State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs-Senate
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Bills discussed (56)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB293
Act 487
· 5 mentions in agenda, transcript, chapter
Matched: “…im Dotson CONCUR IN HOUSE AMENDMENT Number Sponsor Subtitle SB293 K. 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 |
|
SB489
Act 950
· 5 mentions in agenda, chapter, transcript
Matched: “…DIVIDUALS APPLYING FOR LIFE INSURANCE WHO ARE ORGAN DONORS. 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 |
|
SB536
· 3 mentions in agenda, chapter, transcript
Matched: “…UNDER A CERTAIN READING LEVEL; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. 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. |
|
HB1690
Act 583
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…AWS CONCERNING ACTIONS RELATED TO CERTAIN FOREIGN ENTITIES. HB1690 Pilkington TO TRANSFER THE NUCLEAR PLANNING AND RESPONSE PR…”
|
TO TRANSFER THE NUCLEAR PLANNING AND RESPONSE PROGRAM FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO THE … | Pilkington | Notification that HB1690 is now Act 583 |
|
HB1707
Act 524
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…NT, STATE BANK DEPARTMENT, AND STATE SECURITIES DEPARTMENT. HB1707 Hawk TO REQUIRE CERTAIN CANDIDATES TO FILE REPORTS WITH THE…”
|
TO REQUIRE CERTAIN CANDIDATES TO FILE REPORTS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE; TO AMEND PORTIONS … | Hawk | Notification that HB1707 is now Act 524 |
|
SB521
Act 748
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…O DESIGNATE A RESTROOM FOR CAMPAIGN WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS. 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 |
|
SB551
Act 764
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB551 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CANVASSING FOR A PETI…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CANVASSING FOR A PETITION FOR A LOCAL OPTION ELECTION. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB551 is now Act 764 |
|
SB570
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
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. |
|
SB584
Act 768
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB584 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL INITIATIVE AND…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB584 is now Act 768 |
|
SB586
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
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. |
|
HB1243
Act 994
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…GENCY. SB538 Gilmore TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PROCUREMENT LAW. HB1243 Underwood TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY REGARDING CAMPAIGN CONTR…”
|
TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY REGARDING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES; TO AMEND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING AND PROTECT … | Underwood | Notification that HB1243 is now Act 994 |
|
HB1352
Act 937
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…E ENFORCEMENT LICENSING BOARD; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. HB1352 Beaty Jr. TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS CONCERNING ACTIONS RELATED…”
|
TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS CONCERNING ACTIONS RELATED TO CERTAIN FOREIGN ENTITIES. | Beaty Jr. | Notification that HB1352 is now Act 937 |
|
HB1519
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NTEGRITY; AND TO AMEND PORTIONS OF INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996. HB1519 Cavenaugh TO ALLOW THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMME…”
|
TO ALLOW THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HIRING AND … | Cavenaugh | Died in House at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1524
Act 939
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…S; AND TO ALLOW A CURE PERIOD FOR INSUFFICIENT SUBMISSIONS. HB1524 Wooldridge TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE BIDDING PROCEDUR…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE BIDDING PROCEDURE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES. | Wooldridge | Notification that HB1524 is now Act 939 |
|
HB1604
Act 943
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…RTS. HB1714 Rose TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF PAID CANVASSER. HB1604 McAlindon TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PROHIBITED CONTRACTS…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PROHIBITED CONTRACTS BY STATE AGENCIES; AND TO PROHIBIT THE USE … | McAlindon | Notification that HB1604 is now Act 943 |
|
HB1694
Act 996
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. HB1694 Hawk TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ALTERNATIVES TO ELECTRONIC…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ALTERNATIVES TO ELECTRONIC FILING FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS. | Hawk | Notification that HB1694 is now Act 996 |
|
HB1713
Act 602
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…COMPLETION OF TRAINING FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT IS REQUIRED. HB1713 Rose TO REQUIRE BALLOT TITLES FOR INITIATED MEASURES TO BE…”
|
TO REQUIRE BALLOT TITLES FOR INITIATED MEASURES TO BE AT OR UNDER A CERTAIN READING … | Rose | Notification that HB1713 is now Act 602 |
|
HB1714
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…RNATIVES TO ELECTRONIC FILING FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS. HB1714 Rose TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF PAID CANVASSER. HB1604 McAl…”
|
TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF PAID CANVASSER. | Rose | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1774
Act 562
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NS OF INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. HB1774 Beaty Jr. TO AMEND THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ARKANSAS FAIR HOUS…”
|
TO AMEND THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ARKANSAS FAIR HOUSING COMMISSION. | Beaty Jr. | Notification that HB1774 is now Act 562 |
|
HB1803
Act 657
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…END THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ARKANSAS FAIR HOUSING COMMISSION. HB1803 Joey Carr TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF A MO…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE PLACEMENT OF A MONUMENT ON THE STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1803 is now Act 657 |
|
SB141
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…EN INTERIM COMMITTEES MAY MEET DURING A LEGISLATIVE RECESS. SB141 B. King TO ELIMINATE FUNDING TO THE ARKANSAS CENTER FOR HEA…”
|
TO ELIMINATE FUNDING TO THE ARKANSAS CENTER FOR HEALTH IMPROVEMENT. | B. King | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB212
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…OM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967 CONCERNING PERSONNEL RECORDS. SB212 K. Hammer TO CREATE THE DOCUMENT VALIDITY DIVISION; AND TO…”
|
TO CREATE THE DOCUMENT VALIDITY DIVISION; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | K. Hammer | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB247
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NATE FUNDING TO THE ARKANSAS CENTER FOR HEALTH IMPROVEMENT. SB247 C. Tucker TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS ABSENTEE VOTER INTEGRITY A…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS ABSENTEE VOTER INTEGRITY ACT OF 2025; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING … | C. Tucker | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB248
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE. SB248 C. Tucker TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967;…”
|
TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO AMEND THE PROVISIONS OF … | C. Tucker | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB395
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…AN INDIVIDUAL'S SEX. REGULAR AGENDA Number Sponsor Subtitle SB395 Hickey TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING STATEMENTS OF FINAN…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL INTEREST; AND AMENDING A PORTION OF ARKANSAS … | Hickey | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB398
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…HE DOCUMENT VALIDITY DIVISION; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. SB398 C. Tucker TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE PETIT…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; AND TO ALLOW A CURE … | C. Tucker | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB4
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…REFERRED TO VOTERS. DEFERRED BILLS Number Sponsor Subtitle SB4 C. Penzo TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS;…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS; AND TO ALLOW VOTERS TO ELECT "FOR" … | C. Penzo | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB434
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…PROCEDURE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES. SB434 J. Dotson TO CREATE THE "PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION ACT"; AND…”
|
TO CREATE THE "PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION ACT"; TO AMEND A PORTION OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION … | J. Dotson | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB439
Act 737
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…CTION DAY. RE-REFERRED TO COMMITTEE Number Sponsor Subtitle SB439 Irvin TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMEN…”
|
TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND LICENSING; AND … | Irvin | Notification that SB439 is now Act 737 |
|
SB44
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…LLOW VOTERS TO ELECT "FOR" OR "AGAINST" WATER FLUORIDATION. SB44 Hester TO CLARIFY THE LAW CONCERNING WHEN INTERIM COMMITTEE…”
|
TO CLARIFY THE LAW CONCERNING WHEN INTERIM COMMITTEES MAY MEET DURING A LEGISLATIVE RECESS. | Hester | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB453
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ION OF ARKANSAS LAW RESULTING FROM INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1988. SB453 B. King TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRIC…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. | B. King | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB468
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. SB468 C. Penzo TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING FLUORIDATION OF A PUBL…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING FLUORIDATION OF A PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM; AND TO ALLOWS VOTERS … | C. Penzo | Died on Senate Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB476
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ELECT "FOR" OR "AGAINST" WATER FLUORIDATION IN THE COUNTY. SB476 J. Scott TO ALLOW LEAVE FOR ORGAN DONATION FOR CERTAIN STAT…”
|
TO ALLOW LEAVE FOR ORGAN DONATION FOR CERTAIN STATE EMPLOYEES; AND TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST … | J. Scott | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB486
Act 955
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ARKANSAS CODE WHICH RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1914. 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 |
|
SB493
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…estrictions designating areas as 'Members and Staff Only'. SB493 J. Bryant TO TRANSFER AND CONSOLIDATE THE DUTIES OF TRADE-R…”
|
TO TRANSFER AND CONSOLIDATE THE DUTIES OF TRADE-RELATED BOARDS TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT LICENSING BOARD; … | J. Bryant | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB516
Act 761
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…STATE AGENCIES TO PURCHASE PROMOTIONAL ITEMS MADE IN CHINA. SB516 Gilmore TO ALLOW A PERSON FILING AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFF…”
|
TO ALLOW A PERSON FILING AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE OF THE … | Gilmore | Notification that SB516 is now Act 761 |
|
SB517
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…LE OF THAT POSITION AS A PREFIX WHEN FILING AS A CANDIDATE. SB517 J. Scott TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS;…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS; AND TO ALLOW A COUNTY BOARD OF … | J. Scott | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB538
Act 782
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Y AND THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. SB538 Gilmore TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PROCUREMENT LAW. HB1243 Under…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PROCUREMENT LAW. | Gilmore | Notification that SB538 is now Act 782 |
|
SB562
Act 704
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “AGENDA (Revised 4/1/2025 @ 8:30 AM) Removed SB562 Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OFFICE OF INTERNAL AUDIT; AND TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT … | Hill | Notification that SB562 is now Act 704 |
|
SB565
Act 936
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NING CANVASSING FOR A PETITION FOR A LOCAL OPTION ELECTION. SB565 Flippo TO ALLOW PROCUREMENT CERTIFICATIONS TO BE INCORPORAT…”
|
TO ALLOW PROCUREMENT CERTIFICATIONS TO BE COMBINED; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REPRESENTATION IN … | Flippo | Notification that SB565 is now Act 936 |
|
SB569
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NTATION Page 2 of 4 CONCERNING PROHIBITED CONTINGENT FEES. SB569 M. Johnson AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCER…”
|
AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING BALLOT TITLES OF PROPOSED MEASURES; AND AMENDING THE … | M. Johnson | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB578
Act 766
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…AW CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE. SB578 Hester TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EARLY VOTING; AND TO ALL…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EARLY VOTING; AND TO ALLOW A COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION … | Hester | Notification that SB578 is now Act 766 |
|
SB579
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…SE CERTAIN EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. SB579 M. McKee TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EM…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES; AND TO PROHIBIT A PUBLIC EMPLOYER … | M. McKee | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SJR11
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ORCE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OR AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW. SJR11 J. Payton A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO AMEND ARKANSAS CONS…”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO AMEND ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 2, § 5, TO PROTECT THE RIGHT … | J. Payton | Approved by the Governor. |
|
SJR12
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ARTICLE 2, § 5, TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. SJR12 C. Tucker AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION REQUIRI…”
|
AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION REQUIRING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ESTABLISH BY LAW A … | C. Tucker | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SJR13
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…AL ASSEMBLY TO ESTABLISH BY LAW A REVISED ELECTION PROCESS. SJR13 J. Dotson A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW A CANDIDATE F…”
|
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. |
|
SJR14
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ION OR INDEPENDENT STATUS WHEN RUNNING FOR JUDICIAL OFFICE. SJR14 J. Dotson A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE DETERMI…”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE DETERMINATION OF THE TRUE VALUE IN MONEY OF REAL PROPERTY … | J. Dotson | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SJR15
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…UE VALUE IN MONEY OF REAL PROPERTY FOR ASSESSMENT PURPOSES. SJR15 J. Dismang A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING ECONOMIC D…”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS; AND AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL … | J. Dismang | Approved by the Governor. |
|
SJR17
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…OMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SJR17 J. Dotson AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO CREA…”
|
AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS. | J. Dotson | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SJR18
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…O CREATE THE Page 3 of 4 ARKANSAS TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS. SJR18 J. Payton THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT. SJR22 G. Ledi…”
|
THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT. | J. Payton | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SJR2
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…E 5, § 1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS Number Sponsor Subtitle SJR2 B. King A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS A…”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS APPORTIONMENT COMMISSION TO APPORTION DISTRICTS FOR THE HOUSE … | B. King | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SJR22
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…RIGHTS. SJR18 J. Payton THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT. SJR22 G. Leding A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE QUALIFI…”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE QUALIFICATIONS TO VOTE IN AN ELECTION. | G. Leding | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SJR24
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…DMENT CONCERNING THE QUALIFICATIONS TO VOTE IN AN ELECTION. SJR24 M. Johnson AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCER…”
|
AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING INITIATIVES, REFERENDA, AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS REFERRED TO VOTERS. | M. Johnson | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SJR3
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…THE SENATE, AND THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SJR3 B. King A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHI…”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION. | B. King | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SJR6
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION. SJR6 B. King A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN…”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND … | B. King | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SJR9
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…GRAMS AND ASSISTANCE FOR POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION SERVICES. SJR9 B. King A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PERMITTING THE STATE OF…”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PERMITTING THE STATE OF ARKANSAS TO BE SUED AS A DEFENDANT IN … | B. King | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
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Chair sees a quorum. Welcome to state agencies. Members, please be sure and use your mics. And anybody wishing to speak for or against a bill, you need to sign up on the sign-in sheet. Where is it laying? Right over here by this gate. So
if you want to speak for or against a bill, please sign up for that.
We have some pages here. If y'all would stand up and be recognized by call your name. Madison Cox. She's homeschooled, and she's out of Senator Rice's district.
Zion McDaniel. He is from Little Rock Southwest High School, Senator Love's district. Marilyn Martinez. Welcome, all of y'all. She's from Little Rock Southwest High School, Senator Love's district. Deontay Mitchell. He's from Little Rock Southwest High School, Senator Love's district. Grace Finley, Gravette High School. and John Stone, Columbia Christian Academy. Welcome to all of y'all. Appreciate you being here.
All right, Senator Flippo is not going to be in the chair until after he gets done presenting a bill, but he was kind enough to join us so we could have a quorum and get started. Senator Hammer is not here.
Senator Clark is here. Let's sit here. I think Senator Letting has something to present. Now we're not there. S.B. 489. Go
ahead and invite them up. If they can introduce themselves and be recognized.
Senator Letting, you're recognized to present Senate Bill 489. Thank you, Mr. Chair, Mr.
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
1:49
Vice-Chair, members of the committee. Senator Greg Letting, District 30. I'll let my guests introduce themselves
Speaker 14
1:57
real quick. Melissa Moore, superintendent of Charleston School District. I'm
Speaker 15
2:01
Alan Wilburn, executive director of communications for Fayetteville Public Schools. Go ahead, you
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
2:09
recognize it. Okay, thank you. Some weeks ago, the legislature passed Act 251 of 2025.
This was a bill by Representative Fran Kavanaugh to place a monument on the Capitol grounds honoring Hoxie School District's contribution to integrating public schools in Arkansas. In the summer of 1955, the school district voted to integrate their schools, and they faced a significant but ultimately unsuccessful legal challenge. During discussion of that particular legislation, the communities of Charleston and Fayetteville both came forward to point out that a year prior to that, they had each already voluntarily integrated their public schools. Fayetteville is often credited inaccurately as being the first. I believe they voted on September 10th.
Charleston actually had done so on August of 23rd, just about two weeks prior to that, but had done so very quietly. And obviously this was long before social media. So there wasn't a lot of coverage of these things. But regardless, both schools voluntarily integrated their schools about a year prior to Hoxie. And not only were they the first two school districts in the state, they were the first two school districts in the South. So both communities, there were discussions with Representative Kavanaugh as her legislation made its way through. But both communities ultimately felt that
they certainly honor and appreciate Hoxie's contribution to integrating public schools in Arkansas. that if we're going to honor that story, we should tell a fuller story. And so both communities are here in support of this legislation. Senator Stubblefield was in here earlier. I believe he might have talked to a few of you about the legislation as well. I will say Representative John Eubanks, who represents Charleston, is not listed as a sponsor on the bill only because he did not text me back in time, but he is supportive of the legislation. And with that, I would allow the
people here with me to say away. - Okay.
Speaker 14
3:55
appreciate um your consideration of this bill being a leader and the superintendent of charleston now i have a lot of respect for the people that came before me and my dad was actually in charleston and and graduated in 1965 These children who integrated came in 1954, and so he was a student all the way through.
And I've many stories from him and from others in the community. Sadly, the generation that made those decisions is almost not with us anymore. Very few and far between. Do we have any of those folks that actually was on the school board or the superintendent, the leaders of that time? But I feel like that the decisions that the community, it was a unanimous decision in a board meeting.
And I can just tell you, as you all know, as legislators, there aren't many things that are unanimous anymore. But that was a unanimous decision supported by our community. And I would certainly like for the historic event to have the opportunity to be memorialized as well. - Thank you for your
testimony, it was lights out. You're recognized, sir. -
Speaker 15
5:17
Thank you, sir. The vote by the Fayetteville Board of Education on May 21st of 1954 is a proud moment in the history of the district.
We were fortunate in 2004 to reenact that event using high school students to represent the six men that were on the board that year, and actually had two of the members of the board that were there and they talked about how it was a foregone conclusion. Yes, we knew it was working its way through the court system and that the Supreme Court was going to rule and we were prepared to take those steps. But as was mentioned, it's been 71 years since that decision. And so many of the people that were involved that were there at that time are no longer here. And so we think it's an important memorial to remind of some important decisions that were made
that year in '54 and '55 all across
the state. - Thank you. So Senator Letting, is this gonna be part the same monument that Representative Kavanaugh proposed or is this a totally separate site separate monument what what exactly are we talking about here
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
6:11
so there were discussions as her legislation was working
the way through that maybe we could make this one monument she was determined to move forward and so once that legislation passed communities of Charleston and Fayetteville decided they would like to introduce their own legislation so at this time this would be a separate monument suppose it is possible though
that were this legislation to pass that all three communities could come together and collaborate on one monument.
And if I'm not mistaken, there's a monument committee or something like that that has to do a site selection. And so that's not things
that we discuss on your bill. Is that correct? Right. That's, yes, my understanding. We don't discuss the location
or site. So how satisfied are you that we have found the earliest record and there's no more hand raisers or arguments out there? I've been going to Branson for many years and
And the Bald Knobbers show and the Presley show both argue about who was the first show in Branson. And so I just want to make sure that before we put up monuments that we know how many we're going to put up. That's
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
7:14
a fair question. I would never wade into those waters. But on this matter, I am
fully satisfied. Okay. Is there anybody in the audience that claims their town was earlier? Okay. Anybody have any questions for Senator Letting? Senator Clark.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
7:30
I understand that we've already passed the one bill, but doesn't it make sense regardless of the representative's feelings that we have one monument? I
think it kind of devalues not to do one, mentioning those.
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
8:01
Right. I talked with Representative Kavanaugh while her bill was making its way through the
legislature. I've talked to her in the time since then, and I actually talked to her just this morning to let her know that we were still moving forward with this with the goal of perhaps there still being one monument at some time
in the future. But as now, with that bill being the only one that has passed, I believe that monument would
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
8:24
only recognize Hoxie's contribution. But that's not what your bill says. Your bill is another monument.
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
8:32
I see what you're saying. Our bill does not include Hoxie's contribution in it. And it lists and said
Speaker 38
8:37
only Fayetteville and Charleston. That is true. Because I think we've got a better chance of doing the
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
8:43
right thing if we have a bill that does the right thing than two separate bills that... are diverging and do something else. And I realize you can't force them, but you can put it in yours, whether anybody's willing or not, right? Yes. Because you don't always get your way.
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
9:03
Representative Kavanaugh doesn't always get her way. I certainly don't always get my way. I would say she probably gets her way
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
9:13
more often than either of us, but yes, that's true. But I just, not just speaking to you,
I'm speaking to the committee, that I think if we don't fix it as a legislature and start toward the right direction, that we're messing up. Wouldn't you agree? I would
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
9:29
agree that if we included Hoxie in this legislation,
then, yeah, there could be the potential of two monuments and Hoxie being recognized in both, but we would have satisfied our concerns by honoring the fuller story that we're trying to tell here with the
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
9:43
one monument. Right, and I think it should be told. I'm glad that there's more than
one. But I think that's the story, not two stories or three stories. So, all right, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Senator Clark. Senator Tucker,
you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Senator, have you visited with the Secretary of State's office about this? I have not. Okay.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
10:04
I'm just curious if they would, if this bill passed alongside Representative Cavill, I honestly would understand that there would just be a single monument for all three schools. I just
don't know. - I didn't know if y'all had that conversation or-- - Hadn't yet, did certainly plan to if the legislation advanced, but wanted to see
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
10:22
where we are with this legislation and what other things might come up during the discussion. - All right,
thanks. - So on the funding side of this,
can you explain, is it all gonna be private funding? - It would all be private funding just as with the previous monument. - And then after it's there, then
the maintenance becomes the state's responsibility? Once it's on the capitol grounds. Okay. Any other questions? Do we have anybody signed up to
speak for or against this bill? I don't think so. Seeing none signed up, do you want to close for
your bill? I will. I don't want to put him on the
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
11:00
spot, but I did notice that Senator Stubblefield stepped into the room, and I don't know if that was for another piece of legislation
or if he wanted to say something on this. If he's good, I'm certainly closed. Senator
Steppelfield, would you like to? Okay. What's the will of the committee? So I see a motion and a second do pass. Any discussion? All in
favor say aye. Any opposed? Congratulations. Your bill passed. Thank you, committee. Thank you.
Senator Hammer, did you want to present 293, concurring an amendment?
Absolutely. Have a seat. Introduce yourself, bring up your guest, and you'll be recognized. Kim
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
12:26
Hammer, State Senator, District 16, presenting on Senate Bill 293, amended. Good morning, Mr. Chair. My name is
Chris Madison
Unverified
12:39
Chris Mattis. I'm director for the State Board of Election Commissioners.
Thank you. You're both recognized to present an amendment for Senate Bill, or concurrent amendment for Senate Bill 293. Yes, sir. You want to
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
12:49
explain any amendment, or is that what you asked for? I'm sorry. You can present
however you want to present, but yeah, the amendment is the topic. Okay. It
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
12:58
already is adopted. Thank you. I'll let Chris explain and be quicker.
Chris Madison
Unverified
13:02
Real simple. This was incorporating Senator Tucker's comment for the pin site for the crossover voting. We agreed to amend it on the House side. We added that in. It's passed there. It's just back here to agree for that. I think it's on page 2, line 13, 14, somewhere down there, where we added the pin site.
Line 23, where we added the pin site for the specific crossover voting prohibition that you would ask for. Any questions from the committee? Is
there anybody in the audience that signed up to speak
for or against this amendment? Senator Hamber, you want to close for the amendment? Thank you.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
13:37
I'm closed. I make a motion to pass as amended. The motion is
to concur in the amendment, the House amendment. That's my motion, to concur in the amendment. I have a second. Any discussion? All in favor say aye.
Oh, did you want to discuss it? I thought you were. Okay, we've got a
motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Congratulations. We have concurred
we have any committee members that need to present?
Senator Sullivan, which one will
you be presenting? Okay, Senator Sullivan, you're recognized to present Senate Bill
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
14:52
536. Senator Dan Sullivan, District 20. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a bit of history on this.
You know, it had a bill filed, 184, and it passed the Senate, but we held
it out of the House because some people came to me with better legislation and better ideas. I think this is really a good bill. It's very comprehensive. It brings about accountability and some innovative improvements. One of the things that the Senate, our primary jobs is oversight, not only of services, but money and resources.
And that's what this bill does. brings some innovative approaches and aligns our library system with our Department of Education. So what
is this about? It's about oversight, innovation, accountability, and opportunity. During the transformation a few years ago we had 42 cabinet level agencies, 200 boards and commissions,
and we reorganized that into 15 cabinet positions. No services or functions etc were eliminated. So that's
pretty much what we're proposing right now you know
I think most of you are aware the original bill had AETN in it and that board when I had some changes I asked them to make and their functions there was a phone call a meeting a handshake and written in in writing what
the changes would be and I brought that same opportunity to the library board
I met with them a couple of weeks ago and had two requests, very simple requests. One, to come up with a written statement on how
they were going to protect children from sexually explicit material. Some members at the time said, "We already do that," and my response was, "Fine, this shouldn't be very hard." And the second one was that
they disassociate with the American Library Association. And I want to go into that just a a little bit. The American Library Association a year ago, two years ago, their CEO director said proclaimed personally she was a Marxist intending
to cause trouble. Those are her
words not mine. They are heavily involved in DEI and if you looked up on your computer ALA and DEI you'll see it is replete with those statements. The ALA even is essentially boycotting with their conventions and activities. They're boycotting states that don't agree
with their principles. That's in writing. I have that document. So if you have stand
your ground laws, they oppose that. If you have bathroom bills, they oppose that. If you have boys and girls sports, none of those align with what the ALA says is part of their mission. So they're boycotting us, yet we're standing firm with them. And by the way, there are 10 or 12 states that
have ended their affiliation with the ALA. When these things happened, I never heard a word from our libraries. Not one librarian that I'm aware of ever stood up and said
we disagree. I take that back. We had one that called me. She called the ALA and and they told her they didn't care. That was the end of that. But when all these things transpired and they've been transpiring since 2016 through 2019 through 2024,
all these things have occurred and not one of our librarians or libraries has said a word about that. I spoke to a number of those library directors before this meeting about two weeks ago and gave them those two conditions.
If they would do those two things, if it seemed rather simple, I would pull the bill down. They voted four to three not to do that. Didn't ask why, but I did call most
all the board members prior to the vote. I've also, since then, after I filed the bill, spoken to
a lot of people, directors. Matter of fact, my home director at the Craighead County Library sent out a letter opposing the bill, saying she was afraid of this and afraid of that,
clearly opposing the bill. And when I talked to the board director, he had not even read the bill. That was true of a number of library board members that I spoke
to. They oppose it without reading it. I spoke with Ashley County, Baxter Regional, many others.
If you look on many of the websites for your libraries, they have the ALA as part of their policy. If you go to the CALS library website, they just take you directly to the link
for the American Library Association. Others have just cut and pasted those things in there. Talked to a lot of people who have gotten a very similar letter that I got from my local library from their regions, and when I called them, many of them have not read the bill. I talked to a lady this morning who called and was upset. You're taking our
funding and I actually read from the bill and what it does about funding and she said, you're a liar and I don't trust you.
That conversation didn't last very long. I'm still wondering why some of our people, people of
great concern have not spoken to the board members. Why did they turn that down on such an easy opportunity? I do wanna go through the bill real quickly. I don't want to take a lot of time, but there are some critical points because the bill does some really good things, some innovative ideas and also some accountability.
And folks, from my estimation, that's what this is about. The libraries, the local libraries want to be independent. They want to take state money with no accountability. That's pretty much what I hear. And as one of our primary jobs is accountability and distribution of funding, those are all important things. And by the way, I think our Department of Education has done a great job in managing the LEARNS Act and ACCESS and those bills, which by the way,
have DEI in them, and the legislature has stood up against DEI strongly in the past, yet where our libraries refuse to make a statement against that. So on page one of the bill, you'll notice it abolishes the state library. That's where most
people stop reading because it then reestablishes all those functions. And if you read underneath that, although
it abolishes that, all the authority functions, records, contracts, personnel, personnel, personnel,
unexpended balances of appropriation, allocations, other funds, including the function of budgeting and purchasing are transferred to the Department of Education. So some of
you are business people, been in business. You know often businesses sell. And when they sell, they transfer, everything stays. Leadership changes. That's essentially what's under here. And I think most of you know, the library is already under the Department of Education. This is not something new. They're under the Department of Ed,
but there is a library board in there that kind of is a buffer of sorts in between there. And if you'll read line 32, except as otherwise provided in this act. The Arkansas State Library statutory powers duties. Again, it repeats all of those things that remain. So they're not gone. On page two, abolishment of the Arkansas State Library. Again, it just goes
under the Department of Education. There's no big changes.
The rest of it is pretty much just stricken until you get
down to page seven. And again, one of the complaints is that we're going to lose services. I'm
sorry, page eight on line 22. Arkansas code is amended to read the following depository of federal, state, and local documents. So these are still the archive, which is really their main function.
And in line 31, the Department of Education may transfer assets to help pursuant. So you could read all those, the Depository of Library Programs, Library Eligible. So they're just switching who's in charge there. If you look over in page nine, line 15, State and Local Government Publication Clearinghouse. So when you talk to people who are opposed to this bill, They don't read or didn't understand
that all these are just transferred over to the Department of Education. They're not done away with. If you look over on page 11, you see in line 11, 10 and 11, State Library is stricken and that is now referred to as the Arkansas State Archives. Title change, State Library Agency, another title change. the library in the state designated by the secretary of the Department of Education.
So we're just transferring that oversight responsibility to that group. I'm on page 12, again, the same thing, the state archives. This is a big one, line 17 and 18. A lot of people are concerned we're gonna lose the digital library that it's really used a lot. And this mentions that right there, the Department of Higher Ed and the Arkansas State Archives shall maintain, it's already been developed,
shall maintain a digital collection of information. That's old language, that's not new language. We just changed the title there. Down at the bottom, section 17, and I'm now on the top of page 13. You know, when Act 372 went before the court, the court struck out a couple of parts of that, and I disagree with them. However, the court did lay some frameworks of what we needed to do differently, and that's laid out here.
So one of the things the court says that you can segregate material to protect children. That's not against the law. The federal court said you can do that. They disagreed with how we did it and said it needed to be more specific. That's what this does. Age-appropriate material means, and we lay out the context there. The subheading, line eight, sexual contact is defined by US code 2246. It talks about in that code, contact with human genitalia.
Age appropriate material does not include educational material. One of the recommendations from the court, separate educational material. This bill does that and leaves it up to the library on how they do that. Again, there's a lot more language there. I'm just trying to highlight some of the things I know the court said, and I know the opposition's gonna say, I'm on page 14, sexual education material means age appropriate information. And if you read down through there, it talks about, I think, 16 years of age.
So one of the things the court said, you need to have some plugs in there or gaps in there that distinguish what's appropriate at different ages. You can't just say 18, although we do all the time. The federal judge said, do it differently. so we did it differently. If you get down to line 13 on page 14, a state plan. Now notice that is new language. So apparently they've not had to have a state plan before. A document that includes without limitation.
Folks, this is what accountability is. And if you wanna have a quality program, you have to have accountability. Line 18, it's just oversight. the assurance and the establishment of the state's policies, priorities, and criteria. So when we say we have stand your ground laws, we protect children in bathrooms, in sports, all the things, DEI, all those policies that we have, this is our, this is the part of the bill that says, we have oversight over that.
And if the ALA or others are gonna say, we don't want your oversight, if the State Library Board says, We don't recognize your oversight. That's why that's new language in this bill. If you look down at line 33, provide specialized services to individuals who are blind and individuals with physical disabilities. Again, that's underlined new language. Page 15, line one, assist with the establishment
and development of county library systems. So when people say you're putting our library out of service. That's not what the bill says. The bill says we're to assist in keeping you going and regional. Conduct in line seven, people complain, well, we're gonna lose all our resources. Line seven, conduct educational programs, develop or improve. Courses and library instruction, regional library leadership, all that's in there. Line 15, take steps to fulfill the actions under US code
and to utilize federal grants. So the goal there is to help our libraries, just the opposite of what you hear. I'm down in line 29, the Department of Education, this is a big one, may promulgate any necessary rules for the department to fulfill its obligations under this subchapter with the requirement of Arkansas administrative procedures. That's called oversight, that's what we do. The next few lines add to that. over on page 16. I shall administer a program to distribute funds appropriate to the General
Assembly. So right now it's a capitated rate and people get the money based on their population. Folks, I think that's a bad idea. We've got a library that has the highest millage in the state, 4.3. They also get $500,000 plus, about one-tenth of the money. The state allocates 5.8 million, they get almost 10% of that, yeah, 10% of that goes to one library who hires social
workers and who has a library of things. Now, is that what our libraries, is that their primary responsibility or is it education? Now, I don't know why no one has addressed that. It's in the law. They didn't have a choice, but they could have come to us and said, it's time to change it. Well, I'm ready to change it. State aid may be made available to public libraries that satisfy all of the requirements, accountability. We're not gonna give out state money
and just say you have no oversight, which has been how they operate. And you can read down through there what that list is, but it sets
out some pretty good things, including prohibiting access to age inappropriate materials to a person who is 16 years or older. I'll tell you, just the thing I saw
in research, you know, the bill 372 was kind of killed over the judge saying it was inappropriate and the part that was inappropriate was harmful to children.
Guess what CALS has on their policy about posting material on their bulletin boards? They will not post material that's harmful to minors, yet they sued the state over that. and that's true in multiple policies around the state. I'm on line 15 on page 17. United States Department of Education, Council for Higher Education. You
know, one of the things that we passed, Senate Bill 81, which said a librarian
didn't have to have a master's degree or
you could take the master's degree approved by ALA. Well, I had a lot of feedback
from librarians that said, We should be a professional organization. Okay, valid point. I put it back in there. A master's degree in library science would
be necessary. However, it doesn't say approved by the ALA. It says approved by the Department of Education or Council on Higher Education Accreditation. And then it outlines staff
development that I believe might be new.
So when complainers said this is a bad bill, It gave back to them something that was very critical to them. I thought it was critical. Nobody called and said, I like the bill, I hate the bill except for this. I'm on page 18. Again, it continues with the director of record is actively pursuing minimum qualification. So if you have a problem hiring somebody, then it lays out a time period and a pathway to get that accreditation.
Line 10, the public library under supervision. So there's supervision there, accountability. I
kind of don't blame people for not liking, have to be accountable. Line 19, page 21, I'm sorry, page 19, line 22. A long range
plan developed for the purpose of guiding the public library administration to the attainment of goals and future planning
and approved by the Governing Board.
How unique a plan that people oppose. I'm on page 20, determination of eligibility
so they can appeal the process. I'm on page 21, the secretary shall consider all available information so if you appeal. This is great, this is one, I really love this one. 32, page 21, 32. Each qualifying library receives the same base allocation,
which they do now. Except as provided under subdivision of this section, the department may establish an incentive program to improve a public library. Incentive program. Now what might that be? Might that be a million dollars for libraries to hire someone trained in the science of reading and we give out $500,000 in grants for libraries to do that and rather than handing out fishing rods
and have gardens and have social workers that we're actually focused on reading and we're giving out incentive grants to do that. I mean, how can we have a library of things and have a library that doesn't have people specialized in the science of reading. You know
who has one of the largest staff development databases in the state? The Department of Ed. Already
talked to the Department of Ed. Right now you have to be a licensed teacher or in a school to access that.
They're ready to change that. They're ready to allow libraries, homeschoolers, charter schoolers to access their database. Wouldn't it be great if they had some online courses in the science of reading? Nobody's asked for that. Maybe I'll have some people testifying in a minute. They'll tell you why. I want line 22. Line two is
consistent with the public policy of the state.
You know, this is why I got involved with this. They have the public policy of the state. It doesn't appear our state library
held anybody accountable to the policies of the state. Stand Your Ground, DEI, that whole list we've gone through several times, those are policies of the state, and yet the library board did not hold our libraries accountable in any way for that. That's what oversight is.
I'm on page 23, State and local government clearinghouse on line 13. Line one of 24, the Arkansas State Archives may include its online database. So all these things that people will testify that you're putting our libraries out of business, it's just not true. The publication of annual benefits reports and the reports that are due. Of course, that's old language.
Line, page 26, line 6, again, old language, but more oversight. Last thing, page 28, this does have an emergency clause to it. And folks, we need an emergency clause. Things are not getting done at that level. When I offer the libraries and I've called them individually and said, if you'll vote to do two things, tell us how you're going to protect children. Well, we already do that, they said. Okay, then just write it down. How would you like to have an assignment like that?
And two, disassociate, disaffiliate with the ALA who deny
state policy and fights against state policy. Agree or disagree with state policy, it's state policy. And why would we do business
with somebody that does that? We won't let Chinese nationals own farmland in the state, but we'll let a Marxist be the leader of a organization that works against the state of Arkansas and boycotts the state of Arkansas?
I have got, I'm not gonna go through any of it, but I got a ton of DEI stuff. I've got the financials for everybody. So when people say, if someone says, we don't have enough money to do whatever it is they wanna do, we know how they're spending their money. And folks, it's been on things like a library of things and other things, to my knowledge, rather than what we're doing for the science of reading or things that promote that.
The presidential orders to continue the reduction in the elements of the federal bureaucracy that the president has determined are unnecessary. One of those is the Institute of Museums and Library Services. So they're gonna start defunding those. And people are afraid, and rightly so, that we at the state level are going to defund them. But folks, they got a choice. They can be under the accountability that we are sworn to uphold, or they can choose not to, or they can go to their local county
and raise their property tax. Again, I don't want to go through all the documentation we have here, but there's just tons of it. If you go to the Cal's library page and you look at their policy, It takes you directly to ALA. If you go to other, and I won't mention the counties, they may be here. I don't want to embarrass them, I think it would be. It's just cut and paste for ALA. The only thing I can assume, it can't be that hard
to write a statement on how we're going to protect children if you already do it. The only reason I
can think of that they would not vote for that is their affiliation to the ALA, American Library Association is greater than their affiliation to the state of Arkansas. With that,
I'll take any questions. - Thank you, Senator Sullivan. So the American Library Association, how much money do they put into the funding for
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
39:21
Arkansas libraries? - I have no idea. They have a $55 million budget total.
I don't know. I think they give out some grants. I don't have that on my financial sheet. I do have how much money we've given to them, which isn't a lot, you know, several,
maybe $10,000, $12,000. That we've given to ALA. Yes. Okay, and what
was the, you referenced fishing poles? Yeah. What
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
39:45
was that about? I think, and I'm not sure, maybe one of the people that's testifying can do that, but I think the Game and Fish may have a program that they allow libraries
to hand out Game and Fish materials. We have some giving out garden equipment, rakes, chainsaws, lawn mowers. Loaning it out, giving it out? Well, they check
it out. At a library? Yes. A chainsaw? One has a large garden. Don't hold me to
do chainsaw. I know they give out lawn equipment and lawn things. Maybe people testifying can testify to what those things are. I've been amazed that nobody calls and asks. The people that call me, you're shutting us down.
Well, what about the Library of Things? And people have large gardens. And listen, if they're getting grants to do that, have at it. If their county wants to pay for that, have at it.
If the state's going to pay for it, I want to know. Senator Clark, you're recognized
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
40:49
for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Senator Sullivan, tell me again, I didn't quite catch it, what were the two things you asked the board to do and they voted not to do?
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
40:58
I asked them to do, and at least with each member of the board, I said I would like for you to have a statement, non-binding, because the board cannot bind anything, a non-binding statement on how they will protect children from sexually explicit material. Okay. And the goal there, Senator, just to be clear, the goal was if they make a statement and that's part of what we do, then in the summer, we can call libraries in,
in the education committee, and say, so do you have a statement, why or why not? And then in the fiscal session next year, to maybe hold people fiscally accountable. Okay,
so that's the first thing. And the second one was just disaffiliate
with the ALA. And that was just the state board and the state library. It didn't apply to any county libraries
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
41:56
at all. And if they had done those
two things, you would have pulled this bill?
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
42:02
Yes, sir. Thank you. And you were clear about that? Very. It's
on video. They said at the meeting, Senator Raypert made several motions close to these. Members of the board restated them. And if I remember correctly, a member, at least one member of the board, said we already do those things. they still voted four to three not to. So when people say Dan's taking away,
book ban Dan is taking away their library and killing their library, they chose that path, not me. And again, just for the record, when AETN had all their financial problems and we called them in and had hearings and went through all of that, when they had their significant problems and the governor was appointing more people to the board, I met with multiple board members. I called the director, and I called the chair of the board. The chair of the board and I met for about two or three hours, two hours.
On a handshake, we agreed on what they would do to improve their function. I expect them to
keep their end. I'll keep my end, and I have the amendment on 184 striking the AETN from that bill, and it's not at all in this bill, so they'll stay functional. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Senator Clark. Senator Tucker, you recognize
her question? Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know there are a
Speaker 49
43:30
lot of people who came to testify, and I don't want to take their time, so I'm just going to ask a couple questions. Have you visited with
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
43:38
Secretary Oliva about this, and what's the ADE's position on this? I'm not going to speak for
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
43:44
him. You'll need to speak for him. I feel confident that they can do all in this bill. Okay. If
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
43:50
there's anyone from, at the appropriate time, Mr. Chair, if there's anyone from ADE in the room, I'd like to just invite them up and so they
can. Is there anybody from Department of Education that can answer his question? If
you would, take a seat and introduce yourself and you'll be recognized to
Speaker 114
44:13
to answer Senator Tucker's question. - Daniel Schultz, general counsel for the department. I obviously, the education committee goes on at the
Speaker 115
44:25
same time. So I was asked to cover this this morning. - Yes, sir. You've got some experience in this committee as well. - It is a pleasure to be back. - Yes, sir. - The secretary in giving that direction told me that he is confident that the agency will be able to fully fulfill the goals set out in the law both currently and as
Speaker 119
44:46
reconstituted and will be able to fulfill the
obligations set forth by the ADE. Okay.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
44:50
I expected that to be the, you know, at least part of the agency's answer, which is that if this is the law, we will comply, right, to the best of our ability. Does the agency have any position on whether this is good for libraries or in our concern? The agency, I
Speaker 115
45:07
don't know that we have an official position on the bill, but I do know that we We believe efficiency is good,
Speaker 124
45:13
we believe protecting children is good, and the bill's been reviewed, and we're comfortable with it.
Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Daniel. Thank you. While you're
here, let me see if anybody else would like to ask a question. Anybody else, any other committee
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
45:34
members have a question? All right. Thank you. Thank you, Daniel. I'll respond to that. Sure. I'll respond to that also. So, you know, my experience is when you need something good, done well, give it to somebody who's doing good well. The Department of Education has been doing some great innovative things. School choice, charter schools, funding.
They're doing some really good innovative things in the state. It's time that the libraries came on board and started being more innovative with what they do with the focus of what they do. Our focus in our libraries should not be on gardening or those other things. If they want to do that, fine. Our focus should be on reading. And I wonder why we don't have any libraries using funding to hire people trained in the science of reading. I'm wondering why we don't have databases with that training available,
which the Department of Education can do. And folks, I would not give an agency something I hadn't talked to and they can't do. Last thing I want is them to get up here and say, Sullivan's promising stuff we can't do. I know what they can do. They know what they can do.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
46:41
Okay. Thank you. So the emergency clause takes effect on July 1st. So the effect
of that is if a library in Arkansas isn't fully compliant, if this were to pass and a library in Arkansas is not fully compliant with it as of July 1st, then they could lose funding at that time, correct?
Speaker 128
47:00
If people don't fully comply? - If they haven't fully complied? - If they haven't, that
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
47:05
will be up to determination. I mean, you can read the emergency clause and you can read what's in the bill. They have an opportunity to appeal. So if the Department of Education takes action that they don't like, they can appeal that. So if they're not ready and they appeal the process and the secretary says, "Why aren't you ready?" And they say, "We don't like your oversight, we quit." Or they say, "Look, we had people sticking out."
There's all kinds of reasons that people could not be ready that would be justifiable. Okay, so
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
47:36
there's a process in the bill that they wouldn't necessarily lose funding on July 1st. It's in the bill. Okay. All right, there's one compliance piece I want to ask you about, and then I'll defer my time. It's starting on page 16.
Subsection B starting on line five, that's where it says state aid shall
be made available to a public library that satisfies all of the following requirements. One of the requirements on that same page on line 16 and 17 is prohibit access to age inappropriate materials to a person who is 16 years old or younger. And then we're still in the
same, actually, subsection B, if you move over to page 19 of the bill. And it's subdivision 5B, subsection B on lines 5 and
6. And it says the collection under subdivision B5A, which is just the general collection of the library. Shall not include any materials described under Arkansas Code Section 5-68-5012.
And I've pulled up that section on my phone and that's a definition in the criminal code of what's harmful to minors. And so anyway, that's a long way of saying that. In the bill, libraries are prohibited from having in their collection anything that's harmful to miners. And that's different than, this is what I'm trying to understand. Originally, I thought we were moving at segregating materials where miners don't have access to it,
but this seems to go, and I may be misreading it, that's why I'm asking. This seems to go a step further and says the collection under subdivision B5A of this section shall not include any of these materials. So are we now removing them from the library entirely or just
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
49:57
segregating them from - I would understand that to segregating it. The rest of the
bill talks about segregating material for children, for age inappropriate material. And again, if you look at the policy of most of our libraries, including CALS,
they use that exact same language. So if one says it can't have it in here, then you need to go to most every library in the state of Arkansas. And you can start right
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
50:24
here with yours and tell them to take it out. - Okay. Okay, your
position is that it's segregating material. Yes. Okay, that's not the way I read that section. That section says the collection shall not include any materials, which to me says it can't be included at all. And so that may just be a difference in interpreting that language.
Speaker 136
50:44
We've disagreed before on things, and we're disagreeing again. Yeah,
okay. All right, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Senator Tucker. Any other questions from committee members? Alright, I think we have several members of the audience that would like to speak, so we'll just start top
of the list here. Misty Hawkins, Director of the Arkansas River Valley Library System. You're going to be speaking against. Yes.
Five. You want to make a motion?
Okay. Ms. Hawkins, you're recognized. Introduce yourself, please, for the record. Pull
Chair
Unverified
51:33
that microphone close. They're not very loud today. Okay. I'm Misty Hawkins, and I'm the regional director for the Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System, and I serve Franklin, Johnson, Logan,
and Yale counties. Okay. You're recognized to speak against 536.
Chair
Unverified
51:48
Okay. Thank you for the opportunity to address the committee today.
I've dedicated over 15 years to Arkansas Public Libraries, but until this year, I never felt compelled to attend a legislative session in person. Now, this marks my eighth visit to the Capitol and my third time speaking before committees, all to encourage and build a deeper understanding of libraries in our state and to ensure our legislative body is well-informed. SB 536 would have a direct and negative impact on every library in Arkansas, regardless of size.
There is no real benefit to this legislation, and it creates far more problems than it claims to solve. This bill exemplifies a wicked problem for several reasons. The issues SB 536 attempts to address are non-existent. This bill imposes a necessary bureaucracy where local governance is already effective. The bill lacks measurable
Speaker 149
52:57
objectives, making it impossible to determine whether it achieves anything meaningful.
Instead, it creates ongoing uncertainty and compliance burdens. Once implemented, its consequences will be impossible to reverse.
Chair
Unverified
53:15
Loss of funding, whether due to compliance or lack thereof, will permanently harm local libraries, especially in rural areas that already struggle with resources. A one-size-fits-all solution does not exist. Arkansas libraries serve communities with unique needs.
Small and large libraries face different challenges related to funding, staffing, and community priorities. A blanket policy will not work for everyone. SB 536 overrides local decision-making and impacts stakeholders. Parents, educators, librarians, students, and community leaders all have a stake in library services. This bill undermines their ability to work together
to make decisions that reflect local needs. Rather than imposing broad, irreversible restrictions based on false statements, please support solutions that strengthen libraries and expand opportunities for all Arkansans, like early literacy interventions, preparing children for school, workforce training programs helping job seekers gain skills, partnerships in economic development connecting local businesses with resources,
As Senator Sullivan mentioned several times, libraries already play a vital role in positive impact through our programs and our services, like gardens, feeding the homeless, serving as a food pantry, providing social services to areas that may not have
Speaker 149
55:06
them. Instead of attacking them, Arkansas should be investing in and expanding these successful community-driven initiatives.
today I urge you to vote against SB 536 but beyond this vote I ask
Chair
Unverified
55:21
you to do one more thing actually visit your library firsthand see for yourself the impact they have on people and your communities thank you
you prepared to take questions I believe so okay so I'm i'm gonna go first absolutely you made some statements about this bill would be detrimental
libraries this bill would do can you demonstrate any of that can you definitely give us exactly how is
it going to okay do that so
Speaker 152
55:56
i i serve four counties i will not be able to sign my name and say that in good faith I can
Speaker 157
56:06
follow this piece of legislation it I cannot so what part of it what part of it
Speaker 149
56:16
well number one it has an emergency clause to make this to where I would
have to go in and I have seven library locations so that means all of our library locations we will have to restructure our our books or do we need
Chair
Unverified
56:33
to do that like it doesn't say well I'm sure that Senator Sullivan
hadn't visited all seven of your libraries to point out which book needs to be
moved where but do you not have some a librarian that knows and catalogs all your
Chair
Unverified
56:51
books that's the point we're trying to make we have been doing this all along we do not need a law to tell us that our things are in age appropriate materials or 16 years and older that's not how we categorize books so so you disagree with the premise it's
not that you can't do it you just don't want to do
Chair
Unverified
57:12
it no it's that we legally cannot do like how are we going to do this how how do we decide what book is for a 16 year old and what book is for a 15 year old which
book is for a 17 year old and what and then if
Speaker 157
57:29
we choose to put this in an area that is not accessible that's also illegal
Chair
Unverified
57:37
because we've seen that happen across the state right now we we are literally between a rock and a hard place in our jobs so you have no
standards you're not used to having any standards
Speaker 152
57:51
we've always had standards absolutely we have different collections
I'm going to recognize Senator Hammer for a question. Okay. Actually, Mr. Chair, you're hitting
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
58:01
on what I'm going to ask for. Yes, sir. I'm going to ask this of everybody that comes. Instead of speaking in generalities, as far as this bill, I believe it open-ended, be specific with specific examples. I think that would help us as a committee understand instead of just a broad net, but a specific one to anybody that comes. Thank you.
Thank you. - Any other questions for Ms. Hawkins?
Go ahead, Senator Clark. - Thank you,
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
58:31
Mr. Chair. The first question is the two things that Senator Sullivan asked the State Board to do. Let's begin with number one, a non-binding statement of a policy to protect children. Is that something you think
they shouldn't have done? They did. They did?
They did. So Senator Sullivan's not telling us
Chair
Unverified
58:59
the truth? That's up to Senator Sullivan. But they did create a non-binding policy during that
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
59:07
meeting. Okay. Senator Sullivan, would you respond, please? Senator Sullivan,
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
59:14
you're recognized. Thank you. Yeah, the board voted. It's on
video. On those two motions, the board voted four to three to not decline to do those.
Now, they may have done something subsequent to that, but
I've not received anything, and the board vote is of record.
Chair
Unverified
59:35
Thank you for that input. Yes, it is. It is of record. Ms.
Speaker 149
59:41
Lupe de Pina, she's the one who made the motion for a non-binding policy and created the collections. Like she did, she said she did it based off of her conversation and what needed to be stated right then and there,
Chair
Unverified
1:00:01
like based off of her previous conversations with Senator Sullivan. So, I mean, that's on the video. So I
can attest to ALA, though. That decision wasn't made on the video.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:00:15
Okay. Because you're against this bill, but I'm not sitting here, you're not sitting here, if that was done.
Chair
Unverified
1:00:25
Absolutely. We've said that from the get-go, though. Like, I've talked to
Speaker 149
1:00:29
Senator Sullivan on many occasions, and I told him, we have no institutional membership.
The State Library has no institutional membership. They've stated that on multiple occasions in board meetings. No, no, no, no, no. If we're this much against
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:00:41
the bill, and the board's this much against the bill, and the two things that are presented is all that had to be done to make Senator Sullivan happy. I can tell you that if I was on the board, I would have not only, if I was going to do them, I not only would have done them, I would have communicated very clearly with Senator Sullivan
that they were done, and I can't see that that's been done. If I
may continue, Mr. Chair. Yes, continue. Direct and negative impact.
What's the direct and negative impact of this bill? Senator Hammer talked about being specific.
Chair
Unverified
1:01:36
Okay. So if we immediately dissolve the state library, the services that are currently provided, we do not know
Speaker 149
1:01:52
if they are going to be continued. We don't know. It appears to
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:02:00
me that it says here in the bill that they are going to be continued.
I mean, that's what I read. Is that not what you read? That's not how I
Speaker 149
1:02:19
read it, no. Well, again, then reading becomes an issue. I think interpretation does. There are also shalls and mays in the bill as well. In page 14 and 16, where it says the ADE may distribute funding and we shall do our part and they may distribute funding.
That's an issue. Okay, so. So that leads
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:02:42
me to think that I probably. You have an issue with the trust in the Department of Education? Absolutely. Okay. But again, it looks to me like Star Trek. You know, we pick you up over here and we beam you over here. It looks like it covers every single thing and moves it from one location to another location, moves it
from one authority to another authority, but still does all those things. Does it not appear to do that?
Speaker 149
1:03:08
I think we've really misunderstood the complexity of our profession. I don't misunderstand. My dad
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:03:18
was a librarian. Okay. So there's no need to speak down to me, nor I think any of the rest of us, or Senator Sullivan. Unnecessary bureaucracy. You said it was going to add unnecessary bureaucracy. What unnecessary bureaucracy is it going to add?
Speaker 149
1:03:46
I am now doing more to get the same funding, I have to ensure that my libraries are in compliance in order to get the same amount of funding. I
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:04:02
think Senator Sullivan phrased that as accountability.
Speaker 149
1:04:07
We already have standards, though.
We do have standards. And he's made it sound like we don't,
Chair
Unverified
1:04:14
and we do. We've always had standards. I'm sure you have. For state aid and procedures that we have
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:04:23
to follow. I'm sure that you have. The fact that there's accountability somewhere else, is that a problem? It's
Speaker 149
1:04:31
not necessarily. I have I have respect for the Department of Ed that's not my my statement at all and I please
understand and I hope that that is not coming across that way um because we have been I've been very vocal and very much trying to get partnerships and be an ally and try to get um cooperative partnerships in all
Chair
Unverified
1:05:01
of this I just feel like this is a very reactive rather
Speaker 149
1:05:07
than allowing something that could have been worked out to be more
Chair
Unverified
1:05:15
thoughtful and I don't believe that with the bureaucracy aspect
of it some of us are only we have librarians here that are serving entire counties there they have one person and so this one person we aren't the people who need the accountability in the most we've we've been doing our jobs how
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:05:36
will it hurt libraries in rural
Speaker 149
1:05:47
do what is being asked a hundred and eighty thousand dollars is what my library
system so three thousand square miles seven libraries eighty eight thousand people it's really a hundred and eighty thousand dollars that's the amount of money I receive for state aid and we get that based off of you know our population size and geographics and being a regional system I already have four county boards and a regional board that I work with I know that like we are
going to have to we will already have to rework our interlocal agreement because our interlocal agreement currently states the previous code which is now repealed if this passes and new code is implemented so I have to go back through through and we have to have four county quorum courts approve and redo it it will take me four
months just to have that's I'm not going to be compliant just by July the
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:07:05
first okay I think you misunderstood that I asked about how difficult it was to comply when I asked how would it
Speaker 149
1:07:13
hurt rural libraries. Well, that's how it will impact me. I mean, I will lose $180,000 by not being able to comply by
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:07:22
July the 1st. The false statements you said?
Chair
Unverified
1:07:31
The State Library Board has already complied with one of the requests. That was a false statement.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:07:38
Okay. Please understand that I'm an equal opportunity skeptic. Absolutely. I'm just a skeptic of Senator Sullivan. As am I. But thank you. Thank you for your leeway,
Mr. Chair. Thank you, Senator Clark.
And going back to one of his questions, you answered that you had concerns about the use of the words may or shall. at the top of page 16 it says the department of education shall administer a program to
distribute funds appropriated by the general assembly to the state aid is is that one that you would rather say may
Chair
Unverified
1:08:16
no i i had a concern for page 14 page 14 is where it says may okay well i
mean this is very clearly saying that they shall distribute funds that are appropriated by the General Assembly. I thought you said page 16, so I was just
Chair
Unverified
1:08:33
scrolling down. Yeah, it's 14 through 16. They switch. They go back and forth from maize and shells.
Speaker 49
1:08:39
Senator Tucker, you're recognized for a question. Thank you,
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:08:43
Mr. Chair. Just to follow up on that exact point, on page 14, it says the Department of Education may administer state aid to a public library. That's the language you're concerned about. Okay, and then I'm looking at a story from the Arkansas Advocate on March 13th. And the opening paragraph of that story says, the Arkansas State Library Board approved a motion to create quote, non-binding policies to protect children end quote, in the state's public libraries
at a special meeting conducted via video conference Thursday afternoon. Is that the motion that you're referring to where they adopted the non-binding policy to protect children? - Yes, sir. - Thank
you. - Thanks Senator Tucker, Senator Sullivan, you're recognized
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:09:29
for a question. - Thank you, Mr. Chair. So one of the things you stated was that you did not like a one size fits all. Isn't that your current funding system?
- No. - So you're funded on a capitated rate by the state and every
different group has a different population. But the formula is a
Speaker 149
1:09:58
one-size-fits-all. It awards, yes. It gives, just like you were mentioning, there
Chair
Unverified
1:10:04
are kind of, not bonuses. You said there is a different word. Incentive, that's
Speaker 149
1:10:09
the word. So there were incentives. So as we receive $180,000, not because we have a robust population,
Chair
Unverified
1:10:19
but because of being in a regional system, there's a little bit of an incentive in that. And because I carry the MLS, I carry a degree.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:10:29
Okay, I won't belabor the point, but in fact, it's a one-size-fits-all. If you're this, you get this money. If you're this, you get that money. That's a one-size-fits-all. The reason the may is in there is because there are conditions, and that's what oversight is called. So to say we shall would strike out all the conditions,
the oversight is what we do.
Is it possible for you to raise funds at your county level?
Speaker 149
1:11:02
We are extremely blessed in my system and so I've already like,
Chair
Unverified
1:11:08
I hate to say that too because at the climate that we're in. Well, I'm just trying to
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:11:16
get to it. The point is If you say we're underfunded, we don't have
Speaker 149
1:11:21
enough money now. No, we will survive on our county funds.
I mean, we would have to. Like, if
Chair
Unverified
1:11:29
state aid were to be cut, we would have to rely on state aid, or our local
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:11:34
funds. I'm trying to ask a question. So, the way I'm hearing you is if your state funds are cut could really severely hurt
your budget. It would hurt mine, yes. Okay, and a recourse would get your local counties to supplement that. So if one of the Mays came down and you did not receive state funding
because of one of the criteria that you have to meet, that you appealed
and it failed, your county could supplement that. Am I correct? They could. They may. I guess we're
Chair
Unverified
1:12:13
talking about people's paychecks, though. Like, I mean, like, this is... Well, I get it.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:12:18
But, you know, the money, where does the money come from that the state gives
Chair
Unverified
1:12:24
you? Well, it comes from different areas. Like, I'm talking about the state library.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:12:28
Where does it originally come from? Right. From the state
of Arkansas. Right. The taxpayers. Yeah. It comes from paychecks also. Absolutely. Okay. Well, that's to say it comes from
paychecks in one place and not paychecks in the other is not being intellectually honest. When you make the comment that
you can't get it done by a certain date because of the emergency clause, have you read all the appeal process? I did, and there's also a point
Chair
Unverified
1:12:57
in there where it says that we may not do something.
Speaker 149
1:13:04
I mean, it was, we shall not make contact for 30 days and, like, we have to notify the department, but we have to wait 30 days. I
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:13:15
mean, again. That's what accountability is, is what we do for just about every program. You
know, our schools are accountable. They have a strict, and you talk about reporting, golly, they get millions of dollars and they are accountable for it. And when we, as the state legislature, appropriate money to the libraries, my take from talking to
librarians is they consider themselves independent.
I have several emails from people that says, let us have local control. Several phone calls, we want local control. In other words, we want the money, but we just don't want to be accountable. And I would agree. Is it
going to be hard? Yes. Is it possible? Yes. Are things going to have to change? It's time. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Senator Hammer, you're
recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. You made a comment a while ago, and I'd
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:14:10
just like to expand on it. And if I misinterpreted what you said or I didn't hear you right, just correct me.
I think the question was about did you trust the Department of Ed? I
Chair
Unverified
1:14:23
think your response was no. Did I misunderstand that? I
Speaker 149
1:14:26
tried to make myself right. I mean, I do wholeheartedly have confidence in the Department of Ed. We have been under the Department of Ed. We are still under, we are existing under the Department of Ed. But we provide services,
Chair
Unverified
1:14:44
so many other services. We are not a K through 12 entity.
Our services are not education and education alone. The governor's own framework, the McKinsey report, like specifically stated that, that we did not align with the Department of Ed. That was on page 200. It stated that we did not fit within the Department of Ed. Okay.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:15:13
Just for clarification, though, your working relationship under the areas that you are partnered with the Department of Ed,
you haven't had any trouble that would
cause you not to trust them. Is
Chair
Unverified
1:15:30
that a fair say? Oh, no, sir. We work with our early childhood programs, our local leads. We are partners already with our education co-ops. These are programs that we already are doing these things. What's your current fund balance? At my regional level, like I'm a system, so I have like my regional system.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:15:58
We can start there. Do you know what your fund balance is? I
have about $600,000. And what's your annual operating cost? $450,000. Okay. And of that, $175,000 is what
Chair
Unverified
1:16:13
you're dependent upon? $188,000 is what I get from the state. Okay.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:16:17
- Mr. Chairman, I'd like to add one additional request. When they come and testify,
I think it's mine not staying on. When individuals come and testify, specifically not general, what are the general issues that they have with the bill number one, number two? If they represent a library, I'd like them to come prepared to state what their fund balances are and what their annual operating cost is. Some of them may need to sit on their phones and send somebody to get that information, but I'm going to want to know what the fund balances are in the libraries, please. Okay. Thank you.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:17:00
Any other questions from the committee? None? All right. Thank you. Who's next? Deborah Hall. Yes, you're
Speaker 223
1:17:29
recognized. Can I ask Senator Tucker a question through the chair?
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:17:33
I think he said something while ago. I'm trying to find where the May is on page 14, and I can't find it. And you referenced it a while ago. Do you know where the
Speaker 224
1:17:42
May is in the bill? Line 29, page 14, line 29. Line 29? Yes, sir. Got it. Thank you. Yes,
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:17:54
sir. Ms. Hall, if you will identify yourself for the record.
Debbie Hall
Unverified
1:17:57
My name is Debbie Hall, and for full transparency, I am an employee of the Arkansas State Library.
I am not here as a representative of the State Library. I am here on my own time. But I believe that my 39 years of employment gives me the insight and
Speaker 229
1:18:16
knowledge to address this bill. Yes, ma'am. You may proceed. This bill will destroy a state agency that is performing well. The State Library performs its duties efficiently and, to my knowledge, with no complaints as to the programs and services provided by the State Library. To destroy an agency that works like a well-oiled machine with a dedicated,
knowledgeable, and talented staff would be disruptive, chaotic, and expensive. Not to mention many of the programs and services provided by ASL would not be continued. Shifting all these programs and services to other agencies would be an undue burden on those agencies. The Arkansas State Library serves as the information resource center for state agencies, legislators, legislative staff, provides guidance and support for the development of local public libraries, and provides
the resources, services, and leadership necessary to meet the educational, informational, and cultural needs of the citizens of Arkansas. This is the mission.
Debbie Hall
Unverified
1:19:15
An invaluable project is the Traveler Database statewide databases. Thank you. The Traveler Databases are provided to libraries of all types as
well as all the citizens of the state using geolocation for remote access. Overall, the state library subscription to traveler resources saved Arkansas schools and libraries over 53 million dollars. The state library cost for travelers 850,000. The library for the blind and print disabled serves Arkansas citizens who are blind, visually impaired, physically unable to hold a book or turn a page, and those with reading disabilities. Three readers advisors
complete over 2,000 transactions per month with their patrons. The state document depository maintains a central permanent and publicly accessible collection of state documents and publications housed at the Arkansas State Library. The State Library is the only regional federal depository library for Arkansas. As a regional depository, the Arkansas State Library receives copies of all publications distributed by the government printing office.
The only patent and trademark resource center in Arkansas helps inventors search the patent database to determine their invention has not already been patented and helps those seeking a trademark search to make sure their name or logo has not been registered. Interlibrary loan services are available for state employees for state agency work. ASL provides reference services for state employees, libraries, and citizens.
Library consulting provides direct consulting with public libraries, answering questions on a variety of topics, including construction, budgeting, weeding, and programming. Board of Trustees training is available to all public libraries. The continuing education project provides professional development opportunities that all library employees, the Arkansas Library Leadership Institute, which began in 2015, is open to library employees from all types of libraries.
The rate project director assists public libraries with the acquisition of robust broadband, internet access to support patron and staff technology use, Arkansas Public Libraries consistently request approximately one million dollars per year to afford robust broadband connections and up-to-date internal connections equipment to provide internet access and Wi-Fi to library patients. The Arkansas Center for the Book promotes
Speaker 229
1:22:11
literacy to citizens of the state through several projects. If all
Debbie Hall
Unverified
1:22:17
Arkansas read the same book, the Arkansas of the Year's selected book presents at different sites around the state. Some of these sites would not normally have an author visit because they're too small. The Book Club program provides book sets to 50 participating public libraries with another 50 on a waiting list. This is an extensive popular project and I don't think another agency can take this on at the level of service currently provided. Youth Services provides materials and
workshops for the summer reading program. This is an important program that helps students maintain their reading levels over the summer. ASL promotes reading through the Book Awards, the Charlie May Simon Award, the Diamond Award, and the Teen Book Award. The above programs were reported annually in the Library Services and Technology Grants to States report. We received $2.1 million to carry out the purposes and priorities of the Institute and Museum and Library Service. And I understand Senator Sullivan already mentioned
that they have been done away with. Well, not yet. they're still there and we still have money. As LSTA coordinator, I honestly cannot imagine how splitting up these programs and services can efficiently be carried out and maintained. With state aid, ASL wants to raise the level of library services statewide, but doesn't want to make it so hard to qualify for it that the communities that need it the most can't qualify. This bill goes a long way to regulation of local library services, and the state's relationship
with public libraries, unlike ADE's relationship with public schools, has not been regulatory. It has been one of support. Yes, there should be requirements on qualifying for state aid, but they are codified into law. They become much less able to respond to emerging technologies, to the economy, and to events in the local communities. It is better to leave them as rules, something not so hard to change. While regulation makes sense in public schools
because they might be striving for a level of consistency in what all schools learn statewide, public libraries are responding to the very specific needs of the local communities they serve. And standards may look very different in a community with an agricultural economy than one with a tourist economy. I believe the State Library is one of the best agencies in the state. ASL has been serving state agencies, libraries, citizens for 90 years. In the 39 years I have been at the state library, programs and services
have only grown and improved to meet the needs of the state. I would like to thank my colleagues for helping with these comments and to thank the committee for giving me the opportunity to speak.
Thank you, Ms. Hall. Are you prepared to take questions? Sure. Senator Hammer, you're recognized
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:25:18
for a question. Thank you. And maybe you want to address this or not because I'm not sure you, I kind of think you hit on it in your testimony, but I'm not sure. But the previous testifier made a comment about the May on page 14.
And I read a little deeper about all the things. And first of all, the education May, that shouldn't be interpreted that they're not going to do it if you don't do these things. But it does allow them permission if you don't. And I got to read in the list of things that are required. and are you familiar with that list of what she was talking about as far as state aid for the state aid yeah for
Debbie Hall
Unverified
1:25:54
the state aid I am a little bit
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:26:00
okay and you know do you know if those things
do you know if those things are not currently being done by the libraries or by the library board because they all seem to be like the things that you would want to be getting done and I'm just curious if you know. Some of them at this
Debbie Hall
Unverified
1:26:17
time are not being done. Okay. Correct. Are not being done. Right, some of them. Okay. Because there are standards that are being followed.
The state library in, I think it was Mr. Payton, who had done a bill, and we were working on rules. We were changing the rules, and they did not get any further than ADE. Okay, I would just...
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:26:52
So they have not been promulgated. Okay, and it said take steps to fulfill the actions as existed on January 1st, 2025. I just was trying to rationalize. It seems like all those things either would be already getting done or should be getting done.
so it wouldn't be that heavy of a lift
to add whatever's not on
Debbie Hall
Unverified
1:27:16
the list. And I was just, what's your opinion? I think it's an undue burden that is not required and that if there were proper rules that were promulgated that go along and expand the current standards, that I think that would officially fix
what some people think is the problem.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:27:42
Okay, and to that point, it says on line 29 to page 15, the Department of Ed may promulgate any necessary rules for the department to fulfill its obligation under subsection, so even though there's emergency clause, there's still gonna have to be rules that'll be promulgated, and that's
Debbie Hall
Unverified
1:28:01
a process-- But if it's codified, those other items are codified, then how can you put them into rules? Then the rules would not override being codified.
But if they're not codified, then the rules could be put in place. And if there were any changes down the line, it would be much easier to change the rules of state aid than have
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:28:24
it codified. Well, how about Senator Sullivan, when he gets ready to close, he could address that and bring some understanding to that. But final thought is on what, on the May part, it gives a list of what would be expected and your testimony is that some of that's done,
but not all that is currently done. Is that correct? - Exactly, yes, sir. - Okay, thank you.
- Thank you, Senator Hamer. Any other questions from the committee? Thank
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:28:59
you, Ms. Hall, we appreciate your testimony. Senator Clark, you're recognized. Mr. Chair, we've got a lot on the agenda today. I'm going to make a motion that we limit testimony to three minutes. I have a motion that we limit testimony to three minutes.
Are you talking about per person or total? Per person. Per person, per witness. Is there a second? I have a motion and
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:29:21
a second. Can you discuss? Any discussion? Yeah, discuss. How many have we got signed up to
sign on this? I think there's two more. Let's see
here. Three more. Three more. Okay. thank you all right we have a motion on the floor and a second any further discussion all in favor say aye aye any opposed no motion carries all right so next we have uh john
McGraw come on up and take a seat and state your name and who you're with and you'll be recognized
John Mcgraw
Unverified
1:30:03
for three minutes and then there may be questions
Speaker 249
1:30:12
from committee members hello thank you for allowing me to speak with you today my name is John McGraw I'm the regional director of the Faulkner Van Buren Regional Library System last year we had
four hundred and thirty thousand visits we returned three dollars in library goods and services for every dollar that was spent. We are a three college town so we have a lot of non-traditional students. We have a lot of small businesses. We are a hub for both of those things. We're also very accountable. I'm currently in the midst of the giant report to the state which I have to do every year in order to receive state aid. I did a quick count yesterday. I'm somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,200 questions into this report and I'm just waiting on data from
some branches so I can complete the thing. I've never been done by April 1st, and I was really hoping to hit it this year. We are also an innovator. We are one of those libraries that does gardening and things like that. We are also a library that focuses heavily on the science of reading. We got deeply into that most recently after a convention we all attended for the Public Library Association, which is a subsidiary of the American Library Association. We do not have any real contact with the ALA per se. They do not really influence our policies, our procedures.
They do offer us the opportunity to go to conferences quite often that have been revelatory for my staff and have made me a much better librarian. I have several concerns about the bill. There are some things in there that I think are against local control. I think putting a requirement of 30 hours of operating time is not going to be very easy to do for some of those tiny libraries that are at the bottom of our tier I think in a library loan is a great service but I think it is a costly service that if you can't afford to do it is a great service but putting state aid attaching having
an interlibrary loan service as a requirement for state aid sounds like something that is a bit of an overreach and the standard of law I was last year speaking to your colleagues about standards for library and directors and and now I see that we've reversed everything on that, so I'm quite happy to have more standards for library directors. I stated at that time that I thought that a degree was important for regional directors, and I'm glad to see that that's back in the bill. But at the same meeting, there was a lot of talk about the ALA
and the former president of the association. She's not the leader of ALA. It's more like being the fair queen. You take a lot of photos and you make a lot of speeches, but you don't actually influence actual policy of the ALA. I believe at the one time there was in the committee meeting then, there was some suggestion that the president of ALA had some sort of discretion over the curriculum of ALA-accredited libraries. The current president of ALA is a Sioux Indian, but I do not believe they're teaching cataloging classes at the University of Alabama in Lakota.
It's a ceremonial job. Everything that happens to ALA is done in committees, Even more so than the Methodist Church, the ALA loves committees. They have committees on committees. And everything that happens in ALA happens in the committee level and not from whoever you've elected as president. Finally. You're out of time, actually, but
we do have somebody who wants to ask a question. Senator Hammer? Thank you. Very nice for
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:33:28
a question. Thank you. I think you hit on a couple of things. Just give me the top three specific things you've got problems with on the bill.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:33:37
Well, I think we already have accountability. I think we already have innovation and I think that what you're putting into the bill is not going to create or anything on the terms of innovation or on the terms of accountability. We have tons of accountability. This report I'm doing right now is monstrous and it takes up
Speaker 249
1:33:56
most of my work life for about a month. There's also just the, I don't know that, if I'm DOE and I'm sitting here in the thing, I'm gonna definitely tell you, yes, we can definitely handle this,
But I'm worried that there's going to be an interruption of services moving all of this over to DOE for no actual reason. I was part of a group that came to the state library some years ago and said that we needed to readjust funding for smaller libraries that weren't able to have a millage or had no property tax or things like that. Those rules went to DOE three or four years ago. And I think they're still in whatever part of the digestive tract of rules promulgation they were in probably years ago.
I think with IMLS staff being furloughed literally yesterday, there's going to be a huge disruption at the federal level. And I don't know that DOE, on top of it, all the other things it has to do, is prepared to simply seamlessly take over funding for all libraries. I was supposed to give you my fund balance, too. My regional fund balance is, I believe, somewhere in the neighborhood of $178,000. We receive $260,000 per year currently in state
Speaker 252
1:35:08
aid because we are a very populous county.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:35:12
And what do you receive from your county support for your library? County support between
Speaker 249
1:35:20
the two counties is probably close to $3 million. $3 million, okay. That may be high. That may be a little high. But your fund balance right now is $178? At the regional level, yes. The regional library system has about $178,000 that pays for literally the software that we check things in and out with. It covers summer reading programs for children. It covers the courier that takes books from one place to the other so that if you are in Mount Vernon, Arkansas,
you have the same access to all the books you would have if you were in downtown Conway. It covers our e-book consortium. I was at the table when we went to the state library about eight years ago and said we should be sharing all these e-books. And please, would you please administer the e-book collection, which now has most, I believe, most of the counties of Arkansas in it and checks out over a million titles a year. I'm not sure exactly how we're going to do age-appropriate collections when so much of my collection is e-books.
I'm not sure how, if I have a small single room library, how I'm going to prevent, how I'm going to ensure that there's no age-inappropriate books that are accessible to children. They're accessible if they're in the same building. I don't have a lockbox that I can stick romance fiction into or something like that so that a 17-year-old girl can't wander from the teen section, which is literally two or three feet away, into the adult section, which is adjacent to it. So all these small single-room libraries,
which are probably the majority of the libraries in Arkansas, are going to have an issue with what do we do about adult books for adults. That was the issue with Act 372, And I was here three years ago saying you're going to run into a constitutional problem with this, saying that it looks like you're going to prevent adult books from existing in the same
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:37:05
space as children's books. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Senator Hammers.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:37:10
Senator Sullivan, you're recognized for a question. Thank you. Did I understand you right that you are, your library is a member of the ALA? No.
Speaker 249
1:37:19
You were. I have attended PLA conferences. PLA is one of multiple subsidiaries of the American Library Association. So
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:37:25
the library was a member of the ALA
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:37:29
at one point? No. And in fact, I believe there was some discussion at the previous committee hearing about standards for library directors that going to a conference would count as affiliation. So if attending a conference
Speaker 258
1:37:41
is affiliation, yes, I have attended conferences. All right. So this bill was filed
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:37:47
on the 20th. Did you ever call me to discuss the terms of the bill?
I did not. When the library board met, and as Senator Clark has pointed out, there were
two conditions. Did you ever contact any of the members of the board to express what you felt about what would happen if they don't pass those two measures
that the library board would go away in the state library? Did you ever contact them with your concerns? I
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:38:17
did not contact them with my concerns because, frankly, I did
Speaker 249
1:38:21
not understand how they were supposed to disaffiliate from the ALA
when they are not affiliated with the ALA. I did not understand what their issue with making a non-binding resolution about protecting children would have to do with me where I have a policy on protecting children and we have policies to deal with reconsideration of materials and perhaps recataloguing or removing. There's a lot of people to speak. I want to keep it pretty tight. Yes. So the
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:38:43
question was pretty simple. Did you contact the board about your concerns? I did not think it was relevant to you, no. Okay. Are you
aware of any librarians that you spoke to, other librarians that you asked to contact the board?
Yes, several. Did the board contact you? Did the State Library
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:39:05
Board contact me? No, they did not. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay. And
I have one question. You referred to a report you're currently working on. Who's that report for? That report
Speaker 249
1:39:15
goes to the Deputy Director of the State Library, who then sends it on to the IMLS, which, as I say, got furloughed yesterday. So I don't know where this information is going to go after she compiles it all and
Speaker 250
1:39:26
sends it all off to the federal government. But that report... So it's required by the federal government
Speaker 249
1:39:33
for federal funding? Yes. Well, I'm not going to speak to that because I'm not entirely sure what happens to this giant report after I send it to the state, but my state aid is conditional on me completing that report. And for years, the end of that report, the last question on that report is, do you have a long-term plan and do you need help preparing one? I mean, the State Library Board has been invested in creating long-term plans for libraries for years.
This is not a new invention either. Senator Tucker, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
What was that 30-hour requirement that you
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:40:06
mentioned? There was a requirement, I think it was for libraries 10,000 and under. It was one of the smaller tiers. But it said you
Speaker 249
1:40:14
need to have something in the neighborhood of 30 operational hours per week, which is, I mean, some
Speaker 252
1:40:19
of my branches. I'm one of the largest library systems, public library systems. in the state, and some of my branches are barely open 30 hours, but that's because that's the way they operate. That's what
Speaker 249
1:40:31
they need. They're after-school spaces primarily, and so it doesn't
make a sense for them to be open at 9 a.m. when they really need to be open roughly about 2 p.m. until, you know, dark or something like that. A lot of small libraries are not open 30 hours, not because they don't want to help people or because of anything else. They don't have money or staff to be open 30 hours and to say you will not get state aid if you're not open 30 hours is really giving them an unfunded mandate, I think. And interlibrary loan likewise, but to a much smaller degree than payroll and keeping the lights on and everything like that 30 hours a week.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:41:05
Thank you. And my other question is, and this was similar to one of the questions I asked that Senator Sullivan, which is, I think, I know you would speak to the fact that you currently have policies in your library where you segregate materials that you all have determined are inappropriate for children. The way I read the language of the bill, it goes a step further. And you use the term lockbox. And that's more accurate with the way I read the bill as well. You have to have either a separate room or some such thing. And given the fact that every library
in the state, every square foot is already used, there's not an empty room available for the complete segregation of materials. And then in many libraries in the state, as you mentioned, there are single room libraries. Most libraries in the state are
Speaker 249
1:41:50
single rooms. Some of my single room libraries are historical buildings that even if I owned them, I wouldn't be able to go in and just like create another room and parcel off another room in a historic building. So even if you were all for
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:42:02
doing everything that's required in the bill, just as a logistical matter, it would be extremely, exceedingly difficult for libraries across the state. Impossible. Thank you. And
impractical. Thank you, Senator Tucker. Senator Clark, you're recognized
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:42:20
for a question. The operating hours, Senator Tucker, you discussed it, you brought it up early in your statement. You
think that's a problem for some rural libraries? Yes. Okay. And you may be right. I'm not an expert, I'm assuming you are.
Have you suggested an amendment for that part of the bill? I would suggest that you vote
down the bill. You know, I'm a smart buck myself, so I'll move on and take that as a no. On the age accessible, I know what I would do and maybe
I would be in violation of the bill. We'll let Senator Sullivan cover that when he closes.
But if I had a 10 by 10 room, had a really small rule, if I had a 10 by 10 room and I had a children's section that was this big, I would not have things that were inappropriate within that two-foot section. Agreed. And beyond that, I wouldn't worry about it. If the bill requires something else, Senator Sullivan will have to cover that.
Speaker 252
1:43:47
Would that be a problem? Well, I mean, the bill says access, and that's really the crux
Speaker 249
1:43:55
of the thing. I mean, Walmart allows access to stakenize, but I don't expect my child is going to go on a killing spree in Walmart. I mean, access isn't really the issue. It's actual, like, do we provide a space for children to find
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:44:09
the books that is appropriate for them? Yes. Are there
Speaker 183
1:44:14
books for adults which are not appropriate for children? Yes. Of course.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:44:19
And so you and maybe Senator Tucker are reading this,
that if you had huge library and lots of different rooms that
Speaker 249
1:44:34
you'd have to lock a room? Yes. I mean, the access issues that are in this are simply recapitulating the issues from Act 372, which the court has enjoined and the Attorney General is currently appealing. If this is all legal, then why not just let that play out through
Speaker 252
1:44:49
Act 372? I don't understand why that whole section is in here at all and requiring state aid to match that.
If Act 372 is upheld in its entirety and the Attorney General wins on merits, then
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:45:02
I don't see that you need this at all, except that it goes into effect on July 1st, which
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:45:08
is... I was actually listening to Senator Sullivan's presentation, and he pointed out that there were things that had already come out in the case that lays a framework, And I would applaud him or I would applaud you for being proactive to come up and say, okay, if we weren't right here, possibly here's what would be right according to the direction we've been given.
Speaker 252
1:45:30
Is there something wrong with that? Well, as Senator Tucker pointed out earlier,
Speaker 249
1:45:36
there's the later section that says my collection may not include inappropriate material. My collection, and even if we had a whole library that's just for children, we have multiple locations. And I have to serve the populations, the adult populations, cradle to grave for all those communities. Some of them are rural and some of them are living in downtown Conway with three colleges within a stone's throw.
But I have to meet the needs for
Speaker 252
1:46:02
all of those with limited dollars and limited space. And we are going to have a mix
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:46:09
of things everywhere for everyone. You said that there was no need to disaffiliate from the ALA because we already weren't a member of the ALA. Right, unless you
Speaker 252
1:46:20
think going to a conference makes me a member or affiliated in some way. I didn't
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:46:26
even know we were talking about you.
Speaker 249
1:46:33
about the requirements for regional directors and shouldn't we just allow experience instead of a degree, he made the point that affiliation really could mean a lot of things. It could mean attending a conference, which I disagree with. I think me giving the American Library Association money and them giving me a membership card means I'm affiliated. I mean, when Act 372 went through, there was a whole kerfuffle in ALMA where they were getting an ALA grant to get an ADA-compliant door
so that people who were handicapped would be able to access the library. And there was a lot of consternation. If we allow the ALA to give us this door, this ADA-compliant door, does that put us on the hook to have, I don't know, violent pornography on the shelves? No, there were no strings attached, and there's no violent pornography in the Alma Library. These are totally, this is a total straw man argument. The ALA does not, the ALA in Arkansas looks more like ADA-compliant doors in Alma. And I believe Misty even got some ADA-compliant sidewalks and doors.
It's a story walk in Monticello. The ADA, the ALA in Arkansas is just helping smallest, our smallest, most rural libraries make a modicum of improvements to allow more people to get inside. It's not putting
Speaker 252
1:47:49
DEI or Marxism or anything like that into libraries or onto library shelves. The report that you,
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:47:57
you said takes a month? It takes me a month. And who does the report go to?
Speaker 249
1:48:09
Initially, it goes to the deputy director at the state library, and then she compiles every report from everybody who expects to receive state aid, and she bundles all that material and sends it off to the IMLS in Washington.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:48:24
Okay, so you know it's required for the state. You're assuming that it's required for the feds? Oh,
I don't think she's doing it for
Speaker 250
1:48:33
fun, no. I think it's required for the feds, yes. And if that's all thrown into chaos,
Speaker 249
1:48:40
I think that Arkansas is going to be on the hook to really fund libraries in a way it's never had to do before because that money has come in
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:48:53
from the government, from the federal government. You lost me. I didn't know there was any indication that anybody was not going to send
Speaker 249
1:49:01
the report to the feds. Who would you send it to? They're all furloughed for 90 days. If the reports are due tomorrow, there's nobody even accessing their email account in the IMLS for the next 90 days.
There's going to be a disruption in federal
Speaker 258
1:49:15
funding to state library systems. There's going to be a, repeat that, there's going to be a disruption. There's going to be
Speaker 249
1:49:25
a disruption of federal funds to state libraries, to states. And
Speaker 278
1:49:29
what's the reason for that? The entire
Speaker 252
1:49:32
staff of the IMLS was furloughed yesterday for 90 days. So it has nothing to do with this bill? There's going to be disruptions, and the state library handles all that federal money that comes in
and then uses that to fund library services in the state of Arkansas, along with the state-level money that they receive as well. Did Senator Sullivan or this
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:49:54
bill have something to do with furloughing the folks that were furloughed? - No. - Thank you, I'm
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:50:07
done. - All right, Senator Sullivan, you're recognized for a question. - Thank you, so you mentioned that the ALA doesn't have much to do with your library policies.
Okay, so I'm reading from your page, Faulkner County. Faulkner County Van Buren Regional Library supports the following statements from the American Library Association. - Yes. - Library Bill of Rights, you support that? - I think of the ALA Bill of Rights as more
Speaker 249
1:50:30
like the Miranda Bill of Rights. I don't know that the sheriffs here support the Miranda Bill of Rights, but they don't wanna get sued.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:50:37
And the ALA Bill of Rights is more of a thou shalt not get sued because these cases have already been litigated. - I
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:50:44
guess I got confused when you said you had,
you didn't have anything to do with the ALA because the Library Bill of Rights, the freedom to read, the freedom to view, statements on labeling, statements on, those are all almost cut and paste from the American Library Association. So to make the statement that you're loosely affiliated or
not at all or they have no impact on the state of Arkansas, in my opinion, is just
Speaker 249
1:51:10
not true. - We can disagree about that, but they don't actually impact my policies. I just do not want to be sued for telling a 17-year-old
that she can't check out what to expect when you're expecting if she's
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:51:24
pregnant or something like that. - Understood,
well, let's talk about that for a second. So in the bill, on page 13, it's very explicit about defining what age-appropriate material means. Sexual contact. So you think it's not appropriate for your library to segregate in
any way sexual contact with human genitals?
Speaker 249
1:51:50
I did not say that, no. I'm saying that the books can exist maybe in an adult space, But if it's a one-room library, it is up to the parents to ensure what the children are accessing when they're in the library. We
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:52:03
also have a policy on unattended children, so I expect parents to be doing their due diligence when they're in the library with their children. They sign the
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:52:12
children up for the library card. Okay, what I'm hearing you say is your library has no responsibility to in any way, it's all on the parent,
To make sure that books that contain graphics of human genitalia, not including educational stuff, but sexual contact of human genitalia, that is appropriate to be in your children's section. So you do have a responsibility, as the court said, to
segregate it as best you can. Yes, but that falls under
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:52:45
the existing harmful to minors statute. That was struck down by the court.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:52:51
That's the part that was pulled out, although it's
Speaker 249
1:52:55
in your policy. No, no, I'm talking about the actual, not from Act 372, but the actual it is illegal to provide harmful material to minors in
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:53:05
the state of Arkansas, is it not? Well, we thought it was, but the federal court said that was too vague, although it's in several libraries' policy that they say we will not
provide harmful material to kids, but it's in policy. Okay, well, I just wanted to get clear. So, you know, when it says here that sexual acts, as defined in U.S. code, are inappropriate
for children, and it says that if they're engaged with human genitalia, genitalia-to-genitalia contact, and that the library, we would agree that the library has some responsibility and accountability to do what they can, given their circumstance, to prevent that children from being accessible by children? I think I lost the question there. But yes,
Speaker 252
1:53:53
we have policies on making sure that our collections are age appropriate.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:53:58
Yes. Did you send that in to the library board so that they could use your statement?
No, you said no. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Senator
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:54:10
Dotson. You're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And first of all, I want
to say thank you for reading the bill and actually going through. I've seen a lot of comments from folks, emails and such, and it's clear that they haven't even looked at the bill. They're just an automatic no. One thing, and I think you've answered this,
but you didn't make any suggestions to the bill sponsor on modifications on how this could be workable if it does become law. No,
Speaker 250
1:54:43
no, I did not make any suggestions. I mean, like I said previously,
Speaker 249
1:54:48
I think re-adding qualifications, minimum qualifications for library directors such as myself is a step in the right direction. And I'm glad we disagree with Senator Sullivan's march position today here, April 1st.
Speaker 252
1:55:02
But like I say, we already are accountable. We already innovate. We already do all the things that this is asking us to do. The state library is already under the DOE already. I don't see that this addresses a problem, and I don't see that it has any metrics for determining if its recommended solutions are improving the state of libraries or making them more detrimental, especially when there's so much chaos at the federal level, which is going to ripple down to what we are able to do at the state level.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:55:32
Well, the federal level, we have no control over. True. So we're all going to deal with that, whether it's the state library board as it exists today or the Department of Education as it could exist under this bill if it passes? Yes. If this passes, then it will be the Department of Education here at the state level that is making all those determinations, taking the report that you're working on, and you said you're 1,200 questions into. Yes. How many questions are on this? Well, I'm literally almost done.
So it's very close to being finished. Yes. A month of your time annually. Easily. And you don't know if that's a state requirement or a federal requirement. You're assuming it's a federal requirement. I believe it's both, yes. So have you ever looked into seeing how we can reduce those bureaucratic hurdles or things that you have to jump through in order to make that a more efficient process? Well, I don't disagree
Speaker 249
1:56:33
with any of the questions that I'm answering.
I mean, they're valid questions. How many programs did you do for children? How many of them focused on coding? When the governor was really hot for coding, how many programs did we start doing about coding? That sounds like a state-level question. Yes, but there's others like how many are about job preparedness. These are questions that we need to be answering. And if I have to put a zero next to how many programs did we do as far as job preparedness, I mean, at some point, you've got to think maybe we should be doing more about job preparedness. I mean, these are valid questions about what libraries should be doing,
but also giving me a metric to say, well, we did better than we did last year. And that's not just how many books we checked out and how many people came in the door. It's the gamut of things. I mean, I don't understand-- -
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:57:19
Now you do that report as the director for a system that's multiple counties. It's not for every single library, doesn't have to do that report. - No, but I'm
Speaker 249
1:57:26
the one who's pestering every single library in my system saying, how many programs did you do for adults? How many did you do for teenagers? Why did you do no programs for teenagers?
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:57:37
Do you not think teenagers need some programs about job preparedness or financial literacy or things like
Speaker 249
1:57:41
that? What are our operating hours? Do we get 30 hours a week or 30 hours a week? I mean, these are all questions. There's no real fat in there. It's just the breadth of what we do on any given day is enormous. We have roughly 1,000 people come into a library somewhere in Faulkner and Van Buren County every single day. And they're doing 1,000 different things every day. I don't know
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
1:58:03
how this bill is going to go from here, passing out of here or not,
but obviously this is the first step in the process. Senate committee, Senate floor, House committee, House floor, et cetera. If this does pass and gets through this stage in the process, I would highly encourage you and anyone else to get with the bill sponsor and before it goes through the House and see if you can make some modifications or suggestions to things that would make it workable if it does become law. For whatever it's worth, I thought I'd share that with you. I value that input.
Speaker 249
1:58:41
said this is going to be tied up in the courts, and that's where we wound up. So I may be a little bit cynical about the process, but I think this is a necessary introduction of
Speaker 250
1:58:51
chaos that doesn't need to exist when there's already a ton of chaos coming down from the federal level right now. Thank you, Senator Dodson. Any
more questions from the committee? - Thank you, Mr. McGraw. - Thank you. - We appreciate your testimony today. Next I have,
is there not another one? Sorry about that. Okay, Alison Groselbeck. And you'll have three minutes for your testimony and then questions if you like. Nope, one more after that.
if you would introduce yourself for the record you'll be recognized turn your microphone on
Speaker 308
1:59:48
yeah there we go uh senator hammer i do intend to answer your question
Ali Stevens
Unverified
1:59:51
but i'm going to read my statement first introduce yourself for the record i am yeah my name is ali stevens gosling i'm the director and i am one of three total staff members for the entire calhoun County Library System. I really appreciate the opportunity to speak with you all today and to share some of my concerns about this bill. The new hourly requirements that SB 536 lays out from my library system to make us eligible for any state funding would be difficult to meet at best. It would cost more than the amount of state aid I currently receive for us to meet that minimum
hourly limit. Our little satellite branch could never meet this minimum number of hours, Which then begs the question of whether I should even try to apply for this state funding. It's not clear to me whether every branch needs to meet that limit, if this is a system-wide total, or something else. The rules do need to change, I agree, and I also sat on the committee to rewrite those rules several years ago that are still waiting for promulgation in the Department of Ed. Why are we abolishing the whole state library instead of talking about what happened to those rewritten state aid rules?
My library is one of several around the state that would already be receiving more money under those new rules. With that increased funding, maybe we could increase our hours to this limit easily, but with this bill, we are caught right in between. If the Department of Ed has not had time to deal with those rules, how can they take on all of these new rules too? Ultimately, though, I'm already thinking ahead to the hard decisions that I see on the horizon, because even if I manage to qualify for this state aid, I will still be losing money because I have to account for those extra hours, and that amount of money is my state aid money.
So what goes first? Summer reading program or after-school snacks for kids, our local office supply business copy machine contract, or the maintenance fee to the server guy who keeps my computer safe and the internet filter running for children. How will I even hope to continue to meet my community's demand for e-books and audio books, which I absolutely cannot afford without state help. If we did receive state funding, would I be putting it in jeopardy if I worked with or received grant funding from the wrong non-profit organizations that the state has decided they
don't like anymore? What if Walmart and the state get in a fight and I can't take their donations anymore? SB 536 leaves me with way more questions than I can find answers for. From my perspective, it creates some more government oversight for what should be local control and red tape around what should be local decisions made by people who know and understand their communities best. Nothing in this bill stands to have a positive impact on my library or on its ability to serve our community. Our rural community is already at a disadvantage when it comes to access and opportunity, and there are many ways forward that serve us all better, with collaboration and the best interests of Arkansans at heart,
including those of us in very rural areas. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Are you prepared to take questions?
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:02:55
I will do my best to answer them, yes. Senator Hamer, you're recognized for a question. I got a question, but I'd like to get Daniel Department Ved up to the table for a quick one, if you don't mind, please. While he's coming, I'll ask my questions. I never did hear what counties you
represent. Calhoun County. Calhoun County, okay. We're the most rural county in the state. Yes, ma'am. County funds, how much do you get from
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:03:15
county funds? All right, so I just texted my county treasurer a minute ago to get the latest data for you.
Right now, as it sits, my account is negative because I bring in less than 50% a year in tax funding. Amendment 55 rolled our tax millage back to about 0.4 instead of 1 mil. But my county general very generously covers whatever else I ask for in the meantime. This is the first year that my budget for my whole library and our whole county has crossed over $100,000. It's $126,000 this year. And my entire state funding for last year was $7,100.
For the state funding portion? For the state funding. I got $7,100, yes, which is almost exactly how much it would cost me to increase my main branch's hours to this limit. There is no way that increasing my satellite branch's hours comes on the table without many more thousands of dollars. We'll never get them to 30 hours. They're at 12 hours a week right now. Okay. For the record. Daniel Schultz, Department of Ed, General Counsel. What about the rules
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:04:17
that haven't been promulgated yet? There are a few lingering rules.
Speaker 115
2:04:22
As my understanding, the only issue there is about funding in some
Speaker 319
2:04:25
rural counties, and I can't help but notice that this bill would address that problem and resolve it according to my understanding. But there's also some questions about authority and rulemaking functions that have been a complication. But I do note that this bill would solve the problem as far as that rulemaking obligation. Would render it moved. The rules
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:04:46
that are yet to be promulgated, how are they impacting the libraries?
Speaker 223
2:04:52
As I understand it. Would you mind a little closer
Speaker 115
2:04:57
to Mike? I'm having trouble hearing. Sorry. Bring it back closer to me. As I understand it, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong,
Speaker 319
2:05:03
I know maybe there were some meetings before I came to the department. I'm not sure. It sounds like maybe there were. Years. There is an issue, there you go, there is an issue about funding in a rural library and millage and restructuring a requirement in their standards, which are not rules that the library operates under. And so there is no rule right now, it's a policy essentially. And so there's some authority issues, there's some stated issues, but the obligation to rule make would be, the
Speaker 124
2:05:29
issue would be addressed by this bill, is my understanding.
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:05:32
Do you want to say something? I just wanted to say that if those rules have been promulgated, my library would currently be receiving the $18,000 award that we were entitled to because I do have a master's degree in library
science. But we currently don't see any of that money because those rules were never
put through. So we've only been receiving our per capita, no regional system bonus and no master's degree bonus this whole time. And now this
bill would put even that out of my reach. That appears to be a separate issue.
Speaker 328
2:06:02
I'm not sure about what that-- Say it again.
Speaker 319
2:06:06
That may be a separate issue. I'm not familiar with that
Speaker 318
2:06:09
situation. It's all addressed in those rules that were rewritten by a committee at
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:06:15
the State Library. OK. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to get a request. Regardless of how this goes, I want an assessment from the department about the rules that are outstanding. I think it would be good for us to have that, to know what rules are still outstanding. Because I was thinking there was a law that he passed that said they have to be done by a certain date
and why they aren't done by a certain date, we need to get a one-pager on that, if you would, is a white page of what rules are still outstanding, what they do. -
Speaker 330
2:06:45
They're on the 595 report, of course. - They're where? - The report that we have to keep
Speaker 223
2:06:50
up. - Okay, all right, we'll get into
it, thank you. - And so my question is, the rules that I was familiar with that was being rewritten were at the state library level. Then they have to come
Speaker 330
2:07:02
through the Department of Ed? I think there is some question there, because
Speaker 319
2:07:06
the State Library, the board is the rulemaking authority,
and so the staff of the State Library is part of the Department of Ed, but the board is an independent entity as far as you see in other situations, other agencies, post-transformation. Okay. Well, a year after
I asked that rule, or we agreed on that rule to be rewritten, I thought it had gotten done, but it
took a year, and now I'm hearing it hadn't got done yet. Again, I may not have the full
Speaker 330
2:07:30
picture of where it was or wasn't done, but I do know that that language is incorporated in this bill that would have been the rule. Okay.
Speaker 334
2:07:40
The language I'm talking about. The language that I'm familiar with of rewritten state aid rules is not incorporated in SB 536, which I have read many, many times. And I'm
not familiar with what she's talking about, apparently. Yeah, and what I'm familiar with, I didn't see in
this bill either. Okay. Well, again, we may need a different topic. We don't want to go there. We need a different topic. Is there any
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:08:03
other questions? Dotson, Senator Dotson. Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you happen to know this, and this may be unrelated to this, but the report that the gentleman was talking about previously
as something that goes to the State Library Board and then goes on to the feds for state aid and that sort of thing, that sounds like that's basically a state-level criteria that are set that then the state requests the money from the feds based off of that and then distributes the funds. So if this bill is to go into effect, that would become the jurisdiction of the Department of Education, if I'm understanding it correctly, to take those types of reports
and then make those requests to the feds for state aid. Would you promulgate those rules based off of this bill on those types of things? I
Speaker 319
2:08:56
think those are separate. I think that report is, you described it correctly, and that would just simply continue to be conducted. And again, I don't think there
Speaker 115
2:09:07
would be an immediate difference. Probably not immediate, but I'm saying as
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:09:11
things are, you know, on any of those types of things,
everything is continuously changing depending on, you mentioned something about coding. Well, 20 years ago we didn't have coding probably as something that was a question on that type of a document. So who wouldn't make those changes? Let's not forget
we have a witness at the table, too. I have a
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:09:34
question, if I can ask you. But, I mean, I would assume that if this moves under the Department of Education, the Department of Education would be the one at that point in time that is setting out the criteria within the report asking those questions.
Speaker 319
2:09:48
Well, I think, again, I can't speak conclusively on that. I do know there are federal obligations, and I
Speaker 115
2:09:55
do know that under the bill, those grant programs would continue to operate. So whatever questions the feds request, that would be the
Speaker 319
2:10:02
same operation. I don't think anything would change in that regard. It's my understanding based on the reading of
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:10:08
the bill. But any state-level questions, then you would promulgate those? I think the bill
Speaker 319
2:10:13
sets the standards for the state level. I think you're just taking the standards that are set out in this bill and matching the
amount of funds you appropriate and as far as how you're setting those per capita versus that kind of a policy-based thing. But the bill sets out the parameters. So the rulemaking that's left is very narrow and it's just basically making the policy choice of how you allocate that total dollar amount that you all appropriate is the way I see it. Okay. So this policy of what you got to do is in the bill. We wouldn't be adding more hoops to jump through. It would just be applying the bill based on the money we get. - Okay, thank you.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
2:10:50
- Can I read from the bill? Answered the question that was up there. - Yeah, can I get
quick? - Okay, thank you. On page two, it says the orders, rules, directives, registration, licensing, or standards of the Arkansas State Library shall continue to be in effect until they are amended or repealed under authority of law. That same standard holds true for the State Library and the board, the new authority
of the board. Okay, thank you. Senator King, you're recognized for a question.
Before you do, does anybody have, I have both of y'all on the list here. Do you have a question for Ms. Sarri-Gosselbeck? I do. Okay, good. Can we relieve the department head? We can relieve
him if y'all don't have a question for him. Okay. I
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
2:11:38
guess I just maybe want to make a comment. If somebody represents a rural district, I appreciate you bringing a rural perspective about funding because it's very critical. You know, the whole boards and commissions and the decide a lot of funding up here has changed in my almost going back 18 years up here about urban versus rural issues.
And so I do appreciate you talking about that. I'm more for a lot of our funding going to more funding formula where it gets out of, you know, boards or agency heads. And I think that could be a more better avenue to make sure that our rural districts get funding and more local decisions get made. So I appreciate you making that comment. Thanks. Thank you, Senator
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:12:18
King. Senator Clark, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ma'am, how do you pronounce your last name? Gosselin.
Gosselin. Yes, sir. Ms. Gosselin, I want to thank you for being here. Thank you for the job that you do. I know rural areas can be much more challenging. And I also want to thank you for making us aware of the problem with these rules not being implemented and bringing out how it's a real challenge. That much money for a rural library system is a lot
Speaker 308
2:12:55
of money. It's my entire discretionary budget for programming, for books, for new computers,
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:13:00
for anything I might do that's above and beyond opening the doors and
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:13:06
turning on the lights. That's my state funding.
And I understand why the State Library Board is against this bill, or at least part of the members are.
But two years ago, we had, was it two years ago that we had the other library bill, or four years ago? Two years ago.
And, you know, one of my local librarians, county librarians, which I have four, got with me about some things they thought really needed to be changed. We sat down with Senator Sullivan and had an extensive discussion and made lots of changes, enough to make that librarian. I can't describe what we do here as ever making people happy. It's making us all unhappy, but to a point that we have some agreement.
and I found that Senator Sullivan was very cooperative in that. And I don't think you'd be here without conversations with other librarians, et cetera. Why have we not seen that on this bill? And I'm not suggesting that there needs to be a lot of changes, but if there's changes that you feel like ought to be made, Because I think there's some good things in here outside abolishing the board.
And why no one's gotten with their senator or gotten with their representative or gotten with Senator Sullivan and said, here's what we think the problems are.
Speaker 348
2:14:45
I will tell you that I have repeatedly contacted my own elected representatives and I have
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:14:50
yet to get a response from them on this or any other issue that I have contacted them about this year. I apologize for that. I personally have not contacted Senator Sullivan because he is not my representative and also because this was an ongoing promised retribution for a lack of action at the state library board level.
There have been threats for over a year that if the board did not do what one or two people wanted done for the whole state, that this would be the outcome. So I didn't feel like my contacting him and saying, hey, this is bad for my specific library would matter because it was pretty understood that this was not great for libraries. That wasn't its point. Its point was not to make things better for libraries, which is why I'm here, because that's the only thing I really care about. People are offended by books in the library.
That's on them, and I'm sorry. Everybody has to parent their own children in a public space. We all agree on that. My ability to provide services for my community should
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:15:54
not be on the line for these reasons. And I think you, from what I know, are representative of the biggest number of librarians. I have others that I'm not quite as friendly with. Did it occur to you or anyone you know that, however, if they had bad manners
or had good matters, that people who were threatening, if we don't do this, don't do that,
might be speaking for a lot more people than just
Speaker 313
2:16:31
themselves? Perhaps, but I don't know that that will still overrides the law and my mandate
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:16:37
to hold space for my entire community, including their viewpoints. They are no more outcasted from the library than anyone else is. No, and we, again,
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:16:48
regardless of Senator Solowin's bill one way or the other, we want you to be successful.
We understand the importance of libraries. I know I do.
Speaker 354
2:16:57
I hear that a lot, but I don't see it play out in
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:17:03
legislation very often. We love libraries, but which parts?
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:17:11
Because I don't feel like it's the whole thing. Well, I'll tell you, and then I'll
shut up, Mr. Chair. The love libraries, love most librarians, but I was sent here by 90,000 people
to make sure that we do certain things and make sure we have accountability, and it seems that there have been a number of people who
have just flipped their middle finger, and they're not just flipping their finger at Senator Sullivan or me. They're flipping it at 90,000 people who I represent. You think
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:17:45
all 90,000 people are a monolith? That they have the same beliefs about what should
and shouldn't be in their library? Because that's the conundrum for me is that I'm trying to serve 90,000 people.
Well, 5,000 people. My community is very, very tiny. But all 5,000 of those people have completely different ideas. Do you think that I want a book removed from your library? Do
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:18:04
I think that what? I want a book removed from your library. No,
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:18:11
not necessarily. I don't know what you think about any specific book I may or may not have. I don't know what anybody thinks about any book I may or may not have. And I promise you there are plenty I personally disagree with,
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:18:22
too. Well, and there should be books in your library that you disagree with and that I disagree with. Absolutely.
I've never heard any question brought up here, though, except appropriateness for children at certain ages. And I had another librarian sit right there two years ago and tell me that that according to the ALA and to what she believed, that the that you could not protect a three year old, that that was against the law and against the rules. And I can't tell you how fervently I disagree with that thought and
how fervently my dad, who was a librarian, would have disagreed with that thought.
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:19:00
I think we absolutely are getting caught up in some
semantics here because not a single person sitting behind me would tell you that you do not need to protect a three-year-old from certain things inside of our libraries. But that is apparent. No, in all four months. We can't make
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:19:16
a whole library acceptable for a three-year-old. No, and I think there maybe is some things being lost in conversation, nor would
Speaker 313
2:19:23
I expect you to. Let me explain to you. My entire library,
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:19:27
all 30,000 books, would fit inside of this room, bathrooms included.
we don't have a meeting room, I don't have an office because we have a storage room instead, it would fit inside of here. So I need a definition for access, or I can't let anyone that's under 16, whatever the age is, inside my doors, because if access is the books on the shelves, I can't move
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:19:49
them. And I read it different from the way you read it, but again, that's where I would have gone to Senator Sullivan had I had that problem and said, what does access mean? Am I going to be able to be compliant?
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:20:02
Am I not going to be able to be compliant? I would like to ask you to come spend one day with me or with any of us, see what we do all day. Love to. I would love to have the time to contact people and talk about how to make legislation better, but I'm not a politician. I'm a librarian. I'm an almost solo librarian who's across the front desk from the poorest of the Arkansas public all day, every day. I am too busy helping them with their immediate needs for resumes, job applications, phone help, divorce applications, Medicaid applications, vaccine exemption forms so that they don't have to get their children vaccines.
I have to do that all day, every day. My job is not to contact legislators and make sure that they understand the things they're making laws about. My job is to do my job and to take care of my community's needs that are within my power to help. That's what I want to be able to do.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:20:58
I think you're a great advocate for librarians and for libraries, however you are here today. Yes, sir. I am
Speaker 348
2:21:03
missing. It is hard to be here. We've got a big book sale next week. You do not understand how hard it is to have missed this day of work.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:21:11
Well, no, I spent a lot of my young life with my dad in the library, and thankful for
all that time that I got to spend
there. But, again, I think there's a lot of miscommunication and a lot of battle lines drawn. I understand it, and I thank you for being here. Thank you, Mr.
Chair. Thank you, Senator. Clark, any other? Senator King, we're back in. Yeah, I just
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
2:21:38
want to say again, thanks, you know, it's just like the local control issue about flexibility.
So many times we're making laws out here and we don't know really what's going on. And I mean, but I will say this, as much as I am for that, it's like, you know, a lot of abolishing these boards and commissions are not, you know, really flexible in doing a thing. And that's why I'm typically that, but I do want to come up with the funding for you. But it seems like on the State Library Board, some members are for abolishing it and then some are against it. Is that right on the State Library Board? Do we know? To members of the board. Is there any members of the board for abolishing this board?
Ali Stevens
Unverified
2:22:13
Yes. I don't know. Yes, they've clearly stated that in the recordings. Jason Raper has said this board would
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
2:22:20
be abolished. Well, Jason Raper is for abolishing his own position. Since I've known Jason, that's probably the best decision I've ever heard. I'm sorry. Just being honest. Okay,
let's stick to the bill, please. Any other questions? Thank you so much for your testimony. Thank you. We have one more, Claire Graham.
And just to remind you, your testimony is three minutes, and then we may spend forever on questions. If you would, take
a seat, pull that microphone close, introduce yourself, and you'll be recognized. Hello,
Claire Graham
Unverified
2:23:01
my name is Claire Graham. Oh, hit your button there and turn it. There you go.
Thank you so much. My name is Claire Graham. I am the Regional Library Director for the Mid-Arkansas Regional Library System, which serves Saline, Hot Spring, Grant, Dallas, and Grant Counties. So I'm here before you today, not just as a librarian, but someone who has dedicated their life to serving my community. Libraries are not just building fields with books. they are lifelines. They are where children discover the joy of reading, where job seekers find the tools to build a better future, and where communities come together to learn, grow,
and thrive. Senate Bill 536 threatens to unravel all of that. Arkansas is fighting hard to improve literacy rates, and libraries are on the front lines of that battle. Our summer reading programs and after-school initiatives don't just keep kids engaged, they change lives. They combat learning loss, foster curiosity, and set children on a path to success. SB 536 risk kneecapping those efforts. We are critical to workforce development, offering job training, technology access, and
career development resources. These aren't just abstract ideas. They're real programs that change real lives. State aid funds essential services like our bookmobile that travels five counties and visit nursing homes, schools, and daycares. This bill imposes unrealistic mandates that libraries cannot meet, putting these programs at risk. I will mention for my library, to get a library card, a child has to be 16 years old,
so their parent does have to sign off on that. We also have unattended child policies, where no child under 13 can be in the library without a parent. We also have age-appropriate sections. My children's library is innocent. We are there to guide parents in selection of materials for their children. Senator Sunding Sullivan may say that funding won't be lost, but funding isn't just about numbers. It's about autonomy. The Arkansas State Library provides grants, professional training, statewide resources that libraries depend on.
This bill dismantles that infrastructure, shifting control to the state government. How does eliminating the very agency that helps libraries thrive make them stronger? And let's talk about local control. Arkansas values independence and innovation, yet this bill imposes a one-size-fits-all approach that stifles creativity and flexibility. Libraries are already governed by their local boards that know their communities best.
This bill takes that away, replacing it with centralized oversight that doesn't understand the unique needs of each town and city. Beyond that, this bill removes the definition of a state document. The Arkansas State Library has long been the steward of crucial records, historical archives, legislative materials, and official reports that ensure transparency and public access to government information. this bill will disproportionately
so cut it off. I'll give
Claire Graham
Unverified
2:26:32
you just a couple seconds if you want to wrap it up. I did bring some support letters, not specifically for this bill, but I have a copy for each of you. It really just shows the broad support of our library and also the
impact we make. Let me see if anybody has questions for you. do what a copy of
what she's carrying okay yeah we'll need to bring that through the staff I think okay and they can distribute it and have a
Claire Graham
Unverified
2:27:06
record of it wonderful and my card is attached and and
I'm happy to to share anything I can so I love libraries I love what we do and we make Arkansas
all better. Anybody have any questions? Ms. Graham, we appreciate your testimony. Thank you. Thank you. All
right, Senator Sullivan, you're recognized to close for your bill.
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
2:27:34
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the people who spoke and testified, and I think they pretty
much made my case. You know, they talk about one thing, local control. Well, let me preface that. Two weeks ago in this committee, we heard, and each one of you sitting here heard one of our committee members saying they had to create an enemy, that we as a Republican body couldn't function without having an enemy there to attack. That's exactly what's going on right now. The library board, the library, Arkansas Library Association members, they need
somebody to attack and that's been me. I get it. That's no problem. I've got the phone calls. Y'all have gotten the phone calls, but that's a typical strategy. You know, if you read the bill, most of the things that were testified are in the bill that we're continuing to do the service. I think my clarification while ago said if we don't get it done that policy stays in force i would be the first one to increase library funding when we come back next year uh in 2026 if we have some
incentives in place and people are meeting these objectives over oversight i would be glad to increase their funding especially for innovative programs the appeal process is there we've already talked about May. Again, if we're funding things like gardens and things, I'd just like to know how that money shakes out. We have oversight. The minimum hours was brought up.
I think if we're going to fund them, that there's a responsibility for funding sources to fund them to those minimum hours, but that primarily rests with the county. If they are providing the valuable services that they do, and I believe they do, then the county's got to step up and join us, join the state in doing that. You know, it's one of the testimonies, testifiers said they couldn't do that because the taxpayers wouldn't stand for it. Well, it's the same taxpayer,
we're hitting them twice. On page 13, let me look at that real quick. You know, there was a lot of talk about what is appropriate and what 372 did. This bill is in response to that, and it does take into consideration age-appropriate material, sexual contact, human genitalia. It carves out a section for sex education. That's all been done at the request of the court.
You know, you saw one, the ALA is embedded in Arkansas libraries. You can hardly go through a policy and not see a cut and paste, or as the gentleman testified, they follow the ALA Bill of Rights. They deal with DEI, and they're heavily embedded in that, which the state isn't. And our libraries need to make a statement about that, and they need to distance themselves from the ALA.
The reporting, how much of the reporting did you hear was just redundant? Yeah, I'm already doing this report. We're having to do this report again. A lot of what they're saying they can't accomplish is, again, it's just redundant reporting. I guess what strikes me is the counties are gonna have to step up. If you're relying on state aid, folks, there are eight, I think it's $5.8 million that they have set aside for this program,
I'd be glad to turn that money back to the taxpayer and give a tax cut of $5.8 million back to the taxpayer locally and let
them fund their libraries more. There's a total reliance on state aid and not one person
has talked about going back to their county. You know, I really take exception with this retribution thing. I have tried my best to work with people, called them when they make those phone calls, tried to call them back.
This is not retribution. This is trying to make our libraries better and help them serve the needs of the people better. And as you heard many of them say, we need more money. Okay, let's work together to do that. But I'm not gonna let you, working together is not giving you money without any oversight. That's our job. Members, we have beat this horse to death. I appreciate your time. I would appreciate a good vote, and I make a motion due pass.
Thank you, Senator Sullivan. I have a motion due pass and a second. Any discussion on the motion? No discussion on the motion?
All right. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? No. The ayes have it. Congratulations. Your bill passes. Mr.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:32:53
Chairman? Yes. Well, maybe you're about to declare your intent, but I'd like to recommend, I think, Senate Bill 521
because I think that's what a lot of those guys sitting over here
are asking for. Yeah, I think that's what we're going to.
All right. Senator Davis is here to present. Thank you. And Senator Flippo
Speaker 338
2:33:15
is here to chair. I want to thank my Vice Chair, Senator
Payton. You've done some fine work. I was kind of hopefully optimistic that you would have cleared the agenda by the time I returned. All at stake. See, that's not have happened.
All right, Senator Davis, what bill are you running again? What's your bill number? Senate Bill 521. Okay, Senate Bill 521, and you've got whoever you're going to have join you, come on up here. You guys come on up. Senator, introduce
yourself and your guest. We know who you all are, and for
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:33:49
the record. You'll be recognized to present. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Breanne Davis, State
Taylor Hanford
Unverified
2:33:56
Senate, District 25. Good afternoon. I'm Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones, also President of the Arkansas Sheriff's Association.
My name is Taylor Hanford. I'm legal counsel to the Arkansas Sheriff's Association. Okay.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:34:11
Senator, you're recognized to proceed. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this bill just updates the reimbursement time frame in Arkansas for law enforcement from 18 months to 24 months. Currently, Arkansas has a more complicated and condensed reimbursement timeline. This is causing a lot of strain on more of our local law enforcement agencies as their officers are being hired away by agencies that can pay more.
Meanwhile, the smaller agencies are stuck footing the bill for the training and certification and then, you know, the officers are swept away to a different agency. So they're footing the bill to train officers but not having them stay with the agency for a long period of time. So this new schedule in the bill puts Arkansas more in line with what other states are currently doing. It essentially says from 0 to 12 months. If you start with an agency and you're recruited away in the 0 to 12-month time frame,
then you will have to pay a 100% reimbursement rate to the law enforcement agency that you hired the officer from. And 12 to 24 months, it'll be a 50% reimbursement rate for hiring an officer away. So to request the reimbursement for the training, everything has to be in writing. It's got to be itemized, and the request must be made within six months. With that, I'm happy to take any questions. Senator Hammer, you're recognized for a question.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:35:35
So where are all the law enforcement agencies on this? I know you've got two sitting here. I'd just kind of like to hear as far as like with state police and sheriffs and all that, are they all good with it? Yes, Senator,
Taylor Hanford
Unverified
2:35:47
they are. We've sat down with the chief of police and also the Arkansas State Police there. Okay. They're on board. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Senator. Are there any other questions from
the committee? All right, see no further questions. Do we have anybody sign up to speak for against this?
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:36:07
Nope. All right. Senator, you're recognized and closed for your bill. I'm
closed for my bill, and I ask for a good vote. Thank you. All right, member. Senator's closed. Got a motion to pass from Senator Clark. Second
from Senator Hammer. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all on paper say
Speaker 392
2:36:27
aye. Aye. Opposed? Congratulations, Senator. Your bill passes. All right. Have we got any other members of the
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:36:35
committee that got one non-controversial? I'd like to ask, what else they're hanging around for?
Speaker 228
2:36:39
They've been sitting all morning. Yeah, what bill are you all here for? What
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:36:50
other bills are... Is there another bill? Okay. That was
Speaker 395
2:36:57
it. 521. I've got some if you want them. Let's go ahead, Senator Hammer. You've got a couple. Senator Hamer and Senator Dotson.
Senator Hamer, what bills are you gonna run? Senator Dotson,
you ready? Go ahead. I'll let you
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:37:32
get them ready, Senator Hamer. What are you running, Senator Dotson? Senate Bill 570, members. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, Senate Bill 570, as we're looking at, this involves joint budget committee and the membership thereof. If you look at the statute, and notice this as we were doing committee selections last time and this time,
that the current and immediate past chairs of legislative council and audit were ex-officio members on joint budget, but the speaker and the pro tem are not. And so what this bill would simply do is add the speaker, the pro tem, and the immediate past speaker and pro tem to be automatic ex officio members of Joint Budget
Committee. - All right, member, you've heard an explanation of the bill.
Any questions for the committee? All right, seeing none, don't have anybody signed to speak for or against the bill.
Senator Dodson, you're recognized to close. - I'm closed, make a motion, do pass. - Got a motion, do pass. Do I see a second? Second by Senator Hamer, any discussion? See none, all in favor say aye. - Aye. - Opposed, congratulations Senator, your bill passes. Senator Hamer. - How many did I miss? - All right, Senate Bill 584.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:38:54
Come on up here, Lindsey. Kim Hammer, State Senator, District 16. Mr. Chairman, if we could do 584,
please. All right, members, yep, Senate Bill 584. All right. Senator, you're recognized to proceed with Senate
Lindsay Bailey
Unverified
2:39:15
Bill 584. I'm going to let Lindsey start. It'll be quicker. So 584
is not a super short bill, but it's not a complicated bill. You have heard all of this before in bills that came through here about statewide petitions.
This defines local petitions as county or municipal petitions, and it literally goes through here where it has requirements for statewide petitions, and it adds or local, and where there are functions of the Secretary of State in vetting the signatures, it says or county clerk if it's a local petition. And the reason this bill is so late in running is because there were a lot of things ran that affected statewide petitions.
So we wanted to make most everything uniform for local petitions that canvassers be held to the same standards if they're paid the same transparency of all the other bills that you all have seen fit to pass thus far. All right, members, you've heard an explanation
Speaker 405
2:40:15
of the bill. Any questions from the committee? See no questions. Don't see anybody sign up to speak for
Speaker 349
2:40:43
here? All right. What about Doug Curtis? Mr. Curtis?
Mr. Chairman, I will explain right there at the top. Okay. Okay. Thank you, sir. All right, members. I see any further questions. Senator Hamer, you're electing to ask to close
your bill. Close. Do pass. Motion do pass. All right. Got to close. Got a motion from Senator Hamer, second from Senator Dodson. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none. All in favor, say aye.
Aye. Opposed? Congratulations, Senator. Your bill passes. 551, Mr. Chair. All right. Senate Bill 551. Kind of goes along the same line.
Speaker 414
2:41:24
there's only one way to go from here i'm closed i make a motion do pass
Speaker 416
2:41:34
a motion do pass i'm senator hammer yeah i know carl no so a brief explanation of the bill thank you mr chairman um
it's a really good bill and it deals with uh local concerns on camc and brings everything in line with
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:41:46
everything else that we've been doing and uh with that i'll take questions. All right, members, you've heard an explanation of the bill or any questions from
the committee. Seeing no questions, do we have anybody signed to speak for against this? Don't see anybody. Senator Hammer, you recognize closed for your bill? I'm closed, Mr. Chairman. Make a motion to do pass. Got a motion to do pass. Senator Hammer, seconded for Senator Dodson. Any discussion
on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Congratulations, Senator, your bill passes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, can I keep going? Keep going. Okay. I'd like to do 1707. House
Bill 1707. We're going to do whatever we got.
We're rocking and rolling, Senator Dotson. House Bill 1707. Do
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:42:35
you want help on this one? Okay. I'll get Lindsay up here. Kim Hammer, State Senator, District
Speaker 421
2:42:52
16. Introduce yourself. All right, recognize yourself, Lindsay
Lindsay Bailey
Unverified
2:42:54
Bailey with a, or Lindsay French. Lindsay French, Association of Arkansas Counties.
What this bill does is it takes local candidates who filed a run for office in the county clerk's office, and it has them electronically filing their financial contribution and expenditures online with the Secretary of State's office. Mr. Chairman, the purpose
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:43:18
of members is this makes it more transparent, makes it available for
everyone to be able to see those financial reports, and I do not believe there was any
Lindsay Bailey
Unverified
2:43:28
opposition. There is not, and the Secretary of State's office is okay with the bill. They're giving a thumbs up. They're
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:43:38
okay with it. All right, Senator Dodson, you're going to ask for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this would be the same online reporting system that we use for campaign contributions and that
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:43:51
sort of thing? I believe that's correct. That's correct. Okay, thank you. That's part of the idea. Everybody's getting on the same page. The public has full accessibility
to it. Any other questions from the committee? All right, seeing none, don't see anybody sign up, speak for or against. Senator Hammer, you'd be recognized and closed for your bill. Closed for the bill. Appreciate a good vote and make a motion
due pass. Got a motion due pass from Senator Hammer. I see a second. Second from Senator Sullivan. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Congratulations,
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:44:20
Senator. Your bill passes. Mr. Chairman, on your list, do you have anybody to sign up to speak for or against 445? 445?
Speaker 405
2:44:30
I'm not seeing anybody, Senator. It's not on the agenda. We don't have it. It's on the... Is
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:44:35
it? It's in the House. Is it on our agenda, though? No, it's not on our agenda. Okay. Let me find it, then. Don't know where it went. and if
I could, 1714 has been heard in here before. I've got an amendment. I'd like to at least get the amendment adopted. Senate Bill 445 is in the House, state agencies.
Oh, it's in the House. All right, thank you.
Oh, yeah, never mind. 1714, I'm on gross on the floor. Make it easier when it comes back through here. Excellent. Senator
Dodson, you got one? Thank you. Come
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:45:25
on up there. Thank you, members. All right, Senate Bill 586, members. Members, this is Senate Bill 586. We heard a similar bill
last week. This is regarding constitutional amendments
and their passage, the threshold to the level to pass them at the ballot. made a modification to it, and the bill now will require a two-thirds majority to pass. Chair, I accidentally shut off your mic. Sorry. This will now, under this bill, it would raise the threshold for initiated constitutional amendments to be two-thirds to pass at the ballot.
Speaker 38
2:46:05
Two-thirds vote. Happy to try to answer any questions. All right, members, you've heard an explanation of the bill. Are there any questions from the committee? All right,
seeing no questions, we do have some people signed up to speak against this. Ms. Gail Chope, Dr. Chope, is she in here? All right, don't see Gail, we'll go to
Speaker 392
2:46:25
the next one. Ms. Rebecca Zimmerman, is Ms. Zimmerman in
Speaker 429
2:46:29
here? All right, don't see Ms. Zimmerman, we'll go to the next.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:46:36
Mr. Tribble, don't see JP Tribble in here. All right. That is it. All
right. Senator Dodson, you are recognized and closed for your bill. I'm closed. I make a motion do pass. Got a motion do pass. Second by Senator Payton. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Congratulations, Senator Dodson.
Your bill passes. Thank you. Senator Davis, you got a House bill you want to run real quickly? Come on up. You leave Representative Pilkington right where he is if you want that bill to pass.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:47:06
No. Come on up, Representative. yeah what
number you what will you all run again house bill 1690 and if y'all introduce
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:47:27
yourself and you'd be recognized to proceed thank you mr.
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
2:47:31
chair Brianne Davis state senate district 25 Aaron Pilkington district 45 Pope and Johnson County all right recognize proceed with your bill. Sure. This is a very simple bill. We're moving the Department for Emergency Response
for Nuclear Waste to the Department of Emergency Services, as opposed to the Department of Health. The reason being, when A&O was built, we didn't have the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. So they put it on the Department of Health. We're the only state that does it. Every other state has it under the Department of Emergency Management. And so we're simply moving it from one to the other. This came at the behest of the five county judges it affects.
No known opposition of it. It should be a pretty simple, easy bill. All right. Members, you've heard an explanation
of the bill. Are there any questions from members of the committee? All right. Senator Payton, you're recognized for a question.
Representative Pilkerton, it's come to our attention here in this committee recently that
we can't do this without totally disrupting all the services and all of the programs and rules when we move something from one department to the next, can you assure us that this is going to be pulled off without a hitch? Yes, sir. I have no concerns whatsoever. Thank you. Thank
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
2:48:40
you, Senator. Are there any other questions from members of the committee?
All right. Seeing no further questions, do we have anybody signed up to speak? Don't see anybody sign up to speak for or against
this. Representative, you're going to ask a close for your bill? We're going to close for our bill. All right. We're going to close for the bill. I'll see a motion due passed from Senator Dotson. A second from Senator Sullivan. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Congratulations, your bill passes. All right, members, just a reminder, we do have the Joint Military Affairs Subcommittee that's going to be meeting after 15 minutes upon adjournment today. And then after the adjournment of that committee, we will likely have to come back in here
for another state agency's meeting. So I will let you know. Seeing no further minutes coming for this committee, we are adjourned. Thank you.
Agenda
CALLTO ORDER - Senator Payton
ADJOURNMENT
SB293 K. 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.
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.
HB1690 Pilkington TO TRANSFER THE NUCLEAR PLANNING AND RESPONSE PROGRAM FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
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.
SB536 D. Sullivan TO ABOLISH AND TRANSFER THE ARKANSAS STATE LIBRARY AND THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Sen Flippo Chairing
HB1707 Hawk TO REQUIRE CERTAIN CANDIDATES TO FILE REPORTS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE; TO AMEND PORTIONS OF INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1996; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB551 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CANVASSING FOR A PETITION FOR A LOCAL OPTION ELECTION.
SB570 J. Dotson TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE.
SB584 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS.
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.
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE, Apr 1, 2025 | Agenda | 4 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Senator John Payton Chair
Unverified
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
Speaker 14
Speaker 15
Speaker 21
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
Speaker 38
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
Chris Madison
Unverified
Speaker 74
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
Speaker 49
Speaker 114
Speaker 115
Speaker 119
Speaker 124
Speaker 128
Speaker 136
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 149
Speaker 152
Speaker 157
Speaker 178
Speaker 223
Speaker 224
Debbie Hall
Unverified
Speaker 229
John Mcgraw
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Speaker 249
Speaker 252
Speaker 258
Speaker 250
Speaker 183
Speaker 278
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
Speaker 308
Ali Stevens
Unverified
Speaker 319
Speaker 328
Speaker 318
Speaker 330
Speaker 334
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
Speaker 348
Speaker 313
Speaker 354
Claire Graham
Unverified
Speaker 368
Speaker 338
Senator Scott Flippo Chair
Unverified
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
Taylor Hanford
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Speaker 392
Speaker 228
Speaker 395
Lindsay Bailey
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Speaker 405
Speaker 349
Speaker 414
Speaker 416
Speaker 421
Speaker 429
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified