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Senate Convenes

April 2, 2025 ·1:00 PM ·Senate Chamber ·4:34:45
Video Transcript

Bills discussed (103)
Bill Title Sponsor Status
SR20 · 8 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “We are, we will begin sender English with Senate resolution 20. Senate”
 TO COMMEND THE MAUMELLE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FALCONS BOYS' CROSS COUNTRY TEAM FOR WINNING THE … J. English Sine Die adjournment
SR21 · 8 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SR21 J. English TO COMMEND THE MAUMELLE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FALC…”
 TO COMMEND THE MAUMELLE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FALCONS BOYS' GOLF TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2024 … J. English Sine Die adjournment
HB1523 Act 951 · 7 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “suspend the rules to withdraw House Bill 1523 out of public health and place it on 2nd reading for purpos…”
 CONCERNING MISSING PERSONS ALERTS; TO CODIFY THE ARKANSAS AMBER ALERT SYSTEM; TO CODIFY THE ARKANSAS … Vaught Notification that HB1523 is now Act 951
SB426 Act 654 · 6 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB426 - Motion to put SB426 on Second Reading for purpose of Amen…”
 TO CREATE THE DEFENSE AGAINST CRIMINAL ILLEGALS ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL … Hester Notification that SB426 is now Act 654
SR42 · 6 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SR42 Hill TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF CABOT AS RECIPIENT IN 2024 OF…”
 TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF CABOT AS RECIPIENT IN 2024 OF A TRENDSETTER CITY AWARD … Hill Sine Die adjournment
SB229 · 4 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…he Senate respectfully requests the return to the Senate of Senate Bill 229. File it”
 TO CREATE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. J. Boyd Sine Die adjournment
HB1062 Act 565 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…Dotson recommended to pass calendar can be on education as House Bill 1062. By representative Richardson recommended pass calendar Com…”
 TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2025. R. Scott Richardson Notification that HB1062 is now Act 565
HB1079 Act 860 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…erfectly engrossed calendar Committee on Gross, who is very House Bill 1079 versus Allen and Cenator Wallace, the gross copy of the ori…”
 TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR GENETIC TESTING FOR AN INHERITED GENE MUTATION FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS; AND … F. Allen Notification that HB1079 is now Act 860
HB1255 Act 857 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…recommended past calendar Committee on Public Health to for House Bill 1255 by Representative Wooldridge, recommended passes amended nu…”
 TO AMEND THE COVERAGE OF A CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITOR IN THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM. Wooldridge Notification that HB1255 is now Act 857
HB1333 Act 627 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…grossed. Joint budget Committee on gross bills to his first House Bill 1333 Representative Hudson and Cenator Scott, the grossed copy o…”
 TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR BREASTFEEDING AND LACTATION CONSULTANT SERVICES. Hudson Notification that HB1333 is now Act 627
HB1468 Act 558 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…ind the same correctly engrossed calendar Committee on ross House Bill 1468 by Representative Cozart and Senator Petty compared the eng…”
 TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CLAIMS AGAINST HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS, RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CONTRACTORS, AND SUPPLIERS. Cozart Notification that HB1468 is now Act 558
HB1696 Act 566 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “education who was for House Bill 1696 by Representative Mac uh McAllen recommend Du Pas calendari…”
 TO ESTABLISH THE STRENGTHENING ARKANSAS EDUCATION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE A CORE CURRICULUM AT STATE-SUPPORTED … McAlindon Notification that HB1696 is now Act 566
HB1714 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…Insurance and commerce. We're a committee on gross bills to House Bill 1714 by Representative Rose, clear and gross copy of the origina…”
 TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF PAID CANVASSER. Rose Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
HB1717 Act 952 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “for House Bill 1717 by Senator Boyd and. Representative Gramly recommended and…”
 TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS CHILDREN AND TEENS' ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT. Gramlich Notification that HB1717 is now Act 952
SB128 Act 533 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…nded to pass calendar Committee on joint budget team is for Senate Bill 128 by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on Joi…”
 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
SB157 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…grossed judiciary for your committee on Gross pills, who is Senate Bill 157 by Senator Dotson compared the gross copy of the original a…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING BENEFITS UNDER THE STATE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS. J. Dotson Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SB332 Act 536 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…nd to pass calendar. Committee on Joint Budget team was for Senate Bill 332 by Senator Dotson recommended to pass calendar Committee on…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION SEXUAL … J. Dotson Notification that SB332 is now Act 536
SB347 Act 1025 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “Health to Senate Bill 347 by Senator Penzo recommend Du past and we also have a uh pu…”
 TO REQUIRE THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM TO INCREASE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR CERTAIN DENTAL SERVICES AND … C. Penzo Notification that SB347 is now Act 1025
SB366 Act 427 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…nzo sent Bill 218 by Senator Irving, 278 percentral English Senate Bill 366 by Senator Boyd, Senate Bill 370 by Senator Irving, Senate…”
 TO CREATE THE STRENGTHEN ARKANSAS HOMES ACT; AND TO CREATE THE STRENGTHEN ARKANSAS HOMES PROGRAM … J. Boyd Notification that SB366 is now Act 427
SB370 Act 462 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…ng, 278 percentral English Senate Bill 366 by Senator Boyd, Senate Bill 370 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 379 Messin Crowe, symbol 381…”
 TO TRANSFER THE ARKANSAS WINE PRODUCERS COUNCIL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO THE DEPARTMENT … Irvin Notification that SB370 is now Act 462
SB379 Act 464 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…ill 366 by Senator Boyd, Senate Bill 370 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 379 Messin Crowe, symbol 381 by Central Carlson Bill 8382 by Se…”
 TO REPEAL THE LAW REQUIRING THE TAX ADVISORY COUNCIL TO SUBMIT A REPORT. Crowell Notification that SB379 is now Act 464
SB384 Act 468 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…rlson Bill 8382 by Senator Curly Bill 383 by Central Cross, Senate Bill 384 by Senator Crow. 385 by Senator Pearl, Senate”
 TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE ARKANSAS DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY SUBMIT A PROGRAM FACT SHEET … Crowell Notification that SB384 is now Act 468
SB389 Act 471 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “Bill 387 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 389 by Senator Curl sent me a 454 by Central Hill compared the…”
 TO REPEAL THE LAW REQUIRING THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO … Crowell Notification that SB389 is now Act 471
SB484 Act 726 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…rossed calendar for your committee on Education who was for Senate Bill 484 by Senator Irving recommend due pass. calendar, education t…”
 TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS WHEREBY A VACANCY IS FILLED ON A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF … Irvin Notification that SB484 is now Act 726
SB485 Act 670 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…number one, calendar. Committee on Judiciary to him was for Senate Bill 485 by Senator Tucker recommend DuP pass as amended number one…”
 TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE SUSPENDED IMPOSITION OF A SENTENCE, … C. Tucker Notification that SB485 is now Act 670
SB572 Act 649 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “pass calendar on education who was Senate Bill 572 by Senator Dotson recommended to pass calendar can be on ed…”
 TO CREATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY ACT; AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC ACCESS TO … J. Dotson Notification that SB572 is now Act 649
SB574 Act 742 · 2 mentions in chapter
Matched: “SB574 J. Petty TO REQUIRE A MUNICIPALITY THAT OPERATES A WATERWOR…”
 TO REQUIRE A MUNICIPALITY THAT OPERATES A WATERWORKS SYSTEM OR SEWAGE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE SERVICE … J. Petty Notification that SB574 is now Act 742
SB608 Act 991 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…nate Bill 590 by Senator Gilmore, recommend do pass. Count. Senate Bill 608 by Senator Mark Johnson, to amend the law concerning”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING RUNOFF ELECTIONS FOR COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL OFFICERS. M. Johnson Notification that SB608 is now Act 991
SB83 Act 424 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “bills to him for the following Senate Bill 83 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 99 by central Penza Yes, so…”
 TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR BREAST RECONSTRUCTION SURGERIES; TO REQUIRE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR BREAST RECONSTRUCTION SURGERIES; … J. Bryant Notification that SB83 is now Act 424
SB99 Act 437 · 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…to him for the following Senate Bill 83 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 99 by central Penza Yes, so we a committee on enroll bills to…”
 TO AUTHORIZE A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT TO DELEGATE CERTAIN TASKS. C. Penzo Notification that SB99 is now Act 437
HB1094 Act 494 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1094 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - TOBACCO PREVENTION AN…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CESSATION PROGRAMS APPROPRIATION FOR … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1094 is now Act 494
HB1125 Act 495 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1125 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION - REG…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION - REGULATORY DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1125 is now Act 495
HB1232 Act 496 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1232 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE MILITARY APPROPRIATION FOR…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE MILITARY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Notification that HB1232 is now Act 496
HB1525 Act 923 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1525 #1 Steimel Caldwell TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING REAL PROPER…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING REAL PROPERTY; AND TO ADDRESS AGRICULTURAL IMPACT REMEDIATION AGREEMENTS. Steimel Notification that HB1525 is now Act 923
HB1540 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…mmend do pass. Calendar. Committee on Education who was for House Bill 1540 by Representative Brown recommend do pass. Calendar. Commit…”
 TO AMEND THE INCOME TAX CREDIT AND THE INCOME TAX DEDUCTION RELATED TO MAINTAINING, SUPPORTING, … J. Mayberry Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
HB1571 Act 502 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…mmend do pass. Calendar. Committee on Education who was for House Bill 1571.”
 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ADULT DIPLOMA PROGRAM ACT. Ray Notification that HB1571 is now Act 502
HB1700 Act 638 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…lendar. Committee on engrossed bills to whom is referred to House Bill 1700 by Representative Anker and Senator Boyd compared to the en…”
 TO AMEND THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION TRANSPARENCY ACT; AND TO CLARIFY THE PROCESS OF AN ADVERSE … Achor Notification that HB1700 is now Act 638
HB1705 Act 478 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1705 Duke Bryant TO REQUIRE INFORMATION CONCERNING HOW THE RELIG…”
 TO REQUIRE INFORMATION CONCERNING HOW THE RELIGIOUS AND MORAL BELIEFS OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS INFLUENCED … Duke Notification that HB1705 is now Act 478
HB1716 Act 498 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1716 Cavenaugh Caldwell TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ASSESSME…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF TAXES BY THE SECRETARY OF … Cavenaugh Notification that HB1716 is now Act 498
HB1733 Act 504 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ue pass. Calendar. Committee on Education, whom is deferred House Bill 1733 by Representative Carr, recommend due pass. Calendar. Commi…”
 TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ACT. Joey Carr Notification that HB1733 is now Act 504
HB1760 Act 486 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1760 Milligan Boyd TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE JURISDICTION…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE JURISDICTION TO CONSIDER CERTAIN PETITIONS FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF … Milligan Notification that HB1760 is now Act 486
HB1814 Act 712 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1814 #1 Gazaway B. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OVER UTILITIES; AND TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF … Gazaway Notification that HB1814 is now Act 712
HCR1009 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Calendar. The committee on public health, to whom is for House Concurrent Resolution 1009, by Senator Bladieman, recommended to pass. Calendar. And o…”
 TO COMPLY WITH ARKANSAS ACTS 2023, NO. 259; TO REQUEST FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE NEXT … Ladyman Approved by the Governor
SB103 Act 425 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 83 by Senator Bryant. Senate Bill 99 by Senator Penzo. Senate Bill 103 by Senator Penzo. Senate Bill 218 by Senator Irving, Senate…”
 TO CREATE THE PHARMACY NONDISCRIMINATION ACT; TO REQUIRE PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGERS TO ACCEPT ANY PHARMACY … C. Penzo Notification that SB103 is now Act 425
SB148 Act 587 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB148 J. English TO ESTABLISH THE CREATING AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUN…”
 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 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF TITLE 24 OF THE ARKANSAS CODE; AND … J. Dotson Notification that SB153 is now Act 588
SB160 Act 589 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB160 J. Dotson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF THE…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM. J. Dotson Notification that SB160 is now Act 589
SB218 Act 440 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 99 by Senator Penzo. Senate Bill 103 by Senator Penzo. Senate Bill 218 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 278 by Senator English, Sena…”
 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. Irvin Notification that SB218 is now Act 440
SB278 Act 438 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ll 103 by Senator Penzo. Senate Bill 218 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 278 by Senator English, Senate Bill 366 by Senator Boyd, Senate…”
 TO REPEAL THE STATUTES CONCERNING THE OCCUPATIONAL AUTHORIZATION AND LICENSURE OF CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT OFFICES AND … J. English Notification that SB278 is now Act 438
SB290 Act 921 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ssed. - Calendar. - Committee on gross bills to whom is for Senate Bill 290 by Senator Blake Johnson, compared then gross copy of the o…”
 TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF … B. Johnson Notification that SB290 is now Act 921
SB293 Act 487 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB293 #1 Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REQUIRED POSTINGS…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REQUIRED POSTINGS AT A POLLING SITE; AND TO AMEND … K. Hammer Notification that SB293 is now Act 487
SB320 Act 518 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…nd do pass. Calendar. Committee on Judiciary to whom is for Senate Bill 320 by Senator Irving, recommend do pass to the current House A…”
 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS JUVENILE CODE OF 1989. Irvin Notification that SB320 is now Act 518
SB341 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Committee on rossed drills to was deferred. Senate Bill 341”
 AN ACT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE FOR COURTS FEES, EXPENSES AND COSTS IMPOSED ON A … A. Clark Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SB354 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB354 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF CORR…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF CORRECTION DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT CAPITAL … J. Dismang Died on the Senate Budget Calendar Having Failed …
SB381 Act 465 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ill 370 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 379 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 381 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 382 by Senator Curl, Senate Bi…”
 TO REPEAL THE LAW REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO SUBMIT A REPORT … Crowell Notification that SB381 is now Act 465
SB382 Act 466 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 379 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 381 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 382 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 383 by Senator Curl, Senate Bi…”
 TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE ARKANSAS DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY SUBMIT A REPORT CONCERNING THE … Crowell Notification that SB382 is now Act 466
SB383 Act 467 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 381 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 382 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 383 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 384 by Senator Curl, Senate Bi…”
 TO REPEAL THE ANNUAL REPORT REQUIRED UNDER THE VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT ACT OF 2001. Crowell Notification that SB383 is now Act 467
SB385 Act 469 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 383 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 384 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 385 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 387 by Senator Curl, Senate Bi…”
 TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RURAL SERVICES DIVISION OF THE ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION … Crowell Notification that SB385 is now Act 469
SB387 Act 470 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 384 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 385 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 387 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 389 by Senator Curl, Senate Bi…”
 TO REPEAL THE LAW REQUIRING OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING ENTITIES TO SUBMIT A REPORT CONCERNING THE NUMBER … Crowell Notification that SB387 is now Act 470
SB427 Act 663 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB427 J. Bryant TO AMEND PROMOTING PROSTITUTION OFFENSES; TO ENHA…”
 TO AMEND PROMOTING PROSTITUTION OFFENSES; TO ENHANCE THE PENALTIES FOR PROMOTING PROSTITUTION IN THE FIRST, … J. Bryant Notification that SB427 is now Act 663
SB428 Act 664 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB428 J. Bryant CONCERNING A CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION FOR VICTIMS OF…”
 CONCERNING A CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO PROVIDE A … J. Bryant Notification that SB428 is now Act 664
SB429 Act 665 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB429 J. Bryant TO EXPAND THE SEALING OF CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR VIC…”
 TO EXPAND THE SEALING OF CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO PROVIDE THAT … J. Bryant Notification that SB429 is now Act 665
SB430 Act 666 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB430 J. Bryant AN ACT TO REQUIRE MANDATORY RESTITUTION TO BE AWA…”
 AN ACT TO REQUIRE MANDATORY RESTITUTION TO BE AWARDED TO A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; … J. Bryant Notification that SB430 is now Act 666
SB431 Act 987 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB431 J. Bryant TO AMEND THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2013; TO EL…”
 TO AMEND THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2013; TO ELIMINATE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR … J. Bryant Notification that SB431 is now Act 987
SB442 Act 667 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB442 J. Bryant TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO PROVIDE FOR FORFEITURE OF ASSETS USED TO … J. Bryant Notification that SB442 is now Act 667
SB449 Act 669 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB449 Dees TO PROVIDE CIVIL IMMUNITY FOR CONFISCATION OF ALTERNAT…”
 TO PROVIDE CIVIL IMMUNITY FOR CONFISCATION OF ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE PRODUCTS, VAPOR PRODUCTS, E-LIQUID PRODUCTS, TOBACCO … Dees Notification that SB449 is now Act 669
SB454 Act 430 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Bill 387 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 389 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 454 by Senator”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING UNCLAIMED PROPERTY FUNDS; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DEPOSIT … Hill Notification that SB454 is now Act 430
SB475 Act 773 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB475 - Motion to withdraw SB475 for purpose of amendment”
 TO ESTABLISH THE PHARMACY SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION ACT; AND TO REGULATE PHARMACY SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONS. J. Dismang Notification that SB475 is now Act 773
SB481 Act 779 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB481 Gilmore TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM OF PROPERTY INS…”
 TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM OF PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF … Gilmore Notification that SB481 is now Act 779
SB486 Act 955 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB486 B. Johnson CONCERNING SAFETY AND PRIVACY IN CERTAIN ENTITIE…”
 CONCERNING SAFETY AND PRIVACY IN CERTAIN ENTITIES; AND CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF MULTI-OCCUPANCY RESTROOMS, CHANGING … B. Johnson Notification that SB486 is now Act 955
SB489 Act 950 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB489 G. Leding TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF…”
 TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF A MONUMENT ON THE STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS … G. Leding Notification that SB489 is now Act 950
SB504 Act 727 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ss? Calendar. Committee on Education to whom is referred to Senate Bill 504 by Senator Irving recommended to pass? Calendar. Committee…”
 TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS RURAL PRECEPTORSHIP PROGRAM ACT. Irvin Notification that SB504 is now Act 727
SB511 Act 757 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB511 B. Johnson TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF AUTOMATED TELL…”
 TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE IMPAIRMENT. B. Johnson Notification that SB511 is now Act 757
SB512 Act 758 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB512 B. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ROBBERY AND AGGRAVAT…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ROBBERY AND AGGRAVATED ROBBERY. B. Johnson Notification that SB512 is now Act 758
SB513 Act 759 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB513 B. Johnson TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF MAIL THEFT; AN…”
 TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF MAIL THEFT; AND TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF … B. Johnson Notification that SB513 is now Act 759
SB514 Act 760 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB514 B. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE UNLAWFUL POSSESS…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A SKIMMER; AND TO INCREASE PENALTIES … B. Johnson Notification that SB514 is now Act 760
SB519 Act 958 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB519 J. Boyd TO AMEND THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW FOR LIFE IN…”
 TO AMEND THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW FOR LIFE INSURANCE; AND TO REGULATE THE PAYMENT OF … J. Boyd Notification that SB519 is now Act 958
SB521 Act 748 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB521 B. Davis TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINI…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING REIMBURSEMENT; AND TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD … B. Davis Notification that SB521 is now Act 748
SB523 Act 762 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB523 Irvin TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; AND T…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; AND TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PRIVATE … Irvin Notification that SB523 is now Act 762
SB525 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ed. - Calendar. Committee on Gross Bills, to whom is first, Senate Bill 525 by Senator Mark Johnson, compare the engrossed copy with th…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INCORPORATION AND ORGANIZATION OF MUNICIPALITIES; AND TO TRANSFER INCORPORATION DUTIES … M. Johnson Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SB533 Act 934 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ssed. Calendar. Committee on Gross Bills, to whom is first, Senate Bill 533 by Senator Dees, compare the engrossed copy with the origin…”
 TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF CONSUMABLE HEMP PRODUCTS BY THE ARKANSAS TOBACCO CONTROL BOARD; … Dees Notification that SB533 is now Act 934
SB536 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB536 D. Sullivan TO ABOLISH AND TRANSFER THE ARKANSAS STATE LIBR…”
 TO ABOLISH AND TRANSFER THE ARKANSAS STATE LIBRARY AND THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD; AND TO … D. Sullivan Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SB537 Act 763 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB537 Gilmore TO CREATE THE EARNING SAFE REENTRY THROUGH WORK ACT…”
 TO CREATE THE EARNING SAFE REENTRY THROUGH WORK ACT; AND TO CREATE A SENTENCE CREDIT … Gilmore Notification that SB537 is now Act 763
SB538 Act 782 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB538 - Motion to withdraw SB538 for purpose of amendment”
 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PROCUREMENT LAW. Gilmore Notification that SB538 is now Act 782
SB539 Act 723 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB539 Gilmore TO UPDATE AND CLARIFY CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE LAW R…”
 TO UPDATE AND CLARIFY CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE LAW REGARDING THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY CORRECTION … Gilmore Notification that SB539 is now Act 723
SB544 Act 775 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB544 M. Johnson TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER…”
 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT. M. Johnson Notification that SB544 is now Act 775
SB546 Act 935 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…s. Calendar. The committee on public health, to whom is for Senate Bill 546, by Senator Hamer, recommended to pass. Calendar. The commi…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE TRUST FUND CONTRIBUTION FEE FOR WATER PERMITS RELATED TO … K. Hammer Notification that SB546 is now Act 935
SB550 Act 703 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB550 Hill TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AND POULT…”
 TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY COMMISSION TO THE ARKANSAS BOARD … Hill Notification that SB550 is now Act 703
SB559 Act 729 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ended to pass? Calendar. Committee on Education who was for Senate Bill 559 by Senator English recommend do pass. Calendar. Committee o…”
 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2021. J. English Notification that SB559 is now Act 729
SB560 Act 740 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “on public health, to whom is for Senate Bill 560, by Senator English, recommended to pass. Calendar. The com…”
 TO DECREASE THE BASE CONTRIBUTION RATE; TO INCREASE THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSESSMENT RATE; TO INCREASE FUNDING … J. English Notification that SB560 is now Act 740
SB564 Act 596 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB564 Flippo TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BEER" TO CHANGE THE ALLO…”
 TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BEER" TO CHANGE THE ALLOWABLE ALCOHOLIC CONTENT AND TO INCLUDE … Flippo Notification that SB564 is now Act 596
SB570 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB570 J. Dotson TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP O…”
 TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE. J. Dotson Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SB571 Act 1002 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB571 J. Petty TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND ZONING REGULATIONS; AND TO PROHIBIT A MUNICIPALITY … J. Petty Notification that SB571 is now Act 1002
SB586 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB586 J. Dotson TO CREATE THE "PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION ACT"; AND…”
 TO CREATE THE "PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION ACT"; AND AMENDING A PORTION OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION … J. Dotson Died on Senate Calendar at Sine Die adjournment.
SB590 Act 769 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ended number one. Committee on Judiciary, to whom is first, Senate Bill 590 by Senator Gilmore, recommend do pass. Count. Senate Bill 6…”
 TO CREATE THE RECIDIVISM REDUCTION SYSTEM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; AND TO DECLARE AN … Gilmore Notification that SB590 is now Act 769
SB594 Act 705 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB594 M. McKee TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTIFI…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR NEW … M. McKee Notification that SB594 is now Act 705
SB93 Act 1010 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…pass. Calendar. Committee on Joint Budget, whom is deferred Senate Bill 93 by joint budget, recommend due pass. Calendar. Committee on…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB93 is now Act 1010
SJR13 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SJR13 - Motion to withdrawn SJR13 for purpose of amendment”
 A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW A CANDIDATE FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, … J. Dotson Died on Senate Calendar at Sine Die adjournment.
SR51 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SR51 K. Hammer TO RECOGNIZE THE BENTON HIGH SCHOOL PANTHERS BOYS…”
 TO RECOGNIZE THE BENTON HIGH SCHOOL PANTHERS BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAM AS THE CLASS 5A STATE … K. Hammer Sine Die adjournment
SR52 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SR52 K. Hammer TO RECOGNIZE THE BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL HORNETS BOYS'…”
 TO RECOGNIZE THE BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL HORNETS BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAM AS THE CLASS 6A STATE … K. Hammer Sine Die adjournment
SR53 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SR53 M. Johnson TO HONOR TERRY KIMBROW, PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL BAP…”
 TO HONOR TERRY KIMBROW, PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL BAPTIST COLLEGE, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS UPCOMING … M. Johnson Sine Die adjournment
SR57 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SR57 Crowell TO RECOGNIZE THE MAGNOLIA HIGH SCHOOL PANTHERS DANC…”
 TO RECOGNIZE THE MAGNOLIA HIGH SCHOOL PANTHERS DANCE TEAM AS THE 2024 CLASS 1A-4A STATE … Crowell Sine Die adjournment
SR58 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SR58 Crowell TO RECOGNIZE THE ARKADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL BADGERS FO…”
 TO RECOGNIZE THE ARKADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL BADGERS FOOTBALL TEAM AS THE 2024 CLASS 4A STATE … Crowell Sine Die adjournment

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October 2, 2026
Speaker 3 2:44
The Senate will be called to order any requests
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Speaker 5 2:49
for leave at this time. Yes, we,
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Chair Unverified 2:53
we. Laid for send her flowers as requested. See no others. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Dismain, Dotson, English, Flippo, flowers on leave, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Keen, letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, Stone, Stubblefield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. But. Thank you, Madam Secretary. If everyone in the chamber and in the galleries would please rise. We will first be led in prayer by our pastor of the day who I believe is going to be introduced by Senator Scott. Senator Love. And following the prayer, we will have the Pledge of allegiance. Senator Love, you're recognized. Thank
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Senator Fredrick J. Love Unverified 4:06
you, Governor and colleagues, I would like to introduce one of the pastors in my, my area. He is a dynamic pastor. He's one that is a leader, is Doctor Maurice Watson. If you could please come
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Speaker 27 4:18
and lead us in prayer, sir. Good to see you. Let us pray. Our Father and our God, how grateful and thankful we are to you for your goodness and grace for your mercy, for your loving kindness that you've extended to all of us. We thank you for allowing us to have life. Health and strength today. We thank you for the gift of our families and for the gift of serving others today. We confess how many sins before you, we pray you'd forgive us, cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank you, Lord, for how you continue to look beyond our faults and see our needs. Now I pray for this body today. This body that makes laws that affects all of our lives. Will you temper their hearts with your wisdom with your guidance. And with compassion. We pray, O Father, for the citizens of our state as we are preparing for incoming storms. Will you keep us safe today. Keep our children safe at school. Their parents safe at work and their loved ones safe at home. We ask all of this in the name of he before whom? Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord.
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Speaker 30 5:50
Amen. of the United States of America and to the republic for which you stands, one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice. Thank you pastor for those uplifting words.
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Senator Breanne Davis Chair Unverified 6:06
Glad to have you in the Senate today. Ladies
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Chair Unverified 6:10
and gentlemen in the galleries, welcome to your Arkansas State Senate. It is our expectation that each of you will exercise proper decorum during today's proceedings and govern yourselves accordingly. Without objection, the rules will be suspended and the Senate will dispense with the reading of the journal. The morning hour has now begun. like to recognize Senator Bryant, who will introduce our Senate pages for the day. Senator Bryant, you're recognized. Thank
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 6:40
you, Madam President. Members would like to recognize Senate pages joining us today. Pages when I call your name, if you'll please come down to the front and be recognized. Isabella Glasscock from Bryant High School. From Senator Hammer's district, Jodie Cleveland from Greene County Tech Junior High School, Senator Wallace, Addison Pinckney, also Greene County Tech Junior High for Senator Wallace, Riley Grooms from Greene County Tech Junior High. And Payne Leonard from Hamburg Middle School for Senator Tucker. If you would please give them a round of hand.
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Chair Unverified 7:23
Thanks, Senator Bryant. Other announcements or introductions.
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 7:28
Senator dismaying for something. Members, I'm going to do something a little bit different. I'm going to ask leave for myself. I'm gonna be gone for a little while today, but I want to be able to come back and vote, but I also don't want to be rolled into certain boats that I think will happen before I have a chance to be back. Uh, so with that, I'll have someone ask for leave when they get back, but I would like the ability to vote when I come back, which is not something that's in our rules. is also not common practice. Thanks.
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Senator Kim Hammer Unverified 8:00
Any other announcements and hammer Mayor, I want to ask the same thing as Senator Dimay just asked. I need to go meet with the family about a funeral. I need to leave here probably about 3:15, but I will be back as soon as I get done for the committee meetings this afternoon, so I would like to see him privileged, please.
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 8:24
Senator Tucker Thank you, Madam President. I just want to recognize the Arkansas School Nutrition Association, who's in the Capitol today. These are our child nutrition directors in our schools all over Arkansas. They do really wonderful work um for our kids every single day and and we're very grateful for the work you do and for, for y'all being here today and in conjunction with the hunger work that they do, I also want to mention that the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance outstanding organization in Arkansas is hosting their legislative reception this evening. They're forging through the weather from 4 to 6 p.m. at their office at 200 West Capital on the 4th floor, so, uh, hopefully some of us can make that, but more than anything, we also just want to recognize and honor the Arkansas School Nutrition Association and the child nutrition directors here with us today. Thank
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Speaker 38 9:07
you. Thank you, Senator Tucker, and the hunger Relief
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Chair Unverified 9:14
Alliance is up there in the green, so if you all have seen them out in the rotunda. Other announcements, introductions, any other announcements or introductions. If not, Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? Yes, so we a committee on enroll bills to him for the following Senate Bill 83 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 99 by central Penza Yes, so we a committee on enroll bills to him for the following Senate Bill 83 by Senator Bryant, Senate Bill 99 by central Pinza send bill 103 by Senator Penzo sent Bill 218 by Senator Irving, 278 percentral English Senate Bill 366 by Senator Boyd, Senate Bill 370 by Senator Irving, Senate Bill 379 Messin Crowe, symbol 381 by Central Carlson Bill 8382 by Senator Curly Bill 383 by Central Cross, Senate Bill 384 by Senator Crow. 385 by Senator Pearl, Senate Bill 387 by Senator Curl, Senate Bill 389 by Senator Curl sent me a 454 by Central Hill compared the ro copies of the original and finding them correctly enrolled and delivered to the governor at 8:21 a.m. For approval. Please file it. To the Honorable Sherry Sachs, Chief clerk of the house. Miss Stacks of the Senate respectfully requests the return to the Senate of Senate Bill 229. File it Committee on rossed drills to was deferred. Senate Bill 341 by Senator Clark, the grossed copy of the original find the same correctly engrossed. Joint budget Committee on gross bills to his first House Bill 1333 Representative Hudson and Cenator Scott, the grossed copy of the original and find some correctly engrossed. Insurance and commerce. We're a committee on gross bills to House Bill 1714 by Representative Rose, clear and gross copy of the original and plan the same correctly and grossed. State agencies on gross bills to his for House Bill 1717 by Senator Boyd and. Representative Gramly recommended and compared the engrossed copy of the original and found the sign correctly engrossed judiciary for your committee on Gross pills, who is Senate Bill 157 by Senator Dotson compared the gross copy of the original advice I'm correctly engrossed calendar Committee on gross, who was first with 290 by centerla Johnson compared the rossed copy of the ritual and Seirkly engrossed. Calendar on Grossels to his first single 525 by Central Mark Johnson the rossed copy of the original and same correctly. calendarro who first in Bill 533 by Senator D's compared the engrossed copy with the original and find and perfectly engrossed calendar Committee on Gross, who is very House Bill 1079 versus Allen and Cenator Wallace, the gross copy of the original and find the same correctly engrossed calendar Committee on ross House Bill 1468 by Representative Cozart and Senator Petty compared the engrossed copy of the original plan and correctly engrossed calendar on gross bills to House Bill 17. 1700 representative Ankara and Senator Boet compared the res copy of the original and by the same correctly engrossed calendar for your committee on Education who was for Senate Bill 484 by Senator Irving recommend due pass. calendar, education team was 504 by Senator Irving recommend to pass calendar Committee on Education was first sent 559 by Central English recommend Du pass calendar on education who was Senate Bill 572 by Senator Dotson recommended to pass calendar can be on education as House Bill 1062. By representative Richardson recommended pass calendar Committee on Education who was referred to 1540 by Representative Brown recommended pass calendar on education to who was for house for 1571 by Representative Representative Ray recommended pass calendar on education who was for House Bill 1696 by Representative Mac uh McAllen recommend Du Pas calendarittee on Education for 1733 by a Carr recommend due pass calendar Committee on joint budget to was first sent on 93, a joint budget recommended to pass calendar Committee on joint budget team is for Senate Bill 128 by joint budget recommend to pass calendar Committee on Joint Budget to first Bill 130 by joint budget recommend to pass calendar. Committee on Joint Budget team was for Senate Bill 332 by Senator Dotson recommended to pass calendar Committee on the Judiciary, to whom his first sent 320 by Senator Irving recommend DuP pass to the current House Amendment number one, calendar. Committee on Judiciary to him was for Senate Bill 485 by Senator Tucker recommend DuP pass as amended number one calendar. really on judiciary to him was first sent 488 by Senator Irving recommended passes amended number one, calendar Committee on the Judiciary to him was first sent Bill 555 I Senator Scott recommended past calendar Committee on the Judiciary to him was first sent Bill 575 by Senator Tucker recommend to pass this amended number one calendar Committee on the Judiciary to him was first sent 583 by Senator Tucker recommended passes Amendment number one, calendar Committee on the Judiciary to him his first sent 590 by Central Gilmore recommend DuPint. Co. See about 608 by Senator Mark Johnson to amend the law concerning runoff elections for county
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Speaker 75 14:47
and municipal offices and 608. State agencies. Any other announcements or introductions if for the
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Chair Unverified 14:54
business to come before the body in the morning hour, if not the morning hour has expired, we will now begin the business agenda. Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Members, I would like to
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Senator Breanne Davis Chair Unverified 15:11
spin the rules, make a motion to suspend the rules to withdraw House Bill 1523 out of public health and place it on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment. All those in favor of the motion please signify by saying I'm. No.
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Chair Unverified 15:28
Amendment 1, the House Bill 1523. Uh, members make
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Senator Breanne Davis Chair Unverified 15:34
a motion that we adopt Amendment 1, to House Bill 1523. All those in favor of the amendment, please signify to
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Chair Unverified 15:44
say I. Any opposed? I have it is adopted, please send to engrossing. Senator Hester, you're recognized.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 15:50
Members, I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules on Senate Bill 426. It's on our calendar today for the purposes of amendment only to add co-sponsors, but uh as long as it's done with engrossing to continue to be heard on our calendar where it is today, only for the purpose. I gotta move it from 3rd reading to 2nd reading, so that we can amend it, adding co-sponsors only, and then put back on 3rd reading to continue to hear today. All those in favor of suspending
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Chair Unverified 16:16
the rules for an amendment. Please sign saying I. Any opposed? I have it. Motion carries. And Senator Hester, Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 426. My bill, my movement. All those in favor of the amendment, please signify say aye. Any opposed? I have it. Me is adopted, please send to engrossing. Senator Boyd, you're recognized. I'd like to make a motion to
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 16:47
recall Senate Bill 229 from the house. We're good.
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Chair Unverified 17:13
Oh, sorry. For purposes of clarification. Senator Boyd's motion is withdrawn.
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Speaker 64 17:19
Because it Action was not necessary. Next, we will move to We have Senator Scott here? Yeah. She the
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Chair Unverified 17:49
We are, we will begin sender English with Senate resolution 20. Senate Resolution 20 by central English to commend the Mael Charter High School, Falcon Boys cross country team for winning the 2024 Class 3A state championship. for. A minute. I Well Yes While we are waiting on our young golfers from all Mel, we're going to read items across the desk. Were your Committee on Public Health to Senate Bill 347 by Senator Penzo recommend Du past and we also have a uh pursuant to Senate Rule 2406 on the Committee of Public Health a public disclosure of Senator Missy Irving. about. Ballot. Well, a lot. We committee on public health team is first sent Bill 444 by Hammer recommend to pass. Calendar Committee on Public Health to as far as 507 by Central Letting recommend to pass calendar Committee on the
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Speaker 75 19:44
Public Health first sent Bill 546 by Senator Hammer recommended pass calendar Committee on
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Chair Unverified 19:50
60 by central English recommended past calendar Committee on Public Health to for House Bill 1255 by Representative Wooldridge, recommended passes amended number one, calendar Committee on Public Health, who is for House and current resolution 1009 or Lady Man recommend to pass calendar. OK. And once our young athletes get in again, members, we are taking up Senate resolution 20. Senator English to commend the all male charter High School, Falcon Boys cross
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Speaker 123 20:29
country team. I guess we're on cross country.
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Senator Jane English Unverified 20:32
Thank you very much. Members, I'm very, very pleased to have our Mael Charter High School, Falcons Boys cross country team and and want to congratulate them on winning the 2024 Class 38 state championship. So on November 7th, 2024, the Maill Charter High School Falcons Boys cross country team won their first Class A 3, I mean, class 3A boys state championship at Oak Lawn Park in Hot Springs with races. The Falcon team won that's 3 class 3A boys state championship with a team score of 56, and the Falcons finished with 3 team members in the top 10 and 4 team members earning all state honors. We are congratulating you. And coach Delton Dallas, you will receive a copy of this um resolution. Thank you. Thanks in English, all
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Chair Unverified 21:38
those in favor of Senate resolution 20 to commend the Mamell Charter High School, Falcons Boys cross country team for winning the 2024 Class 3A state championship. Please signify by saying I, I, and he opposed a habit. Senate Resolution 20 is adopted. Thank you very much.
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Speaker 130 22:01
And moving right along, we want to condemn, I'm sorry we're going
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Chair Unverified 22:07
to need. She asked. Next resolution is Senate resolution 21. And I'll ask Secretary to read that send her English first,
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Speaker 132 22:15
Senate Resolution 21 by Senator English to commend the Mamel Charter High School Falcons boys golf team for winning the 2024 class 3A state championship. Send her English, you are
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Chair Unverified 22:27
recognized. Thank you. So we are
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Senator Jane English Unverified 22:32
excited and honored to have the heart Mael Charter High School, Falcon Boys golf team and and congratulate them on winning the 2024 Class A 3A state championship and on October the 7th, 2024, the Mail Charter High School Falcons Boys golf team won their 3rd Class A Class 3A boys state championship at Cooper's Hawk Golf Club in Melbourne. Australia, I mean, Arkansas, or Australia would have been nice, been fun. Members of the Falcons team included Drew Burns, Jace Holder, Hayden Robertson, and Carl Carson Taylor. We congratulate you all on your efforts. Thank you. Thank you, Senator English. All those in
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Chair Unverified 23:23
favor of Senate resolution 21 to commend the Malmell Charter High School, Falcon Boys golf team for winning the 2024 Class 3A state championship. Please signified by saying I and he opposed, I have it, Senate resolution 21 is adopted. Thank you very much. Thank you. And senators, I'm going to step away for one second so I can go shake the hand and hug on one of these young men, Carson Taylor, whose mother and I have been
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Speaker 139 23:50
friends for a long time, so if y'all excuse me, I'll be right back in 30 seconds. That
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Unknown speaker 24:09
I.
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Chair Unverified 24:51
Yeah Yeah Senator Hill, if you're ready, our next resolution. Is Senate resolution 42. I But congratulating We Yeah. Is he ready? Senate resolution 42 by Senator Hill to recognize the city of Cabot as recipient in 2024 of a trendsetter, uh, city award from Arkansas Business and an honorable honorable mention in the Arkansas business tourism development and creative culture category. Senator Hill, you're recognized.
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified 26:01
Thank you, Governor. You stay right here, the rest of all line up right here. You just go right into there. Colleagues, it's with great pleasure today. I introduce you to the great city of Cabot, Arkansas. The trendsetter City of the Year for 2024. And so with that being said, I'm gonna read my resolution word for word. It's only about 6 pages. We're just kind of condense it down uh for today. What is a trendsetter? That's a good question to ask anyone. It's a person or a place that leads the way in fashion or ideas. That's the city of Cabot, fashion, y'all can tell me, I got my new shoes on today. Fashion or ideas. So everyone With that being said, the community development and economic growth inspire change and make a difference in Arkansas, improving local quality of life and encouraging sustainable economic development. The city of Cabot, that says it all right there. Well I'll tell you about one of the little projects that they did. They actually won an honorable mention on this through the Arkansas business. It's a game time at the grounds for economic development for the city of Cabot. 128,000 square foot sports facility. Has pickleball court, basketball courts, volleyball courts, you name it, it has it. It's an all in one stop shop. And with that being said, I'd like to welcome the mayor of the city of Cabot. Mr. Kincaid. And if I would just kind of raise your hand when I call your names. Councilman Matt Webber. Councilwoman, Maggie Wayack Cope. Councilman Corey Springer. Wrangler, let me get that right. The chief Chad Moore. She where you get down there? That's our fire chief. Then we got Chief Scott Staley. He's a police chief. Alicia Paanoano yeah, that's it. Alicia, Laura Nobles. Vernon Meyer, Mayor. Paul Ross. Mike Wheeler and Brian Burris. With that being said, I'd like to present this to the city of Cabot uh for them to display, Lieutenant Governor, and if we would after we have a good vote here, they'd like to have a picture with you.
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Chair Unverified 28:41
I'm always amenable to a photographs. Thanks, Senator Hill. All those in favor of Senate Resolution 42 to recognize the city of Cabot as recipient in 2024 of a trendsetter City Award from Arkansas business and an honorable mention the Arkansas Business tourism Development and creative culture category. All those in favor please signify by saying I, any opposed? Is habits and a resolution 42 is adopted. OK And senators, we are not going to recess, but I'm going to step down for this quick photograph and come right back up. I
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Unknown speaker 29:48
It That. Yeah. I I I OK, I'm going. All right. Thank you to the entire city of Cabot. It's good
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Chair Unverified 31:01
to have you all here today.
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Speaker 164 31:14
Next, We are going to Take up Senate resolution.
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Chair Unverified 31:20
51 Senate resolution 51 by Senator Hammer to recognize the Benton High School Panthers Boys basketball team is a class 5A state champions. OK
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Unknown speaker 31:31
Senator Hammer. I.
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Senator Kim Hammer Unverified 32:15
But No. No Right And if you would stand behind Doctor Anderson. down there. There you go. Thank you.
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Chair Unverified 32:47
Senator Hammer, you're recognized. And remind the body and those in the chambers and that Senate is in sessions, Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
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Senator Kim Hammer Unverified 33:00
Governor. It's my pleasure to present Senate resolution 51, which recognizes the Benton High School Panther basketball, basketball team for the Class 5A state champions, says whereas Benton High School Panthers boys basketball team won the 5A state championship held at Bank OCK Arena in Hot Springs, Arkansas on March 14th. I want to hit some of the highlights in this. First of all, and this may be the crowning achievement. This was the Panthers' first state championship win in basketball history for Benton. It says whereas also the Panthers are also back to back Class 5A Southern championships or champions, also want to go on to recognize that the Panthers conference record for the last 2 years was 32 wins and zero losses, and the team member Teron Burgess earned All-Star honors and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, and whereas team member Harrison Pickett earned All-Star honors and was named to the All-Star tournament team, and he signed Division I scholarship with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, making him one of only a few students in school history to have signed with a Division One team. Team members Anthony Spratt Junior earned All-Star honors and is the first freshman in school history to do so, and I want to conclude by reading a statement from Coach Dexter Hendricks, who said of the wind and of the season. This season was truly remarkable. This team set new school record for the most wins in a single season achieving an impressive 31 victories. They also secured back to back conference championships, extending their conference winning streak to 32 games. They're resilience and determination throughout the year was exceptional, and I couldn't be prouder of the way they concluded the season. This team was forever, will forever be etched in the history of Benton High School as the first to win the state championship. And now therefore be it resolved by the Senate of the 95th General Assembly, the state of Arkansas to recognize the Benton High School boys basketball team as the class 5A state champion. And standing with them today, our coach Dexter and also Superintendent Kim, and if you all would, would you please give them the due honor they're recognized for. Madam McGover, I make a motion do pass. Thank you,
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Chair Unverified 35:41
Senator Hammer. All those in favor of Senate resolution 51 to recognize Benton High School Panthers boys' basketball team as he classed 58 state champions, please signify by saying I, and he opposed I have it, Senate Resolution 51 is adopted. Congratulations, gentlemen. Thank you, gentlemen.
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Unknown speaker 36:29
I. you're still. So
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Chair Unverified 37:03
Next, we will take up Senate resolution 52. Senate Resolution 52 by Senator Hammer to recognize the Bryant High School Hornets basketball team as a class 6A state champions. cinder hammer, you're recognized.
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Senator Kim Hammer Unverified 37:48
Thank you, Madam Governor. Gives me a second great honor as a senator of Saline County recognized our second state championship basketball team. This is the Bryant High School Hornets boys basketball team, and they are the class 6A state champions, says, whereas Bryant High School Hornets boys basketball team won the 6A state championship held on March 15, 2025 at the Banco ZK Arena in Hot Springs, and it was the first state championship win for the Hornets since 19. 81 senior guard Kellen Robinson scored 25 points in the state championship game, nudging the Hornets to 69 points in a victory over the Springdale High School Bulldogs, earning with 59 points, resolution goes on to recognize several of the other achievers on the basketball team, but I want to emphasize by what Coach Michael said. He said of the win and of the season. This was a season of resilience. We played a scheduled featuring teams from 7 different states. We face many types of adversity. We altered our playing style and stuck together and in the end we put a product to be proud of on the floor and won a championship with toughness and grit. This team won their 10, won their last 10 games of the season, all by double digits, and we wanted to recognize today the Bryant Senior High boys basketball team, who are your Class 6A state champions and also one of two state champions from Saline County, one from Benton and one from Bryant. We got it all covered and we can't be more prouder of them. And so now therefore be it resolved by the Senate of the 95th General Assembly of the state of Arkansas that the Senate recognizes the Bryant High School Hornets boys basketball team has a 6A state championship, and we will present to the coach a formal resolution upon the adoption. which Madam Governor moved for the adoption of Senate resolution 52. Thank you, Senator
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Chair Unverified 39:57
Hammer. All those in favor of Senate resolution 52 to recognize the Bryant High School Hornet basket boys basketball team as the Class 6A state champions, please signify by saying aye. And he opposed, I have it, Senate Resolution 52 is adopted. Congratulations. No
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Unknown speaker 40:27
I. Oh my
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Speaker 164 41:49
I. And Next. Next, we will take up Senate resolution 5 circle
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Speaker 216 42:04
around behind with Terry Senate Resolution
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Chair Unverified 42:07
53 by Senator Mark Johnson, Conor Terry Kimro, president of our of the Central Baptist College upon the occasion of his upcoming May 2025 retirement.
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 42:20
Senator Martin Johnson, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Uh, it's my honor today for to bring Senate Resolution 53 and it honors my dear friend, President of Central Baptist College, Terry Kimbrough on the occasion of his upcoming retirement in May, and I just want to say this that Conway, my hometown, is very proud to be the city of colleges, and most people know about the University of Central Arkansas and a lot of people know about Hendrix, but not everybody knows about CBC. This is the jewel, so When I, I see all these champions coming through here. I wanted you to know about uh the champion, my friend, uh, President Terry Kimbrough. I'll, I'll read the highlights of the resolution, whereas Terry Kimbr who served as president of Central Baptist College in Conway, Arkansas since 2004, has announced his retirement in May of 2025. Uh, President Kimbrough said, I've been blessed to serve as president for the past 20 years. I'm convinced it's time to come in with fresh vision and renewed heart for Central Baptist College, and during his time, President Kimboro has been a driving force behind the growth and success for the colleges under his leadership, the college had experienced significant achievements including construction of the Ratliff Bell Tower in 2008, which symbolizes the college's mission to transform lives through education, integrating Christian faith and academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment. Uh, I could go on and on about his tremendous things. Let me say his greatest triumph was in fundraising was a historic contribution of $5 million largest single gift in college history that kicked off their campaign, raising over $18 million for this wonderful Christian school. Uh, Terry is very active in our community in Conway. He's a member of the uh of course he's part of the Arkansas Independent Colleges and Universities, the Baptist Hospital patients. Safety Committee, Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, the Conway Rotary Club and the Faulkner County Leadership Institute, uh Haven House and serving as a chaplain for the Conway Police Department. Uh, also, uh, I want to read that uh this is from his board of trustees chair, Kirk Shelton, who said about President Kimbrough, it's with sorrow that the CBC board of trustees heard the news that President Kimbrose planned to retire. The college has been blessed with his solid visionary leadership for 20 years. I believe I speak for the entire board when I say we would like to have him for 2 more. I don't think Terry would agree with that, but I think it's a great honor to have your bosses say. that about you. It is my honor to move the adoption of Senate Resolution 53, Madam President. Thank you, Senator
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Chair Unverified 45:16
Johnson. All those in favor of Senate Resolution 53 to honor Terry Kimbrough, president of Central Baptist College upon the occasion of his upcoming May 2025, retirement, please signify by saying I and he opposed habits Senate resolution 53. Congratulations, Dr. Kimbrook. Madam President, I ask leave
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 45:37
for the members for uh President Kimbr and his staff and ask that he be allowed to say a few words. Thanks, Senator Johnson.
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Speaker 226 45:46
We welcome Dr. Kimbrough. Well, he didn't tell
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Speaker 227 45:49
me that, but I want to thank Senator Johnson for this, and I've been here a few times to pray and I know the work that you do, and I know it's uh very often thankless work and in my district and Um, Senator Johnson represents us very well. He's available, um. He comes to our events and we just really appreciate his leadership and his encouragement and thank you for this honor, um, 20 years is not in me now, but I do have a successor here with me today, the tallest guy in the room over here, the red tie. So Dr. Jeremy Langley will be succeeding me and I, I thank you, thank you for letting me say a few words because pastors don't usually say
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Speaker 41 46:38
a few words. I took Madam President, any time you have a preach You
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 46:42
have to be careful about giving the mic, but I knew Terry would be respectful of the Senate. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, colleagues. Thanks, Senator Johnson.
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Speaker 204 47:03
Right Thanks. Good to see you. Yeah. In.
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Speaker 116 47:12
Yeah. Next, we will take up Senate resolution 57.
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Chair Unverified 47:28
Senate resolution 57 by Centra Crowell to recognize the Magnolia High School Panthers dance team as the 2024 class 1A4A state champions. Senator Kroll, you're recognized. Good evening, good afternoon,
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Senator Steve Crowell Chair Unverified 47:45
colleagues. I have with us the Magnolia High School Panthers dance team, who is undefeated since they have joined the ranks of dancing, the 184 state championships for on November 16, 2024. I asked for a good vote. Thanks, Sandra Crowe, all those
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Chair Unverified 48:07
in favor of Senate resolution 57 to recognize the Magnolia High School Panthers dance team as the 2024 class 1A4A state champions, please signify by saying I. And he opposed I have it Senate resolution 57 is adopted. Congratulations, ladies. Oh. Next, we will take up Senate resolution 58. Senate resolution 58 by Senator Crowell to recognize the Arkadelphia High School Badgers football team as a 2024 Class 4A state champions. First off, I want
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Senator Steve Crowell Chair Unverified 49:00
to recognize up in the West gallery is all the underclassmen. Of this state championship team on the floor, we're gonna have the seniors and the coaches. And this is Arkadelphia High School Badgers football team. They won the Class A for a state championship on December 14th at War Memorial, shutting out the Elkins Elks 28 to 0. This team plays 2 or 3 games a year up and they were 13 and 2, correct? All right, let's give, I would ask for a good vote. Thank you, Senator Kroll, and I'm gonna ask for
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Chair Unverified 49:40
a good vote even though they beat up in the state tournament my South Side Southerners from Independence County, but but congratulations young man, all those in favor of Senate resolution 58 to recognize the Arkadelphia High School Badgers football team is the 2024 Class 4A state champions, please signify by saying aye. And he opposed,
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Speaker 198 50:03
I have it, Senate resolution 58 is adopted. Congratulations, gentlemen.
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Chair Unverified 50:21
no. I that Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? Yes, your committee on joint budget to is first in 25, a joint budget recommend who passes number one. on drop vegetable was first in Bill 37 by joint budget recommend to pass as amended number one calendar Committee on Budget who was first sent 39 by joint budget recommend to pass as amendment number 2 calendar, on joint budget team was the first Senate Bill 88 by Trump budget. Recommended it passes amendment number 2, the calendar. Next, we will move to House Bill 1705. Has 1705 by Central Bright and Representative to require information concerning how the religious and moral beliefs of the founding fathers influenced the founding of the United States and to be embedded into the existing social studies standards. Senator Bryant, you're recognized. Thank you,
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 51:43
Madam President. Thank you, members. House Bill 1705 to require information of how religious and moral beliefs of our founding fathers. Influenced the founding of our nation to be embedded into our 6th or 12th grade. Whenever Representative Duke called me and talked to me about running this bill. Uh, I was inspired. Because I've been in at Williamsburg at the House of Burgess very recently, where I, I walked amongst several of our founding fathers that were there battling with the idea of what it looks like to be a traitor to the crown. So As, as I looked at those documents, as I walked that journey, as I, as I stood in the church where several of our founding fathers met on Sundays, and you look at the documents that they wrote to each other, that they wrote across the colonies. You see that they had a, a conviction, a moral conviction and a religious conviction that was guiding their journey to form our nation. A nation of which has been survived the longest of any nation approaching 250 years. So then I start to look at, so yeah, what maybe my 14 year old learns in high school currently, and they learned some good things. They learned the basics about about our foundation and our branches of government, but what they don't understand is how they got there, what those men were thinking in betraying the crown. And so what this bill does, I believe, is reinstill those civic values that were important. What was the intent of our Constitution. Why did we have to have a bill of rights before we had a constitution. Why did several of our founders speak against the Constitution without the Bill of Rights. And so what this bill seeks to do is ensure that that our students know as they learn our civic process, what the intent of the founding fathers were. The 55 men who risked their lives, some who lost everything. We're doing whenever they proceeded to create what we call the United States. So with that, I'll be glad to take any questions.
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Chair Unverified 54:03
Any questions for Senator Bryant? Senator Payton, you're recognized. Thank you,
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Senator John Payton Unverified 54:10
Madam President. Just like to Ask about page. 3 lines 9 and 10. How the freedoms enjoyed by the citizens of the United States can be traced to the beliefs of the founding fathers. I love that, don't you? I, I do. Thank you.
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Chair Unverified 54:34
Any other questions, Senator Tucker, you're recognized for a question.
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 54:39
Thank you, Madam President. Senator, which founding fathers? 55
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 54:44
of them. I think a lot of times we, we think of the, of the 7 that are commonly taught in our textbooks. Um, Jefferson, Washington, Adams, Franklin, Hamilton, John Jay, Jay Madison, uh, but there were so many more, and so they all had a role to play. They all had things to lose, so those founding fathers that formed the
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 55:06
documents of which we go on by today. Is it
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 55:12
in the bill which 55. The the founding fathers is
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 55:15
the bill. Yeah, but does it say which which 55 or what their designation was, how do we arrive
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 55:21
at that 55? It's just, it's it's in the context of history, that is just what has been agreed to is there's a list of 55 signers and then some auxiliaries such as George Washington, who did not sign it because he was off getting prepared for war in New York, but he was considered obviously instrumental in the founding of our of our documents. When
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 55:40
you say signer, you're talking about the Declaration of Independence. Yes. OK, so the bill doesn't say which founding fathers. It's just generally understood. Yes. OK, um, When you're talking about 55 different humans. Obviously, They're not going to have a, they're not going to be perfectly aligned on their religious and moral beliefs. Not at all. Like Thomas Jefferson, for example, did not believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Correct. So I, I, and if we're talking about the foundational values of the country and the Declaration of Independence of the Constitution. I can totally understand where you're going, but when you start talking about the religious and moral values of 55 humans that may vary from each other. I have a hard time understanding how that's going
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 56:30
to be accomplished. It's The way I view it is much like this body, much like the body across the, across the Capitol. We all come from different backgrounds, different religious beliefs, but they came together nonetheless and formed the documents that are still surviving today. And so those those are critical, the good, the bad, the ugly, the, the fighting, the, you know, I, I, I was thinking about how many times maybe could we envision just going out back, walking 10 paces, and turning around like that's, things were So, but they came through it. It may have took a couple tries of conventions, but when they got there and they did it, that we're not going to hold that
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 57:09
back. This needs to be taught. So I understand what you're saying. I just don't understand how the educators going to determine which value is being taught, but you know, I'll move on. Thank you, Madam President. Senator Boyd, you're recognized for
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Chair Unverified 57:22
a question. Thank you, Madam President. So I just
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 57:24
want to make sure that there's nothing in there that's going to exclude the Catholic signer, Mr. Carroll from this. Absolutely not. Thank you. Any other questions? Anyone wish to speak against.
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 57:41
Or for Senator Bryant, you're free to close. Thank you, Madam President. I'm going to close with a line out of George Washington's farewell address. he said, of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. I think it was intentional and I think this needs to be taught to our kids. Thank you. Send her his closed any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary,
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Chair Unverified 58:15
please roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant Caldwell, Clark K Crowell, Davis, Des, dismay leave, Dotson English, Flippo, flowers leave, Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Steber Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any
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Speaker 296 58:37
senator wished to change his or
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Chair Unverified 58:42
her vote. Senator Scott? No. Senator Love, no.
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Speaker 198 58:47
Tucker, no, letting no. Murdoch, no. Any other senator? Seeing no other. Please cast up the ballot by a vote
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Chair Unverified 58:56
of 28, yeah, 5, nay. House Bill 1705 passes, please return to
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Speaker 139 59:03
the house. House Bill 1716, but before we take that up, Madam Secretary,
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Chair Unverified 59:12
I'd like to Recognize Senator Caldwell to introduce, I believe, our doctor of the day.
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 59:19
Thank you, Governor. If y'all would please uh help me welcome uh Doctor Wallace Tracy, uh, doctor of family medicine from DeWitt, uh, which is the southern end of my district of 10 counties and we have our nurses of the day, every day Lee Fazio. complete.
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Speaker 104 59:46
Next, we will take up your call,
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Chair Unverified 59:50
Senator Caldwell. Your bill. Next, we will take up House Bill 1716. House Bill 1716 by Representative Kavanaugh and Senator Caldwell to amend the law concerning the assessment and collection of taxes by the Secretary of the Department of Finance Administration and to prohibit the assessment of sales and use tax in certain circumstances. Senator Caldwell,
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 1:00:12
you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. This law only establishes the fact that if you have an item that you have claimed a tax deduction on and DFA does not allow it. And you appeal that to a court or appellate board and that court or appellate board agrees with you, then DFNA has to recognize every time that that item is tax deductible. You don't have to go back and appeal it every time you sell the product. Questions for Senator Caldwell.
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Speaker 139 1:00:47
Anyone wish to speak against or
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Chair Unverified 1:00:54
for. Send her your recognized clothes. I'm clothes. I'd appreciate a good vote. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat, seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis, Des, Dismayly, Dots and English flippo flowers leave Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love, McKee,
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Speaker 296 1:01:14
Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. senator was to
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Chair Unverified 1:01:20
change his or her vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33, 0 name. House Bill 1716 passes, please return to the house. House Bill 1760. Has for 1760 by Senator Boyd and representative Milligan to amend the law concerning the jurisdiction to consider certain petitions for the adjustment of property assessment. Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President.
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 1:01:50
House Bill 1760 provides that a county equalization board does not have jurisdiction over a county assessor's determination that a property does or does not qualify for a homestead property tax relief for an individual who is disabled or age 65 or older. So if there were a concern, the first recourse would be to contact the assessor directly if that didn't get you where you needed to be, it would then be to go to the county quorum Court. And so again, this is what case laws already determined. This makes it clear in statute.
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Chair Unverified 1:02:21
There's no fiscal impact. Questions for Senator Boyd. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator, you recognized clothes. I'm clothing and would appreciate a good vote. Senators closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing none. Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis Des, dismayingly, Datsun English flippo flowers leave Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill Ivin Bike Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo Petty, Ry Scott Stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of
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Speaker 139 1:03:09
338 0 name House Bill 1760 passes, please return. To the house. We'll
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Chair Unverified 1:03:15
now take up house bills with Senate amendments. Beginning with Amendment 1 to House Bill 1525. Go call. Senator Caldwell. And next we'll be looking for Senator Blake
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Speaker 316 1:03:44
Johnson. Senator Caldwell's bill. Senator Caldwell's amendment. OK
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Chair Unverified 1:03:59
Hm. Amendment 1 House Bill 1525. Senator Caldwell, Senator Caldwell, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 1:04:09
Chair. This bill, uh, in case of uh uh green energy products such as solar farms or windmills, uh, requires the people entering into those contracts to have a remediation, uh, project or plan in place in case they put any of those particular uh uh solar panels or windmill farms in. Thanks, Senor. All those in favor
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Chair Unverified 1:04:33
of the amendment. signified by saying I. And he opposed As habit is adopted. I sent to engrossing. We're gonna do this We're gonna do the bill or is that later. Next,
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Speaker 322 1:04:48
we will take up Amendment 1 to House Bill 1814.
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Chair Unverified 1:05:02
Amendment One House Bill 1814. Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized. This
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Speaker 192 1:05:08
adds my name. All those in favor of the amendment please signify by saying I. And he opposed. I
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Chair Unverified 1:05:14
haven't. Me is adopted, please send to engrossing. Sender hammer. Next we'll take up Amendment 1, the Senate Bill 293. Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 293. Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. It
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Senator Kim Hammer Unverified 1:05:27
inserts the word under and I agree with the amendment on the House and appreciate a good vote. All
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Speaker 85 1:05:33
those in favor of the amendment please signify by saying aye, and he opposed. I haven't amendment is
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Chair Unverified 1:05:38
adopted, please send to engross him. Oh, I'm sorry, a robo cop Senate Bill 293 by Senator Hammer to amend the law. concerning the required postings at a polling site and to amend the list concerning required posting of notices, information, and material at a polling site on election day. Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. We believe we've heard this bill before. There
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Senator Kim Hammer Unverified 1:06:03
was an amendment that was added on the other end that did not change the majority of what the bill did just minor correction and the word under to clarify where it's supposed to be. Thank
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Chair Unverified 1:06:16
you. Any questions? Anyone wish to speak against or for, seeing no one. Senators closed, closed. Appreciate a good vote. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis, Ds, Dismayingly, Dotson, English Flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill. I like Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo,
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Speaker 296 1:06:42
Petty, Rice Scott Stone, Stuberfield Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator was to
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Chair Unverified 1:06:49
change his or her vote, seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 338, 0 nay, Senate Bill 293 passes as amended, please transmit. To the house. rather enroll it. Right. Next we will take up Senate Bill 148. Senate Bill 148 by Senator English. To establish the creating and investment opportunity for early childhood Workers Act of 2025. Senator English, you're
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Senator Jane English Unverified 1:07:41
recognized. Thank you very much, members. Basically, what this does is it gives an opportunity for childcare, teachers, and childcare workers who are um under public plans in schools and in other um daycare facilities to be able to join the teacher's retirement system if they so choose, and if their employer so chooses, doesn't cost the state. Anything, teachers' retirement would love to have more members and so this gives uh those, those childcare workers an opportunity to join if they so desire. Any questions
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Chair Unverified 1:08:22
for Senator English? Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator English you're free to close. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat. Saying no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boy Bryant Caldwell, Clark Krol Davis, Des, dismayingly, Datsun English flippo flowers leave Gilmore Hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo Petty, Ryse Scott Stonefield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any
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Speaker 296 1:08:58
senator wished to change his
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Chair Unverified 1:09:04
or her vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33A, 0, nay, Senate Bill 148 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 153. 153 by enator Dodson 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. Senator Dodson, you recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Members, these
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 1:09:37
are some retirement bills that the next two on the list, I think we've got a few more coming. We held our last retirement committee yesterday. Senate Bill 153. Is a simple bill that basically allows municipalities to use any funds they have available. It strikes through uh from general funds of so those five words. In Section 1 and same five words in section 2 and goes goes on through the bill and says that they can use any of the funds available. It's still the city and that is responsible for payout of
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Chair Unverified 1:10:25
those funds. Happy to try to answer any questions. Questions for Senator Dodson. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Sender has closed. Any objection to rolling the boats? See none, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis, Des, Dimaine Lee Johnson, English Flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Ryse Scott Stone, Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33A, 0 name. Senate Bill 153 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 1. Senate Bill 160. about 160 by Senator Dotson to amend the law concerning administration of the Arkansas Public retirements system. Senator Dodson,
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 1:11:41
you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 160 real short bill here that has two different sections. One, the first one adds the Arkansas Development and Finance Authority to the APR system and the second section adds the Secretary of the Department of Shared Services and the bank commissioner to the board of trustees of APERS. Happy to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Dodson.
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Chair Unverified 1:12:05
Senator Payton You're recognized for question. Thank you, Madam
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Senator John Payton Unverified 1:12:11
President. Sorry, Senator Dodson, I just Somebody stopped me in the hallway out there earlier today. That happens with Arkansas Development Finance Authority and they said that they had a bill running that would somebody stopped me too. I don't think that was this bill. No, it's not this bill, but the bill that they have the way you described was it give them more autonomy and they and they reiterated that their employees are not state employees. So I'm just wondering, How this bill could affect that or contradict that or not. I don't, I don't know if you had any awareness of the other bill or not. The person
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 1:12:50
who stopped me in the hall to tell me to check on that one. I said I'd read it tonight and I haven't read it yet, so I don't know what what that one even does.
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Senator John Payton Unverified 1:13:02
All right, well, thanks. Maybe somebody else could speak to it if they're aware of both
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Chair Unverified 1:13:07
bills, right. Any other questions? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Send her, you're free to close. I'm closed. I appreciate a good vote. Senators closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, see no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis Des, dismayingly, Dots an English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker. Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. Senator Payton present. Any other senator. Seeing no other. Police cast up the ballot by a vote of 32, 0, nay, 1 present, Senate Bill 160 passes, please transmit to
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Speaker 139 1:14:04
the house. Madam Secretary, is there an item at the desk? Yes, you. What
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Chair Unverified 1:14:09
your committee on the grossils who was first sent 426 by Senator Hester compared the engrossed copy of the original and find the same correctly engrossed calendar. Yeah. Bring it up. Central He history Senator Hester, while we were waiting on Senator Hester for Senate Bill 426. I would like to recognize today as World Autism Awareness Day. I'm a very proud aunt of a young man with autism, my nephew Riley, and uh those of you all who have someone with autism in your family. I know how important it is to ensure that they have access to appropriate insurance and opportunities so that way they can learn and thrive in our community. and so while I'm not sporting much blue except except on my flag pin, uh, blue is the color for autism Awareness Day. So for just want to give a shout out to All those Arkansans who have someone in their family with autism and get to enjoy those individuals incredible talents. And with that, we will move now to
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Speaker 104 1:15:20
Senate Bill 426. Just to consider the bill and amendment the same
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Speaker 73 1:15:26
day, members, I'm asking to suspend the rules just to be
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 1:15:29
able to hear the amendment and the bill on the same day. It's already on our calendar. The member just added house co-sponsors.
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Speaker 85 1:15:40
It's already on our calendar. All those in favor
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Chair Unverified 1:15:46
of the motion, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed? I haven't motion carries. Senate Bill 426. La Senator Hester. create the defense against criminal illegals Act and to establish enhanced penalties for illegal aliens and commit serious felonies involving violence. Senator Hester, you're recognized.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 1:16:03
For the amendment of the bill, It's all inclusive. OK, members, this is a bill, it's very, it's very narrow. I got a lot of questions on a lot of things. This is just someone that is in the state of Arkansas that is here illegally that commits a violent crime. So you're in the state. You're here illegally, you committed a violent crime. If you meet all those criteria, uh, then you're gonna have enhanced penalties as a consequence for committing those violent crimes. There's a list of all those violent crimes on page. 2, at the top, that would be, that would qualify. It also requires our um uh our sheriffs to participate and work well with ICE, um, and I'm happy to answer any questions. Questions for Senator Hester. I see Senator Boyd and Senator
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Chair Unverified 1:16:56
Tucker. Send Boyd you're recognized. Senator Hester, thank you for bringing this bill. Are we concerned about
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 1:17:05
having adequate prison space for these new felons. Thank you. But we are concerned about
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 1:17:09
prison space, right, where, you know, many times this year, many times session before, we continue to uh want to hold criminals more accountable. We've got to have prison space for them. Senator Tucker, you recognized. Thank you, Madam President,
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 1:17:23
the purpose of this bill to reduce crime? Absolutely. One concern I have about it is whether the immigrant community will feel comfortable reporting crimes, violent crimes, human trafficking, and that sort of thing, and they may be they may be subjecting themselves to criminal liability if they call and report report crime if we, if we pass this bill which would actually end up having the effect of more crimes, not the criminals not being held accountable for their crimes. Can you speak to that, please? Yeah, I've, I've got
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 1:17:53
two thoughts on that. Uh, number one, we are not requiring our local sheriffs or police departments to go out and participate as far as raids or picking people up. We want our local communities to understand that there's a very much difference. And then the second thing I will say is, uh, look, if you are not here illegally, you are committing a crime. Now, this doesn't involve that because it's only the girls who are committing violent crimes, but if you are not here legally, you should be concerned. OK. Um, there, there
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 1:18:21
will be a cost to this, correct? Yes, both locally and at the state level, and I want to talk about each of those separately. Uh, so at the local level, do we have any historical data about how long it takes ICE to respond to a call if someone's being held in a county jail, for example, who's not a who's an illegal immigrant. We do not. OK, so is it part of the bill that the federal government would reimburse local governments when when the local governments are detaining illegal immigrants. No, OK, so, so that cost will be borne by the local governments. Yes. Do we know how much that is? We do not. OK. And then of course if someone receives an enhanced penalty and is incarcerated in a state detention facility, there will be a cost associated with that.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 1:19:07
There's a cost associated with detaining everyone that commits violent crimes. Do we have
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 1:19:10
a fiscal impact statement or any idea of how much that will cost the state
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 1:19:14
of Arkansas. We do not. In fact, I hope this bill reduces the amount of people who are committing violent crimes. I go, I know this, what we're saying is There's plenty of states that are, uh, not, not gonna hold you accountable if you commit violent crimes. It's, we're focusing on people come here, maybe specifically those gangs that we've been seeing. Hey, there's lots of states that are going to be welcoming to you. You're not welcome here in Arkansas to come commit violent crimes. This is to send a message. There's plenty of
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 1:19:38
states you can go. Don't come to Arkansas. OK, so that's the I mean there are a lot of native born Arkansans who commit crimes every day, right? And we, we, do you believe we do a good job of holding them
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Speaker 380 1:19:52
accountable. We could do a better job, but we do a good
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 1:19:55
job, yes. But you think there needs to be an enhanced penalty just for someone who's here illegally. I absolutely do, and you believe that will help reduce crime? I think it will help uh send messages
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 1:20:03
to people that they don't want to be in Arkansas. If you're here illegally and are going to commit a violent crime, do it somewhere else. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Senator. Any other
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Chair Unverified 1:20:13
questions for Senator Hester. Anyone wish to speak against? Or 4. Senator, you're recognized clothes.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 1:20:23
Members, I've said this a few times, but this is about sending a message. We know that so many of these organizations are, well, they're organized, they know where they want to go, uh, expand and set up shop. We don't want them to do it here in Arkansas. Uh, I think this will send a message to the to those organized groups that uh are working across the country to find another
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:20:45
place to do it. Thanks. Senator has closed. I'm
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Speaker 292 1:20:52
Secretary, please call the roll. Poet Bran
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Chair Unverified 1:21:01
Caldwell, Caldwell, Clark. Crowe, Crow. Davis. Days, this man leave Dotson English. Flipper. Flowers leave Gilmore Hammer. Hester. Hi Irvin. Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King lading. Oh Love, McKee Murdoch. Hayton. Titan
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Speaker 393 1:21:41
Pennzo. Patty, rice, Scott. Stone Stone.
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Chair Unverified 1:21:51
afield? Sullivan Tucker Wallace.
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Speaker 192 1:21:57
I Any senator who did not
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Speaker 147 1:22:04
vote, who wishes to vote, Peyton, yes. Oh yes, yes. Caldwell, yes.
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Chair Unverified 1:22:13
Any other senator seen no other, please cast up the ballot by
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Speaker 139 1:22:18
vote of 28 5 nay Senate Bill 426 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 427. Senate Bill 427 by
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Speaker 75 1:22:30
Senator Brant to men promoting prostitution offenses to enhance the penalties, promoting prostitution in the 1st,
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Chair Unverified 1:22:36
2nd, and 3rd degree and to create the offense of promoting prostitution at at a business.
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:22:44
Senator Bryant, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Members, I'm gonna start off with a little context because there's 6 bills on our calendar, and sequentially to address some human trafficking issues amongst our state. So the context is in 2022, that Arkansas received an F from the Shared Hope International Report Card due to the gaps in our laws and how we addressed child sex trafficking. The response to that is in 2023, Governor Sanders put forth a task force for the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council. And funded them in order to look at how our state is preparing ourselves and handling these types of offenses. The council membership included Department of Public Safety, who took the lead and lead role in how this was going to be handled. They grabbed members from the Office of Attorney General and office of the prosecutor coordinator, members of the Department of Health. Members of the Department of Human Services, Advocacy centers such as the Children's Advocacy Center and um representatives from our colleges and universities. Representatives from the victimology of our college and universities. Health care, mental professionals, representatives from victims service organizations and representatives from residential care providers as well as survivors of human trafficking. And the conclusion was that they they recognized while progress recognizing progress and and acknowledging challenges. The call to action was to stand together as law enforcement policymakers, advocates, and survivors to ensure that Arkansas is no longer a place where traffickers feel freely to operate, but by strengthening our laws, expanding victim services, and working as a unified force to protect the most vulnerable and bring justice to those who exploit them. So to set that up, what they did is they've been meeting monthly since the formation of that council. And in those meetings they talk about what we could do to do better, what other states are doing better. They do after action reports of different scenarios and um Engagements that they've had across our states to break up these bands and to find the exploited children. And so what we have is a product of 6 bills, that's stay in line with other legislation previously passed this session, so I maybe it was a little bit later because as, as other organizations such as our Republican Women's Caucus, such as the SOP Group from the Attorney General, as they started to produce legislation bills, we wanted to make sure that we weren't conflicting, that we were complimenting, and so nobody took more credit than they need and that wasn't about credit, it was about getting the job done. So first looking at Senate Bill 427. What this does is expands the definition to modern forms of prostitution facilitation, including in digital spaces and removes outdated language and restructures the offense and categories. So we enhance our penalties to ensure that we increase based on severity of repeat offenses such as making 1st 1st degree promotion of prostitution being a class A felony when a minor is involved. We also add business accountability and crack down on illicit operations. Previously, the law did not penalize businesses directly when they knowingly permit or facilitate prostitution, this bill will directly hold liable business owners and managers of the business and potentially suspend licenses and add monetary fines. This will ensure that businesses pro profiting or tolerating this type of activity will face legal and financial consequences. So that is Senate Bill 427. I'll be glad
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Chair Unverified 1:26:32
to take any questions. Questions for Senator Bryan. Senator Love, you're recognized for
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Senator Fredrick J. Love Unverified 1:26:36
a question. Thank you, Governor. Senator Bryant, I happen to have, I had a um hotel that was in my district, and I just want to know if you're, if your bill would impact them. I had a hotel in my district that actually said that one of their floors was under construction, but it was found out that they were running like a human trafficking ring through there. Would this be actually I make that a crime with that with this bill kind of address that kind of issue, yes, if they knowingly knew
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:27:09
that activity was going on, they could be prosecuted for a first offense of suspending that business license for 30 days with a $5000 fine and subsequent offenses just go up from 60 days to 10,000 to revocation entirely in 100,000 up to $100,000 fine. OK, thank you I appreciate it.
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Chair Unverified 1:27:29
Any other questions for Senator Bryant? Anyone wish to speak against or for. sender love, you're recognized to speak for. Thank you, Governor. I
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Senator Fredrick J. Love Unverified 1:27:49
didn't actually plan on speaking for this deal, but after I saw it, I, uh, colleagues, I tell you, if you've ever had hotels that participated in human trafficking and had human trafficking rings, this type of bill is important. I had, I had, um, I was working with Path and I had a, I had um Someone Informed me that a hotel, and this happens, I mean it happens more than we think that a hotel actually shut down a wing of of of rooms and said that they were under construction for a year. And without people being aware what they were doing was they said the rooms were out of order, but they were running a human trafficking ring through that hotel for months and nobody knew they just thought that the hotel was under construction. And so I say kudos to what you were doing because this type of bill really impacts, especially those that are along the I-30 and I-40 corridor. If you have communities that are along there, we, I mean this is a very important tool and so I appreciate Senator Bryan bringing this bill and I, I urge you to vote for. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Love.
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Chair Unverified 1:29:10
Any other senator wish to speak? On the bill, seeing no other Senator Bryant, you're recognized clothes. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Oh
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:29:21
Bowen, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, dismay leave,
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Chair Unverified 1:29:33
dots and English flippo flowers leave Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irving, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott stone, steerfield Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator was to change his or her vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33A, 0, nay, Senate Bill 427 passes, please transmit to the House Senate Bill 428. Senate Bill 428 by Senator Bryant concerning a civil cause of action for victims of human trafficking and to provide a statute of limitation period of 10 years for a victim of human trafficking. Senator Bryant, you're
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:30:19
recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Members, this bill extends the current statute of limitation, which is 5 years, up to 10 years to match with federal code. It still keeps intact the language of tolling, so if it's a minor, that clock starts once they turn 18, but they still have 10 years. Anybody already over 1018 that increases the statute up to 5 years more than currently to match
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Chair Unverified 1:30:44
the federal code. Any questions for Senator Bryant? Anyone wish to speak against or for. Send her, your recognized
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:30:50
clothes, send her has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary,
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Chair Unverified 1:30:58
please roll the vote. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Ds, dismayly Datsun, English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo Petty, Ry Scott, stone, Stubberfield. Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote, seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33 y, zero nay, Senate Bill 428 passes. Please transmit to the House Senate Bill 429. Senate Bill 429 by Senator Bryant to expand the ceiling of criminal records for victims of human trafficking and to provide that victims of human trafficking have certain rights and to provide a mandatory no contact order of a human rights trapping
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:31:45
case. Senator Bryant, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 429 has three main goals. To mandate no mandate, no contact orders for human trafficking cases to ensure human trafficking victims will have specific rights and expand criminal record sealing for victims of human trafficking. So currently the courts may issue a no contact order for victims of human trafficking. What this would do is a minute to make sure quarts. Ensure that courts do issue a no contact order in all cases where a defendant has been charged with human trafficking. Example would be if if the charges occurred and the trafficker gets released on bail and they start to intimidate the trafficker that awful often causes that traffic victim to not want to testify in court, and so this just gives the ability for our courts to ensure that no contact orders are involved in all cases. It also expands victim rights there, uh, by defining what a human trafficking offense is under the Human Trafficking Act of 2013. Expands the definition of offense against a minor to include human trafficking victims. Where the victim is a minor and to clarify a victim to include human trafficking victims. This will strengthen the protection for our minors and human trafficking survivors. And lastly, it seals the criminal records for human trafficking victims if their conviction for prostitution was a result of being trafficked or in the conviction occurred when they were a minor or an adult
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Chair Unverified 1:33:20
of human trafficking. Questions for Senator Bryan. Anyone wish to speak against or for? Sender You recognized clothes. Sender has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bo Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Ds, Dima Le Dotson English flippo flowers leave Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love the key Murdoch, Hayden, Henzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of
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Speaker 139 1:33:59
33 ya, zero nay, Senate Bill 429 passes. Please transmit to the House, Senate Bill 430.
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Chair Unverified 1:34:06
Senate Bill 4:30 by Senator Bryant, an act to require mandatory restitution to be awarded to a victim of human trafficking and to amend the Arkansas Crime Victims Preparation Act. Senator Bryant,
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:34:17
you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 430 is two purposes to require mandatory restitution for victims of human trafficking and to amend the Arkansas Crime Victim Reparations Act. Under section one to require mandatory restitution. Any person convicted under human trafficking Act of 2013 will be required to pay restitution. This restitution will include, uh, can include up to medical and psychological treatment. Necessary living costs, legal and court-related expenses, any property damage occurring. Relocation expenses, other losses such as uh any any other losses resulting from the trafficking offense. The victims that returned to their home. Uh, the, the victim returns to their home country or absent from the state would not would not qualify from receiving this restitution. In Section 2 extends the the claim filing deadline from 1 year to 5 years after the injury or death. Uh, with the exception that the again, the Arkansas crime victims reparation boards may allow for a late late claim for good cause, and if the minor, if the victim was a minor at the time of a crime, they have, they'll have this 5 years after turning 18 to file that
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Speaker 279 1:35:37
claim. So that is what 4:30. accomplishes. Any
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Chair Unverified 1:35:40
questions for Senator Bryant? Anyone wants to speak against or for. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bryant Caldwell, Clark Crowell, Davis Des, dismayingly, Dot some English flippo flowers leave Gilmorehammer, Hester, Hickey Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, stone, Deerfield, Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote, saying no. one, please cast up the ballot. My vote of 33A, 0, nay, Senate
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Speaker 139 1:36:17
Bill 430 passes, please transmit to the House. Senate Bill 431.
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Chair Unverified 1:36:24
431 by Senator Bryant to amend the Human Trafficking Act of 2013 to eliminate the statute of limitations for certain offenses to create safe harbors for victims and to prohibit certain sexually explicit products that resemble a child. Senator Bryant, you're recognized.
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:36:40
Thank you, Madam President. Membersville 431 eliminates statute of limitations for certain offenses to and these offenses would now include sexual extortion, the trafficking of persons, patronizing a victim of human trafficking, grooming a minor for future sex trafficking or traveling for the unlawful sex acts with a minor. And additional section would make a prohibition on child sex dolls that'll make it illegal in the state of Arkansas to possess, transport, distribute, or manufacture these child sex dolls. It defines the child sex law as an anatomically correct doll mannequin, a robot that resembles a minor intended for sexual abuse, and it opposes penalties as the possession will create a class D felony, transport or distribution, a class C felony or manufacturing a Class B felony. I thought I'd be glad to
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Chair Unverified 1:37:31
take any questions. Any questions for Senator Bryant. Anyone would speak against or for. Senator Bryant has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boy, Bryant Caldwell, Clark K Crowell, Davis, Ds, Diang Le Dots and English flippo flowers leaf, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting Love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo Petty, rice. Scott Stone Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote, seeing no one, please cast up
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Speaker 139 1:38:04
the ballot by a vote of 33A, 0, nay, Senate Bill 431 passes. We will now take up Senate Bill 442. Rather transmit Senate Bill 431 to the House. Now we will take up the Senate Bill 442. Senate Bill 442 by
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Chair Unverified 1:38:20
Senator Bryant to amend the law concerning human trafficking to provide for forfeiture of assets used to conduct human trafficking and to create the offense of harboring and endangered runaway child. Senator Bryant, you're recognized. Thank you,
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:38:32
Madam President, and rescinding bill 442, a little bit more complex bill, so take me a little, maybe a little more time to go through it, identify sections 1 through 4 and uh It expands asset forfeiture laws to include property use and human trafficking offenses and working with the prosecutors association, what we did is, is mirror the tried and true language that they currently use in drug trafficking issues or drug issues. Um, difference being is this will have a new fund part of it is in sections 3, 20 and 21, we create a new Arkansas Human Trafficking Council support fund to be managed by the state police. This will replace The previous human trafficking victims support fund, which was rarely funded. The funding sources going to this through the trap through the asset forfeiture. In addition to the asset forfeiture, are fines collected from human trafficking and prostitution convictions legislative appropriations and donations for the permitted uses of housing, advocacy and legal social services for trafficking victims, grants to nonprofits that support our victims training software and equipment for our investigations. What would be prohibited would be such things like buying vehicles or emergency equipment. Additionally, in Section 9, this creates a new harboring of an endangered runaway or minor. Uh A lot of times they'll have a surrogate receive a child for the purposes of human trafficking, but not actually doing the trafficking so they'll escape justice. What this does is create a 72 hour window where if they're not reporting the lost or endangered child, they can suffer consequences such as a first offense penalty of a Class A misdemeanor or a second or later offense being a class D felony, and additional mandatory fines. Sections 5 through 8 and 10 through 16, increase the financial penalty for human-related trafficking crimes and that these fines will be split into the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council support fund. For the covered expense covered offenses are trafficking of persons, patronizing, grooming, traveling for illicit sex of a minor and prostitution or promoting prostitution. Section 18 establishes the human trafficking operations unit within the state police. Section 18 again establishes a coordinator position. These are already positions within the state police just codifying them. And the key takeaways for this bill as it expands law enforcement powers to seize and forfeit assets to use for profiting in trafficking cases, creates a dedicated law unit in the Arkansas State Police. new crime for harboring runaways, increased financial penalties, more oversight and centralized human trafficking response. So with that, that is the purpose of Senate Bill 442. Any questions for Senator
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Chair Unverified 1:41:29
Bryan. Senator Reich, you recognized Senator Br just thought you
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Senator Terry Rice Unverified 1:41:32
might want to touch on it in judiciary we did uh converse some on the fact that somebody that was actually trying to help a child uh get out of a bad situation or something there's herbage in there that that covers that you don't have to cover it, but I just want people to know we we did ask questions on this and it's covered. Yes, thank you,
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:41:55
Senator I. There were provisions as an amendment to make sure that for good actors, good intentions are not being inappropriately charged for that. Any other questions for Senator Bryant.
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Chair Unverified 1:42:09
Anyone wish to speak for?
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 1:42:16
Senator Urban, who recognized speak for. Thank you, members. Um, I just want to point out that I think this session we've had at least 9, if not more, bills specifically addressing human trafficking. Why? Because this is an incredibly evil and complicated crime. And it is multifaceted in so many different areas that it takes an incredible amount of logistics and review of policy and laws in both criminal and civil to really attack it from every single angle. And so I'm speaking on this bill particularly, but I'm supportive obviously and would have spoken for every single one of the bills because you've seen that it's been like a huge team effort, and I just think it's so important that we don't pass this opportunity to say, the state of Arkansas has been Ground Zero for a lot of human trafficking rings, and it's because of where we're located and the fact that we do have these interstates and how they cross, cross through the middle of the United States. Senator Love talked about that. But forfeiture assets. This is the number 2. Uh most, uh, money-making crime industry, only second to illegal weapons. So trafficking of illegal weapons is number one, human trafficking, selling people for sex is #2, and then drugs is #3. That should give you a perspective of how huge and complicated this problem is. And so I just want to say we've got to do all of these things, but we've got to be diligent about How we're being implemented and making sure that law enforcement officers all across the board understand this crime and how to combat it, that they have all the tools necessary in order to go after these criminals, and that the judges and the court systems also have all the tools that they need to really go after them and hit them where it hurts. It's a money-making industry, being able to seize all of their assets is really going to hit them where it really, really hurts. So it's a very complicated crime, complicated issue, and there's been a lot of really good work this session on human trafficking, and so I'm glad that there's been a great team effort and focus from this legislature in a bipartisan fashion, and I want to thank the committees of judiciary for their good work. As well. Thank you and Senator Bryant.
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Chair Unverified 1:44:55
Thanks. Any other senator wished to speak on the bill, saying no other Senator Bryant, who recognized close. Thank you, Madam
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 1:45:03
President. Members, I'll close not just for this bill, but as the compilation of all bills just by thanking the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council, and the members that met tirelessly to not just work on these bills but to formulate a plan to help the victims to pursue the traffickers and to make Arkansas a safer place, and I'll say this as session closes out and you go back to communities and you visit with your law enforcement agencies to kind of digest maybe the session. Make sure they're aware that this unit exists because one of the problems we had was just so many agencies with the intent and the purpose and driven to do the right things, but not knowing where the resources were and not knowing how to access existing resources and being cautious on how to expend their own funding for resources that already existed, so make sure they understand that this human trafficking system exists, they're they're based out of the state police Department of Public Safety, and they are ready, willing and able to engage to ensure that they have that our local communities have the resources needed to combat this issue. So with that, I'm closed. Thank you. Thanks, Senator Bryan. Send her his closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing none, Madam
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Chair Unverified 1:46:15
Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Ds, Dimanly, Dotson English flippo flowers leave Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wished to change his or her vote, seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33 ya, zero nay, Senate Bill 442 passes, please transmit to the House Senate Bill 449. 449 by Senator Ds to provide civil immunity for compensation of alternative nicotine products, vapor products, e-liquid products, tobacco products, and cigarette pipers from a minor at a school. Senator Dees, you're
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Senator Tyler Dees Unverified 1:47:07
recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. Members 449 is about um providing civil immunity in the cases when um a certain vape products and alternative nicotine products have to be confiscated from minors at school. And so this is basically, uh, you know, there's no changes to the to the laws around these are already against the law for minors, um, but we're seeing instances where these, these products are very expensive, some of them, and we don't want anything stopping our persons of trust and employees at schools and law enforcement officers to be attacked civilly in the cases where these items have to be confiscated. They can be a couple $100 each and there could be a handful of them. And so what this does is just provides clarity that um in those instances when they have to confiscate them from minors that they can't be civilly come back and charged if those items are destroyed or broken or whatnot, so that's all this bill does. Any
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Chair Unverified 1:48:05
questions for Senator Das. Anyone wish to speak against or for Senator Dees is closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the boat forwardant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, dismayingly Datsun English flippo flower sle Gilmore Hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott stone, Stuberfield Sullivan. Tucker Wallace. Any senator want to change his or her vote, seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33A, 0 nay, Senate Bill 449 passes,
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Speaker 139 1:48:47
please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 481, Senator Gilmore. Senator 481 by Senator
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Chair Unverified 1:48:52
Gilmore to create a more sustainable system of property insurance for public schools. Senator Gilmore, you are recognized. Thank you. Members, I appreciate that. Thank you, Madam President.
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Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified 1:49:12
um, really excited to bring this bill today because I think it uh addresses a huge need. And first of all, I want to say that this is a result of about 2 years' worth of work. Some in this room have been very instrumental in that, and I want to acknowledge the former ALC co-chair, Senator Rice for his efforts in helping lead this, um, starting back in 2023, um, in 2023, we realized that we had a huge um issue and that issue was the rising cost of premiums associated with changing weather pattern patterns and other things. And so we began to study in, in ALC to determine how can we uh save money. How can we help our institutions of higher ed and K-12 and also state owned property, saved money through premiums, and so with that, Um, through the course of this study, uh, through, uh, countless hours that were spent looking at this. It was determined that a self-insured captive model was the way to go. And so this bill creates that framework for a self-insured captive model to pull our risk and to manage our risk and to manage the costs associated with our insurance, um, and so that's what this bill aims to do. Um, it's again, if you Look through the bill, you'll see that it creates this framework, uh, a lot of this will be promulgated out and rules just because it's very complicated and we're gonna be working with broker, captive manager, all of those to determine what needs to be built out in this. I will tell you that the uh institutions of higher ed, K-12 have all had a lot of input, uh, over the course of two years. I've met with him recently, uh, discussing, um, you know, any concerns they may have. Um, in fact, we, we talked through some, some things associated with the bill. They just wanted to better understanding of that, but I will tell you at this point, there's not any known opposition that I know of. There was no one to testify against the bill in committee, a companion bills already passed the House floor and the similar I watched testimony, no one was there to speak against either. So again, uh, you know, what I think is important, and I want to read some of the legislative intent so you understand. Uh, the purpose of creation of this new programs to create a stable, affordable, and self-sustaining program. For provision of property insurance to all K-12 public and charter schools, all public institutions of higher education insane no properties administer under one entity rather than having 3 varying programs handle this coverage. It's the intent of this program to and will be beneficial to all entities and will cause undue burdens to them in the transition, excuse me, it is the intent that this new program will be beneficial to the entities and will not cause undue burdens to them in the transition of this new program. As such, the uh shared Secretary has given broad rulemaking authority. I've assured all those entities that they will have a voice in that as it will come through the AOC committee, and we look forward to hearing whatever concerns that they may have as we work through this process and develop the rules associated with it. Um, so with that, I could talk more and more, but I'm happy to take questions if there are any. I think it's a really good bill, and again, I want to give credit to all those who've spent time working on this, represent Wardlaw, representative Rice in particular, who started this study, and here we are today. So with that, I'm happy to take questions.
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Chair Unverified 1:52:43
Any questions for Senator Gilmore. Senator Payton, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President.
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Senator John Payton Unverified 1:52:49
Good job. I love self insurance, but I need to know, is it mandatory or can they opt out? So they, they can't opt out
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Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified 1:52:57
on page 10 of the bill, I would point you there. Um, there's an incentive for them to be a part of this and that and that incentive is tied to facilities funding, and I will tell you, having talked to um our school districts in particular, um, when they were not that concerned about this. In fact, they understood the importance of pooling that risk so that we get the best rate. And so that's why we're doing what we do, but on page 10, that language is there. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? Any other questions for Senator Gilmore. Senator Reich you
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Senator Terry Rice Unverified 1:53:33
recognized and just you might touch on the emergency clause is there for a reason we have had a timeline we've been working for uh to get this as quick as possible because there are literally millions of dollars of savings. Yes, no, thank you, Senator Rice. And again, uh, credit
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Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified 1:53:49
to you for your work on this. You know the bill well, and I appreciate that. members, we're trying to move expeditiously in this. We're trying to save the state and our institutions as much as we can. So with that, we hope to have this and, and we will have this up and going by July 1, that is, that is our intent, that is our goal. We've been assured by our broker and captive and everybody involved that that will be the case, because again, we need to get this up and going so we can save as much money as possible and so that way we don't have to extend any current coverage or anything like that, all of that will move expeditiously. So I thank you, Senator Rice
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Chair Unverified 1:54:28
for that. Any other questions? See, no the questions. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator Murdoch,
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Senator Reginald Murdock Unverified 1:54:37
You're recognized to speak on On the bill. Thank you, Madam Governor. Um, colleagues, I've, uh, let me, two things, Senator Gilmore and Senator Rice, those previously that worked on this bill, um, for All the hard work and diligence that went into it, Senator Gilmore and I was just talking and when he was called up to actually run the bill. We've been discussing this. Because there's some, there's been a lot of work, but there's still some real problems with this as it relates to districts and what they may be left with and I just want to make the body aware of that and maybe during the. Rulemaking and as this goes forward, um, that these things can be worked on. I would hope they could be amended, but you know, if it, if it, if it continues, I hope that they will be considered as we go forward. Two things specifically, uh, one being the replacement cost versus cash value. Many of us know. That replacement costs is very important to us and our insurance with our homes and districts now could be faced with a. Um A lot of dollars that they got to come up with in a major loss or even let's just say a million dollars loss use as an example and um through the program that we have now, they, they're going to get $650,000. On a million dollar loss. Now currently with the program that most of them are in, they just pay their deductible as we do with our homeowners and they get the replacement of the of the schools. The problem with this or the solution that they have is that they could save money, the premium savings would be dollars that they can have, they can go toward the loss, but those premium dollars that they Predicting that they may get maybe 20 to $30,000 a year on a million dollar loss, that loss I just gave you, that there's a $350,000 Delta. There's a gap there and in districts like where I represent, they don't have that kind of cash sitting there to fix that situation. Now, there may be a solution to Senator Gilmore Canna was mentioning to me that would be utilized for districts such as that. I want that to be publicly stated because this is currently not a solution. It may fix the premiums, but it's not gonna fix when the claim happens. And as we all know, insurance gets real important when, when the claim happens. And that's what we want to make sure of that we're balancing this and that we're not missing. What's very important for specifically those districts that don't have the financial wherewithal to take on these losses. You think about some of these major losses that have happened. Then that could be some real problem. Another thing is he mentioned page 10, I think it's lines 17 through 23, I think on page 10 where it talks about that in order for districts to participate. Or it's mandatory because of the, this is their funding. I think we should give our districts a choice and that they'll make a decision on what program. They want to be a part of this may end up being their best choice for the reasons that this bill is mandating them to do it. And I think that we should not do that from Little Rock is mandate. Now we should put together a product that we'll provide an alternative, that's OK, but when we say you don't get your facilities money unless you do this. Well, you don't even give me a choice now. Because we know these districts need their facility money. Cindy Gilmer calls that an incentive to do it. I understand. So, again, I want to make those things public. Sandy Gilmore has been more than wonderful with me during this time as we've discussed these things. I'm hearing from Um, districts about their concerns, but you know, now they didn't come to the committee meetings. They did not speak as I'm speaking um very loud and very publicly. That's a concern for me that they did not, so I can't blame. Them or him for that, but it's a real situation that I'm recognizing, I'm bringing it to your attention and hopefully it will uh merit some attention as we go forward, if we go forward with this. If there are any questions, I'll answer any questions. If not, please consider this as we go forward. Thank you. Any
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Chair Unverified 1:59:28
other senator wish to speak against for or on the bill, seeing no other Senator Gilmore, you're recognized
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Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified 1:59:35
clothes. Thank you, Madam President. So, and I, I appreciate the comments of Senator Murdoch, and I've already stated the reasons why we're doing this bill, and I think it's very clear. A couple of things I want to point to as to his concerns, we filed this bill, uh, we let it sit for several weeks, um, there was a two-year process that we encourage districts and institutions of higher ed and others to be a part and engaged with. Um, I think we've been very open. I've, I even sought out the uh association to sit down and have a conversation to hear what any concerns they might have, um, I, I think we, I stated um some of the things that they wanted to hear in committee testimony. They were appreciative of that. I know our higher ed institutions were in particular. So we, we've, we've done, I think a good job of trying to hear those. Uh, the other point that Senator Murdoch made that I think is, is valuable, but I want to point out that um one of the reasons that we're doing this, um, and going back to page 10 and the what I consider an incentive. It's, it's, it's not a mandate. It's an incentive. There are facilities funds tied to that, um, but I think it's important when you understand the insurance business and trying to pool risk and manage risk and understand the costs associated there that we want as many participating in that. And in fact, in my conversations with the association, they literally said, we understand the intent of why you would do that. So, um, and then the last thing I think is important to, to speak to as it relates to um the valuation and And the loss there, uh, our, our goal is to make sure that we have a healthy facilities fund, um, and I think that this bill um over the course of that, and, and I think some of this can be addressed in rules promulgation as we sit down with the districts, maybe in the future to hear whatever concerns, additional concerns they may have, but I think we want to have a healthy fund. We want to have money that's been set aside in this captive program working for us so that we can then look at ways to use facilities funding better, um, and so that's what this Bill will do, and I hope that um uh as we go through this process, as, as I've seen happen in my district when we've had significant losses with school districts. I know, and even the Wynn School District in particular, that there's been uh funding made available, facilities funding and other funds made available to meet that, that need and address that loss. And so I don't know why that also couldn't be the case necessarily in this. So with that, not gonna be over the point. I'd appreciate a
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Chair Unverified 2:02:03
good vote. I am closed. Thank you. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the vote. Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, displaying dots in the English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rise, Scott Stone, Stubber Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator which should change his or her vote, Senator Love present. Senator Murdoch present. Senator, letting present. Senator King not voting. Senator Scott present. Senator Wallace present. And he had a senator saying no other, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 28, 0, nay, 1, not voting, 5 present. Senate Bill
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Speaker 139 2:03:01
481 passes and the corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 486.
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Chair Unverified 2:03:08
Senate Bill 486 by Senator Blake Johnson concerning safety and privacy in certain entities and concerning the designation of Malta occupancy restrooms, changing rooms and sleeping quarters in certain entities based on an individual's sex. Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. This bill protects the
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Speaker 452 2:03:26
physical privacy and safety of women and men in shelters and state and local correctional facilities, all public buildings operated by the government by governmental entities. The bill defines sex as individuals biological sex, either male or female. The uh this bill applies to all
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Speaker 451 2:03:47
public building restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, shower rooms, and rooms for overnight stay,
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Speaker 452 2:03:52
uh, the shelters correctional facilities or governmental entities may make reasonable accommodations for a person by providing single occupancy or or family restroom,
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Chair Unverified 2:04:04
changing room, sleeping quarters and uh I'd appreciate a good vote. Questions for Senator Blake Johnson, Senator Tucker. And any questions for Senator Johnson, saying no questions. Anyone wished to speak against. Senator Tucker, you're recognized to speak against. Thank you, members. I'll be quick. I wanna, I wanna
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 2:04:30
start by thanking Senator Johnson for the amendment that he made. There was a there was an issue with the language in the bill, and Senator Johnson made an amendment to address that issue. So thank you for addressing that, Senator Johnson. I am against the bill on for policy reasons. I don't believe this bill actually accomplishes anything any harm that this bill is designed to protect people from is already a crime under Arkansas law. So there's already criminal liability for anything that could possibly come up under the jurisdiction of this bill. This bill creates civil liability. The only way that you could have civil liability is if the plaintiff proved, number one, that a member of the opposite sex was in the same changing room with them, and number 2 that they had permission from someone to do that. I don't believe anybody's ever going to be able to prove those things. That's all a long way of saying I don't think this bill will actually prevent any harm from happening in the state of Arkansas. I do believe it will cause harm, however, to the Arkansas Transgender community, because the more bills that we pass like this, the more there's a public rebuke of transgender Arkansans, and it's a population that I think we all know is very vulnerable, and the more that that community gets rebuked by the Arkansas. state government, the more harm that they are subject to under Arkansas under Arkansas laws and just by living in the state of Arkansas. So for that reason, I'll be voting against the bill. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak? For, on
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Chair Unverified 2:05:59
or against the bill, saying no one, Senator Blake Johnson, you're free to close.
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Speaker 451 2:06:08
I appreciate, uh, Senator Tucker's opposition and Senator, as, as a minority population, I understand where you're coming from on that, uh, and I hope through some of the mental health issues and bills that we have done this session that some of that can be alleviated in that population, but also it's our, it's our duty to protect those of our our citizens that that feel threat
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Chair Unverified 2:06:39
through that and I'd appreciate a good vote. has closed any objection to rolling the boat? Rejection noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Bo Bo
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Speaker 292 2:07:00
Bright Brat Caldwell Clark. Clark Crowell Crowel.
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Chair Unverified 2:07:09
Davis. These This man. dismaying. Dotson English English. Flippo flowers leave Gilmore Hammer. Hester Hickey Hill Irvin. Like Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting. Love. McKee. McKee Murdoch. Murdoch. Titan. Henzo Yes Patty. Rice. Scott Scott Stone. Stab afield? Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator should change his or her vote. Senator Scott, no. Senator Crow, yes. Senator Clark, yes, Senator McKee, yes, Senator Boyd, yes, Senator Murdoch. No. Senator Bryant, yes. This man, yes. Any other senator. Please check the board, seeing no other. Please cast up the ballot by a vote of 28 yeah, 5 nay, 1 not voting. Senate Bill 486 Passes, please transmit to the house. And Senate is actually going to stand in recess. For 5. 7 minutes per perhaps for us to address a few administrative matters, and then I'll hit the
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Unknown speaker 2:09:19
buzzer right before we come back in from a quick recess. Thank you all.
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Speaker 190 2:24:13
That's what I thought as you didn't switch the doodly do. Testing, that's all, yeah.
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Chair Unverified 2:25:30
Senate will come back to order. We will now take up Senate Bill 489. Senate Bill 489, the Central letting to amend Arkansas law concerning the placement of a monument of the state Capitol grounds in recognition of the desegregation of the Charleston and Fayetteville school districts in 1954. cinder letting, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, some weeks ago we
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Senator Greg Leding Unverified 2:25:52
passed Act 251 of 2025. There was a bill to honor Hawsey School District's contribution to integrating our public schools in this state. They did so in 1955 and resulted in an ultimately unsuccessful legal challenge during discussion of that legislation, the communities of Charleston and Fayetteville pointed out that they actually integrated their schools the year before. Fayetteville School District was the first one to vote to do so in May of 1954. Charleston followed suit a few weeks later, but because Charleston school district started before Fayettevilles, they were actually the first district to see integration play out and then Fayetteville followed a few weeks later. And that made them not just the first two schools to integrate in Arkansas, but the first two to integrate in the South. And so those communities felt that we're telling this story, we should tell a fuller story. And so leadership for both school districts spoke in support of this legislation in committee yesterday. Nobody spoke against it. I would like to thank Senator Sullivan and Senator Hammer for their due pass and second motions in committee happy to take questions, but if there are none, I'd appreciate a
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Chair Unverified 2:26:50
good vote. Questions for Senator Ludding. I see Senator Sullivan with a question. Senator Blake Johnson and maybe Senator Boyd. Senator Solomon, you're recognized.
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 2:27:04
Thank you, Madam President. Just appreciate the time you took to work with the folks from our other community that we passed a bill. I know y'all took a lot of time to try to negotiate to come up with one comprehensive bill to recognize all the people that did such great work on this, so just wanted to let the uh senators know, we know you did that. I appreciate it.
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Senator Greg Leding Unverified 2:27:24
Yes, thank you. We did talk to Representative Kavanaugh throughout that process, and she knows that we're running this legislation. I also failed to mention my partner in crime on this legislation, Senator Stubblefield, who represents the community of Charleston.
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Speaker 451 2:27:40
Senator Blake Johnson, just want to mark a difference. In those communities. Charleston and Fayetteville were not challenged integrations or full integrations. Hoxy was the first challenge integration that was was won by that fought through to the Supreme Court and won by that district. There's a distinct difference, and that's why that that bill and was created and that monument was a possibility. I don't agree with putting the three together and I will not vote for this. I appreciate the efforts, but there's a distinct difference in what happened with those 3 communities. Two of them were not challenged by the state, Hocky was challenged in Hocky overcame.
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Chair Unverified 2:28:45
The Racism of this state. And Hacks she overcame
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Speaker 451 2:28:52
that. The other two did not have to bridge that hurdle. I appreciate the bill, but I
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Chair Unverified 2:28:58
cannot agree with it. Thank you. I understand and I voted
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Senator Greg Leding Unverified 2:29:02
for the previous monument. There is that distinction. And even though Charleston and Fayetteville did not face legal challenges just as every school district when this was first happening, they did face a number of challenges, including some school districts that would refuse to play with their teams. And so it certainly while there was not necessarily a trial, there were still challenges involved. Any other
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Chair Unverified 2:29:24
questions? Anyone want wish to speak against or for? Send her, you're free to close.
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 2:29:32
Closed. I'd appreciate a good vote. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no
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Chair Unverified 2:29:39
objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dismay dots and English flippo, flowers leave, Gilmore hammer leave, Hester, Hickey Hill Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo Petty, Rice Scottstone, Stubberfield Sullivan,
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Speaker 296 2:29:56
Tucker Wallace. Me, Senator, wish to change his or
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Chair Unverified 2:30:02
her vote. McKee present. Blake Johnson present. Any other senator? Seeing no other police cast up the ballot by a vote of 31, 0 nay, 2 present,
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Speaker 139 2:30:14
Senate Bill 49 passes. Please transmit to the house.
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Chair Unverified 2:30:20
Senate Bill 511. Senate Bill 511 by Senator Blake Johnson to create the criminal offense of automated teller machine impairment. Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Uh, This bill will increase the felony from criminal mischief to clearly provide the interruption
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Speaker 452 2:30:50
impairment wholly or partially of an ATM as a Class D felony. These crimes are rarely prosecuted under a federal bank robbery statutes, and this will enhance the deterrence and strengthen tools
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Chair Unverified 2:31:01
for prosecution in the state of Arkansas. Any questions for Senator Blake Johnson. Anyone wish to speak against or for? And you're free to close. Thank you.
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Speaker 130 2:31:15
I'd appreciate a good vote. Senators closed. Any objection
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Chair Unverified 2:31:18
to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bo Caldwell, Clark Crow, Davis, Ds, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer leaf, Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, lighting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo,
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Speaker 296 2:31:38
Petty, Rice scotstown, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker. Wallace, any senator wish to change his or her vote,
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Chair Unverified 2:31:46
seeing no one. Please cast up the
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Speaker 139 2:31:52
ballot by a vote of 33A, 0, nay, Senate Bill 511 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill
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Chair Unverified 2:32:02
512. about 5:12 by Senator Johnson to amend the law concerning robbery and aggravated robbery. Senator Blake
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Speaker 451 2:32:08
Johnson, you're recognized members this bill allows for someone who presents a note that's not exactly what it says, but you
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Speaker 452 2:32:14
know it's a threatening communication, uh, for a bank robbery, not just a bank robbery, but at any retail retail uh robbery to be charged with robbery instead of just theft right now, it's, it's just
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Chair Unverified 2:32:32
the offensive theft. Any questions for Senator Blake Johnson. Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Johnson is closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? No objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Ds, Dismay dots and English flippo flowers leave Gilmore hammer leave, Hester, Hickey Hill, Irving, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Letting Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Tenzo Petty, Rice scot, stone, Stubberville Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. vote of 33, 0, nay,
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Speaker 139 2:33:17
Senate Bill 512 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 513 Senate Bill 513
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Chair Unverified 2:33:24
by Senator Blake Johnson to create the criminal offense of male theft and to create the criminal offense of theft or unauthorized reproduction of a male reciprocal
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Speaker 451 2:33:40
key or lock. Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized members, uh, this is a federal offense, but it's rarely prosecuted unless it's, I think it's above $100,000 the federal prosecutors do not try to just get in the the smell theft, but it's it's a crime that check washing uh and the the definitions under here is it mirrors the federal statutes, but checkwashing is a is a major problem identity theft through this mail getting your mail out of your mailbox or uh the same way with uh getting your credit card, you know, getting that to the out of your mail, those are all issues and uh and that's what this bill tries to do in the state of Arkansas and rather than just on a federal
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Chair Unverified 2:34:36
level. Questions for Senator Blake Johnson, Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized for a question, for Senator Blake
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 2:34:42
Johnson. Thank you, Madam President. Uh, cousin Blake Johnson, I have a, I had some experience with this, uh, I wrote some, a whole bunch of checks to people that work in my campaign two years ago, and they started calling me, gosh, I thought you were going to pay me for that, and I Got to checking and I had, we had dropped them in a dropbox in front of a post office and none of them got there and then I got a note from the postmaster that they had had thefts basically now they didn't get my checks, but I guess they didn't look like there was money in there, but that's what you're talking about, where they're actually robbing the dropbox at the post office. So if the key you're talking about is like the key that the postal service people would use to open. that if you possess that, that would
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Speaker 451 2:35:37
be the crime. Is that correct? Absolutely, or any kind of theft of those boxes if if you break into those boxes, a lot of those places have cameras on them and, and, and, you know, federal prosecution is
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Speaker 452 2:35:47
what's required now. This would make it a state crime. That's exactly right.
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 2:35:51
We had a thing in in West Little Rock at two different post offices where it was so bad that the postal service put a a slot where you can only get one letter in at a time because they seemed to have been reaching in and and snatching them
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Speaker 452 2:36:09
out somehow or another with a wire or something. Thank you. It's a great bill.
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Speaker 451 2:36:15
Thank you. I appreciate it. Senator Dodson, I'll ask your question for you. He has he has concerns because you know, the male but there is, there is some provisions in here, uh, under that he he he he worried that, you know, if if you went in, if you were a trash collector or something like that and have possession of someone's mail that this could be kicked in, but I mean, this is a knowing knowingly and it is an act of theft, not just, not just uh possession. They would have to get that intent to to be prosecuted. Senator Mark Johnson, you're
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Chair Unverified 2:37:01
recognized for a follow up. You
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 2:37:06
know what we call the porch bandits, people that pull the packages off your porch
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Chair Unverified 2:37:11
with this affect that as well. That's a different crime, and I think we made that a felony last sessions, except it's unless it's in a mail dropbox or something like that. Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Madam President. Senator Dodson, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 2:37:32
President. Senator Johnson, I understand the intent and, and, and even the issue and the problem that you're trying to address just the language of the bill, it makes it extremely broad that male, I mean, is even defined as, you know, something, it doesn't necessarily have to be anything of a dollar value. So if you just had or possessed somebody's postcard, um, now I mean. might have some, some personal value to the individual, but by having possession of someone else's if if for whatever reason, someone wanted to try to prosecute that, they would be potentially guilty of a crime. I know it may be stretching a little bit to say a prosecutor would prosecute over a postcard or a a coupon flyer or something along those lines that didn't necessarily have any, any, you know, I understand if we're trying to address gift cards or mail check washing and and things of that nature, but I still think the language is a little too broad that it could catch a whole
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Speaker 451 2:38:44
lot more than what your intent is. I agree, and that's The prosecutorial discretion lines 5
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Speaker 452 2:38:51
through uh through 10 on page 2, you know, it obtains the male or of another by deception or by threat or what the purpose of depriving a person of male, that's the uh having someone's trash is not uh not doing that. They have discarded that and they would have to be
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Speaker 451 2:39:14
in tent. To use that intent to use that harm the individual. Any other
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Chair Unverified 2:39:22
questions? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator Blake Johnson, you recognized clothes. I
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Speaker 451 2:39:28
appreciate a good vote and I appreciate the indulgence of the members, uh,
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Speaker 452 2:39:37
because these things are federal issues, but, uh, to get them prosecuted and, and this issue should
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Speaker 451 2:39:43
be taking, taken seriously on a state level. That's what that's what
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Chair Unverified 2:39:48
I'm trying to do. Senators closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark Crowell, Davis, Des, Dimain Dots and English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer leave, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, lighting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo, Petty, rice Scott stone,
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Speaker 296 2:40:12
Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any
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Speaker 295 2:40:16
sender was to change his or her vote. Senator Dodson, no.
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Chair Unverified 2:40:22
Senator Tucker, no. Senator Davis, no. Penzo present. Letting present. Any other senator love present. Scott, no. Murdoch not voting. And you have a senator. See no other. please cast up the ballot by a vote of 25, 4 nay, 1 not voting, 3 present. Senate Bill 513 passes, please transmit to the house. Sandy about 5:14. Sent about 514 by Senator Blake Johnson, to amend the law concerning the unlawful possession of a skimmer and to increase penalties for the unlawful possession of a skimmer for repeated offenders. Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized. The members of this.
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Speaker 451 2:41:12
Thank you, Governor. This is uh I don't know if y'all have had this happen, but I had it happen my second term down here in the legislature, uh, Walmart, uh, country market or whatever, I think it's on Kavanaugh or whatever over there. Uh, this happened to me and about a week later, I was in Florida and uh and trying to buy stuff and and that card company. he called me and asked me if if I was in that area and I said no. And I said, if I'm, I'm be paying for something, I want to enjoy it if I'm going to Florida, so, uh, anyway, I had to challenge those, those payments and and and we get, we get the refunded that money, but uh this, this bill strengthens the state crime of payment card skimming by enhancing the penalties for repeat offenders to require mandatory prison. time at least one year. It's on the 2nd subsequent conviction
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Speaker 479 2:42:14
that these enhanced penalties will be kicked in. Questions for Blake Johnson,
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Chair Unverified 2:42:24
Senator Blake Johnson, I apologize, Senator. It's all right. Anyone wish to speak against or for Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat? See, no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Dismain, Dotson, English, Flippo, flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Keen, Letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, Stone, Stubblefield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator was to change his or her vote? See no one please cast up the ballot by
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Speaker 139 2:43:05
a vote of 33, 0, nay, Senate Bill 514 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 519.
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Chair Unverified 2:43:18
Senate Bill 519 by Senator Boyd to amend the standard non-forfeiture law for life insurance and to regulate the payment of interest on deferred payment of any cash surrender value according to the terms of the policy. Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 2:43:32
President. This bill cleans up some previously passed legislation by providing a start date to make a constitutional, providing 60 days rather than 30 days uh for policy surrender and then clarifying the interest rate matches
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Speaker 502 2:43:42
an interest rate that was already in the life insurance statute.
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 2:43:49
Any questions for Senator Boyd. Anyone wish to speak against or for Senator, you are free
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 2:43:57
to close. I'm closed. I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat,
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Chair Unverified 2:44:04
seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Dima, Dotson, English, Flippo, flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Keenedding, love. McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, stone, stubblefield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her votes. Gilmore, no. Any other senator see no other senator, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 32,
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Speaker 139 2:44:39
yeah, one nay. Senate Bill 519 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 521.
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Chair Unverified 2:44:51
Cent Bill 521 by Senator Davis to amend the law concerning law enforcement training reimbursement and to extend the time period after completion of training for which
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Senator Breanne Davis Chair Unverified 2:45:01
a reimbursement is required. Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Members, this bill just updates the reimbursement time frame for law enforcement agencies from 18 months to 24 months when it comes to recruitment of officers. So currently Arkansas is a more complicated and condensed reimbursement timeline, and this is causing a lot of strain on a lot of our smaller law enforcement agencies that are losing officers to um larger law enforcement agencies that can maybe pay more, um, and other things. So, essentially our smaller agencies training these officers, and then in a very short period of time, they're being hired up, um, and it's causing a financial burden on our smaller law enforcement officers. So, uh, this new schedule and this bill, it puts Arkansas more in line with what other states are doing and what it does is it says in the 1st 0 to 12 months, um, if a law enforcement officer is recruited to another agency, then that agency will reimburse 100% of the training cost. In months 12 through 24, it drops to 50% reimbursement of training costs, um, to get reimbursed, you have to, the law enforcement agency that lost the officer that was recruited, um has to put it in writing, it has to be an itemized uh request and the request has to be made within 6 months, um, all the law enforcement agencies work together on this, um, to come to agreement, and with
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Chair Unverified 2:46:29
that, I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Davis. Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Dimain, Dotson, English, Flippo, flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Keene letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, stubblefield, Sullivan. Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33, 0, nay, Senate
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Speaker 139 2:47:13
Bill 521 passes, please transmit to the House, Senate Bill 523. Senate Bill 523 by Senator
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Chair Unverified 2:47:21
Irving to amend the law regarding alcoholic beverages and to remove the requirement that a private club be a nonprofit organization, Senator Urban, you're recognized. Thank you,
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 2:47:33
Madam President. Earlier in the session, a large restaurant chain had brought this problem to my attention, an applicant for a private club, uh, permit in a dry county is currently required to form a nonprofit as one of the requirements to get a private club permit, which is absolutely meaningless. Um, the restaurant chain. at the time you're talking about Olive Garden and some of these bigger ones had to file like 6 tax returns in Arkansas last year rather than one corporate return as a result of this legally meaningless requirement in our code. So when I brought that bill to you, Senate Bill 345, to remove that non-profit requirement for the large restaurants that we passed, and it's already been signed by the governor. You ask questions, and I think Senator Petty wanted to thank him because because of his questions, we now have this bill, and I had promised to come back with a bill that does it for all uh restaurants. So that's what Senate Bill 523 does. And so not just the big Olive Gardens now can take advantage of this government efficiency. It can be, you know, Joe's Pizza shop in Cabot that may want to open a restaurant somewhere else in a dry county like Faulkner County. So thank you, Senator Petty for the questions and fun to bring a bill based on my input from my colleagues. Any
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Chair Unverified 2:48:51
questions for Senator Urban? Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator, you're free to close. Senator is closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, saying no
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 2:49:03
objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the
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Chair Unverified 2:49:06
boat. Bo Bryant Caldwell, Clark Crow, Davis these dismaying dots in English flippo flowersle Gilmore hammer leave, Hester Hickey Hill, Irving, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, Letting Love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo Petty, Ry Scottsone Stubber Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her votes and her love, no. Sender Dotson present.
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Speaker 139 2:49:33
Any other senator Seeing no other senator, please cast up the ballot, by votes at 31 yeah, one nay, one present. Senate Bill 523 passes. Please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 536. Sentinel
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Chair Unverified 2:49:51
5:36 by Senator Sullivan to abolish and transfer the state, Arkansas state library and state library board and declare an emergency. Senator Sullivan, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President, folks, um, 536 is
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 2:50:05
very contentious yesterday. I just need to set the record straight on a couple of things. One, in, um, February 3rd. Senate Bill 184 was filed to move the state library and underneath the Department of Education and ATN and that bill passed uh on February 3rd, 23 to 8 to 3. Uh, when that bill went on, got ready to go to the house. I met with AETN AETN said we did some things wrong, we recognize that. Is there anything we can do? We said, yeah, and we came to a handshake agreement on some significant changes that AETN is going to make, and I pulled them from the bill and filed the amendment to pull them, and that bill is sitting out there right now. I didn't run it because in the meantime, I had folks come to me on the library. And asked about the library. Is there anything the library can do to keep that board in place, and I said, sure, do two things. One, just make a statement that um we're going to protect children from sexually explicit material, and the comment was made, and folks, this is on tape. The comment was made, we already do that. I said, great, that statement ought to be very easy. I said, then disassociate with the American Library Association. You do those two things, the library board stays. That's all on video, and they voted the library board voted 4 to 3 not to do it. Now we're taking a lot of heat because with the library decided to do, not to stay in place. The library board made that decision on two things they could easily do. In the meantime, after that's again all on video, 5:36 was filed on uh 320, no response from many people. It ran yesterday and In that committee meeting, I asked the librarians testifying. Have you, did you reach out to the library board and ask them about making concessions. They said no. I haven't, I talked to a lot of librarians and people, they have not reached out to the board, not tried to negotiate when I left that committee room yesterday, I had 3 librarians shouting my name literally chasing me down and I had to walk away from them. They wanted to. work with me to amend the bill. Now folks, you know how much time we got to amend the Senate bill right now. None. They had from February the 3rd until now to work with me. Again, those two priorities, remember those two things that we asked them to do. In testimony yesterday we heard that libraries currently under with state funding are providing social workers, uh, have what they call um uh they're giving out gardening equipment, the library of things, sporting equipment, helping with community development, social workers, folks, all those things are good in and of themselves. If the counties want to do that, the counties can fund that. I actually asked the director yesterday, she said, we're going out of business. We're gonna have to close, and they're doing some of these things. And I said, well, why don't you get your county to fund them. She said, because our county won't fund it because of the tax dollars. And I said, what do you think the state tax dollars come from, she said from the treasury. Now folks, there's a disconnect there big time. She, we finally got down to where she admitted it was tax dollars also. We have uh in this bill, what's better about it? There are some incentives in there. Every library will be funded at a certain level by capitated rate based on your population. Everybody will receive that, but there'll be room made for innovative programs. You say like, what innovative programs? Like maybe we have some grants for uh libraries to hire people who have been trained in the science of reading and other things to do that we think libraries. need to focus on. Those are important things. Many other new ideas getting access to Department of Education, uh, professional development website. Those are great ideas that have not even been considered by our current library board. Last thing I want to say is folks, in my opinion, and I'll stress that this is all tied to the American Library Association. When you look at their group, that national group, they have said that they will not Host any national or state functions sponsored by the ALA with states that disagree with their policy or their positions, their positions that they have stated on their website, one, they will not work with states who have stand your ground law. They will not work with states that have bathroom bills. They will not work with states that have bills on transgender surgeries. If you have those laws, then they're not going to work with you. So effectively, Uh, the ALA is boycotting the state of Arkansas. When we have members, if you look on the website of most of our libraries, they cut and paste the ALA Bill of Rights, right to read, freedom to read, freedom to view. It's just cut and paste. Most of you know that there was a lawsuit 372 a couple of years ago against a library bill and the crux of it, uh, Cals, the Central Arkansas library system kind of ran that and got all the money to run. Uh, the, the crux of it was material harmful to children. Do you know that that and inappropriate material, you know, those phrases, cows actually says we will not post things on our bulletin board that are harmful to children. Now they filed the lawsuit against the county for having that language, yet nobody is suing cows. Nobody said a word to them about their policy, although it's the exact same thing, um, you know, the comment has been made that hopefully the governor will appoint someone else to the uh library board, uh, if it remains that it'd be more uh work it will be willing to work together, folks, that there's no guarantee to that. How many pink sheets do you have on? your page and emails have you gotten about this? I don't know that how many people can stand up to the pressure of just a few people who are doing this. So I would urge a good vote today. Thank you.
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Chair Unverified 2:56:55
Any questions? Anyone wish to speak against? Senator Tucker, you recognized to speak against. Thank you, Madam
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 2:57:12
President. I guess I just want to start by asking when are we going to stop going after libraries, and we should be celebrating librarians all over the state who do great work for the public and schools and and public library, county libraries. So I just hope soon we stop going after libraries, but a couple points I want to make some of y'all may think that you voted for this bill before, but there are some significant differences between this bill and other bills that have come through here before. The most obvious difference is the previous bill got rid of the state library board. This bill gets rid of the state library period. Not the board, the entire state library, and then it transfers to the Department of Education, but the bill says on page 14, you can look, it says the Department of the Department of Education may administer state aid to libraries, not shall administer state aid to libraries may, and that's why I'm confident you all have heard from librarians in every single one of your districts. I know for certain that I have, that they don't know what's going to happen with their funding. And their right to, to feel that way because this this bill does not make clear whether they're going to continue to get funding or not from the state, and it's a significant part of their budgets. Also, there's language in the bill. Up until this point, what we've discussed is, and everyone agrees in principle that material that children shouldn't have should be segregated, and children should not have access to that material. I agree with that. I think every librarian I've communicated with agrees with that, but the the process up to this point is that that material should be segregated. Well, there's language in this bill that says a collection shall not include material that's harmful to minors. So does that mean it has to be taken out of the library entirely or into a separate room with a lock. The majority of libraries in the state are one-room buildings that can't go into a separate room, and all the square footage is already used. There's not a practical way for libraries to implement this bill, and it has an emergency clause that puts it into effect on July 1st, and that's another reason why librarians across the state are in a state of panic right now because there's no way they can remove these materials entirely from their libraries by July. First, at which point they will be subject to losing their state funding, so I'm happy to take a question from Senator Rice.
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Senator Terry Rice Unverified 2:59:32
Senator Rice, who recognized her question. Senator Tucker, I, I appreciate you saying that we all want to protect children, and I've tried to always have a Uh, somewhat of a level mind on this, but all we ask over and over again was to move the material to the adult section and let the adults check it out for the kids they want to, and I think you just said we agree on that. I said personal emails to one of the board members months ago. And told them. Please. Do this For the safety of children. And Majority didn't didn't do anything. What do you do when you have an entrenched board that cares no more than that. And I realize our rural, and I've gotten people slips too. Our rural libraries. I went before my library after that last bill. Because they want to know why we wanted more control over them. They didn't have a problem. I said, Do you really want to know? And I took the graphic pictures we got in judiciary, the booklets and I said before I pass these out, these copies out. Do you really want to see this, these little ladies and retired superintendent and I passed it out and they were shocked. And they understood why I had a problem with it. And I've asked and others have asked, and Senator Sullivan has asked, it's time for drastic things to happen if this incompetent bunch is going to continue to put our children at risk, and there's gonna be fallout, but we'll fix some fallout. But give me a reason not to vote for this.
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 3:01:20
If, if it's not improper, may I ask, those materials were available in a children's section in a library
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Senator Terry Rice Unverified 3:01:26
in Arkansas. That that was testimony and judiciary with multiple ones and and was brought to judiciary. You were, you just judiciary remember then too? You remember those color photos and little booklets passed out that was from Saline County and and other mainly central Arkansas. We don't have that problem out in my area. Uh, maybe I was running another bill in another committee that day.
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Speaker 515 3:01:49
I've still got them in the drawer if you'd
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Senator Terry Rice Unverified 3:01:51
like to bring them, I'll take your word for it. I'll take your
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 3:01:56
word for it. This is serious. Yes, sir. No, I, I, I, it, it is definitely serious. Um, I don't believe that problem is pervasive based on everything that I've heard. I don't believe, well, I'll take your word that maybe it exists in one place, but I, I don't believe it's pervasive in any to any extent. But beyond that, you know, Senator Sullivan mentioned that he asked the state library board to pass a non-binding policy to protect children and and a 4 to 3 vote they did on March 13th. They did do that, but take that aside, OK, let's say they passed a bad resolution or a bad policy. Senator, I don't want to put her on the spot, but Senator Irvin and I have discussed this at another point. If you've got a problem with the board, reconstitute the board. That's the that's the remedy. It's not to eliminate the board, and it sure is not to eliminate the entire entity, just reconstitute the board, we could easily do that as a legislative body. That's, that's the remedy. Um, if there's a problem that needs to be addressed, so you know, the last thing I intended to mention that I forgot, but Senator Sullivan mentioned that this is really about the ALA, and he can have a disagreement with the ALA. I totally respect that. But he also commented that they boycott states that have laws like Arkansas does, so they're boycotting Arkansas. So if they're boycotting Arkansas, then why are we worried about the LA's influence over Arkansas. I'm not sure there's much there. If there's a problem, the answer is not to eliminate the entire organization. It's to reconstitute the board, which we certainly have the have the power to do. Thank you. Anyone wish to
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Chair Unverified 3:03:31
speak for or against. Senator Sullivan, you're recognized clothes. One has 3 days left to
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Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified 3:03:40
reconstitute the board, and if it passes over my bill, it passes over my bill. Folks, the library board and the state library are a problem until Senator Wr said there's major change, it won't. There's some really good things in here. Things that will bring finances to struggling libraries. Are there struggling libraries? Yeah, because they don't want accountability. They clearly said yesterday that we want the money, we don't want accountability. That was clearly said. And if you were there, you heard it, and you can watch it.
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Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified 3:04:20
But I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Senator has closed. Madam Secretary, please
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Speaker 292 3:04:30
call the roll. Poet Grant Brant Caldwell. Clark Clark? Crawl. Crawl
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Chair Unverified 3:04:43
Davis. Days dismay. This man. Dotson. English. English Flip out. Flowers leave Gilmore? Gilmore. Hammer leave Hester Hickey. Heck Hell, Irvin. Irvin Blake Johnson. Hi. Mark Johnson. King Latin. Love, McKee. Murdoch Hayden and so. Henzo Patty Hattie, rice, Scott. Stone. afield.
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Speaker 192 3:05:48
Sullivan Tucker. Wallace. Senators who did not vote, who wish to
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Chair Unverified 3:05:59
change your vote. Senator Boyd, yes. Any other senator Senator Hickey, yes. Senator dismaying present, Senator Gilmore present.
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Speaker 17 3:06:19
Senator Crow present. Senator Clark, yes.
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Speaker 295 3:06:27
Any other senators? Please check the board. Seeing no
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Chair Unverified 3:06:36
other senator. Please cast up the ballot by a vote of 18, 7, nay, 5, not voting, 3 present, Senate Bill 536 passes and the corresponding
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Speaker 523 3:06:49
emergency clause fails, Senator Sullivan. You're like, motion
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Chair Unverified 3:06:54
to clinch the vote. All those in favor of the clincher motion, please signify it is a non-debatable motion. All those in favor. I Hold on, let me state it since there was a pause, I don't want there to be an awkward pause in you all's voting. All those in flavor in favor for
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Speaker 523 3:07:22
I'm, I'm sorry, Senator, would you mind to rise and ask your question of the presiding officer.
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Senator Tyler Dees Unverified 3:07:30
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just, I just want clarity on if, if this motion passes, would there be ability for emergency clause revote or anything else related to this bill. That's why I just wanted clarity. Once they, if they
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Speaker 528 3:07:45
clincher motion passes. This bill cannot be brought up. Is that correct?
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Speaker 255 3:07:53
I'm gonna consult with counsel and And
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Speaker 528 3:08:14
So if the clincher motion passes, the
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Speaker 523 3:08:18
bill will still be transmitted to the house without an emergency clause. Unless that was revoted. Uh
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Chair Unverified 3:08:27
So we are at the
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Speaker 523 3:08:33
motion to clinch the vote on Senate Bill 536, all
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Chair Unverified 3:08:38
those in favor of clincher motion, please signify by saying I. All those pose. As habit, motion carries. Please transmit Senate Bill 536 to the house and the emergency
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Speaker 523 3:08:54
clause failed. And senators following at the end of this page, we have 3 more senators. Senators At the end of this page, we have 3 more bills on this
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Chair Unverified 3:09:11
page. I'm going to take up 3 motions for amendments so they can be engrossed and following those three quick motions, these 3 bills and 3 quick motions, we're going to take up the budget calendar. And then we will go
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Speaker 523 3:09:27
back to the regular business calendar after the budget calendar. This will allow the budget staff to Finished for the day. Next we're
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Speaker 414 3:09:38
taking up Senate Bill 537. Senate Bill 537
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Chair Unverified 3:09:43
by Central Gilmore to create the earning safe reentry through Work Act and to create a sentence credit program for a person on probation, parole, or post-release supervision to earn time credits through employment and declare an emergency. Senator Gilmore, you're recognized. Thank
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Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified 3:10:02
you, Madam President. Members, really proud of this pill, um, because of, of what it does and what I think it'll attempt to address. We have quite a few people on post-release supervision, post-release supervision basically is parole, um, and so what this bill does, this bill allows them to use gainful employment as a way to um dismiss some of their time required as on post-release supervision. Um, this bill defines eligible employment, um, this, this bill defines supervised offender, supporting documentation. Work for time credit, basically it's a uh um in in the bill, it speaks to 5 work for time credits in a 30-day period, basically, I think the goal would be it by the time someone is done completing this, uh, I think the number could be about 1/6 off of their supervision time. I think if we were trying to do something about recidivism, this is a great way to do it by encouraging employment and allowing them to use employment as a way to reduce some of their Supervision, uh, with that, happy to take any questions. Any questions for Senator Gilmore. Anyone
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Chair Unverified 3:11:15
wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed. I'm closed. Appreciate a good vote. Sender has closed any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bo, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dismay Dotson English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore, hammer leave Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo Petty, Rice Scott Stone Stuber Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote, seeing no one. Please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33, yeah, zero nay. Senate Bill 537 passes in the corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 539. Senate Bill 539 by Senator Gilmore to update and clarify certain portions of the law regarding the division of Community Correction and the Division of Correction to clarify references to communi community corrections Senator, senators and declare an emergency. Senator Gilmore, you're recognized.
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Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified 3:12:36
Thank you, members. Bill comes to us from the Department of Corrections. In fact, uh, even the border corrections, um, so this bill is just a clarification, technical correction bill to clean up a lot of references made and, and, and basically a address what his current practice and policy of the department. Uh, one of the things in particular the bill does is a lot of the security functions related to community corrections are actually done with the division of corrections, and so this is going through uh and basically clearingifying all of those different references, and then the one thing that I would add is that also basically uh utilizes the shared services function of the department, um, back on page 30, there's temporary language that basically uh speaks clearly as the intent of this, and again, all parties agree border corrections, corrections, all of this, this is their, this is their bill just to clean up and clarification bill. With that, have you take questions.
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Chair Unverified 3:13:39
Any questions for Sandra Gilmore? Closed for a good vote. Now one wishes to speak against or for Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat. Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boet Brynt Caldwell, Clark Krull, Davis, Ds, Dismaying dots and English flip of flowers leave, Gilmore hammer leave, Hester Hickey Hill Irving, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Kenzo
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Speaker 296 3:14:13
Petty, Rice Scott Stone, Stubber Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his
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Chair Unverified 3:14:21
or her vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33, 0 nay, Senate Bill 539 passes and the corresponding emergency
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Speaker 139 3:14:34
clause is adopted, please transmit to the House. Senate Bill 544.
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Chair Unverified 3:14:39
Senate Bill 544 by Senator Mark Johnson, to amend the Arkansas Pharmacy Benefits Manager Licenser Act.
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:14:49
Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President, colleagues, the original Arkansas PBM Licenser Act in 2018 became the national model adopted by the National Council of Insurance Legislators in that most of you are familiar with and it's been replicated across the country, uh, despite that great start, uh, we had to go all the way to the US Supreme Court to affirm that but with an 8-0 victory. Led by our now lieutenant governor. It's the attorney General. We won at the US Supreme Court and all states including Arkansas are continuing to close these loopholes and then strengthen enforcement capabilities and protect consumers using the original PBM Licenser Act. Senate Bill 544 is simply an enforcement and improvements to the bill. It allows it, it makes several definition updates. It says that any existing contract that seeks to automatically extend participation usually results in lower reimbursement, so it allows the pharmacies to opt out. Of those terms being changed in the middle of the contract. The PBM national contract to pharmacies and ensures that they're at a minimum updated to comply with state laws, and they're not allowed if they don't comply with state laws. Uh, it gives the insurance commissioner some flexibility to take action on a PBM or a PBM specific network, uh, without completely revoking a license. So basically, they could put a PBM on probation similar to what Medicare allows CMS to do under federal law. So it's not an off on, you can kind of be in the penalty box, so to speak. Uh, there are things that clarify which parts of the law are violations of the compensation and clarifies what industry terms are used to define specific networks in an audit situation. It does prohibit some practice. It prohibits uh opt-out. Contracts, uh, that you can't uh uh For the pharmacies to do that. It gives the pharmacy a right to clarify and expect that the specific information that they get is accurate and requires the PBMs to follow our existing state laws or previous uh insurance department bulletins of interpretation on existing laws. Uh, the penalty section, uh, adds some specific tools for our insurance commissioner, uh, similar to what federal Medicare options at CMS. uses has to do with advertising, placing bids and contracting for state funded or state public plans, if not in good standing with the licensing agency. A 12% interest penalty, uh, to PBMs is if it's owed back to the pharmacy for underpayment violations. So if they underpay and it's proven that they do, they, they did underpay, then they would have to pay the pharmacy plus a 12% penalty. I consider that a modest penalty, but, but it is in there. There's a prohibition on requiring a patient to pay back in copay or patient, patient responsible cost for PBM. violations. The department, insurance department that is by uh policy already has that position. This just clearly puts that into law. So what we're doing is we're continuing to modernize the regulation of PBMs, and by doing that we're putting uh the the some of the practices are already being done, but putting it into law, it's clear on both sides of the contract of what their obligations are. I'll be happy to answer any questions, any questions for
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Chair Unverified 3:18:45
Senator Mark Johnson. Send dismaying you're recognized for a question. Thank you.
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:18:55
Uh Uh thank you. In, in the bill, it repeatedly talks about a pharmacy services administrative organization, PSAOs, and it's in multiple places where PBMs are required to give those entities. Information. Are you looking at the right bill, Senator Dismay? 544, I believe I am. We get it pulled up 544. So if I mean it's pretty early on in the deal too, so I would just, uh, let's see.
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:19:30
Yeah, I don't have it. I know it's easy, it's easy to get confused when you're dealing with these people. I know. Hold on just
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:19:37
a second, throw me off, but I'm pretty sure I read it a couple of times. You're saying your bill doesn't mention the word PSAO at all. That that was a we we were in
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:19:48
the same committee meeting at the same time, and there was a different bill.
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Speaker 539 3:19:53
No, sir, no, let me get to if you'll find it, I'll
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:19:57
be glad to respond. I'm not sure
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:20:00
I can, uh, Here we go. All right, page 3, line 2, benefit manager's contract with the Medicare, Medicare Pharmacy and pharmacists benefits shall provide a pharmacy services administrative organization, pharmacy or pharmacist with each pharmacy claims bank ID number, pharmacy claims group, so it's mentioned there. And I believe it and it's mentioned again on It's mentioned throughout your bill actually PSAOs are repeatedly
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:20:27
a relationship there, yes sir, but, but what is a PSAO? That's the go-between, it's yet another go-between and and you have a bill. It's a middleman or the middle man, but they're unrelated my
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:20:38
understanding is they're completely unregulated and there is no definition, but you've mentioned them numerous times throughout your bill without defining who they are or what they are, and it is not a well understood term as I'm coming to find out, at least that's my understanding. Would
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:20:55
you agree? I definitely agree it's not well understood, but as you know, you have a bill that that tends to regulate those and so does Senator Boyd, and I'm, I'm I'm kind of good with both of them actually, but this is specifically about the PBMs themselves and not the the entity that I, the, the services organization, but what I'm reading
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:21:14
is that there is no you you're mentioning an organization by name that is not defined. So who is the PBM required to give that information to by your law if we don't define what a PSAO is
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:21:26
in the law. I believe it is defined in other parts. lots of code, but it is not defined in this bill. As a matter of fact, and I'm, this is not a complaint, Senator Disma, but too often this session, I think we've seen bills that Refer to something that, but the actual bill doesn't have the definition that's already in code written into the this isn't one of those cases, I don't know. Thank you. OK, thank you.
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:21:55
Any other questions for Senator Mark Johnson? Seeing no
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Chair Unverified 3:22:00
questions. Anyone wish to speak against. Oh, I'm sorry, Senator Hickey, you're recognized for a question. pay 12% interest
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 3:22:10
per month. Yes, sir. We're not talking about an annual interest. We're talking about It's 12% per month. It's a penalty. It's not, I don't know
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:22:26
if it should be called interest. It's probably just a 12% per month penalty if the impacted, uh, if there was an underpayment. In other words, if the pharmacy uh our pharmacist didn't get paid the proper amount, then the, the difference that if the PBM it was determined by the commissioner that they did underpay and they don't remit. Then they would, the penalty for not remitting would be 12% per month. I wouldn't call it interest, Senator, in that case. That's call it a 12% penalty, although it does say 12% interest online 11, but it does
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 3:23:05
go on and say as a penalty, so if that our terminology may be wrong, but I, I see what you're trying to do. I guess my question is though, Is it, is it 12% of the claim or is it 12% of the underpayment of the underpayment. Yes, sir. So some of those underpayments that we have are But I remember were 1/3 of a cent and everything, so I guess it's just gonna be a cumulative total 12, 12% on I know that's extreme example
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:23:38
we talked about back last year, Senator, but this is, I'm sure a definable thing if, if the commissioner says you you paid the, the, the pharmacy, but you didn't pay them the full amount that you should have and whatever the difference is, if you don't go ahead and pay it, there'd be a 12% penalty. per month. It's, it's a
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 3:24:00
disincentive to not pay them on time. Who's that paid to, to the pharmacy. The pharmacy itself is going to receive that one. And is the is, is that going to be paid? Let me, and maybe this is in here. I apologize. It was kind of lengthy and I've not studied it the way I should, so let me say that. So this uh Is, is that going to be paid to the insurance commissioner who's then is gonna, who's then gonna give it to the pharmacy or are they gonna be sure of the procedure, Senator, but I would
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:24:30
ultimately, if, if it were through, through the commission, it would, they would be basically functioning as a collection agent, but I would think that since the business relationship exists between, you know, the PBM and the pharmacy then, and now the insurance company that's managing that the whole thing, but the payment, the actual how it's reimbursed and uh I'm I'm pretty sure someone like Senator Boyd who's actually dealt with this could tell you what the mechanism is, but whatever the mechanism is, this is a penalty for not paying them what they were owed at the proper time and if they want to drag it out, there's enough of a penalty in there that would be a disincentive for them not to pay the money that was owed because this could put pharmacies in a cash flow. situation if, if they wanted to withhold money over a period of time. I'm,
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 3:25:24
I'm a little worried. I, I don't see anywhere in here unless I miss it about the insurance department or somebody promulgating rules. I don't know who would. Anyway, I believe the insurance commission. OK, promulgate any rules on it. Thank you, Senator. Thank you. Any other questions for
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Chair Unverified 3:25:43
Senator Mark Johnson. Seeing no questions. Anyone we should speak against Senator dismaying your recognized to speak against. 67. Members, I'm not even
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:25:58
sure this is a good or bad bill. I'm not sure exactly we understand what it does. I'm quite certain we probably don't, since we didn't realize that the word PS or the pharmac Services Administrative organization was even mentioned, even though it's mentioned 6 times or 7 times. I was trying to count as I came up here and is giving authority or requirement to give PB information to these entities that are not even defined, and I know they're not defined because I'm running into repeated roadblocks about creating a definition for what a SAO is. Let me tell you who they are in between the PBM layer and the pharmacist, there is a middle man to the middle man. We talk, we like to call the PBM the middle man. The middle man to the middle man is the PSAO, and they're the ones that are creating the contracts that are being signed by the pharmacist with the PBMs. And what we found out during the World War 128 debate this past summer. It was a very lengthy debate, and I hope that y'all were able to glean some information from that and participated in that debate. That the middle man to the middle man, the PSAOs were no longer enforcing the contracts, and what that was doing was making our pharmacies, our local pharmacies lose money. Over and over again, I will tell you that who I want to advocate for are the people back home, our constituents, and they are lost in this PBM pharmacy, PSA 05, over and over and over again. For whatever reason, we want to protect PSAOs. They are unregulated, uncertified with the state of Arkansas. No one knows who their ownership is. No one knows exactly what their duties are, and they're not even defined in our code, but we're going to give them the authority to receive information from PBMs. With this piece of legislation, maybe we've given it to him in other places of the code. I have no idea. But here's what I'll tell you is happening back home if you do not know. If you have insurance and your pharmacist is paid under for that insurance, not enough to cover their costs. They have the ability to use the HIPAA laws. To circumvent your insurance so that patients can pay directly for those drugs. They're circumventing your insurance. So that they can get paid enough to be able to cover their cost for those drugs. That means your people back home who have insurance aren't even being able to utilize their insurance because of the conflict between the PSAOs and the PBMs not being reconciled and not working on behalf of the pharmacist, they're being forced to punish your constituents. This model is broken and it is not broken in one place, it is broken in multiple places. And we've got additional legislation hopefully coming. Hopefully we can come to an agreement. But I'm not sure exactly what we're accomplishing here, because again, we're delegating a right to an entity that is not even defined, at least the best I'm told over and over again, they're not defined. With that, I'd appreciate a note of. Anyone else
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Chair Unverified 3:29:00
wish to speak for or against Senator Boyd, recognize, speak for. Thank you, Madam President.
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 3:29:06
So I'm speaking for this bill, but I'm trying to answer some questions that have arisen as I, I do so. So first of all, what is a PSAO? It's a pharmacy service administrative organization. What does it do? It's, it's not a middle man to the middle man, as it was described. It's actually an agent of the pharmacy. So the pharmacy signs a contract with the PSAO and then the PSAO creates an the role, the original role of the PSAO. I'm not saying it hasn't. drone, but the original role was the PSAO then signs the contracts with the PBM on behalf of the pharmacy or more importantly, a group of pharmacies. So what it's an original purpose was is to create an efficiency in the market where if there's 60,000 independent farm or 60,000 brick and mortar pharmacies out there that the PBM doesn't have to sign a contract with everybody. So, to my knowledge, there is not A legal definition in Arkansas code yet. There are at least 2 bills that I know of that are filed and I am confident one of the two will cross the finish line and do that. But despite that, we pass regulations all the time with words and things that don't have a legal definition. So in the world of the trade of pharmacy, it is well established what a PSAO or pharmacy service administrative organization. Yes. So in regards to the 12%. What I would say is Medicaid and many other plans, uh, pay very efficiently in a weekly or biweekly manner. So Medicaid pays every week. Medicare pays every 2 weeks, and most of the time in Medicaid, it is a rare circumstance when they are paying below cost. So the numbers we're talking about NADAC typically, but whatever that that number is is well established, well defined NFA PBM really wants to do that, I'm confident they can because there are plenty of places in the market where it happens correctly and on time. So with that said, I'm happy to try to answer any questions. Then you're dismaying, you're recognized for a
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:31:33
question of Senator Boyd. But just so we're clear, because it was different than what the sponsor said, PSAO is not defined anywhere in code as it stands today, but they are mentioned in this legislation.
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 3:31:49
Just, yeah, you and I agree, to my knowledge. I, I know of no definition today. I personally have filed a bill that defines them. I know you have filed a bill that defines them. I hope before we're done, we have a legal definition. But if we don't, I'm still confident that we know what a PSAO is. So Mhm Senator Dodson and then
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Chair Unverified 3:32:11
Senator Hickey. Thank you, Madam President. Senator.
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 3:32:19
What, so I, I'm, I'm unfamiliar with the PSAOs. I mean this is pretty new. I've PBMs, as I understand the process, the PEBM was the middle man between the drug manufacturer and a pharmacist. Mhm. And they're they're the ones that kind
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 3:32:39
of The, the PBM is the middle man between the insurance company. And the pharmacy and the patient. It's very complex, and I drew Senator Disma a map as best I could. Uh, I didn't share that with
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 3:32:55
everybody, but I'm happy to. So the PSAO is is a layer between the pharmacist and
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 3:33:03
the PBM, not legally speaking, it's legally speaking, it's an agent of the pharmacy. The pharmacy has a contract with the PSAO. If you're this PBM over here Pharmacy Service Administrative organization. So the, the pharmacy signs a contract with a PSAO. Then the PSAO then goes to the PBMs and signs contracts with them on behalf of a group of pharmacies. So that you don't have 60,000 so the idea is you don't have 60,000 individual contracts out there. It's, it was originally created to create an efficiency in the industry. And just like PBMs were created to have an efficiency in the industry when it comes to claims processing, they're the best. That's why we need PBMs for claims processing, without a doubt. And there's a function of PSAOs that we need, which is this ability, but there are some challenges that need to be addressed in step one is to is to register them and pharmacist
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Speaker 502 3:34:05
has a direct contract with a PBM. No, I didn't say that. Uh,
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 3:34:11
you can because that's the problem. They can't collectively negotiate. They just sign a contract on your behalf. If it's a standard contract, and they're like these terms are reasonable in the marketplace. They signed the ideally they sign the contract on the behalf of the pharmacy. However, if they say maybe the terms aren't good and we don't like them and they're not good for our group of pharmacies, then sometimes the PBM will go around the PSAO and come directly to the pharmacy and say, you don't really need your registered agent. Let's just, you have a a a pharmacy in a specific location where we'd like to operate or have access to shared access to patients and so they bypassed that. And so they're not allowed to collectively negotiate. So I don't, I want to not confuse the idea of collective bargaining with signing a contract on someone's behalf. So you're saying that a
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Speaker 502 3:35:07
PSAO is not a pharmacists' union. No, it is not, and it cannot be under current law. Thank
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 3:35:15
you. Yes, this is a convoluted world of Health care. It's in oh, not
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Chair Unverified 3:35:21
say that. Any other questions? It's not
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Speaker 164 3:35:26
Senator Stubblefield, you're recognized for a question. I just have a short question, Senator Boyd, after I've read
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Senator Gary Stubblefield Unverified 3:35:31
this bill a couple of times, it seems to me like it's just a cleanup bill. Of the language,
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 3:35:38
it's I, I think that's what it's trying to do. It's trying to clarify that if you're going to have a contract, a pharmacy contract in Arkansas, you need to follow Arkansas law. That, that's my interpretation of it. Yes, sir. Anyone else have a question for
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Chair Unverified 3:35:57
Senator Boyd? If not anyone else wished to speak against or for. Senator Mark Johnson, you're
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 3:36:10
recognized clothes. Thank you, Madam President. First, let me say I agree with Senator Disma. This is a squarely broken system, and we, we react to what certain groups and entities do, uh, I think once in and I'm probably not the only one who's done it once in committee. I have referred to dealing with PBMs and some of these other entities is playing whack a mole. You fix one problem and they pop up with another problem. Uh, and that's what I think what Senator Stubblefield said this is a cleanup bill. We're, we're updating what we're saying in the law. Now, one thing I do want to do, I did actually, uh, Senator Dismay, we do have a definition in code. It's ACA 23-92-503 says pharmacy services administrative organization means an organization that helps community pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers or third party payers achieve administrative efficiencies, including contracting and payment efficiencies, and I want, I want to thank both Senator Disma and Senator Boyd for the fact they're they have bills. I don't necessarily reading them think they're as much competing. They may be complementary and may be a synthesis between the two might be the best answer to this. But again, these are primarily enforcement improvements, uh, to our existing uh PBM licenser Act and because of of uh PSAOs being in the mix, uh, and I'm glad to know that we did have it defined in code that they obviously are going to be referred to somewhere in this legislation. So, uh, but this is a good bill. It helps bring us up to where we are in 2025 on this issue. something tells me this is not the last time we'll be dealing with these issues, not, maybe not even this session. Uh, so I'm Continuing to learn and to try to make educated choices, but I think I can safely say to my colleagues, this is a good bill and we should pass it and recognize that it is not perfect nor are we through with dealing with this issue because our goal, of course, is to have fairness to our pharmacists and make sure that our people get the pharmaceuticals that they need to keep them healthy. So
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Chair Unverified 3:38:33
with that, I'm closed, Madam President. Thank you, Senator Johnson. Any objection to rolling the vote. Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Ha. Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, dismay Dotson, English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer leave. Hester Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo Petty, Rice Scott Stone Stubblefield, Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator who wishes to vote or change your vote, and her
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Speaker 198 3:39:18
dismaying no. Dotson. No. He'll know. Filippo, no. These present. Davis, no.
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Chair Unverified 3:39:27
Any other senators. Please check the board. English, no. Any other senator? Seeing no other, please cast up the ballot. By a vote
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Speaker 139 3:39:46
of 26, 6 nay, 1 present, Senate Bill 554 passes, please transmit to the house. Oh, I said 564. I apologize. Senate Bill 544 passes, please transmit to the house. And now we're
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Chair Unverified 3:40:00
going to take up 3 motions and then we're going to take up the budget calendar, send her
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Speaker 139 3:40:08
dismaying, you're recognized for a motion on Senate Bill 475, I believe. I'd like to make a
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:40:12
motion to withdraw Senate Bill 475 for the purpose of amendment. All those
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Speaker 192 3:40:16
in favor of the motion please signify by saying aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it. Motion carries. Amendment
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Speaker 75 3:40:22
2 to Senate Bill 475. All right, this amendment to
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:40:25
a co-sponsor and delete the accounting and auditing section of the bill. All those in favor
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Speaker 85 3:40:29
of the amendment, please signify by saying aye. And he opposed. I have it. Amendment is adopted. Ginger dressing. And do grossing.
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Chair Unverified 3:40:42
And then Senator dismay, we'll get back to you in a moment. Senator Dodson, you are recognized for emotion and then Senator Gilmore, I will also
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 3:40:55
recognize you for our motion. Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules of withdraw Senate Joint Resolution 13 from state agencies Committee for purpose of
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Speaker 567 3:41:03
amendment. All those in favor of the motion, please signify
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Chair Unverified 3:41:07
to say I opposed? As habit, Motion carries, Amendment 1, the Senate Joint Resolution 13.
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 3:41:14
Senator Dodson, you're recognized. My bill, my amendment. I
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Chair Unverified 3:41:20
appreciate a good vote. Although it's in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying I, any opposed, I have it. Amendment is adopted. Please send to engrossing. Senator Gilmore, you're recognized for the purposes of
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Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified 3:41:34
amendment. I mean, motion. Motion to withdraw members motion to withdrawal, uh, Senate Bill 538 purposes amendment. All those
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Speaker 567 3:41:40
in favor of the motion please signify by saying I. Any opposed? I have it, motion carries.
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Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified 3:41:48
Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 538. Senator Gilmore, you recognized my bill, my amendment just cleans up some language that we're brought
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Speaker 85 3:41:59
to us as a uh just signified by saying I And he opposed. I have it. Amendment is adopted. Please send to engrossing.
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Speaker 523 3:42:05
And now we're going to take up the budget calendar. And then we will go back to the regular business calendar. Time permitting.
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Speaker 252 3:42:40
OK, hold on. Watch yourself. All right, great. Yeah, it got me too.
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:42:49
All right, members, we're gonna do each of the 1st 3 bills individually, just it's gonna be faster to the line with her only being 3. so, House 1094 by joint budget and
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Speaker 75 3:43:02
act for the Department of Health, tobacco Prevention and secession programs appropriation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year.
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Speaker 574 3:43:14
Senator dismay, you're recognized 109. Any
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Chair Unverified 3:43:22
questions? No questions. Anyone we speak against her for. Senator has closed. Any objection roll in the vote, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dimay dots in the English flippo flowers leave Gilmore hammer leave, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, stone, Ste of Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Senator was to change his or her vote King not voting any other senators seeing no other. please cast up the ballot by a vote of 32, 0, nay, 1 not voting. House Bill 1094 passes, corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please return to the house. House Bill 1125. 11:25 a joint budget, an act to the Department of Finance Administration, regulatory division, appropriation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year. Senator, this man, you're recognized. questions, anyone wish to speak against or for Senator has closed. Any objection rolling the boat, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boy Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dismay dots and English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer leaf, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting, love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice Scott stone, Stubberil Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace, any senator was
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Speaker 295 3:44:50
changed. or her voteing not voting,
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Chair Unverified 3:44:53
any other saying no other, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 32 yeah, 0, nay, 1 not voting House Bill 1125 passes and the corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please return
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Speaker 139 3:45:05
to the house. House Bill 1232. 1232 my
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Chair Unverified 3:45:08
joint budget Committee and act for the Department of the Military Appropriation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year. Senator
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:45:18
Dismay, you're recognized, uh, happy to take any
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Chair Unverified 3:45:22
questions in this House Bill 12. to. Any questions? Anyone wish to speak against or for Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis, Ds, Dima Dotson, English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer leaf, Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love McKee Murdoch, Peyton Penzo
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Speaker 296 3:45:49
Petty, Rycottstone, Stubberfield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish
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Speaker 295 3:45:52
to change his or her vote. King
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Chair Unverified 3:45:57
not voting, any other senator see no other, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 32, 0, nay, 1 not voting, House Bill 1232 passes and the corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please return. to the house. Senate Bill 354. Senate Bill 354 by Senator dismay, an act for the Department of Corrections, Division of Correction Development and Enhancement capital improvement appropriation. Senator Dismay, you're recognized. All right, thank you. This is the $750
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified 3:46:26
million capital improvement appropriation that we have for the prison same as yesterday. Any questions for Senator Dismay. Saying no
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Chair Unverified 3:46:34
questions. Anyone wish to speak against? Speak for or speak on. Senator King, do you wish to speak on the bill? You're recognized to speak on
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Senator Bryan King Unverified 3:46:50
the bill. Madam President, I won't go into everything that I did yesterday, but the Senator Hester and Senator Boyd did not take my questions. Basically, I want to reiterate this point that Bitton Washington and Sebastian County, almost 1 out of every 4 inmates incarceration and backlog from the handout from the board of correction that I gave you originate from these counties. I can safely pretty surely that every one of your other counties make some type of sacrifice to the system. uh, the corrections either with jail taxes, whatever, to make our community safer is these three counties are failing jail taxes but yet can fund other things and if we continue to let these counties get away, there has to be responsibility if the crimes committed in your county, why would you take any responsibility not to reduce the crop. Once again, he's Senator Boyd talks about state crimes with us that make the laws, the soft on crime laws of Jeremy Hutchinson that created as Senator Dale Bumpers one time said, you know, you go by and there's a turtle on the fence post. It didn't get there by on its own. This crime crisis and everything that's happened has happened with votes, underfunding corrections. OK, your votes underfunding corrections for years, voting for these Jeremy Hutchinson soft on crime bills. Next, the proposed budget is still 8%. It should be 12%. If you want to look at being physically responsible, limited government, everything. I talked about the calico Rock expansion. We could have no brainer expanded 525 beds up there for almost half the cost. It's still 40 to 50. You go down this route, you're costing the taxpayers 40 to $50 million more dollars. The only people that is going to be the real winners out of this situation. Like I said, look at Utah, they can't staff their megaprison out there. It's 5 miles from the Salt Lake City Airport, 5 miles from there. These mega prisons are still mega financial disasters. The only winners are going to be the prison building companies out of state that it's going to take millions of our dollars. This decision and not expanding calico Rock and building these beds and this other decision is going to cost taxpayers $40 to $50 million more dollars that we can handle. Joe Refuri on the other hand, said he was part of a building process. I've asked Senator Hester. And Senator Gilmore, can they produce anybody in Arizona. There's been a lot of people contact people in Arizona. None of them have backed up his claim that he was involved in the building process. Like I said, we can be more economical. You know what we do $40.50 million dollars more dollars, we could build mental health facilities. We could build a diagnostic intake center in Northwest Arkansas that can help with the things. There's a lot of things. This is physically irresponsible to build 525 beds in a megaprison that like I said, look at Utah, folks, it's miles from the Salt Lake City Airport out there. They can't staff it. We still need to be a no vote and protect the citizens in Arkansas, put public safety officers out there actually reduce crime rather than this farce that they're trying to pull off. Any other senator wished to
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Chair Unverified 3:49:48
speak against for or on the bill. Senator Boyd, you're recognized to speak for.
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 3:49:58
Thank you, Madam President. Yet again in this chamber, we voted to create new penalties for Arkansans and yet here we are debating, you know, whether or not a crime that happens in Miller County should be treated differently than a crime in Sebastian County or somewhere else. At the end of the day, we, the body create the crimes, we define the punishment. I've yet to see Senator King or any other senator fi a bill to reduce crimes or to reduce the number of things we call crimes, reduced penalties, do things that that would remove it. So we all want to say we're, we're tough on crime, but yet then we don't want to provide the space. 46% the other day of the people in the Sebastian County jail were people who had committed crimes in the state of Arkansas. I have no idea if they were even from Sebastian County. A lot of people come over from Oklahoma. A lot of people come from Crawford County. No offense, Senator Petty, but They come from other places near there and they commit crimes within and so how is that Sebastian County's problem. What I can say is Sebastian County, they're efficient. We have an efficient police force. We have an efficient sheriff's agency, and I'm confident that's the the same throughout the Western corridor, as in most of your counties. So again, these are state crimes. We need a state prison, and I'd ask for a good vote. Thank you. Any other senator wish to speak? Against
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Chair Unverified 3:51:32
Senate, are, are you asking a question? I don't know that. You only get an opportunity to speak once, and that opportunity has been used. Any of the senator see no other senator, Senator Dima, Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized to speak, are you speaking on for or against? For Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized to speak for. Members I'm not, I'm not up here to tell you this process has been perfect. I'm not here to Place. Employees in that facility. But this is simply an appropriation. To fund a project that all of us know the state of Arkansas needs. At some point in time, We're gonna have to fund this where we can keep our citizens safe.
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Speaker 452 3:52:45
I don't disagree that 3000 beds, prisons would be OK. But I don't have a problem with 1 3000 men project. As long as we do, what we're needing to do as a body. And I appreciate everybody's differences. But please, let's try to work together for the safety of
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Chair Unverified 3:53:20
Arkansas citizens. Any other sender wish to speak? Seeing no other. Send dismaying. Senator dismaying has closed, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. We have ears at the desk, sent her fly flowers, yes, Senator Tucker, no. Senator Hammer, yes, sent her letting, no. Boy
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Speaker 119 3:53:48
Brant Caldwell. Clark. Crawl. Davis Days Yes. This mine Dotson
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Chair Unverified 3:54:04
English. Lipo Flowers, yes, Gilmore. Hammer, yes, Hester. Hecky Hill Irvin. Irvin Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King. Letting know love. Love McKee. Murdoch Murdoch. Hayden Penzo Patty. Rice Scott Scott Stone. Stuberfield Sullivan. Sullivan. Tucker, no. Wallace. So Any senators who did not vote or who wish to change your vote. Senator Love present. And you had Senator Murdoch present. Any other senator? I'm sorry. Scott, present. Solomon, no. Any other Seeing no
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Speaker 295 3:55:40
other, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 18, yeah, 13, nay, 1 not voting, 3
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Chair Unverified 3:55:47
present, Senate Bill 354 fails. We will next Yes. We're going to read an item or two across the desk. And then we will go back to the agenda. And Senator Hester. What your committee on joint budget team was first sent Bill 359 by Senator Petty, recommended new pass and
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Speaker 596 3:56:35
amended number one calendar ballot. Calendar calendar Committee
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Chair Unverified 3:56:39
on City County Local who was the first Senate Bill 520 by Senator Sullivan, recommend to pass. Calendar
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Speaker 494 3:57:25
committee reports rest on. Were your
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Chair Unverified 3:57:28
committee on City County Local who was referred to 520 by Centra Sullivan recommend do pass calendar. Calendar Committee on on budget, well, this is the one we just did. OK, those are those, OK. Were your committee on revenue and tax to his first Senate bill 408 by Senator Blake Johnson recommended pass. Committee on Revenue and Tax to his first simple 494 uh Central Bright recommended pass. calendar Committee on Revenue attached to him as 1st 495 by Central Bright recommend new pass calendar Committee on Revenue and Tax from his first Bill 529 by Senator Blake Johnson recommended pass. Committee on Revenue and Tax to was first sent Bill 5:30 by Senator uh Davis recommended pass calendar on tax was for House Bill 1072 by Representative Cooper recommended DuP passesit number one calendar Committee on Revenue and Tax team as for House. 1274 by representative Warner recommended Du pass Committee on Revenue and tax to
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Speaker 296 3:58:39
for houseville, I 1658 my representative, uh, I. Calendar.
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Chair Unverified 3:58:46
recommend to pass recommended new pass.ao.
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Speaker 150 3:58:50
Yeah, is that it? Um.
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Chair Unverified 3:59:00
Yeah, we can re hospital. Yeah, we We're a committee on robust, who is referred House Bill 1523 by Senator Vault and Senator David representing Senator Davis compared to the grass of the original Fete correctly engrossed on who was referred to House Bill 1525 by Senator Irving representsal compared the gross copy of the original ban sent correctly engrossed calendar on who has started a House Bill 1814 by representative Gassway recommend compared the grossed copy with the original. I correctly engrossed calendar. Notice of the return of Senate Bill 229 from the House as requested. Got a few more bills. Yeah I still. OK. Senate Bill 609 by Cen for Scott to provide for a miner's right to consult with his or her parent or guardian before a custodial interrogation, Senate Bill 609. Judiciary symbol 610 by Senator Dima to amend the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025 and declare an emergencyymbol 610. Insurance and commerce 11 by Senator Des to amend the social media Safety Act Senate Bill 611. Insurance and commerce 612 by Senator Des to create a private right of action against the social media platform that causes harm and imposes civil penalty on a social media platform that knowingly and willingly uh contributes to a minor suicide or suicide attempt symbol 612 judiciary. OK, members. We're
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:00:57
getting we're we're ready to get going again. So we're going to start with Senate Bill 550, Senator Hill.
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Chair Unverified 4:01:10
OK. Sending Bill 550 by Senator Hill to change the name of the Arkansas livestock and Poultry Commission to the Arkansas Board of Animal Health. Senator Hill, you're recognized. Thank you,
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified 4:01:33
Mr. President. Kelly, this is just a simple bill. All it does is change the name from livestock and poultry board or commission to the Animal Health Board or and so this aligns it, it modernizes it, it gets it more in line with other states. This is uh what the secretary and his department want to do. The only other change that this affects besides that is the board and makeup goes from two veterinarians to 3, no more than 3. And so that's the, the main part of it. It just kind of update modernization of. The wording, but that I'll take any questions
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:02:07
questions for Senator Hill? Oh yeah. Payton, you recognize Senator
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Senator John Payton Unverified 4:02:12
Hill, is this because the out alpaca people felt left out in the livestock and poultry title. I've never thought of it that way, but they very well could have. OK, thank you.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:02:22
Any other questions, Senator Clark, you're recognized? Senator Hill, do you also
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Senator Alan Clark Chair Unverified 4:02:27
have the bill to change the PBA PBR to the PAR. We may have to. You know, maybe I've been watching too much Yellowstone, but I kind of like that old name. Senator Dees, you recognized?
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Senator Tyler Dees Unverified 4:02:43
I've got a real question. Senator Hill, in all seriousness is this this is agreed upon and and worked with with the livestock and poultry Commission, and they're on board. Yeah, they brought it to us. OK,
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:02:56
thank you, sir. Any other questions, Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized. Senator Hill, I,
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 4:03:03
I don't know if there's a fiscal impact statement on this, but I was wondering if there's a forestry impact statement. How many trees are going to have to die to make the paper to reprint all this
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified 4:03:14
stationery, but we're trying to help out Senator Stone's industry.
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 4:03:18
OK. Well, I mean, seriously, we, we, I know we've changed a lot of names this session, and they're probably appropriate, but, you know, there's is, there is a cost to it even if it's, you know, nominal. There's something to that. Yeah, I could not answer that question. what the cost would be
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified 4:03:31
on that, but I do know that on the digital side of it they're just going to go in and change the name digitally so they won't be printing the books anymore. OK, alright, thank you.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:03:40
Any other questions, seeing none, would anyone like to speak against the bill? the bill, Senator Hill is closed on the bill. Any objection to rolling the vote, seeing
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Chair Unverified 4:03:58
that, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Re Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis Des, Dismay dots and English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer leave, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo Petty, Bryce Scott Stone Stubber Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Would
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:04:19
any member like to vote that has not changed their votes, Senator Clark, no. Senator Payton, no. Senator Mark Johnson present. Anyone else? Anyone else? Senator King, not voting. Anyone else seeing that, Madam Secretary, cast up the ballot. 29 ye and 2 nays, the bill is passed. Transmit to the house. Members, I'll tell you we've got a much longer calendar tomorrow than we do today. My goal will be, I know we need to get to committees. If there's any way we can finish the Senate bills that just helps for tomorrow, but I, I recognize the need to get for to committees if, if this starts dragging on, I'll just to committees, but we'll see how it goes from here. I guess that's the best communication I can have, right? Like, I know we need to get committees. We need to, but it only gets worse from here on. So send a bill 551 551. We're ski, he's not we're skipping the next 3. OK, Senate Bill
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Chair Unverified 4:05:28
564. OK Sym 564 by Central Flippo. To amend the definition of beer to change the allowable alcohol alcoholic content and to include malt beverages. Senator, thank you, Mr. President. Members, Senate
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Speaker 632 4:05:39
Bill 564, all it does is amend
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Senator Scott Flippo Unverified 4:05:41
the definition of beer, it takes it from 5% up to 10%. Currently this is geared towards your local breweries and craft beers. Uh, I don't drink it, but I understand from Senator Gilmore that traditional beer like Miller Lite or Bud Light is about 5% alcohol by volume and what this bill would do would increase that up to 10%. These products are currently being sold in stores already. This would just allow convenience stores and grocery stores and wet counties to allow them the same opportunity. Are there
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:06:09
any questions for Senator Flippo? Seeing them would anyone like to speak against the bill, for the bill, seeing not any objection to rolling the vote, Madam
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Chair Unverified 4:06:19
Secretary, please roll the vote. Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Ds, dismay dots and English flippo flowers, leave, Gilmore hammer leave, Hester Hickey Hill, Irving Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King lighting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice scot stone. Stuber Phil Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Would he remember like the
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:06:43
boat that has not or changed their votes. Senator Dodson, no. Senator Dees no. Senator Love, no. Senator Stubblefield, no. Anyone else? Anyone else? Senator Sullivan, no. Senator Gilmore, no. Senator Pinzo, no. Senator Scott. No Yes. Peyton present. Senator Stone. No. I check the board please. Please check the board. Anyone else? And Seeing none, Madam Secretary, cast up the ballot by a vote of 24 years and 8 nays, the bill is passed. Transmit to the house. Senate Bill 570,570
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Chair Unverified 4:07:41
by Dotson to amend Arkansas law concerning the membership of the Joint Budget Committee. Senator Dodson, you
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 4:07:48
recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. Members, this bill The membership of the Joint Budget Committee is in statute, and so as we look as looking at the current membership of the ex officios and currently the chairs of ALC and audit as well as the immediate past chairs, our ex officio members of Joint Budget Committee. However, the president of the Senate, as well as the Speaker of the House, neither one of them are ex officio automatic members or their immediate past uh members. So what this bill simply does is Add those Those two positions in each chamber, so 4 positions total to the total membership of joint budget. More than happy to
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:08:34
answer any questions. Are there any questions? Seeing them when you would like to speak against the bill. For the bill Seeing none, Senator Dodson is closed. Any objection to rolling the
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Chair Unverified 4:08:47
boat, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Ds, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers leave Gilmore hammer leave, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Ry Scott Stone Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Would any member like to vote that has not or changed
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:09:07
their vote. Senator Davis present. Anyone else seeing none, Madam Secretary cast up the ballot by a vote of 32 ye, zero nays. The bill is passed, transmit to the house. Senate Bill 571.
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Chair Unverified 4:09:29
Ciniel 571 by Senator Petty to amend the law concerning municipal building and zoning regulations and to prohibit a municipality from enforcing buildings and zoning regulations on county property. Senator Petty,
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Senator Jim Petty Chair Unverified 4:09:42
you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. Members, this is a, uh I hate to use the word cleanup bill, but uh what this what this bill is attempting to do is to clarify that if you are a uh county within the city municipality boundaries, uh, then you are guided by your county design and building standards and obviously all the state health and and other standards of building, but you're not, you're not compelled to comply with. The city building standards, and that's really essentially all this is attempting to do, to clarify. There's some It's, it's a matter of practice in most places that This is the practical application, but there's some confusion or or at least differences of opinion in in some areas, and this is going to clarify, but practically speaking, this is how most counties and cities
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:10:48
practice. Are there any questions for Senator Petty, Senator Love, you recognized.
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Senator Fredrick J. Love Unverified 4:10:54
Thank you Miss Shir Senator, is this
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Speaker 641 4:10:58
ETJ's. Is this in areas. No, this is within the
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Senator Jim Petty Chair Unverified 4:11:04
municipal boundaries of the city. So if there's a county island, a building, it could actually apply to the courthouse, which is usually within the city boundaries, but it's within the city boundaries. There is, there is no ETJ at this point, but it does not contemplate that. OK. All right. Thank you. Any other questions? Seeing
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Speaker 641 4:11:23
them, would anyone like to speak against the bill.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:11:28
For the bill. Senator Petty, you recognize the close? I'm closed. Senator Petty is closed. Any objection to rolling the vote, seeing none, Madam Secretary,
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Chair Unverified 4:11:40
please roll the vote, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, Dimain Dots and English flippo flowers Le Gilmore hammer leaf, Hester Hickey Hill, Irving Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott stone Stuber Phil Sullivan, Tucker. us. Would like to vote that has not or changed their vote, Senator
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:12:06
Gilmore, no. Senator Scott, no Senator Tucker, no, Senator King not voting. Senator Leting, no. Anyone else? Senator Love present. Anyone else seeing none, Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot. By about 27 ye and 4 nays, the bill passes, transmit to the house. Senate Bill 574574
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Chair Unverified 4:12:37
by Senator Petty to to require a municipality that operates a waterworks system or sewage system to provide service to county property in certain instances. Senator Petty,
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Senator Jim Petty Chair Unverified 4:12:47
you recognize? Thank you, Mr. President. This one members, I would almost consider it to be a companion bill. What this is saying is if the city, I mean, if the county has a project within the city, and they comply with their uh building standards, they being the county's building standards and all of the health and safety standards at the state law requires, and this county will be responsible for paying for the improvements, uh, water lines, sewer line. s etc. and as long as they all comply, then the cities will be compelled to allow them to connect to the city services. The water lines, their sewer lines, and so forth. Any costs of improvements again are being borne by the county who's doing the building project. And with that, I'm happy to attempt to answer any questions.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:13:39
Are there any questions, Senator Love, you're recognized for a question. OK,
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Senator Fredrick J. Love Unverified 4:13:47
Senator Petty, so, so what, what is, what are we addressing with this bill? What, I mean, what is the practical application. What, what's going on where we're needing this. What, what type of project is going on within the municipality that the county is doing, so if you could kind of just shed some light on that. I, I try to banner. I'm sure at this point,
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Senator Jim Petty Chair Unverified 4:14:11
I'm not aware of any specific projects or anything where this would, this would be an issue. What we're trying to make of is that we don't get into a situation where a county says we're gonna do our bill, our building according to our standards, the city says, well, if you're not building by our standards, then you can't connect to our sewer or our water or whatever, and, and not that anybody has ever actually implemented that, that I'm aware of, but the conversations have been had around that. So if a if
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Senator Fredrick J. Love Unverified 4:14:42
a if a county does not have any zoning procedures, but they want to build. Within the within the city, just say if if Plaa County has no zoning procedures. He wanted to build within the city of Little Rock. But not want to use Little Rock's regulations. Is that what we're saying we're doing that they can't be in the city of Little Rock can't deny them. connection to their sewer system. Is that, is that what we're trying to sort of, it's,
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Speaker 641 4:15:12
it's, it's more in the building
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Senator Jim Petty Chair Unverified 4:15:15
component side than it is the zoning side because I don't think uh the zoning is really a applicable as it is the building, and there would be, yeah, building permits but again there would be state fire marshal and and Department of Health requirements that would have to be complied with, uh, in, in building this development or not development, but this project. OK. All right, thank you. Any other questions?
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:15:43
Seeing them, would any member like to speak against the bill. For the bill, Senator Petty is closed on the bill. Any objection to rolling the vote, seeing them, Madam Secretary, roll the vote. OK, all right, let's call a row, then
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Speaker 292 4:16:00
someone will vote no. But Brant Caldwell, Clark. Crowl Crowe Davis. Days,
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Chair Unverified 4:16:13
this man. This mine Dotson Dotson. Yes, English. Flipper. Flappo Flowers leave, Gilmore. Hammer leave Hester? Yes. Hickey. Hill Hill Irvin Aravin Blake Johnson. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. Mark Johnson. King King. Letting Flooding. Love. Love. McKee. Murdoch Murdoch Payton Payton. Penzo. Penzo.
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Speaker 393 4:17:18
Patty, yes, rice. Scott Scott Stone Stub afield. Step afield? No. Sullivan. Sullivan
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Chair Unverified 4:17:35
Tucker Wallace. Would any member like to vote that has not or changed their
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:17:49
vote, Senator Scott, present. Senator Love, no. Senator Mark Johnson, no. Anyone else? Senator Hill, no. Senator Blake Johnson, yes. Anyone else? Seeing none, Madam Secretary, cast up the ballot by a vote of 13 years and 9 nays, the bill fails. Senator Petty, you're recognized. I would like to make a motion to expunge the vote by which SB 574 failed. You all heard an explanation of the motion. All those in favor signify by saying I, I opposed say no motion carries. See Senate Bill 586. Senator Dodson. about 586 by Senator
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Chair Unverified 4:18:38
Johnson to create the protect our Constitution Act and amending a portion of the Arkansas constitution is authorized by Arkansas Consultation, uh,
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 4:18:51
Article 5's Section 1. Senator Dodson, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, Senate Bill 586 Does one very simple thing, it increases the threshold by which a initiated constitutional amendment has to pass at the ballot to a 2/3 majority. It is Narrowly defined for just initiated constitutional amendments, not initiated constitutional or not initiated acts, so Initiated acts referendum, they would still be a simple majority, but this simply addresses that 111 part, the authority under Article 5, Section 1 of the Constitution for for us to do that, um, reads that the Arkansas, any measure that is we've heard Senator Mark Johnson talk about this several times throughout the years that we have the authority under the current Constitution to amend a measure. By a 2/3 majority of both chambers, so this is a higher threshold to pass. It takes 24 and I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions for
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:20:07
Senator Dodson? Senator King, you're recognized so I couldn't be in
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Senator Bryan King Unverified 4:20:12
committee, so basically it just raises the vote threshold, the 67%. That's the only provision mainly OK. Any other questions? Saying
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:20:25
Senator Tucker, no other questions, Senator Tucker, you're recognized to speak against the bill. House proceedings. So
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Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified 4:20:34
on the. I saw. Well, that's what I'm asking. So Thank you, Mr. President. Remember, sometimes I think we probably wonder whether the people of Arkansas support would support the bills that we introduced down here. On this one, we don't have to wonder. We can know for certain. In 2021, we referred out a proposed constitutional amendment that would have raised the threshold for citizen initiated constitutional amendments to 60%. The people of Arkansas rejected that at the ballot by 59%. This actually goes even further than what we referred out in 2021 and raises it not to 60% but to 67%. So my guess is the people's opposition would go up even more. So if you vote for this bill, we know for certain we are contra contravening the will of the people of Arkansas. Beyond that, Senator Dotson is upfront about the fact that there's two standards, one for constitutional amendments referred out by the legislature, one for constitutional amendments initiated by the people of Arkansas. That's wrong to do for whatever your reason is, you know, his explanation is that uh we, we can't do that for legislatively referred amendments, but we can under Article 5 Section 1, do that for Citizen initiated constitutional limits, and the reason is because Article 5, Section 1 of the Constitution was brought by a petition. So there's a question, and he referenced this, and he's right, Senator Johnson has talked about this over the years. Can the legislature amend a constitutional amendment that was brought by the people. There's an attorney general opinion on this in case it's it's not clear. Attorney General opinions are not law. They are not law. Decisions by courts are law. So there's a decision from Arkansas in 1951. That's been the law in Arkansas for 74 years, that's unchallenged. I don't typically read Down here, but I'm going to read this quote from that case from the Supreme Court of Arkansas in 1951. It is inconceivable that in defining constitutional amendment as a measure, the purpose was to invest the General Assembly with the power either to repeal a constitutional amendment or with the authority to amend an amendment, a power that could be exercised to such an extent that the entire meaning of a constitutional provision achieved through amendment could be changed by legislative action. The clear intent of the initiative and referendum amendment was to give the people enlarged legislative and constitutional powers. Certainly if the purpose had been to take away fundamental security, then enjoyed or to be acquired under the amendment, the right of 2/3 of those elected to the General Assembly to treat amendments as though they had been referred to it would have been expressed in more emphatic terms. In other words, it's inconceivable under the law that we can amend by bill. a constitutional amendment referred to us by the people of Arkansas. It's illegal, it's bad policy and it's not supported by the people of Arkansas. Anyone like to, would like to
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:23:42
speak for the bill against the bill, Senator King, you recognized to speak against the bill? Thank
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Senator Bryan King Unverified 4:23:50
you, Mr. President. Senator Johnson had Bryant had a bill earlier about our founding fathers, our founding fathers created the best government that in the history of literally the world and representation. It basically, if you look at it, they knew in their wisdom and looking forward that they had to equalize a lot of things in our government to make the continuity and make things work, and one of the great things they did was, we have two US Senates even though Arkansas is a small state. We have two US senators, same as California, same. is New York. They equalize that. And you know what else they did that was very smart about amending the US Constitution, which we should follow. I am for up in the vote threshold for amending the Arkansas constitution, but it should do with the wisdom of our founding fathers and have 2/3 of our counties approve that. Why do we have the US Constitution? Because they knew all these states had to matter like Arkansas. What you're gonna do for us real people or that there's basically 15 counties you're gonna turn. over more power to 15 counties, the 60 counties of us rural areas are gonna be less important in it. Our founding fathers were far smarter. They knew to put in the in the US Constitution that it should have 2/3 of the state. Thankfully, they made it where we were important and didn't wait California more than us, and we should do that with this. This is bad policy to amend our constitution without following what the wisdom of our forefathers, founding fathers did, and in requiring 2/3 of the money to go along with this. Anyone like to
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:25:26
speak for the bill. Senator Dotson, you recognize the close. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 4:25:35
Just a couple of points. I'm glad Senator Tucker brought up the Edgemond case, and quoted it, that if you go back in the history just a little bit, 1920 when Amendment 7 was adopted, it actually defined what a measure was. It also defined that the measure was not just an act, but also a constitutional amendment that was initiated by the people, and it said inside that amendment that Uh, no measure shall be amended or repealed unless by a 2/3 vote of both chambers of the General Assembly. So the plain language of the Constitution is very clear on this. However, fast forward 30 some odd years later, a court came up with a different standard. They use the word inconceivable in there, and Senator Tucker says it's law, it is an opinion. It is an opinion, as we have known throughout. Time that court opinions change from time to time. There was another opinion more recently from uh Arkansas court that talked about, uh, I think I thought I had it written down. Yes, it was Andrews, I, I forget what the, the other side of it was, but the Andrews case. said that it had to um have a isn't. Standard established by Andrews. That the plain language had to be used. I, I'll Unfortunately, I don't have the exact wording in here, but the plain language of the Constitution had to be followed. Every word had weight and meaning, and so if we're looking at the Constitution, not a court case or a a opinion by a court, which one carries more weight, the actual constitution itself that has been Or a court opinion from a single court at a point in time that has since had so this this is a high threshold to do, um, to Senator King's point, Should we have 2/3 of the counties, you know, I think I would possibly support that. However, that's not the bill we have in front of us. We have a there's always going to be a, a, a debate back and forth, but I think this raises the standard for initiated constitutional amendments, so somebody can't just buy their way onto the Constitution, write their name into the Constitution, their business name in there with a simple majority vote. It will be higher than that. Now they can still Try to do an initiated act. And it's, if it's something that is uh initiated act, hopefully they'll go that route and initiated acts will be much more debatable than a constitutional thing further on. So this raises the standard. And more than likely, There might be a court case that challenges it. If we pass it. And the Supreme Court of the state of Arkansas will get to ultimately decide it.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:28:53
Appreciate a good vote. Madam Secretary,
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Speaker 292 4:28:57
please call the roll. front. Brant Caldwell, Clark. Clark Crawl. Crawl Davis. Days Days
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Chair Unverified 4:29:15
This man. Dotson, English. Lipo flowers, leave Gilmore. Hammer, leave, Hester, yes, Hickey Hill Irvin. Irvin Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King, letting. Letting
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Speaker 393 4:29:47
Now Love. McKee. Murdoch. Peyton Penzo. Enzo. Harry. Rice Rice Scott Yeah Stone. Stab afield? Savail? Sullivan.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:30:18
Tucker? Wallace. Would any member like to vote that has not or changed their vote, Senator Dees I. Anyone else Anyone else? Seeing that Madam Secretary, cast up the ballot by a vote of 13 yes, 13 nays. The bill fails. Members will start the final bill of the day.
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Speaker 62 4:30:50
Senate Bill 594. Senate Bill 594 by
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Chair Unverified 4:30:57
Senator McKee to amend the law concerning exemptions for certificates of public convenience and necessity for new construction to supply a public service or to extend a public service. Senator McKee, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr.
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Senator Matt McKee Unverified 4:31:09
President. Members, this is a very simple bill. All it does is clarify existing statute as to who is exempt from certain certificates issued by the Public Service Commission happy to answer any questions. Are
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:31:21
there any questions for Senator McKee? Seeing none. Would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill, seeing none Senator McKee, you are closed for the bill. Any objection
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Chair Unverified 4:31:36
to rolling the vote, seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Caldwell, Clark, Croll, Davis, Des, Dimaine Dotson English flippo Flowers leave, Gilmore Hammer leave, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting Love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Would any member like to vote
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:32:00
that has not or changed their vote, seeing, Madam Secretary cast up the ballot by a vote of 33 y and zero nays. The bill passes. Transmit to the house. Are there any announcements? Senator Crow, you recognize Reventa will meet in the old
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Senator Steve Crowell Chair Unverified 4:32:24
Supreme Courtroom 10 minutes after adjournment.
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:32:28
Any other announcements. Senator Hill, you're recognized. Insurance and
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified 4:32:34
commerce is meeting. We are not in the old Supreme Court room. We're actually going to be in 270 transportation, transportation. I've done that again. Yes, transportation. I think it's room 272. 207. Senator Irvin, you recognize?
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 4:32:56
Uh, public health will be meeting upon the adjournment of the Transportation Committee. We have, I think, 3 members that are on transportation, so approximately 30 minutes upon adjournment or upon the adjournment of transportation committee. Senator Alan Clark, you recognize
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Senator Alan Clark Chair Unverified 4:33:14
Judiciary Committee is meeting 15 minutes up on an adjournment in our normal meeting place rooms 171. Are there Any other announcements.
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Chair Unverified 4:33:26
Um, Secretary, anything to read across the desk? We were you on the gross bills to referred to Senate Bill 475 by Senator Dimain compared the engross copy of the original find same correctly
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:33:39
engrossed. In commerce. Insurance and commerce. Will you come on
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Chair Unverified 4:33:42
and gross to his first Senate Joint resolution 13 by Senator Dodson compared the grossed copy of the original and find the same correctly engrossed. State agencies Committee on a growth spills to the Senate Bill 538 by Senator Gilmore compared the engross copy of the ritual and find the same correctly engrossed. State agencies 613 by Senator Penzo to create an election procedure to determine fluoridation of a public water system Senate Bill 613. State
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Speaker 62 4:34:11
agencies. 14 by Senator Tucker to amend the freedom ofration Act of 1967 to mend the law concerning open public meetings, Senate Bill 614. State
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Chair Unverified 4:34:22
agencies 615 by Central Pennzo to amend the law concerning energy to regulate non-export facilities and to prohibit discrimination against
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Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified 4:34:33
non-export facilities, both 615. Insurance and commerce. Are there any announcements at this time? We're adjourned until 1 o'clock tomorrow, subject to clearing the desk.
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Agenda

Call to Order

2:38
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Roll Call

2:42
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Prayer

4:06
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Pledge of Allegiance

5:48
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Introductions of Senate Pages

6:35
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Announcements

7:46
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Doctor of the Day

59:14
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Items to be Read Across the Desk

9:29
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HB1523 - Motion to withdrawal HB1523 from Senate Public Health for purpose of Amendment

15:15
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SB426 - Motion to put SB426 on Second Reading for purpose of Amendment

15:46
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RESOLUTIONS FOR THIRD READING AND ADOPTION

18:15
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SR20 J. English TO COMMEND THE MAUMELLE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FALCONS BOYS' CROSS COUNTRY TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2024 CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

17:57
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SR21 J. English TO COMMEND THE MAUMELLE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FALCONS BOYS' GOLF TEAM FOR WINNING THE 2024 CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

22:07
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SR42 Hill TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF CABOT AS RECIPIENT IN 2024 OF A TRENDSETTER CITY AWARD FROM ARKANSAS BUSINESS AND AN HONORABLE MENTION IN THE ARKANSAS BUSINESS TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND CREATIVE CULTURE CATEGORY.

25:31
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SR51 K. Hammer TO RECOGNIZE THE BENTON HIGH SCHOOL PANTHERS BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAM AS THE CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONS.

31:19
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SR52 K. Hammer TO RECOGNIZE THE BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL HORNETS BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAM AS THE CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONS.

37:07
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SR53 M. Johnson TO HONOR TERRY KIMBROW, PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL BAPTIST COLLEGE, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS UPCOMING MAY 2025 RETIREMENT.

43:15
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SR57 Crowell TO RECOGNIZE THE MAGNOLIA HIGH SCHOOL PANTHERS DANCE TEAM AS THE 2024 CLASS 1A-4A STATE CHAMPIONS.

47:37
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SR58 Crowell TO RECOGNIZE THE ARKADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL BADGERS FOOTBALL TEAM AS THE 2024 CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONS.

49:09
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HOUSE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE II

51:46
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HB1705 Duke Bryant TO REQUIRE INFORMATION CONCERNING HOW THE RELIGIOUS AND MORAL BELIEFS OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS INFLUENCED THE FOUNDING OF THE UNITED STATES TO BE EMBEDDED INTO EXISTING SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS.

51:42
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HB1716 Cavenaugh Caldwell TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF TAXES BY THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION; AND TO PROHIBIT THE ASSESSMENT OF SALES AND USE TAX IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

59:57
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HB1760 Milligan Boyd TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE JURISDICTION TO CONSIDER CERTAIN PETITIONS FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF A PROPERTY ASSESSMENT.

1:01:41
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HOUSE BILLS WITH SENATE AMENDMENTS

1:03:40
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HB1525 #1 Steimel Caldwell TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING REAL PROPERTY; AND TO ADDRESS AGRICULTURAL IMPACT REMEDIATION AGREEMENTS.

1:03:42
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HB1814 #1 Gazaway B. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OVER UTILITIES; AND TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "PUBLIC UTILITY" UNDER TITLE 14, CHAPTER 200.

1:04:57
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SENATE BILLS TO CONCUR IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS

1:05:44
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SB293 #1 Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REQUIRED POSTINGS AT A POLLING SITE; AND TO AMEND THE LIST CONCERNING REQUIRED POSTING OF NOTICES, INFORMATION, AND MATERIAL AT A POLLING SITE ON ELECTION DAY.

1:05:46
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SENATE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE

1:07:14
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SB148 J. English TO ESTABLISH THE CREATING AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKERS ACT OF 2025.

1:07:17
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SB153 J. Dotson 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.

1:09:20
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SB160 J. Dotson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

1:11:28
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SB426 Hester TO CREATE THE DEFENSE AGAINST CRIMINAL ILLEGALS ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS WHO COMMIT SERIOUS FELONIES INVOLVING VIOLENCE.

1:14:29
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SB427 J. Bryant TO AMEND PROMOTING PROSTITUTION OFFENSES; TO ENHANCE THE PENALTIES FOR PROMOTING PROSTITUTION IN THE FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD DEGREE; AND TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF PROMOTING PROSTITUTION AT A BUSINESS.

1:22:50
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SB428 J. Bryant CONCERNING A CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO PROVIDE A STATUTE OF LIMITATION PERIOD OF TEN YEARS FOR A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

1:30:25
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SB429 J. Bryant TO EXPAND THE SEALING OF CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO PROVIDE THAT VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS; AND TO PROVIDE A MANDATORY NO-CONTACT ORDER IN A HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASE.

1:31:30
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SB430 J. Bryant AN ACT TO REQUIRE MANDATORY RESTITUTION TO BE AWARDED TO A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS CRIME VICTIMS REPARATIONS ACT.

1:34:04
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SB431 J. Bryant TO AMEND THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT OF 2013; TO ELIMINATE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES; TO CREATE SAFE HARBORS FOR VICTIMS; AND TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PRODUCTS THAT RESEMBLE A CHILD.

1:38:08
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SB442 J. Bryant TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO PROVIDE FOR FORFEITURE OF ASSETS USED TO CONDUCT HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF HARBORING AN ENDANGERED RUNAWAY CHILD.

1:38:16
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SB449 Dees TO PROVIDE CIVIL IMMUNITY FOR CONFISCATION OF ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE PRODUCTS, VAPOR PRODUCTS, ELIQUID PRODUCTS, TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND CIGARETTE PAPERS FROM A MINOR AT A SCHOOL.

1:47:05
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SB481 Gilmore TO CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM OF PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND STATE-OWNED PROPERTY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

1:48:58
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SB486 B. Johnson CONCERNING SAFETY AND PRIVACY IN CERTAIN ENTITIES; AND CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF MULTI-OCCUPANCY RESTROOMS, CHANGING ROOMS, AND SLEEPING QUARTERS IN CERTAIN ENTITIES BASED ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S SEX.

2:03:28
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Recess

2:09:11
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Reconvene

2:25:26
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SB489 G. Leding TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF A MONUMENT ON THE STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS IN RECOGNITION OF THE DESEGREGATION OF THE CHARLESTON AND FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN 1954.

2:25:34
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SB511 B. Johnson TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE IMPAIRMENT.

2:30:21
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SB512 B. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ROBBERY AND AGGRAVATED ROBBERY.

2:31:56
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SB513 B. Johnson TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF MAIL THEFT; AND TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF THEFT OR UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OF A MAIL RECEPTACLE KEY OR LOCK.

2:33:20
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SB514 B. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A SKIMMER; AND TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A SKIMMER FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS.

2:40:51
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SB519 J. Boyd TO AMEND THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW FOR LIFE INSURANCE; AND TO REGULATE THE PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON DEFERRED PAYMENT OF ANY CASH SURRENDER VALUE ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE POLICY.

2:43:15
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SB521 B. Davis TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING REIMBURSEMENT; AND TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD AFTER COMPLETION OF TRAINING FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT IS REQUIRED.

2:44:42
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SB523 Irvin TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; AND TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PRIVATE CLUB BE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

2:47:16
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SB536 D. Sullivan TO ABOLISH AND TRANSFER THE ARKANSAS STATE LIBRARY AND THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

2:49:45
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SB537 Gilmore TO CREATE THE EARNING SAFE REENTRY THROUGH WORK ACT; AND TO CREATE A SENTENCE CREDIT PROGRAM FOR A PERSON ON PROBATION, PAROLE, OR POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION TO EARN TIME CREDITS THROUGH EMPLOYMENT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

3:09:37
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SB539 Gilmore TO UPDATE AND CLARIFY CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE LAW REGARDING THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY CORRECTION AND THE DIVISION OF CORRECTION; TO CLARIFY REFERENCES TO COMMUNITY CORRECTION CENTERS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

3:12:16
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SB544 M. Johnson TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT.

3:14:37
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SB475 - Motion to withdraw SB475 for purpose of amendment

3:40:07
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SJR13 - Motion to withdrawn SJR13 for purpose of amendment

3:40:48
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SB538 - Motion to withdraw SB538 for purpose of amendment

3:41:30
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SB550 Hill TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY COMMISSION TO THE ARKANSAS BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH.

4:01:13
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SB564 Flippo TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BEER" TO CHANGE THE ALLOWABLE ALCOHOLIC CONTENT AND TO INCLUDE MALT BEVERAGES.

4:05:26
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SB570 J. Dotson TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE.

4:07:37
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SB571 J. Petty TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND ZONING REGULATIONS; AND TO PROHIBIT A MUNICIPALITY FROM ENFORCING BUILDINGS AND ZONING REGULATIONS ON COUNTY PROPERTY.

4:09:24
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SB574 J. Petty TO REQUIRE A MUNICIPALITY THAT OPERATES A WATERWORKS SYSTEM OR SEWAGE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO COUNTY PROPERTY IN CERTAIN INSTANCES.

4:12:43
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SB574 - Motion to expunge the vote by why SB574 failed

4:18:16
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SB586 J. Dotson TO CREATE THE "PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION ACT"; AND AMENDING A PORTION OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION AS AUTHORIZED BY ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 5, § 1.

4:18:32
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SB594 M. McKee TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION TO SUPPLY A PUBLIC SERVICE OR TO EXTEND A PUBLIC SERVICE.

4:30:52
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Budget Bills and their Emergency Clauses to be considered which have been introduced by Joint Budget Committee

3:42:53
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HB1094 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CESSATION PROGRAMS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

3:42:59
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HB1125 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION - REGULATORY DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

3:44:09
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HB1232 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE MILITARY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

3:45:05
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Budget Bills and their Emergency Clauses to be considered which have been introduced by Senators

3:46:11
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SB354 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF CORRECTION DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT APPROPRIATION

3:46:12
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Items to be read across the desk

4:33:43
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Announcements

4:32:19
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Adjourn

4:34:37
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Documents

No documents posted.

Speakers

Speaker 3
1 segment
Speaker 5
1 segment
Chair Unverified
434 segments
Senator Fredrick J. Love Unverified
13 segments
Speaker 27
3 segments
Speaker 30
2 segments
Senator Breanne Davis Chair Unverified
9 segments
Senator Joshua Bryant Unverified
55 segments
Senator Jonathan Dismang Chair Unverified
31 segments
Senator Kim Hammer Unverified
16 segments
Senator Clarke Tucker Chair Unverified
46 segments
Speaker 38
1 segment
Speaker 75
5 segments
Senator Bart Hester Chair Unverified
65 segments
Senator Justin Boyd Unverified
28 segments
Speaker 64
1 segment
Speaker 123
1 segment
Senator Jane English Unverified
7 segments
Speaker 130
2 segments
Speaker 132
1 segment
Speaker 139
22 segments
Senator Ricky Hill Unverified
13 segments
Speaker 164
3 segments
Speaker 216
1 segment
Senator Mark Johnson Unverified
49 segments
Speaker 226
1 segment
Speaker 227
3 segments
Speaker 41
1 segment
Speaker 204
1 segment
Speaker 116
1 segment
Senator Steve Crowell Chair Unverified
4 segments
Speaker 198
3 segments
Senator John Payton Unverified
8 segments
Speaker 296
11 segments
Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified
7 segments
Speaker 104
2 segments
Speaker 316
1 segment
Speaker 322
1 segment
Speaker 192
4 segments
Speaker 85
4 segments
Senator Jim Dotson Unverified
29 segments
Speaker 73
1 segment
Speaker 380
1 segment
Speaker 292
5 segments
Speaker 393
3 segments
Speaker 147
1 segment
Speaker 279
1 segment
Senator Terry Rice Unverified
13 segments
Senator Missy Irvin Unverified
10 segments
Senator Tyler Dees Unverified
5 segments
Senator Ben Gilmore Unverified
27 segments
Senator Reginald Murdock Unverified
10 segments
Speaker 452
13 segments
Speaker 451
18 segments
Speaker 190
1 segment
Senator Greg Leding Unverified
6 segments
Senator Dan Sullivan Unverified
16 segments
Speaker 295
5 segments
Speaker 479
1 segment
Speaker 502
3 segments
Speaker 515
1 segment
Speaker 17
1 segment
Speaker 523
8 segments
Speaker 528
2 segments
Speaker 255
1 segment
Speaker 414
1 segment
Speaker 539
1 segment
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified
10 segments
Senator Gary Stubblefield Unverified
1 segment
Speaker 567
2 segments
Speaker 252
1 segment
Speaker 574
1 segment
Senator Bryan King Unverified
14 segments
Speaker 119
1 segment
Speaker 596
1 segment
Speaker 494
1 segment
Speaker 150
1 segment
Senator Alan Clark Chair Unverified
2 segments
Speaker 632
1 segment
Senator Scott Flippo Unverified
2 segments
Senator Jim Petty Chair Unverified
10 segments
Speaker 641
3 segments
Speaker 62
2 segments
Senator Matt McKee Unverified
1 segment