow-up recognized so will the bomb squad member be carrying a gun once they are able to make arrests
Speaker 518
3:31:06
they can already do that okay cool yeah so we won't be adding that they can already do that. Representative Nazarenko, for what purpose? Question.
Representative Jason Nazarenko
Unverified
3:31:13
You're recognized. Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, Representative Meeks.
I appreciate the intent of this. My question is, I understand 120 hours of initial requirement, and
they're going to be making those, they can make those arrests per this bill. What about their CLUSD requirements? This wasn't covered at all in the bill, but I know if we don't have CLUSD training, what I'm concerned about is if they make an arrest, how will that hold up in court? Will there be any issues? down the road in court so if you can address that please thank you it is class training
they're the ones that develop the course and all that
Representative Jason Nazarenko
Unverified
3:31:47
you're recognized for a follow-up so the class training that you're talking about that's the initial 120 though correct so
there's an annual requirement is that because that wasn't covered in the bill at
all so would there be an annual requirement to this as well not that i know of it would just be the
initial 120 hour cluster requirement if there is any additional training I'm not aware of that. Obviously, these men are, you know, they're going to be, assuming we do this, they're going to be deputized through the U.S. Marshal Service,
and they will continue to receive training through the FBI and through these other services. So it's not like a one-and-done with
this. Thank you. Representative Duffield, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Representative Meeks, earlier
Representative Matt Duffield
Unverified
3:32:30
you said that fire marshals currently have the ability to arrest people, but it's my understanding that they have to do that in conjunction with law enforcement. Is that correct? I don't know. And I
would say kind of along those lines,
this is going to be situations where if you say you've got a county and there's only one deputy who's on call at that point and there is a call that comes in related to an explosive device, and that deputy is elsewhere in the county handling something. This allows the bomb technician to go assess the situation, and if there is a perpetrator there, allows them to hold that perpetrator until the deputy arrives. The reason why we need that is otherwise that perpetrator can then run free.
Representative Pierce, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Did I understand you say, did
Representative Shad Pearce
Unverified
3:33:31
I hear you right when you said, after the initial training they will no longer have to take any more training as far as qualifications yearly like a certified officer has to do so they qualify one time and so they're good for it? I don't know the full answer to that one, unfortunately. This is the first
time that question's been brought up to me. I'd like to know. But I will find an answer to that
for you. All right, so I'll get out of the way and see if there's any before or against, and then I'll come back and close.
Representative Meeks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against
the bill, for the bill? Representative Meeks, you recognize close for the
bill. So, colleagues, again, not to belabor this, but we need to do this in order for our bomb squad guys, who these are some of the best of the best, for them to receive the training that they need in order for us to be protected. And it's only in extremely limited circumstances. So with that, I hope you can join me in supporting our guys out in the field
as they work to keep us safe. And with that, I appreciate a good
vote. Representative Meeks is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1648. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. everyone voted so everyone voted cast
up the ballot the vote of 30 days 41 days
and 18 present the bill has failed madam clerk
Chair
Unverified
3:35:11
please read house bill 1805 hospital 1805 by representative children's to amend the definition of bullying and to create a process whereby a public school may conduct
multiples simultaneously investigations into the same allegation of bullying under
certain circumstances representative Childress you're recognized to
Representative Paul Childress
Unverified
3:35:28
explain your bill thank you mr. speaker colleagues house bill 1805 adds three additional definitions to the current bullying law it also
allows public schools while investigating a bullying incident they discover another violation of a state or federal law like a title 9 violation then the investigation can investigate all the potential violations at one time instead of having to get two or three different investigations uh the department of education helped write this bill the school board association and the superintendents association supports the bill and i'm gonna borrow a statement from representative kozart if this bill saves the life of one student then it's a good bill thank you and i'd appreciate a good vote
Chair
Unverified
3:36:11
representative childress is explain the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill for
the bill representative childress is closed for the bill question before the house is the passage of
house bill 1805 prepare the machine madam clerk has everyone voted
has everyone voted cast up the ballot the vote of 83 yeas three
nays and four present the bill is passed madam clerk please read house bill
Chair
Unverified
3:36:57
1283 house bill 1283 by representative mayberry to require the division of elementary and secondary education to include digital media standards in kindergarten through grade 12 library media standards
representative mayberry you're recognized to explain the bill.
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
3:37:14
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, there's a lot of power in this little
device at our hand. There's also a lot of power in the Chromebook that our kids hold, the iPad that our
kids hold, yet we do very little to actually educate them on how to use that properly. This bill will allow the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to revise standards, library media standards, to include digital media standards. We need to help educate our students on how to use these
devices. Twenty-one states have already passed comprehensive media literacy. Nine states have pending legislation. Excel and Ed, chaired by Jeb Bush, is pushing this because they understand the need to help educate our students and give them the tools that they need to know about the positive and negative effects of social media, to understand personal security online, cyberbullying, cybersecurity, human
trafficking, artificial intelligence, these are all new things that we need to help give our students the tools to understand. I will also add that in part of this it says to ensure digital media standards required under this section are age-appropriate. So no, we're not teaching kindergarteners how to go online and use social media. Another aspect in here is that library media standards shall be taught in collaboration with content areas and
classroom teachers so what they're learning through the library standards would also corresponding correspond to what they're learning in the classroom I would appreciate a great vote to help keep our kids safe online thank you representative Mayberry has explained
the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill
representative Mayberry is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1283. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 65 yays
15 nays and nine present the bill is passed madam clerk please read house bill 1580 house bill 1580 by representative Gramlich to
Chair
Unverified
3:39:58
require schools to provide certain information on type 1 and type 2 diabetes when other health information is provided representative Gramlich you're recognized to explain your bill
thank you mr. speaker house bill 1580 aims to
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
3:40:13
help early detection of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in our student population essentially if the school district provides information on immunizations effective infectious diseases medications other school health issues information about type 2 diabetes will be provided and to make clear this is for educational information only it is not to be considered providing a medical diagnosis with that I appreciate a good vote representative Gramlich has
explained the bill would anyone like to speak
against the bill, for the bill. Representative Gramlich is closed for the bill. Question before the House is
Speaker 242
3:40:54
the passage of House Bill 1580. Prepare the machine, Madam
Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot with a vote
of 91 yeas, 2 nays, and zero present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1483. House Bill 1483 by
Chair
Unverified
3:41:21
Representative Gramlich to allow a public school district to use state funds to pay for an adult education program with which it
contracts. Representative Gramlich, you're recognized to explain the bill.
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
3:41:32
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week out of this house, we passed a bill that allows schools to have in-school GED programs by changing the compulsory ed law. What this would allow school districts to do is if there are funds available and they choose to use those they can help pay for an in-school GED program with those funds this does not mandate it it just helps make it a little bit easier for a
district to make decisions when they're funding this program representative
Speaker 27
3:41:58
Collins for what purpose question you're recognized sorry for not asking this earlier so
Representative Andrew Collins
Unverified
3:42:02
do you said in school so is this only for public programs or is this private as well I would say public only
Speaker 581
3:42:10
okay that was the intent okay I appreciate a good vote representative Gramlich has explained
the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill
representative Gramlich is closed for the bill question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1483 prepare the machine madam clerk Is everyone voted? Is everyone voted? Cast up
the ballot. The vote of 91 yeas, 2 nays, and 1 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1642. House Bill
Chair
Unverified
3:42:54
1642 by Representative Gramlich to amend the measures
considered when calculating a school rating and to ensure a student is not counted as a dropout
for purposes of calculating a school level graduation rate if the student passes
a GED test. representative Gramlich you're recognized to explain your
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
3:43:10
bill thank you mr. speaker last week we we passed out the same bill I took about talked about previously that changed a little bit of the compulsory ed law to talk about how we rate GEDs with school ratings rankings this is another part of the law that needed to be amended so that we can still make a GED not counted to drop out
to not affect school ratings and with that I appreciate
a good vote representative Gramlich has explained the bill would anyone like to speak
against the bill for the bill representative Gramlich is closed for the bill question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1642 prepare the machine madam
clerk everyone voted everyone voted cast up the ballot with a vote of 92 yay 0 nay and
present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1484. House Bill 1484
Chair
Unverified
3:44:09
by Representative Gramlich to limit the number of credits a student may obtain in a course credit recovery
program. Representative Gramlich, you're recognized to explain your
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
3:44:19
bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What House Bill 1484 aims to do is to limit the amount of credit recovery that a student can take while trying to obtain a high school diploma. We have some issues in the state where there are some students who have heard in certain districts that are of
the 22 required credits they need to graduate are attempting 18 of those credits online in their fall and spring semesters so they're essentially packing in years worth of work into online programs and to be fully transparent a number of years ago when we had a ninth graders on our campus I got to help with some of these credit recovery programs and not all of them are bad but many of them are quite literally go online search up the question get the answer put it down and move on and so kids are able to accomplish a year's worth of algebra
one in about three weeks maybe a month with no no real understanding of the content and no real ability to show that they understand what's going on and so what I'm trying to do today is to strengthen the value of our high school diplomas by ensuring that there is a minimum amount of standards that a student has to meet to be able to earn their diploma legitimately now just as a note that I do have a number of exemptions for students that fill up various various needs foster care students lots of movement who may make
it difficult certain IEP programs homeless students long-term placement mental and medical hospitals pregnant pregnant students high-risk tier 3 so and I plan on making another amendment on the way over to this Senate but that's the goal just to drink this and I would say one thing you know this only affects ninth graders going into next year and two we passed a number of bills out of this house now that will allow a GED program to be set up during the school day so if a student doesn't meet this credit recovery limit or they go
over the limit then they still have a pathway to be successful hopefully the schools will choose to set up these GED programs so these students can still have a piece of paper and go on and live a successful life and with that
Speaker 585
3:46:29
I'll answer any questions. Representative Puryear, for what purpose? Would this apply to ALE programs?
Speaker 574
3:46:33
Could you elaborate on that? Yes, so it still would apply to ALE programs. However, I've worked with an ALE director who's
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
3:46:38
also worked with a number of directors who've been talking about this language and made some amendments based on that.
One of the big pieces is that if an ALE student is in an ALE because of one of these numerous exclusions, that they're going to fall under that. So it's not just simply being in an ALE program that gives you, grants you the exclusion to this credit recovery limit. So it really depends why is a student in an ALE program to answer that question. And with that, I appreciate a
good vote. Representative Gramlich has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak
against the bill? For the bill? Representative Gramlich is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the
passage of House Bill 1484. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Does everyone voted? Does everyone voted?
Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 81 yea, 6 nay, and 4 present, the bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read
Chair
Unverified
3:47:49
House Bill 1793. House Bill 1793 by Representative duke to amend the law concerning the use of positive behavioral supports in public school
districts representative duke you're recognized to explain your
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
3:47:59
bill i think thank you mr speaker i'll try to keep this short i know we're going late um this is just a really common sense bill to bring local control back to our school districts when it comes to discipline problem procedures and behavior policies so pbis is a framework there are lots of frameworks out there what this will do we'll take it out of code to where they don't have to be required as districts are right now to use this specific framework. They're not going to be prohibited from using
it either. They're going to just have the choice. Because as we all know, all of our districts look different. Our school districts look different. And for them to be able to use a variety of tools in their tool belt, I think is really super important. So I just want to reiterate, it's just making it local control. It is not saying you can't use PBIS. It's just saying that if you want to use it, you can. If you don't want to use it, you don't have to. The choice is up to yours. It is a local control issue. And so with that, I will be happy to take some questions. - Representative Puryear, for what purpose?
- Did you say, I hear you say you support local control of
the school districts? - You absolutely did hear me say that. Thank you, Representative Puryear. Seeing no more questions, I would
ask for a good vote. - Representative Duke has explained the bill. Would anyone like
to speak against the bill? Before the bill, Representative Duke is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1793. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted?
Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 83 yea, 5 nay, and 4 present, the bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House
Chair
Unverified
3:49:48
Bill 1756. House Bill 1756 by
Representative Vaught to allow a parent, legal guardian, or person sending in loco parenthesis to a student to a document and
maintain the community service hours the student
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
3:50:00
obtains. Representative Vaught, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All this is going to do is allow the parent or the legal guardian or the loco parents to keep up with the documents of the service hours in which they're collecting to graduate from the learns bill.
Sorry, not action. And with that, I'd appreciate a good vote.
Representative Vaught has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill,
for the bill? Representative Vaught is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1756. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted?
As everyone voted, cast up the ballot with a vote of 84 yea, 2 nay, and 7 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1728. House Bill
Chair
Unverified
3:51:04
1728 by Representative Ennett to require reporting on the number of students receiving accommodations for a disability at institutions of higher education. Representative Ennett,
you're recognized to explain your bill. - Oh, sorry.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many of you know that I have
a child with special needs and he's a twin and he and his sister are 16. So with my constituent, Allison Guthrie, who's up there in the gallery, when she came to me with this bill, I was like, this is something that we need here in Arkansas. As parents, we all want our kids to do the best that they can do in higher ed.
And so this bill, I'm sorry, my notes are all scattered right now. - This bill, so currently Arkansas reports to NCES, but they don't report here, they don't report to any, they don't report the information about disability, students with disabilities to any organizations here in Arkansas. So this bill right here is to strengthen that,
to make sure we capture all the documentation, all the things we need, so our kids with special needs
can thrive in higher ed institutions. And with that, I'll take any questions. Representative Innan has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Ennett, you're recognized to close for the bill.
- I ask for a good vote, thank you. - Representative Ennett is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1728. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
has everyone voted has everyone voted cast up the ballot by vote of 89 yeas one
nay and five present the bill is passed madam clerk please read house bill 1766
Chair
Unverified
3:53:53
house bill 1766 by representative in it to create the Arkansas respond innovate succeed and empower rise
act representative in it you're recognized
to explain your bill thank you mr speaker house bill 1766 the rise act respond innovate secede in the power this legislation is to further strengthen our commitment to providing quality
higher education for students with disabilities hb 1766 is designed to enhance existing programs and resources ensuring that students who face unique challenges are given every opportunity to succeed in a rigorous academic environment. House Bill 1766, sorry, will create greater transparency describing processes of accommodations in plain English, disseminate such information
during the application process student student orientation academic catalogs and on institution public websites provide a list of reasonable accommodations and resources to applicants students parents and facilities in plain english again um my constitution will help me with this bill as well as parents with students of special needs we want to see our kids do the very best
And this bill right here will help ensure that we can make sure our students are successful in life. Thank you. Representative Bennett has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Bennett is
closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1766. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 80 yeas, 1 nay, and 9 present, the bill is
passed. members we are about to go into recess we have some committees that need to meet this afternoon
so we will go into recess for committees to meet the house will stand in recess until 8 p.m which time we will come back and hear senate bills if you have a senate bill on the red calendar today that you want to pass over, please let us know so that we can get it on tomorrow's calendar. House will stand in recess
until 8:00 p.m. Do I have any announcements from committees? Representative Gassaway, for what
Representative Jimmy Gazaway
Unverified
3:57:02
purpose? You're recognized for an announcement. State agencies will meet 15 minutes following this recess. Please be advised that if you have a House bill that you want to run and
it's on the agenda, you better run it
Representative Roger D. Lynch
Unverified
3:57:19
tonight. Thank you. Representative Lynch, for what purpose? The committee will meet upon
15 minutes upon recess in room 138. Ag, room in 15 minutes, Ag. Representative Gonzalez, what purpose?
Announcement. You're recognized. City County Local will meet in five minutes, MACB.
City County Local, five minutes, MACB. Representative Underwood, what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. I guess
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
3:57:38
I could announce this later, but House Judiciary will meet
Speaker 603
3:57:47
tomorrow at 10 a.m. Yes. Representative Maddox for what purpose announcement you're recognized insurance and commerce made in 15 minutes room 149 insurance and commerce 15 minutes 149
Chair
Unverified
3:57:57
representative Brooks what purpose announcement recognized house education in
Representative Keith Brooks
Unverified
3:57:59
15 minutes room 130 to hear one bill house education
one room 130 to hear one
bill representative gene for what purpose you're recognized for announcement joint budget will meet tomorrow morning
at 9 a.m big mac a joint budget tomorrow morning any other
committee announcements madam clerk oh got another one representative johnson what purpose announcement you're recognized point budget special language will meet tomorrow morning at 8 30 in big mac got it representative Kavanaugh, what
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
3:58:30
purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. Reverend Tax will meet at 10 a.m.
Speaker 50
3:58:39
tomorrow morning, room 151. Anyone else? Committee meetings tonight. Committee meetings right now. Any others? All right. Madam Clerk, please
Speaker 608
3:58:52
read committee reports. Mr. Speaker, we're committee on insurance and
Chair
Unverified
3:58:55
commerce to whom's referred to Senate Bill 552, vaguely reporting the same consideration here for time with the same recommendation that
do pass respectfully submitted Representative Dalby chair Mr. Speaker we are committee on education to whom's referred House Bill 1724 begly report the same consideration here for
term the same recommendation that it do pass concur and Senate amendment number one respectfully submitted Representative Brooks chair Mr. Speaker your committee on education whom's referred House Bill 1938 House Bill 1939 House Bill 1941 House Bill 1946 begly to report the same consideration here for term the same recommendation that it do pass respectfully submitted Representative Brooks, Chair. Mr. Speaker, your Committee on Revenue and Tax to whom is referred House Bill 1935, House Bill 1920. Begley report the same consideration here for terms of the same recommendation that due passes Amendment No. 1.
Respectfully submitted. Representative Kavanaugh, Chair. Mr. Speaker, your Committee on Revenue and Tax to whom is referred House Bill 1303. Begley report the same consideration here for terms of the same recommendation that due passes Amendment Kerr and Senate Amendment No. 1. Respectfully submitted. Representative Kavanaugh, Chair. Mr. Speaker, your Committee on Revenue and Tax to whom is referred House Bill 1063, House Bill 1485, House Bill 1732, House Bill 1922, Senate Bill 408, Senate Bill 494, Senate Bill 495, Senate Bill 529. Begley reporting the same consideration here for terms of the same recommendation that it do pass.
Respectfully submitted, Representative Kavanaugh, Chair. Mr. Speaker, we are commuting on education to whom is referred to Senate Bill 390. Begley reporting the same consideration here for terms of the same recommendation that it do pass. Respectfully submitted, Representative McKenzie, Vice Chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you.
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Speaker 612
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The house will come to order. Read the bills, Mr. Clerk. have any
Speaker 479
6:35:25
committee reports read the committee reports mr. speaker we are
Chair
Unverified
6:35:33
coming in aggregate culture for your economic development to whom was for a house bill in nineteen eighty-one to about two ninety seven four sixty four seven about five fifty beg to report that we've had the same one in consideration and you return the same with the recommendation that do pass research respectfully submitted Roger Lynch chair mr. speaker we are committing on insurance and commerce to whom was for a house bill in nineteen Begley to report that we have the same one in consideration, and here at the turn the same with the recommendation that due pass is submitted number one, respectfully submitted Trey Steinbeck, Vice Chair, Mr. Speaker, Weir Committee on Insurance Commerce to whom was
referred to House Bill in 1949, Begley to report that we have the same one in consideration, and here at the turn the same recommendation that due pass, respectfully submitted John Maddox, Chair, Mr. Speaker, Weir Committee on Education to whom was referred to Senate Bill 522, Begley to report that we have the same one in consideration, and here at the the same with the recommendation that you pass directly submitted Keith Brooks chair mr. speaker we are committee on city county local to whom was referred House Bill 1984 beg leave to report that we have the same under consideration here at the turn the same with the recommendation they do pass the submitted number one respectfully submitted Scott Richardson vice chair mr. speaker we are
committee on city county local to whom was referred House Bill 1983 House Bill 1976 House Bill 1927 Senate Bill 553 beg leave to report that we have same under the same under consideration and here's the term the same with the recognition they do pass directly submitted Scott Richardson vice-chair read the bills mr. clerk hospital 1991 without objection read the bill a second time well 1991 city county local hospital 1992 without objection read the
bill a second time that's well 1992 city county local hospital 1993 without Without objection, read the bill a second time. House bill 1993. Public transportation. House bill 1994. Without objection, read the bill a second time. House bill 1994. Insurance and commerce. House bill 1995. Without objection, read the bill a second time. House bill 1995. City, county, local. House bill 1996. Without objection, read the bill a second time. House bill 1996. Public health. House bill 1997. Without objection, read the bill a second time. House bill 1997. Aging children and youth.
House bill 1998. Without objection, read the bill a second time. House bill 1998. public health hospital 1999 without objection read the bill a second time hospital 1999 education hospital 2000 without objection read the bill a second time also 2000 education hospital 2001 without objection read the bill a second time hospital 2001 public transportation house resolution
Speaker 741
6:38:05
1109 without objection read the bill a
second time house resolution 1109 house management
house resolution 1110 without objection read the resolution a second time house resolution 1110 house management house resolution 1111 without objection read the resolution a second time house resolution 1111 house management house resolution 1112 without objection read the resolution a second time House Resolution 11-12. House Management. House Resolution 10-11. Without objection. House Memorial Resolution 10-11. Without objection read House Memorial Resolution a second time.
Speaker 743
6:38:49
House Memorial Resolution 10-11. House Management. House Resolution 10-12. House Memorial Resolution 10-12. Without objection read House
Memorial Resolution a second time. House Memorial Resolution 10-12. House Management. City Bill
Speaker 743
6:38:55
25. Without objection read the Bill a second time. City Bill 25.
calendar Senate bill 37 without objection read the bill a second time Senate bill 37 calendar Senate bill 39 without objection read the bill a second time Senate bill 39 calendar Senate bill 88 without objection read the bill a second time Senate bill 88 calendar Senate bill 120 without objection read the bill a second time Senate bill 120 public health Senate bill 347 without objection read the bill a second time Senate bill 347 public health Senate bill Senate Bill 359. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Senate Bill 359. Calendar.
Senate Bill 406. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Senate Bill 406. City, county, local. Senate Bill 437. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Senate Bill 437. Insurance and commerce. Senate Bill 439. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Senate Bill 439. State agencies. Senate Bill 447. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Senate Bill 447. Rules. Senate Bill 475. - Without objection, read the bill a second time. - Citable 475. - Insurance and Commerce. - Citable 485. - Without objection, read the bill a second time.
- Citable 485. - Judiciary. - Citable 488. - Without objection, read the bill a second time. - Citable 488. - Judiciary. - Citable 492. - Without objection, read the bill a second time. - Citable 492. - Public Transportation. - Citable 496. - Without objection, read the bill a second time. - Citable 496. - Public Transportation. Citadel 497. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citadel 497. Public health. Citadel 516. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citadel 516. State agencies. Citadel 534. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citadel 534. Public health. Citadel 540. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citadel 540. Public transportation. Citadel 562. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citadel 562. Public transportation. Citadel 565. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citadel 560. Public transportation. Citadel 565. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citadel 560.
about 565 state agencies sit above 567 about objection read the bill a second time but 567 revenue and tax suitable 573 without objection read the bill a second time it will 573 agriculture 575 without objection read the bill a second time 575 judiciary 576 without objection read the bill a second time it will 576 public health citable 577 without objection read the bill a second time Citable 577.
Revenue and tax. Citable 578. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citable 578. State agencies. Citable 580. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citable 580. City, county, local. Citable 583. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citable 583. Insurance and commerce. Citable 590. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citable 590. Judiciary. Citable 596. Without objection, read the bill a second time. Citable 596. Insurance and Commerce. City Bill 597.
Without objection, read the bill a second time. City Bill 597. Judiciary. City Bill 601. Without objection, read the bill a second time. City Bill 601. Public Health. City Bill 605. Without objection, read the bill a second time. City Bill 605. Revenant and Tax. City Bill 611. Without objection,
Speaker 479
6:42:16
read the bill a second time. City Bill 611. Insurance and Commerce. Thank you.
Speaker 217
6:42:57
Mr. Clerk please read Senate Bill 460. Senate
Chair
Unverified
6:43:09
Bill 460 by Representative Gramlich to modify
the compliance advisory panel to repeal the marketing recyclables program with the compliance advisory panel and to declare an
Speaker 577
6:43:18
emergency. Representative Gramlich you are recognized to explain
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
6:43:21
your bill. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Senate Bill 460 amends the compliance advisory panel small business stationary source technical Environmental Compliance Assistance Program, Marketing Recyclable Recycles Program, known as CAP.
This change has reduced the CAP to reflect the requirements of Federal Clean Air Act, converts a current panel of nine to seven members in line with the Clean Air Act. This continues a grant fund in marketing recycles that is difficult to administer and generate interest in. It redirects current funding to the CAP's support of small business compliance with federal and state environmental laws and
rules. And with that, I appreciate a good vote. Representative Gramlich has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the
bill, Representative Gramlich is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 460.
President Maschine, Mr. Clerk. Members, your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot with a vote of 89 years.
9 yeas, 0 nay, and 4 present, you have passed the bill in the emergency clause. Members
at the request of Representative Aaron Pilkington, we will pass over Senate Bill 322.
Representative McKenzie. Mr. Clark, please read Senate
Bill 407, 421. Senate Bill 421 by
Chair
Unverified
6:45:10
Representative Beatty Jr. to authorize the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to issue general obligation bonds for the development of wet
water waste disposal and pollution abatement projects. Representative
Beatty, you're recognized to explain your bill.
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
6:45:35
I guess I should pay attention. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Senate Bill 421 is to authorize the Arkansas Natural Resource Commission issue general obligation bonds for the development of water water disposal and pollution basically since
January 21st there have been 477 water and wastewater projects totaling 2.5 billion dollars in all 75 counties throughout our state current estimates that the wastewater needs are about $13 billion over the next 20 years. Remaining bond authority will be exhausted in 2027. Basically, Senate Bill 421 seeks $500 million in general obligation bond authority. The maximum utilization amount per biennium would be $60 million, ensuring
the continuation of the program through 2043. Debt service would be financed right now out of the 14.8 million in general revenue and current future loan repayments. Projects funded through the geo bond authority are primarily low interest loans that must be repaid plus state match requirements for federal water and wastewater programs. 421 would set a limit of 165 million are about 33 percent of the 500 million for financial assistance for irrigation projects.
Upon passage of 421 and signature of the governor, the issue of general obligation bonds would be placed back on a statewide ballot general election in November of 26 for a vote of the people. In additional authority, if additional authority is approved by the people of the state of Arkansas, the department of ag would prepare work plans every two years that would be presented to the arkansas natural resource commission the chief fiscal officer of the state the arkansas legislative council and the governor for approval prior to utilization of bond proceeds so we
approve this bill it passes it goes back to the voters to approve the general obligation bonds Seeing no questions, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Beatty has explained the bill. Would
anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Beatty is closed for the
bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 421. I'll pray on the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up
the ballot. The vote of 86 yays, 3 nays, and 5 present. The bill is passed. Mr. Clerk, please read Senate
Chair
Unverified
6:48:31
Bill 407. Senate Bill 407 by Representative Beatty Jr. to repeal the Arkansas Catfish Processor Fair Practices Act of
1987. Representative Beatty, you are recognized to
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
6:48:41
explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, Senate Bill 407, the title explains it all.
It's to repeal the Arkansas Catfish Processor Fair Practice Act of 1987, and that's what the bill does. I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Beatty has explained the bill.
Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Beatty is closed for the
bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 407. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
everyone voted is everyone voted cast up the ballot the
vote of 95 yay 0 nay and zero present bill is passed mr. Clark please read
Chair
Unverified
6:49:42
Senate bill 361 Senate Bill 361 by Representative Beatty Jr. to create the Industrial
Development Authorities Expansion Act and to provide the creation of industrial development authorities to secure and develop industry and foster economic
development. Representative Beatty, you're recognized to explain
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
6:50:02
your bill. Thank You Mr. Speaker. Members, I've been called far worse today than Junior. Basically, Senate Bill 361 is to create the Industrial Development Authority Expansion Act. Basically, our Metropolitan Port Authority Act that we all have with the nine ports in the state.
We wanted to create an additional tool that would help us in industrial development, economic development in the state and facilitate job growth and creation and mimic and model the success we've had with Metropolitan Port Authority. So what we've done is we've taken that and created a new section to create an entity called an industrial development authority has the same powers um that the metropolitan port authorities would have it's just not located on water and with that i'd see if there are any questions and i'd appreciate a good vote representative beatty has explained the bill
would anyone like to speak against the bill for
the bill representative beatty is closed for the bill question before the house is
the passage of senate bill 361 prayer of the machine
mr clerk everyone voted everyone voted cast up the
ballot the vote of 75 yay 3 nay and
15 present bill is passed members we're going to go back Senate bill 505 Mr.
Chair
Unverified
6:51:27
Clerk please read Senate bill 505 Senate bill 505 by Representative McKenzie to amend the law concerning municipal planning and to require an
procedure for changes to the zoning of district designation of
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
6:51:41
property in certain instances. Representative McKenzie you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I bring to you today Senate bill 505. It's a very simple bill that allows developers and landowners an administrative process to follow city land use maps. It's a permissive bill. It's endorsed by the Arkansas Municipal League, Urban Planners Association, and then Garver based out of Little Rock. This is a good way of having this planning and
zoning go through without losing community engagement with that appreciate a good
vote representative McKenzie has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill
for the bill representative McKenzie is closed for the bill question before the house is the passage of Senate bill
Speaker 757
6:52:19
505 prepare the Machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote
of 82 yeas, 4 nay, and 4 present. The bill is passed. Members, with the request of Representative Zach Gramlich, we will
pass over Senate Bill 510 today. Mr. Clerk, Please read Senate Bill
Chair
Unverified
6:52:54
433. Senate Bill 433 by Representative Alyssa Brown regarding the display of National Motto and the Ten Commandments. Representative
Brown, you're recognized to explain your bill.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, SB 433 amends the National Motto Display Act to include the Ten Commandments. In recent Supreme Court cases like the American Legion and even more recently the Coach Kennedy versus Bremerton School District case, we know that the Supreme Court has rejected the lemon test. They've rejected the former secular lemon test, and they now use a longstanding history and tradition test to rule on issues of constitutionality for public display and on religion.
So the Ten Commandments, without a doubt, will pass this long-standing history in and tradition test. As it pertains to American history and the foundation and development of our law, you cannot separate the two. And if you think displaying the Ten Commandments in an Arkansas courthouse is unconstitutional, I will remind you that if you go to the highest court in our land, the United States Supreme Court, you will not see one but multiple displays of the Ten Commandments there.
We send our school kids to D.C. to learn about our history where they will go to places like the National Archives. They will see a display of the Ten Commandments. When they go to the Library of Congress, they will see a display of the Ten Commandments. And if you stand on the floor of the United States House Chambers, the Representative House Chamber, you will see in the back of the chamber a depiction of Moses and the Ten Commandments. You cannot separate the history
of our nation and the development of moral law from the Ten Commandments, and I would urge you that nor should we. Eighty percent of this body campaigned on conservative values, and even more than that, I think all of us agree that we want the next generation to grow up and be Arkansans who care about law and order. No matter their religious belief, the Ten Commandments are good law and order. So I hope you join me in voting for this bill. Thank you.
Representative Brown has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Unger, you're recognized to speak against the bill. You're probably a
Representative Steve Unger
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6:55:42
little surprised. I cannot tell you how much I would rather not come down here and speak against this
bill. No offense against anybody here, but I'm going to explain why I can't support it. may speak against this bill for legal reasons. I'm speaking against this bill strictly as an evangelical believer who as a chaplain spent 25 years doing ministry to the young agnostics who were raised in cultural Christianity. Now first let me say I don't have any problems at
all with the American heritage aspect of this bill. In fact I wished every school had an American heritage corner in the library that displayed the Ten Commandments, the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, and so on. And also, please understand, I wish every school kid in Arkansas could access the Ten Commandments. To that end, I wish a loving mother and father would handwrite the text of Exodus 20 on card stock and put it in their kid's backpack.
That would be a treasured keepsake coming from the very people who God charged in Proverbs 22 with training up the way they should go. But a poster in a classroom with no buy-in from the teacher? I'm afraid what this does is take something that should be holy and make it trivial. Now, the second reason I'm against this is a little more complex. Actions like this emphasize the simple outward trappings of holiness,
like a poster on a wall, the very kind of things that Amos chapter 5 talks about, over and above the sublime demands for a changed heart. Let's talk about the outward trappings of holiness versus a changed heart. Two gospel stories. Matthew 19 tells of the rich young ruler who asked Jesus to validate his righteousness. And why not? The young man acts rightly.
He has kept all the commandments. No small thing. I wish I could say that. And then the Lord says, sell all you have and give the money to the poor. The young man can't. His unchanged heart loves money more than God. Mark 2 tells of the paralyzed man lowered through the hole in the roof to a room where Jesus is teaching. Jesus looks at him and says, your sins are forgiven. Now usually repentance has to come before forgiveness,
but this man hasn't said a word. He didn't have to, the Lord knew his heart. Now you may ask, what is the harm of the outward trappings of holiness? So what is the harm of the outward trappings of holiness? which is exactly what this is well in the gospels it was the only thing that made jesus angry in the gospels we see jesus being so kind and understanding to the prostitutes tax collectors and roman soldiers the guys who got on his last nerve were the people who cared
about the outward trappings of holiness more than a changed heart the pharisees in matthew 23 he calls them whitewashed tombs they look good on the outside but the inside is full of death and decay in the past few years we have seen a sad parade of celebrity pastors and mega church ministries fall victim to the outward trappings of holiness more than a changed heart. Mark Griskell in Mars Hill, Bill Hybels at Willow Creek, Bill Gothard, Rabbie Zacharias,
I could go on, but you get the point. From the outside looking in, everything looked great until it all collapsed. People wondered how could that happen. I have to say it could not turn out any other way. It turns out the lies and the internal rot had been going on for years. whitewashed tombs. When Thomas Jefferson said, with self-promotion, the internal rot begins, he got that line from Jesus, whether he knew it or not. Now, why did I need to come down and speak
against this? Because our own national whitewashed tomb is cultural Christianity. And what is cultural Christianity? In the South, cultural Christianity is a part of the air that breathe. It's like the hum of mosquitoes, Friday night football, saying sir and ma'am, sweet tea, black-eyed peas on New Year's Day, and the music of Leonard Skinner. It proves that we're from the South. Every part of the country has its own version of cultural Christianity. I'm just
describing ours. And it goes without saying that the football game and the public meeting will open with prayer maybe a long prayer sometimes a long prayer cultural Christianity this becomes part of the the sweetness and the gentleness of life kind of like the sampler on the wall that grandma made that says god bless our home it's been there so long you barely notice it cultural Christianity
Humanity is just part of the national background scenery, and that's the problem. 21 years ago this May, just next month, I was sent from my unit just outside Baghdad to do ministry to the 1st Marine Division just after what came to be known the First Battle of Fallujah. Their battalion chaplains were great guys, but overwhelmed. The Iraqi army garrison in Fallujah had been overrun by a well-coordinated insurgent attack by the forces of Abu Masab al-Zaqari, with many of them captured alive.
That was a mistake. Al-Zaqari's nickname from his own people was the Sultan of Slaughter. For the 1st Marine Division, the fighting was street to street and house to house. But for many Marines, the aftermath was just as bad or worse. And that involved the recovery of the dead. On the streets, starving dogs fed on charred corpses. Inside civilian homes were the reminds of many Iraqi soldiers and police officers.
Kitchen tables and basements had been used as makeshift torture chambers. I won't say any more. When you go into the infantry, you train for combat, but nothing can prepare a young American for this. I was not in the city. I was just across the Euphrates River at Camp Blue Diamond, where our guys came to rearm and refit. I mostly hung out in the smoking area. A lot of guys did not want to eat, but they really did like to smoke.
Handling dead bodies will do that to you. In a pastoral sense, you learn that in a situation like this, there's no words. The best you can do is just be present. I approached a young Marine who appeared to be in a trance just to say hi, and he said, sir, no disrespect against you, but after what I saw on the streets of Fallujah, I don't believe in God anymore. So I gave him some space, but I did come back later and I asked him, tell me more about this God you used to believe in, and he did, and he opened up.
I ended up asking that same question a lot in the days, weeks, and years to come, from Iraq to Afghanistan, or my stateside office, were these old, young men, after five or ten years of alcohol, or maybe a younger wife, had not numbed the pain. And whether they were a lapsed Baptist from the hills of Georgia or a lapsed Catholic from Jersey City, the answer was the same. The sweet, gentle, cultural Christianity of their youth
had left them unarmed in the face of real evil. The martyrs of Hebrews chapter 11 did not flinch in the face of evil, but for cultural Christians, their faith melts like a snowball on a hot stove. You see, emphasizing the outward trappings of holiness more than a changed heart is not just a harmless foible that we need to overlook. It's an indication of a fatal disease. You see, the real enemy of an authentic, life-changing, heart-changing union with Christ
is not forces from the outside like sex and drugs and rock and roll. The enemy that a poster on the wall or the Bible on the coffee table can't stop is the scary thing on the inside. It's a threat from my own heart. My justification was completed by the work of Christ on the cross but my sanctification can only be advanced daily by daily obedience and sabotaged only by my own orneriness. Some days in my heart it's house-to-house fighting that only ends when I surrender to God
and ask forgiveness every day that I have left until I meet him. And see, that is the kind of faith that needs to be modeled to a kid by somebody that loves them, not a poster. Have you ever confessed your sins to a teenager? Your teenager. Awkward. But it takes guts, but it has to be done. Cultural Christianity doesn't change anybody, but it does do a good job of inoculating young people against a life-changing encounter with the person of Jesus Christ.
The imitation has inoculated them from the real thing. There's a great little book that came out in 2019 called The Unsaved Christian by Dean Insera that does a better job of explaining the problem than I ever could. When I was in seminary, my favorite Old Testament professor, Dr. Al Bean, once said that in the Old Testament, the Hebrews didn't really worship idols, but what they did worship was Yahweh as if he were an idol. And it's true.
How do we do this today? Well, it's when we do stuff like that, like this. And that, friends, is why a man who
did a career in military ministry is a no. Thank you for hearing me
Chair
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7:06:29
out. representative hunger has spoke against the bill would anyone like speak for the bill representative Crawford you're recognized speak for the bill
Representative Cindy Crawford
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7:06:48
thank you mr. speaker hello friends let's go home I'm ready I did not want to come down here? And I said to myself, if nobody spoke against Seville, I would stay in my seat. But mine won't be that long, I promise. Do you know in the Bible there is a compass and it's John 10, 10. And it says, Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. And God comes to give life and to
give it more abundantly. Review a timeline with me. Some of you are old enough to remember some of this, and some of you are not. The Vietnam War began with our troops in 1955. It was escalating. 1962, prayer was taken out of school. In 1963, the Ten Commandments were officially taken from schools due to what was cited as an Establishment Clause of the First
Amendment. Subsequently, the free love social movement of the '60s challenged norms around sexual issues, including marriage, birth control, and adultery, thereby paving the way for abortion. 1966, the first school shooting in Austin. In 1973, abortion was legalized,
and the Vietnam soldiers were returning home to an ungrateful nation. This marked the decline of a nation characterized by apathy, free love, drugs, abortion, school shootings, because our country had lost its moral compass. In the '70s, a sitcom called "Leave It to Beaver" portrayed an ally's family, a suburban family from the '50s and '60s, where the biggest issues
would have been bullying Wally Cleaver, Beaver, talking back to his mother. Another sitcom, "Happy Days," was also depicted in a simpler life in the 50s with poodle skirts, t-shirts, leather jackets and the bonds. The 70s sitcoms were created to lure Americans to sleep by showing them how wonderful and peaceful life was at home without discussing a political scene except for the
6 o'clock news that only lasted 30 minutes, not a continual feed like we have today. What if putting the Ten Commandments in a school could be the beginning of our moral compass, being reinstated? What if a young person were to read the Ten Commandments on a school wall and realize that killing was wrong? not what the gang leaders had told him he should do.
It's not wrong to tell the truth of how the United States began. Let's put the compass back in the classrooms for our nation. Please vote for SB 433. Representative Crawford has spoke for the bill. Would
Chair
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7:10:24
anyone like to speak against the bill? Anyone like to
speak for the bill? Representative McClure, you're recognized to speak for the bill.
Representative Rick McClure
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7:10:41
Well, I hope we would not get stuck on this, but since we are here. First, Representative Brown, thank
you for bringing the bill. It's not as easy as most people think. Representative Unger, thank you for your service to our country and your ministry to literally probably thousands of people, seeing things that none of us want to see and having to deal with things that any of us want to see. While many of us have watched movies about the Ten Commandments, most people think that the Ten Commandments were strictly Christian.
But if you stop and think about what you have seen, the Ten Commandments, as Moses brought them down from the mountain, was given to a group of wandering Jews. From that point on, civil law began to be made, things that we're all very, very familiar with. My wife was a teacher, retired as a teacher, and I remember one over the years, one of the curriculums that they used was called Common Core.
In Common Core, they had the pillars of different things, and if you looked, you could take almost each one of those pillars, While there was not ten of them, you could take most of those and line them up with the Ten Commandments. I wished every home and every parent was involved. I wished every father and mother was involved with their children in teaching them right from wrong. As they go to school, they see lots of different things.
As Representative Brown has already mentioned, the Ten Commandments is posted widely across our nation and our nation's capital. The thing is this, those Ten Commandments that most civil law hangs on is not going to hurt anyone. One might say, well, it reaffirms one particular religion. I'm not going to get into all the religious debate, but I will tell you this, and studying other religions, you will see threads of the Ten Commandments
through almost worldwide religions. Historically, it has stood the test of time. It supports most of what we do here. There's nothing that's going to keep a parent from talking to their child about what they read on a wall at school. If that parent disagrees, that parent can teach their particular belief system or why it's wrong.
But for a child that may have lost their way, and they simply see, don't steal, don't kill, and we can go on, they plant seed, they plant seed of civil law, of the way that we live. our forefathers who came to this nation many of them abided by these i think keeping it away from the kids does much more danger than it does exposing the kids to it
the question always comes up when these subjects are what about the teacher what if there's a disagreement well listen at some point in time there is going to be someone that brings up the religious question in a classroom whether it's elementary high school or college it's going to happen this just simply lets them see a foundation it doesn't promote last time I checked my 10 commandments says that mine doesn't say thou must accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior now I would
like to add that to it but that's not what it says it gives the tenets and let it say what it says and let the teacher teach, let the kids be kids, let the parents be parents, and let's go on. I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative
McClure spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Breaux? Representative Richmond, for what purpose?
Speaker 785
7:15:04
Motion. I'll hear your motion. I move for immediate consideration.
How about right after I'll say a couple of things? Representative Richmond, that's a proper motion. That's non-debatable. All those in favor of immediate consideration, say aye. Aye.
Speaker 757
7:15:26
Oppose, nay. No. Guys, have it. Mr. Clerk, prepare the machine.
so everyone voted so everyone voted cast up the ballot the vote of 71 yeas 20 nays and two present bill is
passed mr. clerk please read Senate bill
Chair
Unverified
7:16:02
405 Citadel 405 by Representative Attucks to amend the online marketplace consumer informed act representative
maddox you're recognized to explain your bill thank you
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
7:16:11
mr speaker colleagues this is a very simple bill in 2021 we passed something called the inform act subsequent to that 20 other states passed very similar legislation the legislation was so good that congress passed the federal inform act in 2023 and so this bill just makes it consistent with the federal law so that's all this bill does and i'd appreciate a
good vote Representative Maddox has explained the bill. Would anyone like to
Speaker 28
7:16:36
speak against the bill? Anyone like to speak for the bill?
Representative Maddox is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 405. Prepare
the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has
everyone voted? cast up the ballot the vote of 83 a six nay and five present the bill is passed mr clerk please read senate bill 463
Chair
Unverified
7:17:21
senate bill 463 by representative vat brown to require the arkansas public service commission to approve or deny settlement agreements concerning closing or eliminating electric generation units or transmission assets Representative Brown, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Colleagues, this bill does exactly what the title
says. As you all may recall, there was some consent decrees that entered up in North Arkansas to close some of our coal plants. The AG tried to get involved in that case, and the AG was told the state did not have standing. This bill fixes that. It simply provides that the Public Service Commission does have to have a seat at the table
and can approve or deny any settlement agreement that a utility enters into with a third party, such as the EPA, et cetera, before they close down a power plant. No known opposition, and this bill is a bipartisan support. It came out of the Senate unanimously, and I'm not going to say that the Senate always gets it right, but it is true that a stop clock is right twice
a day. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Brown has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
bill, for the bill? Representative Brown is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 463.
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. is everyone voted
everyone voted cast up the ballot with a vote of 94 yay zero nay and two present the bill is passed mr. clerk please read Senate bill
Chair
Unverified
7:18:50
123 Senate bill 123 by representative Vaught to amend the law concerning coverage for mammograms and
breast ultrasounds representative Vaught you're recognized
Representative DeAnn Vaught
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7:18:58
to explain your bill Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last several years, Senator Ed Leading and I have passed a numerous number of bills amid giving Arkansans better access to the tools they need to diagnose and treat cancer. And that's exactly what we're trying to do with Senate Bill 123. Sometimes, depending on a person's family history or other factors that increase their risk for breast cancer,
a doctor will recommend a supplemental screening defined in the bill as medically necessary and appropriate examination. Over the last several years, I've had to actually do these types of examinations, and they have been a lifesaver for me. Catching my cancer, which I'm a high risk for at this time. We also know that if we invest up front, it's worth it.
The earlier that we're able to detect cancer, the more lives we're able to save, and the less expensive it is to treat. So that's where we're doing downstream savings. Nobody spoke against this bill in committee on the insurance and commerce, and it was recommended unanimously, and the bill cleared the Senate floor 34 to zero. - With that, I'll take questions.
Chair
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7:20:26
- Representative Wardlow, for what purpose? - Question. - You're
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
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7:20:31
recognized. - Representative Wardlow, what's the average cost of this bill,
Representative DeAnn Vaught
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7:20:35
what's the impact? - So they say the impact is around $700,000, but that's if you calculate a large number of people. They didn't factor in the fact that this is a supplemental examinations and they're only recommended for small percentages of the population who are at high risk. Follow-up?
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
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7:20:52
You're recognized for a follow-up. So this bill mandates private insurance to cover a certain charge, correct?
Representative DeAnn Vaught
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7:20:58
It mandates that they pay. I'm supportive, by the way, but I'm just asking. Yeah, yeah, it does. It mandates that they pay for the supplemental screening, yes. Thank you.
Seeing no other questions, I appreciate a good
vote. Representative Vaught has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill?
Chair
Unverified
7:21:23
Representative Rose, you recognize, speak for the bill.
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
7:21:29
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I'll be quick. Just wanted to say thank you to Representative Vaught, Senator Letting for running this bill. As Representative Vaught said, this will save lives and stave off more difficult and more expensive treatment down the line. So I appreciate a
good vote. Representative Rose has spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For
Chair
Unverified
7:21:59
the bill? Representative Rye, do you recognize I speak for the bill?
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
7:22:09
But I'll say this much, this will not affect me, but I can tell you this, it would have affected my wife. It sure would have, and I don't think you can put a cost on that, and I think we need to vote for this. Thank you. Representative
Rice spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
For the bill, Representative Vaught is closed for
the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 123.
Speaker 193
7:22:40
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has
everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. For the vote of 92 yea, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bill is passed.
Chair
Unverified
7:23:06
Mr. Clerk, please read Senate Bill 448. Senate Bill 448 by Representative Lundstrom to authorize the financing of energy-efficient improvements, alternative energy improvements, building resiliency improvements, and water
conservation improvements. Representative Lundstrom, you're recognized to
Representative Robin Lundstrum
Unverified
7:23:21
explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. CPACE is a process by which financing is done on renovation projects. We passed this bill 12 years ago, and since then, 42 other states have also used this alternative financing process, including Texas and Oklahoma, which together have seen $900 million of project investments. It's fully voluntary, and I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Lundstrom has explained the bill.
Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Lundstrom is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 448. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast
up the ballot. With a vote of 95 yeas, 1 nay, and 0 present,
Speaker 799
7:24:18
the bill is passed. Mr. Clerk, please read Senate Bill 237. Citadel 237 by Representative Steimel to amend the
law concerning the licensing and regulation of captive insurers.
Representative Steiner
Unverified
7:24:35
Representative Steimel, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So let me start with this. No way interferes whatsoever with the captive agent bill that we passed that will deal with higher ed and K-12 schools. So I just want to be clear on that.
So what this does is it will bring us in line with other states to create a more captive or competitive captive program. And we all know that competition usually can breed lower prices. So with that, I'll take any questions. Seeing none, I ask for a good vote. Representative Steinmel has explained
Speaker 28
7:25:09
the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for
Speaker 50
7:25:14
the bill? Representative Steinmull is closed for the bill.
Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 237. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 95 yea, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bill is passed. Mr. Clark, please read Senate Bill 351. Senate Bill 351 by
Chair
Unverified
7:25:53
Representative Ray, to amend the law concerning ethics of campaign finance, to amend the portions of Initiated Act 1 of 1990, and to amend the portions of
Initiated Act 1 of 1996. Representative Ray, you're
Representative David Ray
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7:26:16
recognized to explain the All right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was not paying attention and lost my notes. So Senate
Bill 351 is mostly a cleanup bill from the Arkansas Ethics Commission. A lot of what What it does is, if you'll remember, in 2021, Speaker Evans ran a bill that did away with the carryover law that we had and replaced it with a remaining campaign fund law, which we operate under now. In that bill, although it was a very good bill, there were a few sections of that bill
where we missed sections of code, and so a lot of this is clean up for that. You also may remember two years ago, Representative Shepherd and Senator Hester had a campaign finance bill that changed a bunch of things, and so most of this is cleanup. There are a few substantive things in here, although I will tell you that of the substantive changes I do not believe any of them to be controversial, but I would be happy to answer any questions about this bill if anyone has any.
Seeing the white flag in the back, I appreciate
a good vote. Representative Ray has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative
Ray is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 351. Prepare to machine, Mr.
Clerk. everyone voted everyone voted cast up the
ballot the vote of 97 yay 0 nay and 0 present the bill
is passed mr. Clark please read Senate bill 357
Chair
Unverified
7:28:15
cinema 357 by representative unker to amend the uniform attendance and leave policy act and to apply a military service credit to a public employee's total service time for annual leave
accrual. Representative Bunger, you're recognized to
Representative Steve Unger
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7:28:31
explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues. Mr. Wardle, I got
this one down under 30 minutes. Senate Bill 357 is about recognizing and valuing our service of our veterans
and current members of the National Guard and Reserve who are employed by the state of Arkansas. This bill allows their documented military service to count towards the accrual rate of annual leave essentially acknowledging the time they've already served in uniform for the state and the nation when calculating how quickly they earn annual leave as state employees. It is important to clarify this bill does not provide additional leave. It simply credits relevant military service towards annual leave accrual
Senate Bill 357 helps Arkansas stay competitive with the federal government, which already credits military service this way. A new federal employee with five years of military service starts out accruing annual leave at the same rate as a 19-year state employee. It sends a strong message that we value discipline, dedication, and military experience, and it will help us both attract and retain high-quality public servants. This bill explicitly prohibits double-counting service time
at the individual with simultaneously a state employee and in the military. It also outlines a proportional method to credit National Guard and Reserve members based on their accrued points, ensuring fairness and consistency with active duty service. This bill passed in the Senate with broad support, 31 yes votes, and has the endorsement of Attorney General Tim Griffith. i ask for your support
and a good vote thank you representative hunger has explained
the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill
anyone like speak for the bill representative richmond you recognize speak for the bill Not for
or against the bill, simply when you come in and close, just want to know, does this increase the cost to the state, and if so, do you have any figures of how much? Representative Richmond
has spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Unger, you're recognized to close for your bill. -
Representative Steve Unger
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7:31:09
Thank you, Representative Richmond. I don't particularly have an answer to your questions, but this will help us attract and
retain good employees. And for that, I ask for a good vote.
Thank you. - Representative Unger is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 357.
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. everyone voted everyone voted passed up the ballot with a vote of 93 yay
zero nay and two present bill is passed mr. clerk please read senate bill 479
Chair
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7:32:05
Senate bill 479 by representative Hawk to amend the law concerning voter assistance and to require a person assisting a voter with a disability to present identification representative Hawk you're recognized to explain your
bill thank you mr. speaker colleagues this bill
Speaker 154
7:32:20
was brought to you in by the state board of election commissioners it's pretty simple bill if somebody with a disability goes to vote all they have to do is show an identification when they are serving as the voter for that person with the disability if they are under the age of 18 they have to just be logged in the logbook for that polling
Representative RJ Hawk
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7:32:41
site just put your name address phone number or address and that way it's logged for the general public to see and that's all the bill does and with that
Speaker 560
7:32:50
I'll take any questions. Seeing none I appreciate
a good vote. Representative Hawke has explained the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill for
the bill? Representative Hawke is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 479. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. For the vote of 82 yeas, 8 nay, and 4 present, the bill
Chair
Unverified
7:33:32
is passed. Mr. Clerk, please read Senate Bill 148. Senate Bill 148 by Representative Acre to establish the Creating an Investment
Opportunity for Early Childhood Workers Act of 2025.
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
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7:33:42
Representative Acre, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, Senate Bill 148 is a bill that allows early child care employers to enroll their early child care caregivers in the Arkansas teacher retirement system.
It's important to note that the employer gets the choice of whether to opt their employees in or not. It is not mandatory, and it has no fiscal impact to the state. The employers would pay the employer portion, and the employee would pay the employee portion. This is a good way to allow these early childhood educators and their employers to participate in ATRS. And with that, I would welcome any questions. Seeing none, I appreciate a good vote. Representative Aker
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill?
Baker is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 148. Prepare
Speaker 193
7:34:46
the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has
everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 78 yeas, 10 nays, and six present. The bill is passed. Mr. Clark please read Senate
Chair
Unverified
7:35:01
Bill 153. Senate Bill 153 by Representative Warren to amend the law concerning various provisions of title 24 of the Arkansas Code and to amend the law regarding the payment
of retirement benefits to various city officials. Representative
Representative Les Warren
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7:35:19
Warren you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you Mr. Mr. Speaker, colleagues, this is a part of the code that deals with city retirement funds, and what it's stating is that cities must pay for any city retirement plans from its
general fund account. We're removing those last five words from its general fund account. Cities are still responsible for taking care of the retirement payments. It just does not have to come from that specific fund. Be glad to entertain any questions. I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Warren has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Warren
is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 153.
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? cast up the ballot. By a vote of 97 yeas, zero nay, and zero present, the bill is passed. Mr. Clerk,
Chair
Unverified
7:36:29
please read Senate Bill 160. - Senate Bill 160 by Representative Warren to amend the law concerning administration of the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System.
- Representative Warren, you're recognized to
Representative Les Warren
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7:36:40
explain the bill. - Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this was the last shell bill that we had for APERS. It does two things. First of all, it adds two members to the APERS Retirement Board. It's adding the Secretary of the Department of Shared Administrative Services, and it's putting the State Banking Commissioner back on. The second thing that it does is it's codifying that ADFA is a legitimate participant in the APERS system.
They're already in there, but we realize the code didn't have it in there, so we're codifying that. I would appreciate a good
vote. Representative Warren has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill? Representative Warren is closed for the bill. The
Speaker 242
7:37:24
question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 160. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote of 97 yea, 0 nay,
and 0 present. The bill is passed. Mr. Clark, please read Senate Bill 371. Senate
Chair
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7:37:54
Bill 371 by Representative Brooks. To establish a standardized system to aid in the search of missing children who do not meet the criteria for activation of the Arkansas Amber Alert System. Representative
Brooks, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank
Representative Keith Brooks
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7:38:07
you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, Senate Bill 371 comes to us from our friends in the Arkansas State Police.
The goal here is to deal with children who may not meet the specific standards of an AMBER Alert. So in the summer of last year, Senator Jamie Scott had a principal reach out to her because of a student with a disability that went missing but did not qualify for an AMBER Alert. So the goal of this bill is to establish a standardized missing child alert system in Arkansas for cases that don't meet the strict criteria of an AMBER Alert. So that strict criteria, the limitations for an Amber Alert require evidence of an abduction and proof that the child is in immediate danger.
So obviously many missing children don't meet that strict qualifications. What this bill does, creates a new alert system for missing children who don't qualify for Amber Alert. It's a statewide notification process. It has the alerts much to what you would see with a silver alert. So through law enforcement, media, and digital highway signage. The qualifications, the criteria, a child must be under the age of 18. Law enforcement must determine that the child is missing and the whereabouts are unknown. The child must be believed to be in potential danger, even if abduction is not suspected. There is no fiscal impact to it, and I'd be happy to take any questions.
Seeing none, I appreciate a good vote. Representative Brooks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
bill, for the bill? Representative Brooks is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 371. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. everyone
voted everyone voted cast up the ballot the vote of 96 yay 0 nay and 0 present bill is
passed which part please read Senate bill 252 Senate
Chair
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7:39:59
bill 252 by representative Ward law to afford the public of health risks caused by vapor products and eliquid products and to ensure the safety
of Arkansas youth. Representative Wardlaw, you're recognized
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
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7:40:13
to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's
been a long day, hasn't it? Long day. We did get hospital funding out of committee, by the way. So this bill, they're waving
my home flag at me. It's a bad deal. So this little bill takes
care of a problem in the vaping world. We were in rules about
a month ago and a young lady testified on a different bill than this one that she sent a single-use vaping ingredients off to have them analyze. They came back and they had heavy metal in them. They had lead. They had traces. She thought of fentanyl. And the answer at that time was to ban single-use vape pieces. The problem with that is it's a great idea. It solves the immediate problem. But the UK already did that. And what
happened was the very people in China that make the single-use vapes started making multi-use vapes. So they still put the same ingredients right back into a different vape, ship it right back over here, and our youth and our adults sit there and suck that down and get stuck with all those heavy metals in their lungs. So what this bill does is it forces them to either apply or be registered at the FDA so that those ingredients can be tested so we know that this stuff is safe. We already know, through independent testing, it is not safe under its current form.
We know that things are being made in China. I try my best not to have to say that, but it is the truth. This bill will prevent those type of ingredients from being sold to our public in Arkansas. With that, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Ward-Law
Speaker 104
7:42:00
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the
bill? Representative Wardlaw is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 252. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. For the vote of
87 yea, 3 nay, and 3 present, the bill is passed. Mr. Clerk, please read Senate Bill 374. Senate Bill 374 by Representative
Chair
Unverified
7:42:41
Wing to amend the law concerning the civil service system. Representative Wing, you're recognized
to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
All this bill simply does is it works with the cities that just have civil service systems. This is
brought to us by those cities who want to give more flexibility to the police chiefs and the fire chiefs terms of setting their exams now this law was passed originally in 1987 and back then they just set times in April and October to do these exams to hire their new batch of recruits well times have changed and they don't have the same demand that they used to have back then and so they need to hold them more frequently or at least when they get some good applicants and so what this
bill does is it gives that flexibility to those police and fire chiefs it also adds six months on the probationary period on the police side this
is something that the police chief has asked for. Police in fire in support of this, happy to answer any questions. Appreciate
a good vote. Thank you. Representative Wing has explained the bill. Would anyone like
to speak against the bill? Before the bill? Representative Wing is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate
Bill 374. Prepare the machine. Mr. Clerk.
Is everyone voted? Is everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 91 yea, 1 nay, and 2
present, the bill is passed. Mr. Clerk, please read Senate Bill 343. Senate Bill 343 by
Chair
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7:44:21
Representative Clowney to amend the law concerning state-owned motor vehicles, to amend the law concerning public property, and to amend the Automobile and Pickup Truck Acquisition Act from the state of Arkansas. Representative
Clowney, you're recognized to explain your bill.
Representative Nicole Clowney
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7:44:35
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, Senate Bill 343 comes out of the governor's Arkansas Forward Initiative. It's meant to increase efficiencies in Arkansas's government. This bill particularly works with a small piece of this that has to do with state-owned vehicles. So currently, the entire fleet of state-owned vehicles is kind of handled individually piecemeal by each agency that owns the vehicles. bill consolidates control of the entire state fleet under the Department of
Transformation and Shared Services and it helps do a better job increasing efficiencies through things like digital entry of use of vehicles logging miles that kind of thing as well as some digital monitoring this the McKinsey study estimated that this would save the state about 3 million dollars a year if implemented. With that I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Clowney has explained
the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill?
Representative Clowney is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 343. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has
everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. With the vote of 93 yay, 0 nay, and 0 present, the
bill is passed. Members, at the request of
Representative Erin Pilkington, we will pass over Senate Bill 241 tonight. Mr. Clerk, please read
Chair
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7:46:20
Representative Birx, to amend the law concerning disclosure of driver and vehicle records and to protect driver and vehicle
records from public disclosure. Representative Burks, you're recognized to explain your bill. Your first
Representative Rebecca Burkes
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7:46:32
bill. Yes, thank you for the warm welcome everybody. Thank you Mr. Speaker. SB 498 is a bill from DFNA that
cleans up Arkansas motor vehicle and driver record laws to ensure that privacy protections while still allowing access for law enforcement and other authorized entities. This bill aligns Arkansas law with federal regulations resolving a conflict where our current law treats these records as accessible to the public while federal law requires stricter protections. SB 498 also streamlines the process by creating one consistent standard across the code for releasing these records and lastly it allows the digital driver's license
photos to be used by law enforcement in courts. Currently they can only be disclosed by the driver's approval. I'd appreciate a good
vote, thank you. Representative Burks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak
against the bill? For the bill? Representative Burks is closed for the bill. Question before the
House is the passage of Senate Bill 498. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
it's everyone voted it's everyone voted cast up
the ballot vote of 92 yeas one nay and two present the bill is passed madam clerk please read
Speaker 738
7:48:05
Senate bill 422 sit a bill 422 by representative Brown to allow nonprofit organizations to contribute to a
Chair
Unverified
7:48:10
new and or existing Arkansas brighter future and fund plan
account and to require the treasurer of state to facilitate contributions by a
nonprofit organization. Representative Brown you're recognized to
explain your bill. Thank You mr. speaker colleagues I am really pleased to bring this bill to you it's bipartisan and I'm not going to make any disparaging remarks about the Senate, but it did receive a unanimous vote on the
Senate side. This bill allows us to
change the law slightly to allow for a nonprofit organization that wants to establish 529 plans predominantly disadvantaged youth. We have a 501 in the state that is wanting to fund a 529 plan, just for anybody who's not familiar, is like a college savings plan, but they can also be used for K-12 and technical schools.
It's an education savings account. But this will allow a nonprofit organization to fund 529 plans for students. The bill change is that ordinarily a parent or family member takes out these plans and they know all the personal identifying information about their own child. This allows a school to share social security numbers, what have
you with the Treasurer of the state of Arkansas so that those plans can be established. And that's what this bill does. And these kinds of things are being done in other parts of the country. This is our opportunity to start doing this here in Arkansas and try to answer any questions. Seeing none, I would appreciate a good vote for this very good bill. Representative Brown has explained the
bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
For the bill? Representative Brown is closed
for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 422. Prepare the machine,
Speaker 193
7:50:40
Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone
voted? Cast up the ballot for the
vote of 90 yeas, 3 nay, and 0 present.
The bill is passed. Mr. Clerk, please read Senate Bill 412. Senate
Chair
Unverified
7:50:58
Bill 412 by Representative McClure to authorize the Department of Finance and Administration to set the per mile
amount for the income tax deduction for travel and transportation expenses by
proclamation. Representative McClure, you're recognized to explain your
Representative Rick McClure
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7:51:16
bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. SB 412 is a DFA bill. It's very, very simple. Basically deals with our income tax deductions on mileage. All this does is instead of DFA having to come back and get approval to adjust to the IRS rates, it just becomes automatic until it gets to a dollar and then they'll come back to us. So I'd appreciate a good vote.
Speaker 243
7:51:38
Representative McClure has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Before
the bill? Representative McClure is closed for the bill. Question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 412. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot. The vote of 95 yay, 0
nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed.
Mr. Clerk, please read Senate Bill 503.
Chair
Unverified
7:52:17
Senate Bill 503 by Representative Eaton. To reduce the number of employees an employer must have to be mandated to file an annual income tax withholding statement electronically and to require the electronic filing of a withholding return for certain
employees. Employers. Representative Eaton, you're recognized to explain
Representative James Eaton
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7:52:37
your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, pretty simple bill here. This is from DF&A. This is bill, Senate Bill 503.
It is about the electronic filing of withholding taxes. Currently, if you have 125 or more employees, you are required to file your 1099s electronically. This just lowers that threshold to 75. There's no known opposition, no additional funds that actually should save DF&A some money. Seeing no questions, I appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Representative Eaton has explained the
bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
For the bill? Representative Eaton is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 503.
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted?
everyone voted cast up the ballot for
the vote of 83 yay six nay and five present the bill is passed mr. clerk please read Senate bill 440
Chair
Unverified
7:53:51
Senate bill 440 by representative Rye to amend the law concerning embalmers and funeral directors to regulate the use of alkaline hydrolysis
and to regulate alkaline hydrolysis facilities
Representative Johnny Rye
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7:54:14
representative Rye you're recognized to okay you know this bill comes from the state board of embalmers funeral funeral directors cemeteries and burial services and it's a new process called
alkaline hydrolysis is something brand new on the market it's working great in 30 states around us and all we need to do is just say that it's for us too thank you representative rise explained the bill would anyone
like to speak against the bill for the bill representative rye is closed for the
bill question before the house is the passage of senate bill 440 prepare the machine mr clerk
everyone voted everyone voted cast up the ballot the vote of 89 yay 6
nay and zero present the bill is passed
members at the request of representative Pilkington will pass over Senate bill 348 tonight mr. clerk please read Senate bill 564 citadel
Chair
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7:55:28
564 by representative brown to amend the definition of beer to change the
allowable alcoholic content and to include malt beverages representative brown you're recognized
to explain your bill thank you mr. speaker colleagues
this is the senate version of the alcohol bill that y'all weren't too good on a few a few months ago a few weeks ago the original alcohol bill had changed the definition of beer to 14% which would allow craft beers to be sold in the grocery store. This bill we've substantially lowered that limit to ten percent. Again it would allow craft beers up to ten percent be sold in a grocery store versus liquor store. Craft beers primarily are local brewers here in
Arkansas and represent, we actually look this up, less than 1.2 percent of beer sales. Appreciate a
good vote. Representative Brown has explained the bill. Anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative McGrew, you're recognize me against the
bill thank you mr. speaker members this is the same bill that we voted down earlier I think most y'all heard the story about me losing my son that's the ultimate but it also hurts many young people plus many
people in jail causes tremendous damage to our society again why do we want to strengthen the alcohol content we already have it out there why don't we want to make something that we know was harmful worse you know I don't need to share the story again man I beg you please don't pass this bill thank you representative McGrew has
spoke against the bill but anyone like speak for
the bill representative Ward law you're recognized speak for the bill
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
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7:57:15
Thank you Mr. Speaker. That's not true. This is not the same bill that was brought here before. There was a compromise that was offered to liquor stores lobbyists. The compromise they wanted them at was 10 or 9.6
and this is at 10. And because of that .04 they wouldn't agree and the only reason they wouldn't agree they testified in rules was because the
group wouldn't fight another bill for them folks that's a lot and they said that in the rules
committee and I'd ask them twice what the what the rule what the bill was they wanted to fight and they never would tell us but I found out later but I'm telling you this was point four from the compromise that was offered from the liquor stores therefore I asked you to vote for this bill representative
Ward-Lawis spoke for the bill would anyone like speak against THE BILL. REPRESENTATIVE UNGER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK AGAINST THE BILL.
Representative Steve Unger
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7:58:24
IT'S LIKE A CHUCKY THE DOLL BILL. IT JUST KEEPS COMING BACK. AND YES, IT IS A LITTLE BETTER. I GUESS NOT QUITE DOUBLING THE ALCOHOL CONTENT IS BETTER THAN TRIPLEING IT. BUT THIS This is also in a capitalism sense, this is a big chain, a big chain running over the little guy, which is not really an Arkansas value, and what problem does this solve, seriously? Are the luscious down at the boat dock just not getting drunk fast enough? I mean, what's going on here?
So please vote no on this. Representative McGrew has spoke against the bill. Anyone like to speak for the bill? McKinsey you reckon I
Representative Brit McKenzie
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7:59:06
speak for the bill. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'm just going to come down and simply say I appreciate Representative Brown for for working. I know because I've run two bills through the Rules Committee this year and I was going to come down here and just say what you're asking for is reflective of what we wanted when we set out for all these small brewery licenses years ago, 10 years ago, was we wanted to see obviously contain the how far alcohol got in our
community, but allow our citizens to create something that our other citizens want and enjoy in the privacy of their own home. And I actually take a lot of offense to the fact that we would be referring to people as Lushes. These are craft items. People enjoy these products. They're made with Arkansas hands, with Arkansas grain, with Arkansas water in our communities. So, Representative Brown, I appreciate you doing this. This is a good sign for all of our local breweries. So, I'd appreciate a good vote.
Representative McKenzie has spoke for the bill. Would anyone like
to speak against the bill, for the bill?
Representative Brown, you're recognized to close for your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As has
been made clear, these are not kids getting drunk on beer. Come on, y'all. They're buying Natty Light if they're doing that. They're not buying expensive craft beers. I mean, you're just not doing that. Again, this is 1.2% of beer sales as it is. This is helping our craft brewers, which are local to here. These are not the big conglomerates. And all this is simply saying is that, yes, you may legally buy this craft beer at Kroger's instead of going to the liquor store,
which I would mention that at Kroger's it is perfectly legal to buy 21% ABV wine all day long, including buzz balls and other drinks like that they've invented. We just simply want to be able to sell beer that's less than half that level. We are the second lowest state in the union in terms of our alcohol level on beer. We are, like, tied with Utah. All of the states around us have gotten rid of their level altogether or has much higher than Arkansas. We simply want to help out Arkansas brewers. Appreciate
a good vote. Representative Brown is closed for the
bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 564.
Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? cast up the ballot for the vote
of 56 yeas 29 nays and seven present the bill is passed mr clerk please read senate bill 545. senate
Chair
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8:01:37
bill 545 by representative dalby to amend the law related to the property and finances of the state institutions of higher education
to amend the law related to bonds and to amend amend the law regarding rents tolls fees and other charges related
to athletic contests representative dalby you're
Representative Carol Dalby
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8:01:56
recognized to explain your bill thank you mr speaker what this bill is really doing is updating a 75 year old law that will now allow higher ed institutions to finance other needs other than just construction projects and the purchase of real estate allow them to enter into other items that they can
purchase with bonds all the safeguards that are in the law now stay in this law so nothing's changed other than expanding what they can issue bonds for. With that, I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Dalby has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill?
Representative Dalby is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 545. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Has everyone voted? As everyone voted, cast up the ballot. With
the vote of 95 yeas, 1 nay, and 0 present, the
bill is passed. Members of Representative Mark Perry moves that we place Senate Bill 157 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment without objection. So ordered. Madam Clerk, please read House
Amendment Number One to Senate Bill 157.
Chair
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8:03:31
- Amendment Number One to House, Senate Bill
157. - Representative Perry, you're recognized to explain Amendment One, Senate Bill
Representative Mark Perry
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8:03:41
157. - Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, during the amendment on the Senate, after it passed from the Senate, we caught that we left off the state police fund from shall to may. So it's basically a wording to make it where it's not mandatory. Representative Perry has explained
the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment for the amendment?
Representative Perry is closed for the amendment. The question before the House is the passage of House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 157. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Please send the bill as amended to engrossing. Representative Meeks, for what purpose?
Motion. I'll hear your motion. Pursuant to House Rule 33M, I move we adjourn until 1.30 tomorrow afternoon.
That's a proper motion. It's non-debatable. All those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. Mr. Clerk, please read the committee report. Mr. Speaker, we are committing on state agencies and government
Chair
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8:04:45
affairs to whom it was referred to House Bill 1957 and House Bill 1952. Beg me to report that we have the same under consideration. And here we turn to the same with the recommendation that you pass correctly submitted. Jimmy Gasway, Chair. Do I have any committee announcements?
Any committee announcements? Representative Gassaway, for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. State agencies will meet 15 minutes
Representative Jimmy Gazaway
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8:05:14
after adjournment, room 151, for a brief meeting. Brief meeting, state
agencies 151. Representative Waters, what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized. Public health will meet tomorrow
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
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8:05:25
morning, 10 a.m., room 130. Just hear House bills tomorrow. We'll hear Senate bills on Thursday. Representative Holcomb,
Chair
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8:05:32
for what purpose? You're recognized.
Representative Mike Holcomb
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8:05:36
Public transportation will meet in the morning 10:00 a.m. Mac B
Chair
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8:05:42
Representative Brooks what purpose announcement you're recognized as education will meet tomorrow morning room 138 at 9:30 9:30 Any other committee announcements Any
other committee announcements Seeing none the desk will remain open
as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in the adjourn resolution The House will be adjourned until 1:30 tomorrow.
Agenda
Call to order
Prayer
Pledge
Roll call
point of personal privelege
point of personal privelge
Morning Hour
MOTION TO AMEND
Number Sponsor Subtitle
SB571 #1 J. Petty Puryear TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND ZONING REGULATIONS; AND TO PROHIBIT A MUNICIPALITY FROM ENFORCING BUILDINGS AND ZONING REGULATIONS ON COUNTY PROPERTY.
SB238 #1 J. Payton Gonzales TO AMEND THE USED TIRE RECYCLING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.
RESOLUTIONS
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HCR1004 Wardlaw TO CONGRATULATE GAME WARDEN AUSTIN POWELL ON RECEIVING THE MONTY CARMIKLE OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD AND THE 2024 ROBERT M. BRANTLY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICEROF THE YEAR AWARD.
HR1045 Wardlaw TO COMMEMORATE THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM AS PART OF THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF CONSERVATION FUNDING.
HCR1011 McAlindon TO RECOGNIZE BENTONVILLE'S INVESTMENT IN CYCLING AND ITS TITLE AS THE MOUNTAIN BIKING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
HR1100 Henley TO CELEBRATE THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF HOPE, ARKANSAS.
HR1098 Beck TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE ENERGY COUNCIL ON THE OCCASION OF ITS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
HJR1018 Ray THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT.
End of Morning Hour
CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1444 #1 Pilkington TO AMEND THE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR DATA CENTERS.
REGULAR BILLS
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1491 Wardlaw CONCERNING THE EXCISE TAX ON CERTAIN BEER AND SAKE; TO CREATE AN EXCISE TAX CREDIT FOR CERTAIN BEER AND SAKE PRODUCED USING ARKANSAS RICE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
HB1790 B. McKenzie TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
HB1879 Lundstrum TO REQUIRE ALL CITY COUNCILS AND COUNTY QUORUM COURTS TO POST VIDEO RECORDINGS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS; AND TO REQUIRE ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS OF CITY COUNCILS OR COUNTY QUORUM COURTS TO BE RECORDED IN VIDEO FORMAT.
HB1852 J. Moore TO ESTABLISH A RIGHT TO REPAIR FOR CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT.
HB1937 Jean TO AMEND THE METHOD OF VALUATION FOR MINERAL RIGHTS UNDER ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 16, § 5; AND TO CLARIFY THE METHOD OF VALUATION FOR OIL AND GAS WELL PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT.
HB1921 Torres TO AMEND THE CHILD WELFARE AGENCY LICENSING ACT; TO AMEND THE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR FOSTER PARENTS; AND TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS OF TRAINING AND CERTIFYING ELATIVES AS FOSTER PARENTS.
HB1870 Wing CONCERNING VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS; AND TO ALLOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROVIDE A VOTER REGISTRATION LIST TO FEDERAL COURTS.
HB1837 McAlindon TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURE FOR MATTERS REFERRED TO VOTERS; AND TO BAN FOREIGN FUNDING FOR BALLOT MEASURES; TO AMEND PORTIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE THAT RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996.
HB1683 McAlindon TO PROHIBIT THE PROCUREMENT BY A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR A COMPONENT OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN WHOLE OR IN PART USING FORCED LABOR.
HB1846 S. Meeks TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS 2036 COMMISSION.
HB1925 Beaty Jr. AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ABSENTEE BALLOTS; TO AMEND THE ABSENTEE BALLOT VOTER STATEMENT; AND TO REQUIRE A WITNESS FOR THE SIGNATURE OF AN ABSENTEE VOTER STATEMENT.beaty
HB1929 McAlindon TO CREATE THE RECOGNIZING JUDEA AND SAMARIA ACT; AND TO PROHIBIT STATE AGENCIES FROM USING THE TERM "WEST BANK" IN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT MATERIALS.
HB1914 Long TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS MOTOR CARRIER ACT, 1955; AND TO REQUIRE AN OPERATOR OF A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE TO HAVE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY.
HB1913 J. Moore TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DRIVER'S LICENSES; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR AN INTERMEDIATE DRIVER'S LICENSE.
HB1809 Warren TO ALLOW FOR PROPERTY OWNED BY A TRUST OR A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TO QUALIFY AS A HOMESTEAD FOR PURPOSES OF THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED VETERANS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
HB1685 Underwood TO CREATE THE GROCERY TAX RELIEF ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SALES AND USE TAXES LEVIED ON FOOD AND FOOD INGREDIENTS, AS AFFIRMED BY REFERRED ACT 19 OF 1958; AND TO EXEMPT GROCERIES FROM STATE SALES AND USE TAXES.
HB1636 Ray TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS SOFT DRINK TAX ACT, AS AFFIRMED BY REFERRED ACT 1 OF 1994; AND TO PHASE OUT THE SOFT DRINK TAX BASED ON SALES TAX COLLECTIONS FROM SALES OF SOFT DRINKS.
HB1893 M. Brown TO AUTHORIZE A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER OR BUSINESS OWNER TO BAN AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL FROM THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OR THE BUSINESS PREMISES; AND TO REGULATE LIABILITY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY RELATED TO EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS.
HB1954 Andrews TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS BEHAVIOR ANALYST REGISTRATION ACT; AND TO INCLUDE QUALIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS UNDER THE ARKANSAS BEHAVIOR ANALYST REGISTRATION ACT.
HB1943 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE MEDICAID PROVIDER-LED ORGANIZED CARE ACT; TO IMPROVE THE ENROLLMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS IN RISK- BASED PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS; AND TO EMPOWER BENEFICIARIES WITH INFORMATION.
HB1965 McCullough TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL ACT OF 2025; AND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR HEALTHY FOOD RETAILERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
HB1963 Gonzales TO CLARIFY THAT AN ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE WHO PRESCRIBES A STIMULANT MAY SUBSTITUTE A THERAPEUTICALLY EQUIVALENT MEDICATION.
HB1164 J. Mayberry TO ALLOW A PHYSICIAN OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO OFFER COGNITIVE ASSESSMENTS FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS; AND TO MANDATE THAT INSURANCE POLICIES COVER ASSESSMENTS FOR COGNITIVE FUNCTION FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS.
HB1969 L. Johnson TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE ACCESS; TO AMEND THE ASSESSMENT FEES ON HOSPITALS; AND TO CREATE THE HOSPITAL DIRECTED PAYMENT ASSESSMENT.
HB1957 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT ELECTRONIC MAIL PREVENTION ACT TO INCLUDE UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL AND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT TEXT MESSAGES.
HB1958 S. Meeks TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ENTITIES TO CREATE A POLICY CONCERNING THE AUTHORIZED USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
HB1895 Dalby TO ALLOW A CORPORATION OR VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION TO EMPLOY IN-HOUSE ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT AFFILIATES OF THE CORPORATION OR VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION.
HB1504 S. Meeks TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF MANUFACTURING, MODIFYING, SELLING, TRANSFERRING, OR OPERATING A ROBOTIC DEVICE OR AN UNCREWED AIRCRAFT THAT IS EQUIPPED OR MOUNTED WITH A WEAPON.
HB1648 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS; TO ALLOW A MEMBER OF A MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENT BOMB SQUAD TO MAKE ARRESTS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1805 Childress TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BULLYING"; AND TO CREATE A PROCESS WHEREBY A PUBLIC SCHOOL MAY CONDUCT MULTIPLE, SIMULTANEOUS INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE SAME ALLEGATION OF BULLYING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
HB1283 J. Mayberry TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO INCLUDE DIGITAL MEDIA STANDARDS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE LIBRARY MEDIA STANDARDS.
HB1580 Gramlich TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION ON TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETES WHEN OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED.
HB1483 Gramlich TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH WHICH IT CONTRACTS.
HB1642 Gramlich TO AMEND THE MEASURES CONSIDERED WHEN CALCULATING A SCHOOL RATING; AND TO ENSURE A STUDENT IS NOT COUNTED AS A DROPOUT FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULATING A SCHOOL-LEVEL GRADUATION RATE IF THE STUDENT PASSES A GED TEST.
HB1484 Gramlich TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM.
HB1793 Duke TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
HB1756 Vaught TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDING IN LOCO PARENTIS TO A STUDENT TO DOCUMENT AND MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS THE STUDENT OBTAINS.
HB1728 Ennett TO REQUIRE REPORTING ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A DISABILITY AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
HB1766 Ennett TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, AND EMPOWER (RISE) ACT.
Recess
Reconvene
REGULAR SENATE BILLS
Number Sponsor Subtitle
SB460 Irvin Gramlich TO MODIFY THE COMPLIANCE ADVISORY PANEL; TO REPEAL THE MARKETING RECYCLABLES PROGRAM OF THE COMPLIANCE ADVISORY PANEL; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB322 J. Bryant Pilkington TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT; AND TO ALLOW THIRD PARTIES TO PERFORM PLAN REVIEWS AND SITE INSPECTIONS.
SB505 J. Bryant McKenzie TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL PLANNING; AND TO REQUIRE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR CHANGES TO THE ZONING OR DISTRICT DESIGNATION OF PROPERTY IN CERTAIN INSTANCES.
SB421 Hester Beaty, Jr. TO AUTHORIZE THE ARKANSAS NATURAL
RESOURCES COMMISSION TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER, WASTE DISPOSAL, AND POLLUTION ABATEMENT PROJECTS.
SB407 Gilmore Beaty, Jr. TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS CATFISH PROCESSOR FAIR PRACTICES ACT OF 1987.
SB361 Dees Beaty, Jr. TO CREATE THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES EXPANSION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES TO SECURE AND DEVELOP INDUSTRY AND FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SB510 J. Boyd Gramlich TO ALLOW FOR THE CROSS DEPUTIZATION OF MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, STATE, AND TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ON FEDERALLY-RECOGNIZED TRIBAL LAND WITHIN THE STATE.
SB433 J. Dotson A. Brown REGARDING THE DISPLAY OF THE NATIONAL MOTTO AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
SB405 J. Dismang Maddox TO AMEND THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE CONSUMER INFORM ACT.
SB463 M. McKee M. Brown TO REQUIRE THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO APPROVE OR DENY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS CONCERNING CLOSING OR ELIMINATING ELECTRIC GENERATION UNITS OR
TRANSMISSION ASSETS.
SB123 G. Leding Vaught TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COVERAGE FOR MAMMOGRAMS AND BREAST ULTRASOUNDS.
SB448 J. Petty Lundstrum TO AUTHORIZE THE FINANCING OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS, BUILDING RESILIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, AND WATER CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENTS.
SB237 J. Boyd Steimel TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE LICENSING AND REGULATION OF CAPTIVE INSURERS.
SB351 J. Dismang Eaves TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ETHICS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE; TO AMEND PORTIONS OF INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1990; AND TO AMEND PORTIONS OF INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996.
SB357 J. Bryant Unger TO AMEND THE UNIFORM ATTENDANCE AND LEAVE POLICY ACT; AND TO APPLY MILITARY SERVICE CREDIT TO A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE'S TOTAL SERVICE TIME FOR ANNUAL LEAVE ACCRUAL CALCULATION.
SB479 K. Hammer Hawk TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VOTER ASSISTANCE; AND TO REQUIRE A PERSON ASSISTING A VOTER WITH A DISABILITY TO PRESENT IDENTIFICATION.
SB148 J. English Achor TO ESTABLISH THE CREATING AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKERS ACT OF 2025.
SB153 J. Dotson Warren TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF TITLE 24 OF THE ARKANSAS CODE; AND TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE PAYMENT OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO VARIOUS CITY OFFICIALS.
SB160 J. Dotson Warren TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
SB371 J. Scott Brooks TO ESTABLISH A STANDARDIZED SYSTEM TO AID IN THE SEARCH OF MISSING CHILDREN WHO DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR ACTIVATION OF THE ARKANSAS AMBER ALERT SYSTEM.
SB252 J. Dismang Wardlaw TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF HEALTH RISKS CAUSED BY VAPOR PRODUCTS AND E-LIQUID PRODUCTS; AND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ARKANSAS YOUTH.
SB374 B. Davis Wing TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM.
SB343 Irvin Clowney TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING STATE-OWNED MOTOR VEHICLES; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC PROPERTY; AND TO AMEND THE AUTOMOBILE AND PICKUP TRUCK ACQUISITION ACT FOR THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
SB241 J. Scott Pilkington TO AMEND THE UNIFORM ATTENDANCE AND LEAVE POLICY ACT; AND TO GRANT PAID LEAVE TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE'S FAMILY MEMBER OR CHILD.
SB498 J. Petty N. Burkes TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURE OF DRIVER AND VEHICLE RECORDS AND TO PROTECT DRIVER AND VEHICLE RECORDS FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.
SB422 C. Tucker K. Brown TO ALLOW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO A NEW OR EXISTING ARKANSAS BRIGHTER FUTURE FUND PLAN ACCOUNT; AND TO REQUIRE THE TREASURER OF STATE TO FACILITATE CONTRIBUTIONS BY A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
SB412 J. Boyd McClure TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO SET THE PER-MILE AMOUNT FOR THE INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES BY PROCLAMATION.
SB503 Crowell Eaton TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AN EMPLOYER MUST HAVE TO BE MANDATED TO FILE AN ANNUAL INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING STATEMENT ELECTRONICALLY; AND TO REQUIRE THE ELECTRONIC FILING OF A WITHHOLDING RETURN FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYERS.
SB440 D. Wallace Rye TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES.
SB348 C. Penzo Pilkington TO AMEND THE ANNUAL CAP FOR DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY SERVICES WITHIN THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB564 Flippo M. Brown TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BEER" TO CHANGE THE ALLOWABLE ALCOHOLIC CONTENT AND TO INCLUDE MALT BEVERAGES.
SB545 M. Johnson Dalby TO AMEND THE LAW RELATED TO THE PROPERTY AND FINANCES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; TO AMEND THE LAW RELATED TO BONDS; AND TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING RENTS, TOLLS, FEES, AND OTHER CHARGES RELATED TO ATHLETIC CONTESTS.
SB157 J. Dotson Perry TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING BENEFITS UNDER THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' STATE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS.
Bills to Be Amended
HB1084 AN ACT FOR ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE AUDIT OF THE LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING COMMITTEE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1086 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1101 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS GOVERNOR'S MANSION COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1106 AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER OF STATE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
Bills and their Emergency Clauses to be considered which have been introduced by Joint Budget Committee
HB1089 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - ARKANSAS WATERWAYS COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1191 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1265 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB64 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB93 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB125 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB127 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - FAYETTEVILLE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB128 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB130 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
Bills and their Emergency Clauses to be considered which have been introduced by Senators
SB332 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR
Motion to Adjourn
Announcements
Adjournment
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair
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Chair
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Speaker 64
Representative Les D. Eaves
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Representative Chad Puryear
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Representative Lane Jean Chair
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Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
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Representative Fred Allen
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Representative Roger D. Lynch
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Representative Johnny Rye
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Representative Brit McKenzie
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Scott Richardson
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Representative Mike Holcomb
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