Education Committee- House
Video
Transcript
1 document
Bills discussed (50)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1705
Act 478
· 4 mentions in chapter, agenda, transcript
Matched: “HB1705 Duke TO REQUIRE INFORMATION CONCERNING HOW THE RELIGIOUS AN…”
|
TO REQUIRE INFORMATION CONCERNING HOW THE RELIGIOUS AND MORAL BELIEFS OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS INFLUENCED … | Duke | Notification that HB1705 is now Act 478 |
|
HB1571
Act 502
· 3 mentions in chapter, agenda, transcript
Matched: “HB1571 Ray TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ADULT DIPLOMA PROGRAM ACT.”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ADULT DIPLOMA PROGRAM ACT. | Ray | Notification that HB1571 is now Act 502 |
|
HB1495
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1495 Hawk CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOO…”
|
CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD. | Hawk | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1545
Act 501
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…aught Rep. Hope Duke REGULAR AGENDA Number Sponsor Subtitle HB1545 K. Brown TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRANSI…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2021. | K. Brown | Notification that HB1545 is now Act 501 |
|
HB1642
Act 916
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1642 Gramlich TO AMEND THE MEASURES CONSIDERED WHEN CALCULATING…”
|
TO AMEND THE MEASURES CONSIDERED WHEN CALCULATING A SCHOOL RATING; AND TO ENSURE A STUDENT … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1642 is now Act 916 |
|
HB1646
Act 917
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…OOL-LEVEL GRADUATION RATE IF THE STUDENT PASSES A GED TEST. HB1646 McGrew TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED…”
|
TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED COMPARTMENTS WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA. | McGrew | Notification that HB1646 is now Act 917 |
|
HB1672
Act 800
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…ERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD. HB1672 McCollum TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO CREATE…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC … | McCollum | Notification that HB1672 is now Act 800 |
|
HB1684
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…estrictions designating areas as 'Members and Staff Only'. HB1684 McAlindon TO CREATE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDEN…”
|
TO CREATE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED (PATHS) ACT. | McAlindon | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1696
Act 566
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1696 McAlindon TO ESTABLISH THE STRENGTHENING ARKANSAS EDUCATION…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE STRENGTHENING ARKANSAS EDUCATION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE A CORE CURRICULUM AT STATE-SUPPORTED … | McAlindon | Notification that HB1696 is now Act 566 |
|
HB1709
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…TITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. HB1709 Steele TO AMEND THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS P…”
|
TO AMEND THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM; AND TO INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH … | Steele | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1710
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1710 Vaught TO PROHIBIT A SCHOOL FROM USING OR REFERENCING A PUB…”
|
TO PROHIBIT A SCHOOL FROM USING OR REFERENCING A PUBLIC SCHOOL RATING IN ANY ADVERTISING, … | Vaught | WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR |
|
HB1724
Act 503
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1724 B. McKenzie TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS; AND … | B. McKenzie | Notification that HB1724 is now Act 503 |
|
HB1727
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1727 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ADULT EDUCATIO…”
|
TO AMEND THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ADULT EDUCATION CHARTER SCHOOLS. | L. Johnson | WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR |
|
HB1766
Act 907
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1766 Ennett TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, A…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, AND EMPOWER (RISE) ACT. | Ennett | Notification that HB1766 is now Act 907 |
|
SB135
Act 399
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…D THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ADULT EDUCATION CHARTER SCHOOLS. SB135 J. Boyd TO AMEND ELECTION REQUIREMENTS IN THE CASE OF AN UN…”
|
TO AMEND ELECTION REQUIREMENTS IN THE CASE OF AN UNCHANGED RATE OF AN ANNUAL AD … | J. Boyd | Notification that SB135 is now Act 399 |
|
SB183
Act 724
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB183 J. Dotson TO AMEND THE UNIVERSAL ACT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ACT…”
|
TO AMEND THE UNIVERSAL ACT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ACT; AND TO AMEND THE TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS … | J. Dotson | Notification that SB183 is now Act 724 |
|
SB223
Act 400
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB223 M. Johnson TO CREATE THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS…”
|
TO CREATE THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT OF 2025. | M. Johnson | Notification that SB223 is now Act 400 |
|
SB413
Act 401
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB413 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOA…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND TO AMEND THE … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB413 is now Act 401 |
|
SB417
Act 402
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “SB417 J. Dotson TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS RELATED TO HIGHER EDUCATION…”
|
TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS RELATED TO HIGHER EDUCATION. | J. Dotson | Notification that SB417 is now Act 402 |
|
HB1027
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…OF HIGHER EDUCATION. DEFERRED BILLS Number Sponsor Subtitle HB1027 D. Garner TO CREATE THE BRIGHTER START ACT OF 2025; AND TO…”
|
TO CREATE THE BRIGHTER START ACT OF 2025; AND TO REQUIRE THE TREASURER OF STATE … | D. Garner | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1030
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TING AND FUTURE ARKANSAS BRIGHTER FUTURE FUND PLAN ACCOUNT. HB1030 T. Shephard TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OR LAW ENF…”
|
TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION IN YOUTH … | T. Shephard | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1031
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…OUNSELOR TO RECEIVE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING. HB1031 D. Garner TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY LIFESTYLE EDUCATIO…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS HEALTHY LIFESTYLE EDUCATION ACT OF 2025; AND TO ENSURE THE HEALTH … | D. Garner | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1051
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…IC SCHOOLS ADDRESSES CERTAIN HEALTH ISSUES FACING STUDENTS. HB1051 Andrews TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL START DATE REQUIREMENTS.…”
|
TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL START DATE REQUIREMENTS. | Andrews | WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR |
|
HB1062
Act 565
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1062 R. Scott Richardson TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTE…”
|
TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2025. | R. Scott Richardson | Notification that HB1062 is now Act 565 |
|
HB1081
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Andrews TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL START DATE REQUIREMENTS. HB1081 B. McKenzie TO REPEAL ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMEN…”
|
TO REPEAL ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES. | B. McKenzie | WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR |
|
HB1139
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES. HB1139 B. McKenzie TO CREATE THE RELEASED TIME EDUCATION ACT. HB12…”
|
TO CREATE THE RELEASED TIME EDUCATION ACT. | B. McKenzie | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1242
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NT AT EACH MEETING OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. HB1242 J. Mayberry TO AMEND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL NURSES A…”
|
TO AMEND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL NURSES ARE COMPENSATED. | J. Mayberry | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1283
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…DITIONAL CATEGORY OF FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING. HB1283 J. Mayberry TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECON…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO INCLUDE DIGITAL MEDIA STANDARDS IN … | J. Mayberry | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1312
Act 909
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TO STUDENTS. PENDING FISCAL IMPACT Number Sponsor Subtitle HB1312 Brooks TO AMEND PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUB…”
|
TO AMEND PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003. | Brooks | Notification that HB1312 is now Act 909 |
|
HB1457
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…SCHOOL IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL IN A HOME SCHOOL. HB1457 L. Johnson TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SUBMIT DATA AND OTH…”
|
TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SUBMIT DATA AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL … | L. Johnson | WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR |
|
HB1482
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…RT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CURRENT READING GRADE LEVEL. HB1482 Gramlich TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RE…”
|
TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO THE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR A STUDENT WHO TAKES A … | Gramlich | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1483
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWELVE LIBRARY MEDIA STANDARDS. HB1483 Gramlich TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUN…”
|
TO ALLOW A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO USE STATE FUNDS TO PAY FOR AN ADULT … | Gramlich | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1484
Act 910
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TYPE 2 DIABETES WHEN OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED. HB1484 Gramlich TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAI…”
|
TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDITS A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1484 is now Act 910 |
|
HB1490
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TIONAL EDUCATION CATEGORY OF FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. HB1490 Wardlaw TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUD…”
|
TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT RETURN TEMPORARILY ISSUED ITEMS, RESOURCES, MATERIALS, … | Wardlaw | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1492
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…S A STUDENT MAY OBTAIN IN A COURSE CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM. HB1492 Gramlich TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OPEN-EN…”
|
TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OPEN-ENROLLMENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT A MOBILE … | Gramlich | Recommended for study in the Interim by the … |
|
HB1528
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…AMEND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL NURSES ARE COMPENSATED. HB1528 McGruder TO REQUIRE A REPORT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CU…”
|
TO REQUIRE A REPORT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CURRENT READING GRADE LEVEL. | McGruder | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1539
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ENTS FOR A STUDENT WHO TAKES A GED TEST AND RECEIVES A GED. HB1539 A. Collins TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003;…”
|
TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003; AND TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL EDUCATION … | A. Collins | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1580
Act 801
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…NG A UNIFORM STATEWIDE DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM. Page 3 of 4 HB1580 Gramlich TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION…”
|
TO REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION ON TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETES WHEN … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1580 is now Act 801 |
|
HB1640
Act 476
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1640 Duke TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "ADMINISTRATOR" AS IT RELAT…”
|
TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "ADMINISTRATOR" AS IT RELATES TO ETHICAL GUIDELINES AND PROHIBITIONS; AND … | Duke | Notification that HB1640 is now Act 476 |
|
HB1697
Act 477
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1697 Joey Carr TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF TITLE 6 AND TITLE 19 OF TH…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF TITLE 6 AND TITLE 19 OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING PROVISIONAL … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1697 is now Act 477 |
|
HB1719
Act 905
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…UNDING AMOUNTS UNDER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING ACT OF 2003. HB1719 Vaught TO AMEND THE DAYS INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MA…”
|
TO AMEND THE DAYS INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MATERNITY LEAVE DAYS APPROVED BY … | Vaught | Notification that HB1719 is now Act 905 |
|
HB1728
Act 906
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WITH A WEARABLE PANIC ALERT SYSTEM DEVICE. HB1728 Ennett TO REQUIRE REPORTING ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEI…”
|
TO REQUIRE REPORTING ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A DISABILITY AT INSTITUTIONS … | Ennett | Notification that HB1728 is now Act 906 |
|
HB1733
Act 504
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…EAVE DAYS APPROVED BY A SCHOOL THAT OFFERS MATERNITY LEAVE. HB1733 Joey Carr TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE…”
|
TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ACT. | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1733 is now Act 504 |
|
HB1755
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…RENTS TO BRING THEIR INFANTS SIX MONTHS OR YOUNGER TO WORK. HB1755 T. Shephard TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN…”
|
TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ARKANSAS PREVENTION NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY. | T. Shephard | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1756
Act 803
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ICIPATE IN THE ARKANSAS PREVENTION NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY. HB1756 Vaught TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDIN…”
|
TO ALLOW A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR PERSON STANDING IN LOCO PARENTIS TO A STUDENT … | Vaught | Notification that HB1756 is now Act 803 |
|
HB1761
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…D MAINTAIN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS THE STUDENT OBTAINS. HB1761 D. Garner TO INCREASE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH THE EST…”
|
TO INCREASE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INCOME LIMITS FOR STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR EDUCATIONAL … | D. Garner | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1786
Act 826
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…EEDOM ACCOUNTS IN THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR AND THEREAFTER. HB1786 Brooks TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR A TUITION BENEFIT TO SOLD…”
|
TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR A TUITION BENEFIT TO SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN OF THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL … | Brooks | Notification that HB1786 is now Act 826 |
|
HB1793
Act 804
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Page 2 of 4 YEAR AND FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. HB1793 Duke TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF POSITIVE BEHAVI…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE USE OF POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS. | Duke | Notification that HB1793 is now Act 804 |
|
SB303
Act 644
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…TIONS FOR A DISABILITY AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. SB303 Dees TO ALLOW A RESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PERMIT A PRIVAT…”
|
TO ALLOW A RESIDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PERMIT A PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENT TO PARTICIPATE IN … | Dees | Notification that SB303 is now Act 644 |
|
SB352
Act 721
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…OF POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SB352 Stone TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SEC…”
|
TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN STATE-SUPPORTED … | Stone | Notification that SB352 is now Act 721 |
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- October 2, 2026
Start us off in prayer if you would please wait. A spray. Dear Father in
Representative Wade Andrews
Unverified
0:18
heaven, thank you for everything that you give us, Lord. Thank you for allowing us to come together to Do Work on laws to support your will. Lord Watch out for those who are sick and in need, forgets her ends cross name, amen. The So I know we probably have several groups who are here, I may not know who
everyone is. Uh, if you have a group here that wants to be recognized,
just come up here at some point and uh put a little bug in in Vice Chairman McKenzie's ear so we make sure and recognize you, uh, because again, it's a, it's a full, full crew this morning, so we're uh we appreciate everyone coming along, uh, so members without objection we're gonna hear bills, um, we've got a pretty full schedule, uh, so we're moving towards kind of the Billapalooza portion of session where we hear a lot of stuff, uh, that's a technical. obviously, uh, but we're gonna try and hear as many as we possibly can, uh, today and there's very, it's very likely
that you'll constantly hear me say without objection we're going to take something out of order because a lot of it's going to be dependent upon sponsors who are other places coming in and and as they're running other bills so with that objection this morning we're gonna go out of order and start with Representative Duke for HB 1705. Representative, if you would please introduce yourself for the record and then you're recognized to present your bill.
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:46
Thank, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, members. Hope Duke District 12, um, Northwest Benton County. Um, if I may, may I bring some people to sit at the table with me, Mr. Chair. Yes, you may, if you
would please just introduce yourself as well for the record, then you're recognized to help represent Duke. I sit there. Mr. Chair, my name
Speaker 15
2:09
is Tim Barton. I'm the president of all Builders.
Speaker 19
2:19
There we go. Thank you. You get that, Mr. Barton, you get your butt pushed, OK, Dave Barton, founder of WallBuilders. Recognize. All
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
2:30
right, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, members. Um, I'm here today to introduce to you House Bill 1705. Um, so, um, legislative intent is a phrase that we often hear spoken in the rooms of the Capitol. We have questions like what is your intent of the bill? What are you trying to accomplish? Um, what problem are you trying to solve? We do our best to convey our
intent to our bill rafters and to our colleagues. We know, knowing the intent, the perspective, the beliefs, the worldview of a legislator helps us understand what they or we are trying to accomplish and why? And it also helps us decide if we're going to support it or not. Our intent is so important that even after a bill becomes law, we safeguard our intent by approving the rules that are put into place to carry out a law. Again, the intent and perspective, the beliefs and the views, even the words of those rules matter to make sure they
go align with the intent that we had when we brought forth the legislation. Legislation is a legislative intent is important in understanding the bills and laws we pass in Arkansas. But is equally if not more important to understand the intent perspective beliefs that influenced our founding fathers when they formed the United States. How do we know where to go as a nation if we don't know, and our students don't know where we came from. Or why we are different and how we are different. It is for that reason I introduce to you House
Bill 1701705. That will require certain information to be embedded into existing social studies standards for grades 6 through 12, considering how the religious and moral beliefs of the founding fathers influenced the founding of the United States. This would begin in the years 2026 to 2027 school year. And with that, if, with your permission, if they have anything else that you all would like to add. Mr. Martin, whichever one you're recognized.
Speaker 17
4:24
Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee. It's our pleasure to be here. Uh, one of the things that is becoming very evident and apparent in education is the poor academic performance of much of the nation, as we can identify statistically less than 7% of Americans can identify the five freedoms of the First Amendment, less than 2/3 of Americans can identify the three branches of government. The current data most recently released from 2024 tells us that only 22% of eighth graders are proficient at grade level in education. And so the
The idea of going back to encourage and reintroduce some concepts to make sure that we are covering the things that are pivotal important as is identified in the fair and act to be entitled in the subtitle the intro of this bill. The religious and moral foundation of the Founding Fathers, George Washington in his farewell address. He said of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are the indispensable supports, meaning you can't do it without it. And Washington's farewell address, he gave a lot of advice. There was only one piece of advice he said was
indispensable and it was religion and morality, and yet today there's been a very significant strategic attack to try to remove the religious and moral aspects from education. We can see the effects of that with some of the violent crimes, the fact that for teenagers, one of the leading causes of death is gun violence. There's a lot of factors we can consider in this, but certainly backing up to the idea of learning some of the religious and moral aspects would be one of the counters to some of what's going on and even
the idea of introducing something that might be religious. We already know there's going to be people that would reject and say, wait a second, but a separation of church and state, you can't teach religion. Now, on top of the fact that all this bill does is say let's go back and read actual documents from the founding fathers, right, not promoting something specifically religious. It is worth noting that in 2022, there was a Supreme Court decision where the US Supreme Court and the Coach Kennedy case. He was a football coach from Washington State that was fired and his victory with the US Supreme Court determined he was wrongfully terminated, they overturned the Lemon
decision from 1971 that had been used to exclude any religious activity or expression in public institutions and government arenas, and that was overturned. The existing standard now is from 2019 was a Blainesburg Cross decision and the US Supreme Court said the current standard is if there's a long-standing history and tradition, there should be a presumption of constitutionality. What this bill is saying is let's go back to relearn the history and tradition and in doing that, the Supreme Court says there's already a presumption of constitutionality to do this
because it is the history and tradition of our nation and that's exactly what this bill is promoting. Mr. Sherman, committee
Speaker 27
7:07
members, I would also echo that in the sense that the declaration and Constitution, we, we want our kids to know the Constitution. We want to know civics. But the declaration is the why of the Constitution and just knowing the Constitution, not knowing the values of it, is not sound. We already see that the numbers are not good on Sipic knowledge in general, but when you look at where we are as a country, I think one of the things that's
not appreciated as much as our Constitution has gone 238 years. The average length of the constitution in the history of the world is 7. years. So we are the longest going constitutional republic in the history of the world, and most students do not appreciate our uniqueness, where that uniqueness come from. It came from our founding documents. What was the first founding document? It was the value system, the declaration. It's interesting that as Congress allowed states to come in after the original 13 they produced enabling acts. The Enabling Acts were so many states said you're allowed to come into the, into
the union, if you will teach the values of the declaration and the specifics of the Constitution. Those two documents were required. hard to be taught. And so this is a bill and a measure that will go back to teaching the under the underwriting value system, if you will, and significantly even as this as this bill addresses, even teaching that the heart of abolition, anti-slavery. As you look particularly in the debates in the 1830s and 1940s where both sides have become very heavily polarized in the House of Representatives is very interesting to see that those
that were pro-slavery continually said, stop bringing up the declaration. We took note to uphold the Const not the declaration, and they excluded the declaration because that went against their argument for slavery. So even in those debates there, it's important to notice the value systems there and how that value system shapes the way we look at our constitutional republic, so anything that helps get back to that, that root system of teaching both the Constitution and the Declaration is key. And the final thing I would point out is that even with the most recent president, President
Biden, he had 708 federal measures that he signed. Where those measures do not date themselves to the Constitution. They take themselves to the Declaration. Even the Constitution Article 7 dates up to the Declaration, that is the founding document and so teaching students those values, those beliefs, the things on which the Constitution is founded is very healthy for civics. So I would just add, I started looking at this bill, or
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
9:25
the idea or the concept of this came about, about a year ago for me. And I taught social studies a
long time ago, and one of the things that I realized as I went through college, as I was teaching myself, there was a lot that I did not learn when I was going through school, and there's a lot that my kids did not learn and last year I began a um study of just going through the Constitution, and I began serving a couple of years ago in the house and as I said before, that legisl intent. We discussed that so much and that really I just really began to focus on we're not having those discussions. Our kids are not talking about
those things in schools, they're not learning. What did our founding fathers believe? Why did they believe it? How did that motivate them in their beliefs and the things that they valued and how they created the Constitution, how they began our government, how they founded our country. And so it's not telling people what to believe. That's not what it's doing. It's saying let's look and see what they believed, so that we can understand why they made the decisions that they made, and that's gonna make our students better students and
it's more importantly gonna make them better citizens of our country to have an understanding and and and have the debate and discussion of what the founding fathers believed and so with that, um, I'll take any questions. I'll do my best to answer them. Normally I'd say Representative Duke, you have a question, but,
Speaker 30
10:52
uh, someone else will be out first. Uh, Representative Vault, you're if you'd like. Represent Paul, you're
recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I appreciate the bill, the intent of the
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
11:06
bill, uh, doing research way back. I don't think I even realized that they all had to have, they had to be Christians to even serve, period. And so there was never an intent by our founding fathers to be state separated from religion. I think it was part of the whole package, um, but on here I do see that I want to know about the. textbooks, are we gonna have to buy new textbooks, um, how will that work representative, if you can tell me that and, and will
it be a fiscal impact to our schools, our local schools, are we doing an unfunded mandate, in other words. Thank you,
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
11:43
Representative, for that question, and it's a question I probably would have asked if I'd been sitting down there in my, in my other chair, um, but there's no fiscal impact to the state. I have visited with DE some about this. They will be looking, there's a year out for them to do this as well, but they felt confident and they may have someone here that can speak to this that they would be able to help districts, um, incorporate in this we won't need to buy new textbooks. There's lots, of course, original documents that are out there available for
their use, and so I don't foresee there being any real impact even to the school districts. But if Desi would like to comment on that or if you all would like to have them do that, um, that is my understanding is that they would be able to work with the districts to make sure there wasn't any substantial cost to them. Sure, yes, uh,
is there somebody from the department, Secretary Leva. Please introduce yourself and you're recognized. Good morning, Jacob Oliva,
Speaker 40
12:37
Department of Education, um. First, I just want to thank Representative Duke for bringing forth
Speaker 41
12:43
the thing, an important topic. I always like to share a kind of neat story, but in my former life when I was a school superintendent, it didn't matter where I went, anytime I met with a parent group, uh, civics group, religious group, and opened up questions I always get asked the same three questions, no matter where I went. One, how come you don't teach cursive? To how come kids can't balance a
checkbook in 3, why don't kids learn about the Constitution. So this is obviously something that's, that's not new. It's, it's, it's a phenomenon I think that decades, uh, decades passed and over a lot of other states. But to answer the questions, uh, timeline wise representative, um, our agency would Based on the signing of this into law would go back and review all of our current civics and history standards, make sure they're reflected with the new content and topics. That's something that we would do within our agency. We, we get stakeholder input. It would take
about a year to go. But we feel pretty confident with the open education resources that are available, the current textbooks that if we prioritize these standards, it wouldn't be an unfunded mandate that we could help support any supplemental materials uh for. Heim Gonzalez well
then you recognize for a question.
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
14:01
Yes, um, Secretary Aliva, thank you for um Explaining how we might be able to, uh, review the current standards. I'm really happy
about that because From In my, in my view with the social studies teachers that I'm familiar with, whether they're middle school, junior high, high school. This is taught, so, you know, I'm, I'm just wondering if it's, if, if we need to do we really need this because this is, this is really core to many of the social studies classes already along with the civics classes. Yeah, I think what this would do is put
Speaker 41
14:37
an emphasis on the standards sometimes, um,
when you look at educational standards, they're about 1 mile wide inch. and we've, we've, as, as states review academic standards, it's a good healthy process every 7 to 10 years to review the standards of a subject. We've recently reviewed English which are standards. We've recently reviewed math standards. So timing wise, it would make sense to go through and do a deep deep dive and really prioritize those essential topics and concepts that we want students to know and learn at each grade level, so I, I don't think it's an
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
15:13
exercise of futility. It's something that we would welcome. Follow up. Would that also include, um, once they're reviewed, um, resources for teachers, um. So that they can hit that topic from various
points of view when it comes to religion or equality or um freedom of press, speech, etc. Yes. So
Speaker 41
15:34
anytime that we go through the, the public process of seeking stakeholder input, we, we put together a task force and we bring in teachers and administrators, college
professors, um, that are, that are subject matter area experts to help review those standards, we would ask that work group to help make sure that we can. procure open educational resources or supplementary materials or work with the curriculum, um, primary instructional tools to make sure that these elevated topics and concepts are able to be implemented with fidelity. See no additional questions. We do
have a couple of people signed up to speak on the bill to
those people who are at the table right now. Representative Garner, you're recognized for a question. Sorry,
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
16:26
and I'm it's really for For Secretary Oliva, how, how are these standards checked in the classroom. What, how do we make sure that that folks are staying neutral or that are. Talking about very specific things they're showing original documents. How is that checked? Well, in, in a, in a bunch of
Speaker 41
16:45
different ways. So I, I, I think the easiest way to say is that school districts have to sign assurances that they're teaching the standards, but then we also measure whether or not students are learning what we expect them to learn. So some courses have standardized assessments that we give to all of our students to get a snapshot in time, but some courses may not be subject specific, but we do have a civics exam that's, um, that students have to pass to in order to to meet graduation requirements. So this would be um through those assurances we
would make sure that teachers are trained and that they have um the resources available to teach standards, but then, I mean, you have grades, you know, our kids passing the class or not and, and then, you know,
Speaker 51
17:27
some of those curriculum decisions are left up to the local level, so school boards would work with their administration to make sure that we're able to additional questions from the committee.
See none. Again, we do have one additional person signed up to speak on the bill. Tony Rose, would you like to speak on the bill? If you would please introduce yourself for the
Tony Rose
Unverified
18:09
record and you're recognized. My name is Tony Rose. I'm with the National Association of Christian Lawmakers. Didn't know you were bringing in the big guns today. Uh, this bill represents
Why I have distributed 1400 American patriots Bibles, with all due respect to the founders Bible. Because, uh, my former business partner and I were frustrated at, um, the inability of some of our very public figures to articulate why it was important to understand the foundations of our government, uh, and, and the instructions that the founders received through biblical instruction. And so
With the 300 illustrations, uh, talking about how uh faith was foundational to our government and how it influenced us all the way up through. It ended with the Biden administration, so, um, The Mayflower Compact, the Magna Carta, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence are all based on the values that were impressed on our founding fathers. If you don't understand that, it's very difficult to understand how the United States of America is supposed to work,
and it's very understandable when you see Charlie Kirk interviewing people on um the the grounds of higher education. Why they don't understand some of these things. They don't understand the the foundation upon which decisions were made when writing all of these documents. So if you don't understand. Why you don't understand how it's supposed to work. You don't understand how to fix it when it's not working. It doesn't
matter what faith you practice. If you come here with another faith, if you don't understand the why and the how of the basis of our foundational documents, you don't understand why we do some of the things that we do and how we do it and why we believe they're right. So I'm breaking my own advice today, which is uh quoting scripture, but it's relevant in this case and judges, uh, 2, 10 through 12, they taught us, and there are rose another
generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. They turned to other gods, provoked the Lord to anger, and paid a big price. It only took one generation. My daughter went to school here in the night in the public school here and all through the 90s. This was not taught to her. I don't think we've upgraded since then or we added that to the curricula. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am, or we wouldn't be sitting here.
I believe you cannot understand, articulate, protect, and preserve our representative republic. If you don't understand the instructions the founders were operating within when creating our constitution, the longest continuing constitutional document in the history of the world. I also believe the legislature, this legislature, recognized the foundational significance of the value system on our laws and government by the 10 Commandments monument we have
sitting on our very lawn. So I thank you for the opportunity to give you my opinion and, and I hope this is a, I think this is a good bill and I hope it passes. Are the questions from
Ms. Rose from the committee. Seeing no, thank you for your time. Thank you. So no
one else signed up to speak for or against the bill, Representative Duke, would you like to close for your bill?
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
21:52
Thank you, Mr. Chair. um, thank you, members and, um, thank you you all coming down here and, and adding a lot of context and
data to, um, an idea that I had and I really do appreciate that. So we often, we heard here with some of the testimony members that, that they gave, when we all see the videos and the clips of citizens who do not have a very good understanding of our government and how it works, but even more so, as I emphasize here, it's not just those dates and it's not just those events. Those are important and I would agree. that those are covered somewhat in our standards already. What this bill does, it is it hits 6th through 12th grade, it embeds it in there, so it's not just, you know, targeted to just a couple of classes when their
juniors or seniors. It also emphasizes in here, looking at the intent and what they believed and what motivated them. You may not agree with it. We don't all agree with each other and why we bring certain bills and why we do certain things, but it doesn't mean that we don't need to understand where they were coming from and why they made the choices they did, they made decisions. to make the United States of America, a certain type of government and have the restraints and the duties of that for the citizenry there, and we need to know our students
need to know that and I, I am all for debate. I am all for those kids engaging and having those conversations and exploring in a greater, deeper way, because we're not giving that to them right now and as as legislators and as people and you know, kind of charged with setting the course for our next generation, we owe that. to them to make sure they understand the importance of finding out why our founders did this, what their intent was and why it set us on the course, in my opinion, and I think probably
all's too, to be the greatest nation in the world. And so with that I am closed and I make a motion to pass. Representative Duke is
closed for a bill and made a motion to pass as a member of the committee. She's afforded that opportunity. Is there a discussion on the motion? Represent painter you're recognized
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
23:52
for discussion on the motion. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Representative Duke, I, I really do appreciate you bringing this bill, um, as a former adjunct professor for US government and politics. I can tell you. That are unfortunately, our
folks do not understand the basic. Stuff about the Constitution or a representative constitutional republic. But also the reasons behind why we are that form of government. And so I really hope we joke that this is a little bill that may not do much, but I really do hope that this bill does a lot. To change and to inform our folks about our government and how it became the greatest government in the world. And that way, at the end of the day,
they become even informed voters. So I really do appreciate it and I'm proudly to vote yes for this. Thank you. Russa McCollum, you recognized for discussion. Is there additional
discussion on the bill. Representative Garner you recognize. Thank you. Um In
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
24:51
reading this bill, I just kind of went back and looked up some of the things that the founding fathers have said about church and state separation, and I just wanted to talk about some of those, um, Thomas Jefferson
was a strong advocate for religious freedom. Jefferson wrote in 1802 to the letter, a letter to Danbury Baptist that the wall of separation about a wall of separation between church and state. Uh, he founded the University of Virginia as a secular institution, ensuring it was free from religious control. James Madison, father of the Constitution, um, Opposed government funding of religious institutions, including schools, believing it would lead to religious favoritism and oppression. Benjamin Franklin thought
personally uh the personally religious, uh, emphasized reason and morality over a sectarian religious instruction in education. John Adams, while supportive of religious moral influences helped craft the Treaty of Tripoli, which explicitly stated the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the campaign. on the Christian religion. And why that matters is because we have got to stay neutral and um I, I think that they
understood that and wanted to make sure that religious freedom thrives, that's why they were here in the country to begin with to make sure that everyone had their own religious freedom and this bill has the potential, I think, for um indoctrination. So for that reason, I have to be because you recognize for coming. Thank you.
I, I'm also very much in support of this bill and um Um, I'm trying to. trying to create the preface in
my mind. Our founding fathers had a lot of opinions, a lot of them. The most, the most significant and important of which they put into our founding documents, um, the, the separation of church and state is a line that Thomas Jefferson is often given credit to for his letter to the Danburys. There was a specific reason he's the author of our of our our founding document, and it's not in there, um. the same token, as I'll be the, I'm the loud, I'm the squeaky Catholic squeaky wheel that gets the oil. Um, it's important to note that the founding of our,
of our country that different faiths um were excluded intentionally from the process, clawed their way in, created colonies for themselves to recognize their faiths, what the United States and those founding documents represented at that time was freedom to celebrate our religions and our own faith traditions. So I think it's important as long as we talk about that difference and that disparity and why everyone, you know, took a 5. 5000 mile trip across the ocean from comfort and ease to establish something that they thought they needed to do in order to, to talk about their providence or their sacred
honor. so I appreciate the bill. Um, I think the, there are a lot of opinions by founders that would have grabbed in isolation, um, could distract from what Thomas Jefferson was a deist. He did not believe um in, in the, um The divine nature of Christ, um, only one Catholic was able to sign the Declaration of Independence. We had two colonies that were that were created for the sole purpose of protection from religion that at the other time the other 10 colonies didn't allow for active participation in all of that is a part of our history. We should
respect that and we should teach that I agree with Representative Painter said we've gone too far afield on on people not understanding how and why we have the greatest experiment of a government right now, so I appreciate the bill. Thank you. See no additional comment, so we're sorry
and make you recognize for you, uh, Mr. Chairman, and even though I
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
28:30
did come in late on uh I apologize, I was listening to the debate on the drive down here, so I'm very familiar with this. I'll just go, I want to make a few
comments based upon what Representative Gardner said. So she's correct, you know, President Jefferson did, you know, talk about the wall of separation between church and state, but by the same token, President Jefferson also was one of the ones who helped establish religious services at the United States Capitol, and by the time of the Civil War, the largest church congregation in the country was actually being held inside the US Capitol and During his time as president,
um, at that church, they actually had a special seat reserved for him because he was faithful to attend church services every Sunday at the Capitol. He would get on his horse, and it didn't matter what the weather was, and you all know what the winters can be like up there. And he went to church at the Capitol, and he said that Christianity was so important that he felt it was his duty as President of the United States to set the example by going to church. Sunday morning and Church back then wasn't like it
is now, where we sit through a 45 minute sermon and we're done by noon. Back then, it was 23 hours long, right? So it was quite the, quite the commitment. So, uh, our founding fathers, even though they drew a line in in very important places, they also understand that the uh the, you know, just the foundational importance of this within, uh, society and within government. They they government, even within our own
state constitution. It says good government is based upon religion, morality, education, and it has to be in that order. If you don't have religion, you don't have morality. If you don't have morality, you don't have education. And so with that foundation,
I, I fully support the bill. Appreciate you bringing it, Representative. Description back you recognize for comment. Thank you,
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
30:36
Mr. Chair. I had the chance to attend an event that that there was, it was a three-day event where we were to understand the
Constitution, what was truly meant with the Constitution. People pull, you know, a lot of different opinions from the same constitution, but the thing that impressed me the most, which I think falls right in line with what you're doing. It says that the Constitution is perfectly clear as to what it intended. If you first try to understand the background of the people who wrote our Constitution and adopted it and, and it, it. Really is true with that case, so I think this, this bill is going to do a great thing to, to get students the opportunity to do just that to understand what
the founding fathers were like and how they came up with the solutions and and things that are in our Constitution, so I appreciate you bringing this bill very much. Seeing no additional discussion of what's the
will of committee all in favor say aye, all opposed. Congratulations, Representative Duke, your bill is passed. Mr. Barton and Mr. Barton, thank you for coming our way. We appreciate you. Members without objection, we will move on now to HB 1571 Representative Ray, actually, Represent Ray, give me just a moment to recognize a couple of folks for a point of personal privilege, uh, reference of
Andrews you recognize for a point of personal privilege. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Representative Wade Andrews
Unverified
31:51
I'd like to, um, members and uh audience, uh, we, we have this Doctor Bruno Hicks. He's president of Southern Arkansas University, uh, there in the back, and we have Doctor Jerry Thomas who's SAU tech Chancellor. And Reba, you're recognized for a point of personal privilege.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. today with me, I have
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
32:12
the uh little river, uh, leadership class and we're so excited to have you all here
at the Capitol today. So thanks for coming down. Thank y'all for
being here. We appreciate you, appreciate you coming our direction. Representative Ray, you're now recognized if you would, please introduce yourself and you're recognized present HB 1571. All right, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Representative David Ray
Unverified
32:35
Good morning committee. This is House Bill 1571. Uh, if you'll remember last session, uh, this committee and the legislature passed a bill to create the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program. Um, we created that program as a
way to address the emergency that we face in our state regarding adults who do not have a high school diploma, approximately 300,000 of them. It's estimated. So we created an approach that is used by many other states that's different from the traditional model in two really important ways. Number one, it's a pay for performance model, uh, and number 2, it's an open provider model, um, like with a lot of legislation that we pass as we get into the implementation. It's necessary to make a few
tweaks here and there. That's what this bill does. Um, so most of the changes are definitional in nature or they are aligning the statute with the rules that were approved during the interim. Uh, the one change that is more substantive that I just want to be upfront with everybody about is there's a couple of the reimbursement amounts that we are um adjusting upward, not all of them, but a couple that is to better align those amounts with the best practices that we see in other states. Um, but there is no change to,
um, the amount being spent on the program, there's no change to the cost that the providers have to adhere to in terms of an average cost, so there's no fiscal impact in that regard, um, and that is what the bill does. And we'd be happy to try and answer any questions. So are there any questions from committee, Representative McCollum you recognized?
I have a motion at the proper time. OK, thank you. Uh, any other questions from committee?
I see none go to the public comment.
Uh Christian or Christian Joseph? Speak is signed up to speak for the bill you'd like to pass over? OK, thank you. Um, anyone else from the, uh, committee, uh, from the public interested in speaking for against the bill. OK, seeing non-representative radio recognize to close for your bill. All right, I just appreciate, uh, y'all working
me into the agenda this morning and would appreciate a motion and a good vote. We have a motion on the table from Representative McAuliffe, a second, um. Any discussion on the motion?
OK, all those in favor say aye. All those opposed Congratulations, Representative Ray, you passed your bill. Thank you, committee. OK, I, I don't know the order, so I think I'm gonna take it, uh, whatever way I want. Um, it's Representative Maddox in the audience. 417. OK, I will. Anyone else from the uh uh the audience like to be recognized for being here today. Sounds good.
OK, uh, Representative Brown, would you like to present your
bill? Very good. Please introduce yourself to the record and you maybe introduce your
Speaker 102
36:17
bill. Representative Alissa Brown, District 41, and can I bring somebody to the table with me. Yes, you may. Please recognize yourself for the
record as well. I am Stephanie Nichols. Staff attorney
Speaker 105
36:32
for family counsel. Well, thank you, Mr. Chair and
Representative Nicole Clowney
Unverified
36:38
members of the committee today I'm honored to present SB 223. This is the religious rights at Public School Act of 2025. A bill designed to clarify and affirm the religious freedoms that students and educators already have under the First Amendment. We affirm that religious freedom doesn't end at the schoolhouse gate. It's a God-given right that follows every Arkansan wherever they go. But unfortunately confusion often surrounds what students
and teachers can and cannot do when it comes to expressing their faith. Too often individuals are feeling uncertain or worse, silenced because they don't know their rights. I've personally received questions from students and teachers in my district asking me, Alyssa, can I do this or can I allow this? Am I gonna get in trouble for this. So our goal with this bill is simple. It's to provide clarity about existing rights for students, teachers and parents to know these freedoms are
already protected by Arkansas law, federal law, court decisions, and the First Amendment. This bill does not create new rights and it does not limit the rights to just these listed. It gives a guide and it ensures that every public school in Arkansas educates students and staff about the freedoms they already possess at the. beginning of the school year. On the Senate side, um, we did add an amendment giving flexibility to the school district on whether that is in
their handbook, policy manual or online. We have the education department has expressed no problems with this bill, and we haven't heard of any coordinated opposition, uh, but with that I would like to recognize Stephanie if she wants to add anything. Yes, it's a, it's
Chair
Unverified
38:26
a blessing to be here with you today supporting this great bill. This will help school districts and I will tell you why, um, there is great confusion right now about what the First Amendment both requires and
permits within the context of our public schools and I can give you an example of my daughter is 14 and two of her friends in 2 different public school districts have been told that they could not have a Bible on their desk at school or couldn't read it during their free time at the same time that they were. allowed to read other literature, um, we have also heard reports of a school librarian who thought the school library could not house a copy of the Bible in the school
library. So there's a lot of misunderstanding. on this important matters of First Amendment in the public school and what this bill does not do is violate the most current Supreme Court precedents. I have I have studied the bill and the Supreme Court precedents that affect the bill's legality extensively and I can support this bill with full assurance. It's not a bill about coercion. It also does not affect a
student's right not to engage in any type of religious exercise or speech at school. So that's important to note as well, um, so I think the benefits you will see with this bill are um better informed public school employees who are less subject to constitutional lawsuits, so many times you have teachers and administrators who are well-intentioned, but they are so busy that they do not have the time to. research and pick out every single section of the Arkansas
code. Look up all the applicable Supreme Court precedents and um see what the standard is that the school district should be operating under, so we hope this bill is a win-win for students, teachers, and the school districts, and I would be happy to field any questions you might have about the bill. Representative Brown, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
40:38
um. Pardon me, I forgot your name, but, uh, Stephanie
Um, so this bill does not favor any particular religion, it just allows a student to exercise their First Amendment rights, that's exactly right.
Speaker 113
40:54
Thank you. makes you recognize for question.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
41:01
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two quick questions. Um, first one, the, um, the bill states that um this would allow the, um, School district to rediscuss, and post documents of historical significance that are of religious nature, contain
religious quotes quotes and references. Uh, so in other words, this would allow a teacher to display the 10 commandments in her classroom. Would that be a practical? Outcome of that. piece of code here.
Chair
Unverified
41:30
Um, you know, only in the, I would say a legal opinion only in the context if you were studying the history of the Jewish people. And so not for purposes of proselytizing, it would have to be within a context of historical significance or maybe
you were looking at um how the 10 commandments might have impacted the nation's founding and what the different views on the 10 commandments were. So that there's also. An existing section of state code that talks about that you can go into historical documents and you don't have to censor out religious quotes because they are important to a full understanding and so I would say um like with most of our First Amendment questions, the context matters, um.
But, but yes, I can see that there could be a context where if you were studying the
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
42:26
historical significance that could be permitted. OK. There's a, there is a bill coming on the 10 commandments that uh I'm actually co-sponsoring on, so it sounds like it
might be a good fit here. Uh, my, my other, my other question is I'm gonna play devil's advocate here, literally. Um, if, uh, those religious, uh, you know, there's a satanic Bible. There are satanic, and so with this allow satanic materials into
schools as well, and And, uh, you know, is that
something we need to maybe nuance a little bit with
Speaker 107
42:54
this legislation. First Amendment doesn't pick winners and losers. So it's important to note that students would already have the right to bring
Chair
Unverified
43:00
a satanic religious text of public schools. So this does not actually change anything about that. And legally under the First Amendment, we can't say you can bring your Bible, but you can't bring a, uh, another religious text, right? And, and
Speaker 117
43:12
again, I'm not so much worried like if someone Islam or something like
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
43:21
that, but, uh, unfortunately, there are some darker sides to some religions, and, uh, that, that would be my, my only concern with this otherwise, I fully support what you're trying to
Chair
Unverified
43:31
do here. Thank you. I totally understand that if I could call your attention to the bill language you will find throughout the bill you have the phrase. in the same manner. What that means is the school districts still have reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that they can employ um, so if something is causing a substantial disruption, the US Supreme Court
under Tinker said that speech could be limited, um, so if you have somebody taking a provision from the satanic Bible and they're trying to run with that in a way that, you know, maybe causes a substantial disruption or it's not in the appropriate time, place, and manner and it's affecting. Classroom instruction, then that would be a problem. Represent Garner, you're recognized for a question. Are there additional questions from the committee. Representative Barnett, you
Representative Lincoln Barnett
Unverified
44:23
recognize. Yes, when it comes to that part about in the same manner in which they're able to, and let's go to the context of reading the B teacher when it the language as they would with any other book. Does that, um, or are there any restrictions from a teacher being able to read about.
Chair
Unverified
44:54
I would say with existing Supreme Court precedent, um, the reading of the Bible during instructional time would have to be linked to a secular educational outcome, so it's not that it would be absolutely prohibited like our state law and academic instruction of the Bible, um, it would need to fit
Speaker 107
45:16
within certain context and parameters to fit with any painter you recognize.
Speaker 135
45:27
Uh, appreciate that, Mr. Chair, just a motion at
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
45:35
the proper time. Reps some Gonzalez Worthy you recognize? Um, yes, I appreciate um the questions, and I appreciate you responding to the questions that were posed, um, so long as they are related to the Supreme Court rulings. I was just wondering if That also needs to be part of this bill. Just to help clarify. Some of those instances like what you mentioned.
Chair
Unverified
46:01
I would respectfully suggest that that would actually be unnecessary because what is actually included in this, um, when we say things like in the same, um, in the same manner that's pulling from the Supreme Court precedent, so you have that. Standard articulated in the bill and you probably don't want to, um, complicate this bill so much that you have references to 20 different Supreme Court precedents because it might make this unwieldy and then unbene it
won't be beneficial to school districts if it's too long to read, so I think it's a great suggestion, um, and there might be, you know, a separate more extensive training in the constitution, I would definitely be. In favor of that, but for this bill, it's designed to be something simple and short enough that people might actually read. And just to add on
Representative Nicole Clowney
Unverified
46:53
to that, Mr. Chair, if you don't mind. I spoke to Superintendents and teachers, um, that didn't want to be burdened by another
document to again inform students at the beginning of the year. So going to Stephanie's Point, this is to be a guardrails to clarity again, not limiting, not giving extra rights, but just guard rails that they can point to very quickly in their school handbook, uh, to make sure
Speaker 139
47:14
they're protecting their students and their additional questions from the committee? See none Do we, we didn't have anyone signed up to speak on the
bill. Would anybody like to speak for or against the bill?
Seeing nonpresentative Brown, would you like to close
Representative Nicole Clowney
Unverified
47:37
for your bill? Yes, thank you all for the questions. Thank you for, for the debate, um, again, I said at the beginning, I'm really honored to present this bill and um excited for it to go forward. And again, I did want to point out one section that didn't get pointed out earlier, but we do have in here, this is to promote legal, um, religious activities, so going on to um representative Meek's question, um, it's not creating any new rights, um, but just codifying those that we already have. So this is for our teachers,
this is for our students and to protect those God-given rights. And so with that, I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Brown was closed for
a bill. What is well the committee. We have a motion to pass. Is there a discussion on the motion? Re Meeks you recognized for discussion. Thank you Mr.
Representative Stephen Meeks
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48:22
Chairman. Since there's kind of a reoccurring theme this morning. I just wanted to read a quote from Doctor Benjamin Rush and, uh, most of you are probably not familiar with him. He was one of our founding fathers, uh, one of the more, uh, during that time, he was considered one of the
most notable founding fathers and, uh, in a lot of ways he's actually considered the father of public education, so, uh, one of the things he said is the only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without it, there can be no vir virtue. and without virtue, there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object of all Republican government, so I appreciate you bringing this bill and I look forward to supporting it. Seeing no additional discussion all in favor say aye, all opposed. Congratulations,
Representative Brown, your bill's passed. Thank you. Members without objection we'll move on the agenda again out of order first I I did see a couple of admins, uh, sneak in the back, uh, recognize Dr. John Leo from Farmington is here, a fellow Circian, so glad to see you if there's other somebody else that I may not know, uh, that maybe one of our school admins, feel free to raise your hand so I can recognize you, but thanks for coming our way, uh, represent Painter, you
Speaker 30
49:33
recognize for Chair, if it's OK, I just want to say thank you, David Branscom for
being here. It's good to see you. Thank you. It would I, I generally would not we're
not around the recognizing of former Reson Branscom, but uh since you kind of hoodwinked me on that one, I guess nothing I can do about it. So, uh, representative, uh, Carolyn Brown, you're recognized to present an amendment on HB 4 1545, and in the bill. Staff is gonna be passing out the amendment on this bill.
Representative Brown, if you would please introduce yourself for the record and
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
51:13
you're recognized to present your amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Representative Carolyn Brown, District 67, and I might also mention that I am the chair's designee on the Arkansas Council for Military Children, so, uh, that's why, um. I'm running this legislation,
um, as you know there was a considerable pushback on the section 6 that covered excused absences for Gold Star children, students, uh, in the last meeting and as we all know when constituents like a bill, we don't hear from them and when we don't, they don't hear from a bill, our email inbox is loaded up. And our texts are loaded up in this particular situation, I have learned subsequent to
pulling this section that there were a number of people who, um, We all respect and admire, uh, that supported that particular section, but I did not hear from them, so I have pulled that section and I believe um Representative Nazarenko is going to work with the Arkansas Veterans. Coalition and the two women from Hearts of Our Heroes to see if he can work out some legislation that they are comfortable with.
Did I state that correctly? I didn't see you there. And so anyhow, I would appreciate it if um if that's what the amendment primarily does is it pulls that section and um we can um. The Page 2. Let me look at
page 2 real quick. I don't wanna. pull the wool over your eyes on anything here, um. Delete
lines on page 2, delete lines 14 through
17 and substitute the following,
OK, that just um. Uh, that, that, that pertained.
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
53:39
Which pertained to the Gold Star families and. Page
7. Lines 5 and 6. Um Just deleted the language,
uh, to attend a mental health or family resilience program under this other section. This is uh. Just remove that in
consideration of removing section 6. And then in section 6 was deleted
in its entirety and the rest of the um. I mean amended language is uh just appropriately renumber the section so I'd appreciate it. Favorable consideration of this amendment. Ison Brown has presented in a minute. We have a motion to adopt. Is
there this discussion on the motion? See no discussion. I say aye. All hos. Congratulations, you
adopted your amendment. Now you are recognized to present HB 1545 as amended. Thank you. And
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
54:48
I want to preface, um, my presentation this morning, uh, because I know we have a lot of new members, uh, on the committee. In fact, I'm sort of a new member. I've been on this committee before, but part of the reason for the Arkansas Council for Military Children and the Arkansas Military Child Transitions Act
of 2021 is to accommodate the needs of our military. Students which accommodates the needs of our military service people. Um, and that is a big consideration for our state and Arkansas is recognized as the leader in accommodating the needs of the Department of Defense is, is, uh, recognizes the need. I think you all may have received a copy of a letter from the undersecretary of Defense. And um. They just More or less.
Shows their interest in this, these kinds of issues, and then there was a report to the committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives to the states, um, this cover page official logo and all that, but um they state should uh in, in that report on pages 14 to 16, they state states should consider the benefits of implementing the Arkansas model for a statute outside
the compact, and it goes on with more text, which I'm not gonna. burden you with, but the point
of all this is, is I think all of us uh from uh non-educational standpoint, but when we're considering the impact of the military on the state of Arkansas and the number of facilities and the number of personnel and the number of veterans. Um That component of our population adds tremendously to Our economy And so not only do we want to honor them for their service, protecting us and our country, but we need to acknowledge that they have a big impact on the
economy of the state of Arkansas, uh, indeed, um, the Ebbing Air Force Base, um, received. The what was it that the F-35 and F-16 uh and we will be having, uh, foreign, uh, pilots coming in for training, which is I think it's $8 million impact to the economy in that area, every single year going forward.
So it behooves us to accommodate these children who changed schools so frequently having been one of those kids who changed schools just about every 2 years, um, it's a challenge to always be the new student in school, so anyhow, that being said, let's
uh. In order to Um, discussed. This
A good bit of this is cleanup language. However The Purple Star program was begun in 2018 and had never been codified, so that's why we're finding so much language in here about the Purple Star program. And as we all know, the governor. Support for access is now uh in that bill, we're finding that we're going to implement the Purple Star program with all of
our post-secondary education programs or, or try to support it. It um Uh,
a big part of this, uh, bill, if you look on um Page
4 has to deal with uh implementing the uh. ability of students to. pre-register when they know that they're going to be moving to the area to Arkansas.
And this is particularly important for students with IEPs and special education needs, and I think that you should have handouts
here from uh Lorena Hegenart. And um Jessica Swan. And The Center for Exceptional Families. As um
As well as uh from Jody Bergstrom with Camp Alliance. All of these. And let's see, we've got an email also from no. I think correct. All of these people support what we're doing here with facilitating students transferring in and with that I think I would like to just let the committee ask questions. And if you ask me anything too difficult, I'm gonna ask for my helpers to come up.
Other questions from the committee. You know questions. We have one person signed up to speak on the bill. I'm sorry, we have 3 people signing us to speak on the bill. First one recognized Morgan Matthews. Morgan, if
you would please introduce yourself for the record and you're recognized to speak on the bill.
Morgan Matthews
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1:00:30
Oh. Good morning. My name is Morgan Matthews.
Speaker 155
1:00:33
Thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman and committee for having us here. Um, I am a military spouse. I have two of my children are currently in the public education system here in Arkansas and I am also a former teacher. I taught for taught elementary school for 7 years, uh, prior to my husband's military service. I'm here to support this bill as it applies to my family and other military families that will be relocating to this great state. Uh, we would love to see the expanse of advanced enrollment
as stated in this bill. When we're, we relocated here from Alaska about 2 years ago. Uh, we struggled with being able to make that transition easier. Um, it's hard when you try to, uh, what's the right word, um, we want to try to contact the schools and, um, ask them how you can get your child registered in their school, and you cannot do that unless you have a permanent address. So,
Um, while the school that we had planned to attend was very accommodating. They still were not able to alleviate the stress with enrollment since we didn't have a permanent home. It would be beneficial to ensure that smooth transition could occur as stated in Section 3. This also applies to my daughter who has a 504 accommodation plan. All three of my children have been a part of the EFMP program, uh, provided by the military to meet the needs of exceptional family members. The transition with any child that has special needs is always exacerbated with a military move, as many of you know, but allowing the school to be
notified of these accommodations well in advance prior to permanent change of station would help our children thrive a little more during this stressful time. I am also a key support liaison for the military families and my husband's unit, meaning I support the families through deployments, family emergencies, and the transition to their new location here at Little Rock Air Force Base. I speak on behalf of the many spouses I interact with, as they have to manage all avenues required in their children's educational success. Uh, Arkansas is doing a great service to support all of these
families with the additions to the bill. It will help to ease the burdens related to education, allowing them to focus on the rest of their many to do's in the military life. Thank you for supporting military families. We appreciate this and thank you for always welcoming us into your state. Thank you for your testimony, other questions for Ms. Matthews? So no, we appreciate your time. Next
up to speak for the bill, Allison Pike Merrill. Alison, are you here? If you would
Alison Pike
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1:03:13
please introduce yourself to the record and you're recognized. Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members. My name is Alison Pike Merrill. I'm also, um, a military spouse. My husband is an officer in the US Air Force. And we are stationed here at Little Rock Air Force Base. I have 4 children. 6th, 4th, 1st, and pre-K, and we move frequently. My 6th grader has had 4 schools already. We are also projected to move 3
times in the next 3 years. So I'm grateful that you're considering this bill and expanding advanced enrollment, um, there's so much to be done for my family when we moved to a new location. We often have a little bit of a heads up of where we're going, and I try to get as much settled for my family before we get to our new station. As possible and so that we can hit the ground running. So being able to um register for school, have, um, my son's in um the gifted talented program when we moved here, unfortunately, we had to wait weeks before he was
allowed to attend the class because of um Administration issues. Um, so it just, and I can imagine for people who have children as as my neighbors do in a special education programs, um, you really lose out on precious time for your children when you move and you don't have that opportunity to set up those services and get, um, signed up before you move somewhere. Um Also, um, I want to speak a little bit on the purple Star
program. My children have benefited from that greatly in each location that we've been in, and I think formalizing that could be a great thing for the children who come here. Um, into the schools, um, the, the peer to peer programs like Anchor for Life, My son was a um a recipient of that, uh, it helped him feel like he had a place, um, oftentimes we move all over. There are different cultures in the United States and to be able to have somebody
to show you the ropes when you get to school, um, to help you fit in, to feel. Like you're welcome and that you're a part of a community is so helpful, not only academically but emotionally for our children. So I hope you will take that into consideration, um. I hope at the end here it's OK if I just add on. I'm a little disappointed to hear that
Speaker 163
1:06:07
Excuse me, um. He was deployed last year. And I can um tell you that the excused absences that were provided for my children, um, during that time, our,
Alison Pike
Unverified
1:06:29
our principal and our um. Uh The school district superintendent um helped us a lot in getting some of the, some of those, um,
Absence is covered so that during the deployment but also later when my husband returned that we could reconnect as a family, we're very, um, helpful. So I can
Speaker 163
1:06:51
only imagine for somebody. Who has lost a spouse. Who has lost a parent would need that time, the mental health services. And some excused absences to deal with what they need.
Alison Pike
Unverified
1:07:11
to do. So, um, uh, anyway, I want to thank Arkansas has been um so military friendly we have felt very welcomed here and appreciate all the Arkansas does for us and our
Speaker 166
1:07:18
family. Thank you. Thank you for your time and for your family service. Next to speak on the bill we have Don
Barry, Mr. Barry, you in the room. We'll pass over that. See, no one else wanted to speak for against the bill. Representative Brown, would you like to close for your bill?
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
1:07:42
Yes, Mr. Chair, and one of the things I know I mentioned this the other day, but I think it's, it's super critical, um, you know, I mentioned the, the economic impact of our military and why it is so important for us to accommodate their needs and um having, I will just just add a comment, um, when I was a child growing up in the military, things were quite different. We didn't have the guard deploying to um to to. To war We didn't have that and, and I
was sort of raised between the wars, um, my dad did go to Korea and returned before I started school. Um However, I want to say that I, I think that this Purple Star program and all that we're doing with this legislation and have been doing, it's very helpful to students who move and move and move and move. For me, going home to grandma's house in Arkansas, our grandma's house in Missouri, um, I felt like I belonged somewhere. And so.
I never felt like I belonged anywhere. Except at my grandparents' house and so I think that all of these accommodations that we're making for these military students are critical because nobody should feel like they do not belong, and I think a lot of kids, you know, they need that they need that grounding and to be made to feel part of the community. In addition to this advanced enrollment being applied to our military. This legislation now
opens that up for all these people that are moving into our state and to people who are moving throughout the state. It's strictly permissive districts. You know, it It's their opportunity to reach out a welcoming hand to people moving to Arkansas and helping these other students transition into our school system, so, um, with that, and I, and I would really appreciate, I know a lot of you don't deal with military a lot, but I think it would be very good if you would take the
time to read these letters, uh, Jessica Sahm was a student of a teacher of the year, um. The um It shall ben's letter. I, I really appreciate it if you would take the time to read all that. We won't do it here now. Ben, I would appreciate a good vote on this piece of legislation. Thank you. Is that a motion I make
Speaker 169
1:10:12
a motion to pass. Representative Fallon has Presented your bill
and closed her bill with a motion to pass
as amended. Is there a discussion on the motion? See no discussion. I if I ever say aye. All opposed. Congratulations, Representative Balton, you passed your bill. Thank you. I'm going to yield the chair to Vice Chair McKenzie. will present SB 183.
Representative Brooks, Chairman Brooks, you recognize your bill and your guests. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank
you committee, uh, with, uh, the chair's approval I'm gonna bring Secretary Oliva to the table. Good morning, Jacob Oliva, Department of Education. Keith Brooks District 78 today. I'm
gonna be presenting SB 183 SB 183 is actually just pretty much a technical correction, uh,
current statute recognizes basically one particular college assessment exam, primarily the ACT as uh as we've passed access now and we have additional opportunities for exam, different types of learning that are out there are things like the SAT, the classic learning model, which uh we have the classic learning test which aligns with that. We want to make sure, make sure With statute, uh, we allow for paying for um one of those assessments as well, uh, do you wanna uh let you know that there is a fiscal impact of this and
and Mr. Rogers can discuss that, that fiscal impact is more relative to the fact that these tests are allowed to be paid for, uh, not necessarily an additional fiscal impact, but I'll have uh Greg come up here in a moment to discuss that, but um I'll yield the, the chair to our yield the uh the table to Secretary Oliver for additional comments on it. Sure. Thank you, Representative
Speaker 41
1:12:13
Brooks, and, um, I think it kind of covered the Purpose or scope behind the amendment is to provide more choices for students. Um, some
students are successful and some assessments, some aren't. We know that, um, a lot of our colleges and universities may look at the standardized score of uh prospective student. Most of our colleges and universities now um are maybe more looking at a portfolio of, of student performance, are they active in extracurriculars? Are they volunteering grade point average, what courses are taken. They some look at the assessment, some look at different assessments. All's we're trying to do is make sure that our our college and universities accept other
opportunities. I know there's a kind of highlight on the classical learning test, that's relatively new to the standardized assessment world. It's been around for about a decade. There's about 250 colleges and universities now that currently accept it. We do have some schools in the state of Arkansas that accept that, that concordant score because they've done alignments to what a CLT score would look like compared to an SAT compared to an ACT, so this would just be one additional alternative. To help a student maybe achieve their postsecondary goals.
Speaker 59
1:13:23
Um, are there any questions from committee? Mr. Chair, can I bring Greg Rogers to the table to address the fiscal impact on it, you may. Thank
you, Mr. Secretary. If you wouldn't mind introducing yourself for the record. Greg Rogers, uh,
Speaker 177
1:13:47
with Department of Education. Thank you. Um It just really, if you have any questions about the fiscal impact, I mean there's, we do
have, we will have to do contracts for all these new ones and so this physical impact really gives worst case scenario on this, on this once we go into negotiations, it'll be based off the number tests where the tests are, and those different kinds of things. So in doing a physical impact, this is just a worst case scenario on this, and we currently have an assessment line item within the public school fund that has we appropriate about $20 million for that right now. OK Any questions from the committee? And I will remind the committee we won't be taking a vote on
this, just presenting the bill, and I'll close for the bill, but not be asking for a motion. Fantastic. You nailed it,
Greg. Good job. Uh, any questions from committee see none. Any questions from the public? Or any comments from the public. OK, you recognize the close for your bill. I'm closed for the bill and we will vote on the bill whenever
Speaker 59
1:14:41
we vote on all bills that have a fiscal impact, OK. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman Brooks. Um, we'll go ahead and keep order
because I, we got a few things on the deck we want to get accomplished today, so, uh, Representative Maddox, I think
you can be recognized for Senate Bill 417. And thank you for your uh. Understanding and patience on the moving agenda. Absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
1:15:09
I have Melissa Russ join me at the table? Would you just mind recognizing
yourself for the uh uh record, Mr. Rush. Uh, yes, sir. Melissa Rusht, University
Speaker 182
1:15:18
of Arkansas system. Thank you. Members, um, thank you for having
Representative John Maddox
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1:15:23
me, allowing me to be here, um, this truly is just a clean up bill. So I'll hit these
um changes real quick and hopefully we can keep moving. And I know y'all are busy. So we are amending sections 12, and 8, which deletes affirmative action programs, um, so that that can be in compliance with state and federal law, so that has to be done. Section 3 is deleting unnecessary restriction on duplication of services offered. Section 4 delating a report on the cost of remediation that was part of a prior funding formula. Section 5 is deleting an unnecessary committee report on
energy conservation, um, as that committee has never actually met. Section 6 adds the language aligning all to your campuses, the authority to use the alternative delivery, delivery method for construction they choose to do so, um, section 7 and 15 deletes the requirement that campuses use ArkansasBuilding Authority. Um, they still can, but they do not have to. And ABA has no objection to that. Um, sections 9, 1213, and 14 deletes unnecessary language,
um, since institutions no longer have classified and unclassified positions. Section 10 as language aligned the president to delegate signature authority from the board secretary to another board member when selling a parcel of donated land and the last one, section 11 is de deleting unnecessary language about contract amendments for alternative delivery projects. And that is, that is all the bill does is truly a cleanup bill. OK. Be glad to take any questions. All right. Are there any questions from committee?
OK, see none. Is there anyone signed up? There's no one signed up to speak for against the bill. Would anyone from the public like to make comment on
the bill? All right, seeing none, Representative Max, you recognized clothes for your bill. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm closed for my bill. Appreciate a good vote. Thank you, sir. We have a motion from Representative Boehner. We got
a second from Representative McGruder, um, any discussion on the motion? All right, seeing none. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed. OK. Congratulations represent Maddox,
you, you passed your bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, committee. OK, um, Representative
McAlinden, are you ready? OK. There is an amendment, so we'll just take a second to get those passed out. If you wouldn't mind recognizing yourself while we pass out that amendment.
Unknown speaker
1:18:07
Um, 1684. There is no fiscal impact.
Um, the committee's had a second with the amendment, uh, you are recognized
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:18:50
to present the amendment. Thank you. So excuse me, this is a pretty big amendment. I understand that, but there's Not a lot to it, so I'll just run through it real quickly with you. Uh, the first thing that we're doing is we're deleting the entire section of the bill that talks about the um critical theory concept which takes Basically pages one in the top of page 2, and all that is being deleted. We're just aligning with the learns Act, um, I'm
also changing at the bottom of the amendment page, changing the way that schools will be able to share information. We're just giving the schools a little more flexibility, um, and that appears in two points in the bill, and so that's why you'll see that on pages 2 and 3 of the amendment, um. And then the other change that we made was to give teachers a little bit more authority in the classroom, so we changed several of their portion to shall instead of May, just, um, that was some feedback from the teachers association asking for
a little bit more authority and that's pretty much what the What the amendment does. Thank you. Um, are there any
questions on the amendment? Uh, will the committee in terms of adoption of
the amendment got to got a bunch of motions, so, uh, there's a motion to adopt the amendment. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed. Congratulations, you're now, uh, you're now allowed to present your bill as amended. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:20:12
So this is the um paths bill. It is the
parent and teachers helping students succeed, Bill, and the bill is designed to be a significant step forward in fostering the educational environment where both teachers and parents are empowered to play an active role in the success of our students. uh, the past act acknowledges the vital partnership between parents and teachers in shaping. The educational journey of our children. It recognizes that when parents are involved and teachers are supported, students thrive. This bill ensures that teachers have the authority to establish classroom rules and implement
necessary consequences in order to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment. It also provides teachers with the right to request assistance and training to enhance their classroom management skills. In addition, the past act reinforces the fundamental right of parents to be involved in their children's education. It requires that schools facilitate open communication between parents and their students and encourages discussions about the children's wellbeing. It is crucial that ensuring parents are informed and engaged in decisions that affect their children's education and development.
But most importantly, this bill addresses the need for transparency and accountability on both sides, parents have access to their children's educational health records as provided in the Learns Act, uh, but teachers also have the ability to control their classroom. This legislation aligns seamlessly with Governor Sanders' broader educational initiatives. It complements these efforts efforts by focusing on core educational values, parental involvement, and supporting our teachers. And with that, I'll be happy to take any questions. Representative Meeks, you recognize her question. Thank
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:21:51
you. uh, and this actually goes to some of the language that's inside the, uh, the amendment that we just adopted, um, both on page 2 and page 3 where it talks about parents' review of the material. It says the school may allow a parent to review the materials, um, so will this create the option where our school's just gonna say, We're not going to let you see any of the material. It's page 2 of the amendment. Yep, I'm just putting it in with the bill. Um,
that because I, I, I don't want to, I want to make sure we're not inadvertently. I think your intent here is that we want the parents to be able to see the material, and by putting the may allow that you're inadvertently saying a school can just say we're not going to do it
Speaker 190
1:22:37
on, let me just verify here. Um And 0.2
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:22:45
it says review upon request all the following materials that are used. Um And that they may either allow The parent to review, uh,
The, the student, so I think on 0.2 it says that parents are allowed, they, they are entitled to review upon request and that the school may allow the parent to review materials that are reasonably available either 1 or 2. So I hear your question, but I think the mayor refers
to the one or two, not to the what the parents are entitled to do.
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:23:17
OK, sounds good. Uh, and then, then my, my follow-up is on those two, where it says
in the form of photocopy or or or email of
uh materials. Uh, my only question or concern would be, uh, you know, if I've got a biology textbook that's, you know, 300 pages long. Am I gonna be, uh, Potentially having to, you know, make that available,
be Part A and Part B, uh, copyright concerns, right? Because if I, you know, start photocopying stuff, uh, that, that
could become an issue. So just, just those two concerns. So there, um, it is up to the school in
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:23:53
consultation with the parent of how that
comes across and funny you should mention copyright because there is a bill coming that will cover that as well. So Questions from committee. OK, seeing none. No one has signed up to speak
for or against anyone from the public who wish to speak for or against the bill. Going, going on, uh, oh, we have one question from Representative McCollum. No, I just have a motion at the proper time. OK, fantastic,
um, Representative McAlinden, you're recognized clothes for your bill. Thank you. So just in conclusion, the PAS Act is a comprehensive
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:24:28
approach to improving our educational system by strengthening collaboration between parents and teachers, and with that, I asked for a good vote. fantastic. Thank you for, uh, closing for your bill. Uh, what are
the wishes of the committee? We have a motion from Representative McConnell. do pass as amended? Is there a second? No second, I'm not
in the Senate. Why would I do that? Sorry, a lot of joint meetings recently, um, so we have a motion as to pass any discussion on the motion to do pass as amended? Seeing none, all those in favor
say aye. All those opposed. Congratulations, your bill is passed as amended. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman. We're gonna, we're gonna go quickly. No, you're not going next, uh, Representative Carr. You are recognized to represent. 1697. Joey Carr District 34. Thank you, Mr.
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:25:22
Chair. Uh, House Bill 1697. This is to amend provisions of Title 6 and Title 19 of Arkansas Code concerning
provisional positions and also motor vehicle restrictions for state-supported institutions, uh, for higher ed and also to declare an emergency. This bill type is filed everybienium to make the necessary adjustments, uh, and these positions are funded through federal funding grants, gifts collect. that are available that are not authorized contemplated or sorry that we're not authorized or contemplated. The institutions of division of higher ed. It's approved by legislative council
and these increased requests are needed to allow for future funding awards and as you saw in the fiscal impact, it is a 0. At this time I would entertain any questions. Fantastic. Any questions
from committee? Represent Meeks you're recognized for a question. Just because our former
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:26:19
colleague Mr. Broadway is there at the end of the table, didn't want to get, let, let them get away scot-free's actually, yeah, especially since we're growing government here, um,
I, I see where it looks like we're adding hundreds of
potential new positions across all these different colleges and, and, and universities, um, and with concerns going into the future that, uh, just do the population declines that potentially we're going to be looking at population, uh, enrollments declining as well going into the future, at least that's my My understanding of what we're going to see over the next decade or so. Um, I'm wondering if you can kind of maybe go over the, the necessity for adding all these, you know, hundreds of, uh, you know, of,
of potential positions when we may be having to scale them back at some point. I'll
Speaker 215
1:27:07
be glad to, uh, Representative Meeks, this is different from. Normal daily operations of the institution that are based on enrollment. These positions are kind of outside and that's why we've had to. Had to do this bill every session. This is my twenty-eighth year, and I've been involved with this bill for 28 years. It's the vein of my existence, uh, but So these positions only are filled if, for instance, we receive a federal grant or a
state grant or a something from a foundation to do a research project. Those positions exist only as long as the grant does. So when the grant expires, the, the person who takes the position signs a form. We did this years ago. They signed a form knowing that when the funds expire, they no longer have a position. So this is separate from kind of the daily daily, day to day operations that are impacted by enrollment, uh, these positions are only impacted by federal
state grants and so. And the challenge that we've had always with this is It's in statue and so the only way normally sometimes if we need a position at the university, we can come to personnel. There's a pool of positions of normal regular everyday positions. We come to council and get that pulled in the interim. These positions we cannot because it's always been in code. So we're having to look out for 2 years until the next
session on how many potentially we might need. There's no guarantee any of these are going to be filled, so it's an excellent question. Uh, I think it's just to unders we have to explain the difference between normal day to day operations, and these are mainly gonna be for research. Our hope is The enrollments do not go down. Obviously we've all looked at the numbers and then you've heard a lot of people talk about the enrollment cliff. I don't think in Arkansas, it's going to be as much as a cliff as it will be nationally.
There'll be a little dip and then the trend is that it kind of starts to bounce back. The, the challenge will be is where there is a huge cliff. They're obviously going to try to go after students wherever they are to try to get them to come to their universities, so we will probably face more competition, uh, then maybe and we'll see a cliff, but it's an excellent question. Thank you. Any other questions from committee? OK. No one is
signed up to speak for against anyone from the
public wish to speak for or against the bill. OK. Representative Carr, you recognized clothes for your bill. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:29:45
Chair and thank you committee, and I'm ready to close and appreciate a motion to pass a good vote. Thank you. We have a
motion of do pass any discussion on the motion. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed. Congratulations, Representative Car, you passed your. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:30:02
I appreciate your flexibility, sir. Thank you. Uh,
next we're going to hear Senate Bill 135, Representative Gramlich.
Um, just to help with order 2 so everyone we've been moving around a lot, uh, house bill 1640 will be heard after this. And then uh 1720. Thank you, Chair. Thank you committee. I'd like to ask
Speaker 218
1:30:21
a couple of people to join us at the table. Uh SB 135. Uh, would you guys mind recognizing or
recognizing themselves for the record. I'm Doug Curtis, Lane County clerk. Margaret,
Speaker 221
1:30:35
daughter Faulkner County clerk and president of the.
Speaker 218
1:30:43
County Clerks Association I'm Zach State Representative District 50, Fort Smith. Um, SB 135 sets up a process and odd number of years that a school district can request to have their unchanged millage election conducted by one designated qualified elector of the school district, casting about for the millage. The school board has to request it by resolution, and this is nearly identical to the process that is already used for unopposed school board candidates. This means there would not have to be a polling places opened, um, or early voting conducted. The unchanged village was the
only thing that would be on the ballot, saving schools money and the county time and resources, unchanged village will still be on the ballot if it is held with a primary or a general election. And with that, I'll let y'all add some stuff if you'd like. This, this bill right
Speaker 224
1:31:30
here, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for having me here, but uh this bill right here will save the county money as he alluded to, um, and it creates a lot of confusion amongst the voters because they
go in, they have to vote yes or no on it, and it does not matter if they vote no because we have overwhelmingly re result of no votes when there's no change in the village whatsoever, and it confuses people when they see the result. and then come to us and ask us, Well, when is our taxes going to go down. And it's, it, it takes up ballot space for us, and that costs money, you know, it could, it could take us from going from a single side or one ballot to 2
ballots, you know, in the election because of the space that it does take up. The only thing I'd like
Speaker 223
1:32:25
to add is in addition to saving the county's money, it actually saves the school's money because we build this back to the schools even in the general or the primary, but in the odd years we're having to run the ballots and it's costing y'all for this ballot splits as well even in the odd years so this would prevent and save money and the odds you're having to have those valid and that we like to
answer any questions. fantastic, um, are there any questions
from committee? See none as anyone sign. No, there's no one signed up to speak for against the bill. Anyone from the public wish to speak for or against the bill. Seeing none, Representative Graham Mc
Speaker 218
1:33:04
you recognize the close for your bill. I appreciate your time, chair and committee, and with
that I'd appreciate emotion. We got 17 motions, uh, I'm assuming motion do pass. Fantastic. There's a motion do pass for Senate Bill 135. Is there any discussion on the motion?
Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. All those opposed. Congratulations, you passed your bill. Thank you, Chair. Thank
you committee. Uh, Next we'll be hearing House Bill 1640 from Representative Duke. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you,
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:33:49
members. Um, OK, I hope I have as many emotions. Well, I guess I can make my own motions, so I don't have to have as many motion. I am Hope Duke District 12. Northwest Arkansas, Bend County, um, OK,
so this is a pretty simple bill to use the phrasing that everyone likes to use around here doesn't do, uh, it does do some things I think are pretty important. It just adds a lot of transparency back to the public. Deals with the ethical guidelines for administrators and amends the definition of administrators. And what it does is it adds principals, assistant principals, and curriculum
directors to that definition. The reason why I think that it's important is, um, as we grow as a state and as school districts have grown and particularly the way things have just kind of changed in education. A lot of our principals and and particular curriculum directors, that wasn't even a position that we had many years ago. They have a lot of responsibility and authority as they should and some influence. And even though they may not be directly involved in presenting contract. and stuff to the board, they do have a lot of, you know, inside and input into what they're going to use and what they're going to do. And so that deals with um their responsibilities
there means the definition there, and then it also. Um, Sorry. It also said as for two other one piece we have in granting a waiver because you still may get a waiver with this if you, um, our principal or assistant principal just like a superintendent and assistant superintendent, um, currently does you can still get a waiver from the state Board of Education, from the commissioner to be able to work for a company that's contracted with your district or to, um, provide a
service, um, with like a, a company that your family or that you are involved with or spouse is involved in, but the extra to this is that as a school board to that as well. And I think that's important too is just a transparency piece so the school board is aware if one of those people in that new definition. Is working with a company that is contracted in their district, they can approve it. It just says that they have to come and have that step of knowing that that is happening and also, again, it still goes to the commissioner in making sure that
they approve it too. And so I haven't had any opposition that I'm aware of with this, um, it does add a little bit of paperwork. I did talk to the department about that, and they recognize it may add a little bit of additional paperwork to it, but they were, my understanding fine with that because it just. again, it's just a transparency piece to make sure that everyone knows what is going on and serving on the school board in the past, I do think that is an important piece to just know the people that have influence in your district and making decisions if they've got a family member or if they themselves are working for a
company that is contracting with your district. And with that, I'll do
my best to answer any questions. Thank you. Are there any
questions from committee? Seeing no as anyone. There's no one, signed up to speak for against Bill
anyone from the Pope. Oh, I am so sorry,
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:36:40
Jesse. Representative McGruder, you're recognized. My question, thank you for the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, how is it a coded now, uh, for we're coding curriculum directors that's administrators is what we're changing, correct. I'm sorry, can you say that again? right now from a
curriculum director to an administrator. They're going to be in this section. They're going to be
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:37:01
in this section. They're going to be included in this section on the ethical guidelines as an, as an administrator. So just so that whenever they're just to make sure that if they are working for a company or if a family member is working for a company, that there's just that clarity with the board and with the department, they can not right now they can't do it unless they get what they can right now. If this passes. They cannot do it unless the board approves and the department approves just like
the same thing for assistant superintendents and superintendents. So it's just just a layer of transparency. really all that it is. Follow up,
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:37:33
Mr. Chair. OK, so I'm trying to get an understanding and they're trying to contract work uh outside of the school district and they can't do it right now. Well, I'm sorry. Thank
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:37:44
you. So right now the curriculum directors and the principals and assistant principals, they're able to contract if the school district is in a contract, they are also able to be an employee
with that company or whomever without any notification or any approval. The superintendents and the assistant superintendents have to get permission. From the commission, from the, from the commissioner to do so. This is just adding that piece to them as well. So that if they work with one, if, if they're not contracting with. Their district. If that company is not contracting, then they don't have to get permission to do that, but if they're under a contract, the, the school district is under a contract with this entity and the principal wants to work for them
as well or their husband has that company, then now they have to go
before the board and they have to get approval to do that and they have to get approval from the commissioner as well. I well, I'm
hoping I'm explaining that well. Representative Duke, just, just to Create like a a summary appointment. Does this increase local control
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:38:48
and promote transparency increases local control and just, you know, transparency for the public and for the people that administer the district to just know what's going on. Thank you. Is there
any other questions from committee? Uh, Representative Duke, you're recognized to close for your bill. Like I said, Representative McKenzie did a
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
1:39:04
good job of summarizing this just add some transparency and some local control to the districts and um I appreciate y'all support and being a member of the committee, I make a motion to pass. Thank you for the motion. We have a motion to pass from
Representative Duke. Is there any discussion on the motion? Uh, seen as all those in favor say aye. All those opposed. Congratulations to duke, you passed your bill. Thank you, members.
I lied. We're going to continue to keep going out of order. We're going to recognize Representative Hawk to present House Bill 1495, um, uh, actually, hold on, Representative Hack, we have a point of privilege from Representative Vaugh. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to welcome, uh,
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
1:39:45
my superintendent and principal from the Queen High School. All right, thank you for being here. Representative Ho, can you help
me, uh, what bill is it right, Senate Bill 413.
Uh, you recognize to please recognize yourself for the record.
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
1:40:11
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Representative RJ Hawk, District 81. By the way, Representative De Queen just won a state championship and so congratulations to them, uh, committee, this bill, let me get my notes pulled up real fast. Um, this is Senate Bill 413, and what it does is it removes the duty of a county clerk to have to verify that an appointed school board member took the oath in allotted period of time. The school board school board members should be loss for responsible for taking that oath in a timely fashion,
um, and it shouldn't be the job of the county court to police that. There's been no opposition to this, as it started in the Senate, uh, the association of Counties and the county clerks, I think there are some county clerks here if you have questions to be asked, but that this is coming from them essentially. OK Thank you for presenting the bill. Are there any questions on the bill
from? See none, as no one signed up to speak for or against.
Is there anyone from the public that wishes to speak for or against the bill. See now as well. Representative Hockey, you are recognized to close for your bill. I'm closed,
Mr. Chair. OK, we have a motion to pass from Representative Painter. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor say aye. All opposed Congratulations, you've passed your bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. I'm going to yield the chair to our most senior representative Meeks so I can present House Bill 17, which there's an amendment on.
Speaker 199
1:41:55
OK. Uh, Mr. Vice Chair, I want you to get settled in there, you are recognized to present your amendment. Uh, Britt McKenzie, District
7, Rogers, Arkansas. Uh, my bill, my amendment, this is a good amendment. I think all of you are gonna want this, those that have um expressed any type of, albeit small concern, um, this amendment represents um some compromise language from our friends at the AAEA as well as the Arkansas School Board Association, so I'd like to make
a a motion to adopt the amendment. OK, Representative
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:42:29
McKinsey has explained the amendment. He has made a motion. Any discussion on the motion? So you know, discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed? OK, and has been adopted and you are clear to present House Bill 1724 as amended. Thank
Speaker 199
1:42:43
you, Mr. Chair. I'm here today to present House Bill 1724. This is a bill that has come through this committee previously. I'm
happy to report with this amendment. Uh, we have achieved, I believe, more compromise in my limited knowledge than we have in
previous years, um, some of the members of this committee have been a part of the election integrity unit, which was a big part of our um our general Body of the whole last year in which we put forward bills that promoted election integrity. This bill I'll make the bold assumption or claim that it would should be one that we consider because it's not necessarily securing the methods and means in which we cast our votes, but it's it's creating unification in the way that we cast our votes for nonpartisan races, specifically school boards at the local level. Um,
this is a continued move to protect or continued protection of moving school board elections to win voters actually vote. Vote Election day should mean something in the state of Arkansas. We've done tremendous yeoman's work over the past years. I think this would help us with that. Um, it will create, uh, which could create and will create, I'll make that assumption too, record turnout for nonpartisan school board races in our local communities, um, as long as we govern our school districts by elections, we should do everything in our power to maximize the participation in those elections, school board members
should be elected to even number year elections like every other elected office, um, and It's nonpartisan position, school board members should be elected, um, during that preferential primary and then the runoff should take place in the general election. Um, the annual school, the the annual school election as provided by the Constitution will not be impacted. Um, school board, school districts will save money by no longer having to bear the entire cost of an odd year special election in an odd month, um.
Uniform 4 or 6 year terms will provide 2 years of consistency with no change in school boards and then promote the steady appreciation of new voices and the opportunity for members of our community to join boards or to stand for election, and treatment of the existing terms are prescribed to ensure fairness as nearly as possible that an equal number of positions are up during a during each school board election. Again, we collaborated with the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators, the school, the Arkansas. School Board Association to make
the bill better. Uh, we have, we have addressed their concerns by adding the local option to add 4 or 6 years at the school district level. That is what we just amended into the bill. So previously it was just 4 years flat. Obviously with a reset of a nonpartisan election too specific adhered dates, um, it changes, you know, when a term would end, but districts have now um the ability as amended in this bill to elect to 4 or 6-year terms as they see fit, um, and if we were um starting from scratch to create scoporate elections. would not create the current
system of alternating high and low turnout elections and holding elections when there are no others. Um, this, this bill, House Bill 1724 would do a lot in that way, so I appreciate the opportunity to present the bill and happy to take any questions on
it. Uh, so I'll I'll throw one at you. So
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:45:47
it sounds like we would be electing school board members pretty similarly to the way we elect judges, OK, sounds good. All right, uh, committee, any questions from the committee saying none. We don't have anyone signed up to speak.
for or against anyone in the audience wish to speak for or against. Saying none, Representative, you are recognized close for your bill. Again, I
thank you committee. I am closed for my bill. Um, this is a great step in making sure that our school board elections do represent the voice of our communities, holds them to the same standard and the same time as other nonpartisan elections, so I make a motion of do pass as amended. We have a motion to
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:46:23
pass as amended on the floor. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none all in favor, say I. In your post?
All right, congratulations, your bill is passed. Representative Meeks, uh, Representative McGrew is recognized to present, I believe. House Bill 1646? You mind recognizing yourself for the record? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. State Representative District 85, Richard McGrew.
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:47:17
You can kind of I'm here to present House Bill 1646, uh.
This is a bill that Concerning kindergarten through grade 5 library and media centers to require certain materials to be stored in locked rooms in designated areas and other purposes, non-age appropriate sexual material should be stored in locker rooms within the designated area. Unless the library receiver received permitting from the students, parents, legal guardian. A person standing in low
attendance of the student. This bill is supported by the AAEA, that's the Arkansas administrators, education association, which I worked with them on making some changes in this bill to say that the uh media person would knowingly be violating this. And also, uh, defining want this non-rot sexual content is to mean any material that include explicit instruction, promotion, or ads for your
sexual ideology, behaviors or orientations that are not developing appropriate for kindergarten through grade 5 K K 5 students. This is about protecting our youngest students. I had a constituent bring me this bill when they had a situation in a little country school in my district where, uh, his 4th year old, his 4th grade daughter. was actually seen a book questioned about it, told her dad about it. He asked her to bring the book home. The librarian said, you can't take
it home because your parents would not be happy with it. Dad went to school, got the book. And then they still did not want to remove the books until the school board took action. Uh, the book was, uh, about a little girl falling in love with the little boy and then the little boy later in the story, and this was in Cartoon Move. was falling in love with another young man dressed up as a girl and not whether it's it's uh same sex or opposite sex. I don't think it's appropriate for
our, you know, kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th graders to have this kind of information in school unless their parents agree to it and that's what this bill is about. I'm proud to have the support of AEA. It was uh Superintendent, um. Yeah, Stephanie Neha that worked with me and asked for the changes and after I made the changes, let me know that they would support it and I'm available for any questions. Representative Vat, you're recognized for a question. Thank
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
1:49:53
you, Mr. Chair. I have 2 questions. What if the library does not have a room that's connected where they can lock these. Books up. It doesn't say it, does it say it has to be
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:50:04
connected in it? We made it defined as just in a locked area. It can be anywhere in the school. In the particular school where it was questioning, they took it and locked it in the office. OK, so again, what happens if it's a
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
1:50:18
small school and they don't have an area in which they can lock these books up in. Well, I'm sure they could an
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:50:24
area could be defined as they could just keep a lock box in the media center and lock it in there. I'd be really
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
1:50:30
good with it if it said that, but that's not what the, what the bill says, sir. OK. Can you understand what you're trying to do, but I also know that some schools are not going to have an extra room in which they can lock books up in. So if it did say that they could lock it up in some type of box. I think that would be more appropriate, especially for small rural schools that will not have the room.
Um, just to take up a. And I'm not trying to be negative, so please don't take it that way. I truly do understand what you're trying to do, but I also understand that that could be a very big hindrance on some of our schools that don't have that area in which they can lock those books up in. OK, because that was my intent that it didn't have to be a room exactly
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:51:14
what line is that on? Could you tell me? 9:30. Yeah, it says in a locked room on line 30 within a designated
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
1:51:25
area. OK, I would be, I would be
Speaker 258
1:51:28
glad to pull the bill down and change that. I have, I
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
1:51:33
do have one other question though, if you don't mind me asking before you pull it down. So I did notice on, uh, line 9. Um, on page 2, it says that for an individual who is found to have knowingly failed to comply with this section. The first time the individual shall receive a written reprimand or on and his or her teaching lessons shall be suspended.
So it's After the first time, They can be reprimanded or they can lose their teaching lessons. Am I reading that correct? They can only lose your teeth and lashing on the second time it can happen both of those things can happen on the first time. But I mean, that's pretty big. We're
taking away someone's livelihood on the first time of them being Yes, ma'am, but this goes to
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:52:23
the lasting standard board, which is a very strong board of educators
and, and. So I don't think they're given
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
1:52:30
a choice that license board's not given a choice. It says it has to happen. It says shall be.
Suspended. So we're doing 2 and 1, and then if they get caught a second time, they're losing their license completely. I'm just making sure that I've read all that correctly,
sir. I guess that's the way it reads now.
Speaker 259
1:52:58
I will be glad to pull back the bill and make some changes on it while I'm in front of you. Is there any other questions? I
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:53:07
believe Representative Meeks has a question, yes. Thank you Mr. Chair. Uh, fully, fully support what you're doing, um, to, to representative votes concerned about a locked room. Could that just be the school office? I mean, hopefully, it could be a closet, you
Speaker 276
1:53:20
know, because that's within the room. OK? Because I Yeah, I keep, yeah, so a locked secured areas. I, I mean, you might get tweak that, but I, but I, but I, I, I'm comfortable
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:53:29
with the idea that, I mean, it could just be the school office. I mean, they could, you know, my hope is, is that there's not a lot of these books to begin with. I don't think there should be any of these books in the school to even begin with, but if the school feels compelled to have a couple, surely we're only talking about a handful of books and if we've got just a handful of books, you know, they can
keep them in the principal's office as far as that goes, and, and, and, and, and to meet that provision. But on, on the, on the, the part with, um, that Representative
fought with the disciplinary actions. Um, I, I think for, for me, kind of like Representative Wa, I, I would be, um, More happy. I don't know if that's the correct way to put it, but if it was a reprimand the first time, the second time a suspension, and maybe the 3rd time, do it, the revocation, maybe do it that way. Um, versus the, the other way we have. And then I guess my, my, my, my last question is, who would be the one to decide if the violation
had occurred. Would that be the school board, the principal? Well, there would have
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
1:54:37
to be a formal complaint filed and I can clarify that too. I would think it would be, you know, it's got to be reported to this board. So I think that the superintendent, uh, I'll work on that and see and get some suggestions from, from the school. I will say this, that I wished I didn't have to run this bill. This was in a very rural school. There were 3 books in that school. And they
fought to keep them books in the school. When the community didn't want it and it was, it was a terrible thing, and so I'm very open to making changes to make it a better bill, and I appreciate the input. Well, I I definitely love where you're
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:55:17
going, and this has been a problem, unfortunately statewide, and it shouldn't be. There's just some. Activists who are trying to push this material on our kids before they're way before they're developmentally ready for it. So I appreciate the work you're doing on this and look forward to supporting this effort going
forward. Thank you very much. I appreciate your willingness to take it down. We do have other questions, but I, I think it's incumbent of the folks have questions, get with the bill sponsor, and the theme of how we're handling bills in this this committee towards the end. Let's just get through it and work with people directly. So I appreciate you working on the bill, Representative McGru. Thank you very much. Thank you. Um, so, guys, I want to be clear, we've churned through a lot of bills today. Beers, that too. Um, I do see, I think Representative Steele is in the
audience. Um, his bill is 1709. Um I You're recognized to present your bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified
1:56:21
and committee, uh. The cold actually in this bill goes back over 12 years where we had a very successful program. With putting social workers at time in the schools, um, at that
particular time, there was no appropriation bill, but the funding came from a program over at DHS, uh, tennis program and some of the schools actually took on the responsibilities of funding the social workers in the schools program has been very successful. All this bill does is now where things are. Different now. Not only are we asking for social workers to be able to go into schools under the guidance of DHS. We want to
expand that to mental health counselors. It's really all the, the bill does. I've worked with DHS and the Department of Education, um, both be fine with this change. It's not an appropriation bill, but we'll have to
Speaker 280
1:57:19
go and and uh try to find the funds as, as best we can. Uh, thank you, Representative Steele.
Are you ready for questions? Yes, I do have a question just relevant to the definition of mental health counselor and not seeing it, obviously we have section one, as defined by X and I'm sure DHS
has. A clear definition, but could you help us or if DHS is here to help us understand uh what certifications, what licenses, uh, what permitting a mental health counselor is required to have. Well, Mr. Chairman, we purposely
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified
1:57:53
didn't delve too deep into that because we know all the scope of practice bills are coming out next door at public health committee and so DHS will just follow along with their existing guidelines just
because the deals like this, we did have to put either a bachelor's or a master's degree, and then for further than that, they will go by the actual school district guidelines that they have for these positions as well. That's right. Any questions from
committee? Representative Meeks, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um,
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:58:25
so with these mental health counselors be employed by DHS or Independent or the school district combination
Speaker 286
1:58:30
of both. That's a good question, combination of both. Um, the last time this bill, uh,
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified
1:58:40
passed and we had social workers in schools. Most of them came through DHS under a one year contract, uh, which was very unique, and I said, well, one year contract, a lot of people would stay away from that because there's not a promise of longevity, but what happened was we've had a lot of young people who were just graduating with their social work degree. They got involved and engaged in schools, some of these young people were hired actually by the school's long term, but they kind of got their foot in the door. So to speak, representative,
through this one-year contract that was paid and supported by tanner funds, right? OK, so this wouldn't require the
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:59:15
school, so we're not doing an unfunded mandate to the schools. This is as funds become available that we would make these resources available. That's correct. Sounds good. Thank you. Are there any other questions from
Chair
Unverified
1:59:29
committee Representative McGruder, you recognize? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
1:59:32
I love the bill. I love the concept. My concern is, uh, rural areas and uh. I work in a district where we
don't have any mental health professionals on campus, uh. I would like a funding piece to be put in, uh, and, and I, I also I'm concerned about the mental health counselors. I would like that to be defined, but I, I do know mental health is an issue in schools today and it needs to be addressed, but if we say we are putting our students first, uh, we need to invest into this and, and make sure that it is funded. That's a good question, representative, and if it goes
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified
2:00:09
along the path that it has in
the history, um, it, it, it will go to those areas that need it the most if it is tanning funding and I'm not, I'm not committing anything. ponds because that's not my decision. If it is tanning funds, it will have to go to schools with 90% free and reduced luncheon. I'm looking at Ms. Gonzalez. I know she knows a lot about this, and so do you representative. So if those funds are used, they sort of the requirement takes care of itself through the requirements it has through DHS with the federal funding that is already set up.
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
2:00:47
follow up if you want. Uh Uh, I just, uh, My first day here on the job by Listen to our governor speaking. She spoke about a mental illness that a young man had, uh, and he ended up committing suicide. So I don't want this restricted to just uh No low poverty areas. I think it's something that needs to happen across the state. Uh, I, I don't know a resolution. I do know this is a start, um, but I just, uh, this is something I
think needs to happen at every school district in the state of Arkansas.
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified
2:01:23
I, I couldn't agree more. I, I certainly think it does, and I think has this becomes more successful committee, I think there will be uh expansion and, and I think the timing and why I really got excited about bringing this back this time. The timing could not be more important, um, because you have a cha a situation now where because of the Laws Act, you're gonna have many more students that are transferring schools,
um, sometime that decision is by the parent, sometimes it's by the child. Um, but sometimes they don't both agree. So you could have situations where you have children who want to stay at that school with their friends and that environment that they're comfortable with and then you have a parent who's. says, No, I want you to go to another school and right there you may have a conflict that that child may go to that school with some mental issues, and we all know children uh sometimes bring mental issues to school
with them, but, but these are individuals who can kind of intercede, intervene in some of these situations so that these these situations do not affect those other kids who were in the classroom, they're in the school that are having challenges as well. I do, and it just to
add one more point, um. I think it's actually 80% of free reduced 80%, yeah, so, and would you agree that this is really, it's a bad analogy, but it's kind of like a scope of practice. We're just, we're
allowing more people that are certified that are trained, that are professionalized in this to come into schools. The enacting legislation is pretty clear that they've got to be well within DHS, DCFS and workforce development as well as school districts. So this is just people that are already in this uh industry or in this kind of lane just let them come in the door. OK, that's perfect. Any other questions from committee? I see none. We have no one signed up to speak for against the bill anyone from the public. We wish to speak for or against
the bill. See none there. Representative Steele, you are recognized to close for your bill. I'm close, sir. I already have a motion of do pass from Representative Painter. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. All those opposed. Congratulations, you've passed your bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, committee. Um Folks, we've gotten through what I think was on the launchpad today. We have a few others represent a vat. You're not are you ready to rep to present 1710. Let's just keep it rolling. This is uh gonna
benefit us in the next few weeks. So, uh, House Bill 1710. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Deane, District
Speaker 83
2:04:02
87. So, this kind of came about because um I
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:04:08
believe that we have a fall. A very flawed grading system right
now. And I believe when we were listening to Access the other day. Um, we even talked about the
flawed system and how it is, uh, for our schools. You know, you could get a D or an F because of your, um, attendance even. I mean, I've heard of schools dropping down to D's because the attendance and sometimes you can't control those little things that we grate on and because of that, we could have schools that are actually Ds and F's that are actually moving students forward and not backwards in educational means. But because of our flawed
system, it could actually be, uh, causing their grade to drop. I'm. The other thing is, I think. One thing that we've talked about how is how we've pitted schools against schools, and we talked about that a lot, um, here lately, and I believe in touting all the great things about your school. Tell everybody all the amazing things that you can offer, the potential that a child can have at your school, but I don't believe in knocking other schools down because of our
flawed, uh, system of grading, which I believe the grading system will be fixed and access, uh, but I also wanted it to. I just, I have an issue with schools pitting against other schools, and I just wish it would be more about them touting their own. Great deeds that they're doing within their own school.
With that, I can take them. Are there any questions from committee? Uh, representative, I'll just jump in here and I've,
I've had a similar approach to we've had a few of these bills come through the floor this year, uh,
and I'm not, no self-serving a guy who's worked in advertising and marketing most of my professional career. I do take a little bit of concern. At the beginning and the end of what you're, you're your claim on the subchapter here is on line 29, advertising and communication. Um And I'm not asking for you to pull the bill down. I think that if you want to make a good bill better, that's entirely your prerogative, but That's for the most part, it's protected speech and we that we can find nuance and regulation within advertising and communication. Um, that comment really is more lugged on or bolted onto
advertising communication is a very broad term. um, you know, I, and I know specifically we have blue ribbon uh presidential blue ribbon schools in our in my district or adjacent to my district that my constituents report into, that is, you know, a, a, a merited claim, um. And then then the blue ribbon commission has rules and regulations for how you fix, you know, their standard and saying that you've won a title or won some designation. Uh, on, on print materials, online materials on social media
posts, um. And I'm not making a value judgment on the grading system. I think reasonably we can disagree that a grading system is important, but um I think that the way it's written now, communication is extraordinarily broad, um, and With that and I don't want to pose a hypothetical to just provide context, but if a prospective student again in the choice era, reaches out to a school and in, you know, the information sent back from administrator or principal. There is a link to the Department of Education website
that discloses not only grading on the basis of all those metrics we've talked about, but you know, anything to the Department of Education website that talks about the grading scale that would technically be illicit, um, that's the way that this is written and, and I'm fine. I understand,
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:07:43
but can't, it's just it because I know that they can already go to the Department of Ed and get all of that information. So I didn't see that as an issue. So I, I can fix that, and I'm
not, again, if you want to say paid advertising or um or earned advertising, I think again we
reasonably reasonable people can disagree on regulation of speech there and the local control of a district or principal to want to talk about the positive attributes to their school, communication is is one that I think I would probably, it'd be hard for me to get off of. That's, that's very broad and a principle disclosing information that In the volumes of code we have maybe under some obligation to, um, he or she may be able to or must do, it could put them in a conflict that request for information was was made and that communication came back
bang, we're in violation of this new code section. So, um, uh, your bill, and I know I'm just only in this seat temporarily because Chairman Brooks has got a lot of more important things apparently, um, but that one, provides me a little bit of heartburn. OK,
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:08:46
and I can fix that because my My intent is just to keep from. School A bashing school B. That's my, I don't care if they talk out what all they've got awards they've gotten, none of that. I'm saying tout your stuff. So a school district could say,
Speaker 295
2:09:02
hey, we're in a school. That's right.
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:09:04
I want you to be able to say I'm in a school. This is the sports that we offer. This is the different activities that you can get here, um, we've won Blue Ribbon, as you pointed out, school, I'm good with all that. It's the bashing of A to B. OK, um, I
believe Walker has a question. You recognize. So the
Representative Steven Walker
Unverified
2:09:26
way I'm reading it, it's not really directed. Toward the employees of the school district, it's just saying the school district
should not be using their public funds to bash another school district. OK, I just want to make sure I was understanding it right. Thank you that's the intent of the bill. Representative Meeks, you recognized for
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:09:46
her question. Thank you, uh, just a couple of questions. Is this going on? that it is. OK. Um, so, uh, my, my concern to this is, you know, every Friday night, schools are
bashing each other, right, because of the football team, right? So they, so that, that, that, that already happens to some degree.
My, my concern of an unintended consequence is part of the reason for that grading system is to promote, um, competition among the schools and competition, of course, it breeds better outcomes all around. And my concern is, is by doing this, are we
inadvertently? shielding that school that may not be living up to its potential, um, where, you know, if, uh, you know, if I'm not living up to my potential and, you know, Representative Painter is saying, hey, I'm better, you know, than that guy over there.
You need to be doing business with me. That's gonna encourage me to do better. But if he's not allowed to do that and I'm protected from that, then, you know, where's my motivation? So, it, uh, I just, is that a concern that that might be an unintended consequence. To to this bill because anything we can do to encourage
those, you know, and I understand there, there's, there's issues with that grading system, but anything that we can do to maybe shaming is not the best way to do it, but anything we
can do to try to get those schools to do
better, um, you know, I, I think we want to do that. So are you concerned with that? Unintended consequence. I wasn't because I want,
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:11:17
I do want, I want it to be about school A promoting school A and what all school A has. If school B doesn't have it, then they can't put it out there that they have it. So therefore school A already has the advantage over that. But now I can try to reword it where I
make sure it doesn't do what you're saying because
Just food for thought. Friday Night Football. I get it. I like the analogy and
just to add to this because it's, I'm getting better clarity of, of what the intention is like,
uh, not my district, so I'll say that, not my circus, not my elephants, but Bentonville School District Bentonville has openly accepted a choice model within the intra-school district. Um, they not to again they're great school district and their their schools perform well. They actively create material to present to parents to say, because you're moving to Bentonville, because we have a
massive growth and, uh, you know, everyone would love to go to TJ Elementary or Old High middle school uh. We have packed on top of ourselves the people here, so we're encouraging those to go out, go to Morningstar, go to West Side, go wherever they do provide marketing materials that communicate the difference in, and I won't go as far as specifically the grading, but between the schools. So, um, uh, that communication line again for me is still something that I'm hung up. Are there any other questions? And I can pull it down and work with you, try to get a better, a better, uh,
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:12:41
Line there or better saying there. Thank you for your time. Thank y'all for allowing me to pull it down. Um We have.
A few of the bills, but I feel like we've done a lot today, so, um, without objection, um, I'd be happy to entertain a motion to adjourn, or I'll just do it. Uh, see anything else before the
Agenda
REGULAR AGENDA
HB1545 K. Brown TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS MILITARY CHILD SCHOOL TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2021.
HB1571 Ray TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ADULT DIPLOMA PROGRAM ACT.
HB1062 R. Scott Richardson TO CREATE THE TEACHER AND STUDENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2025.
HB1495 Hawk CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF A STUDENT'S PERMANENT SCHOOL RECORD.
HB1672 McCollum TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION IN ARKANSAS.
HB1705 Duke TO REQUIRE INFORMATION CONCERNING HOW THE RELIGIOUS AND MORAL BELIEFS OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS INFLUENCED THE FOUNDING OF THE UNITED STATES TO BE EMBEDDED INTO EXISTING SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS.
SB223 M. Johnson TO CREATE THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT OF 2025.
HB1696 McAlindon TO ESTABLISH THE STRENGTHENING ARKANSAS EDUCATION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE A CORE CURRICULUM AT STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
HB1766 Ennett TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS RESPOND, INNOVATE, SUCCEED, AND EMPOWER (RISE) ACT.
HB1640 Duke TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "ADMINISTRATOR" AS IT RELATES TO ETHICAL GUIDELINES AND PROHIBITIONS; AND TO AMEND THE RESTRICTIONS ON EMPLOYMENT SPECIFIC TO PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.
HB1642 Gramlich TO AMEND THE MEASURES CONSIDERED WHEN CALCULATING A SCHOOL RATING; AND TO ENSURE A STUDENT IS NOT COUNTED AS A DROPOUT FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULATING A SCHOOL-LEVEL GRADUATION RATE IF THE STUDENT PASSES A GED TEST.
HB1646 McGrew TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MATERIALS TO BE STORED IN LOCKED ROOMS WITHIN A DESIGNATED AREA.
HB1684 McAlindon TO CREATE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDENTS SUCCEED (PATHS) ACT.
HB1697 Joey Carr TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF TITLE 6 AND TITLE 19 OF THE ARKANSAS CODE
CONCERNING PROVISIONAL POSITIONS AND MOTOR VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS FOR STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1709 Steele TO AMEND THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM; AND TO INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS IN THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM.
HB1710 Vaught TO PROHIBIT A SCHOOL FROM USING OR REFERENCING A PUBLIC SCHOOL RATING IN ANY ADVERTISING, PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL, OR COMMUNICATION DIRECTED TO THE PUBLIC.
HB1724 B. McKenzie TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS; AND TO AMEND THE DATE ON WHICH AN ELECTION OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS HELD.
HB1727 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ADULT EDUCATION CHARTER SCHOOLS.
SB135 J. Boyd TO AMEND ELECTION REQUIREMENTS IN THE CASE OF AN UNCHANGED RATE OF AN ANNUAL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX LEVIED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SB413 K. Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CERTIFICATION OF AN OATH FOR A SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR.
SB417 J. Dotson TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS RELATED TO HIGHER EDUCATION.
SB183 J. Dotson TO AMEND THE UNIVERSAL ACT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ACT; AND TO AMEND THE TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAY PROVIDE TO STUDENTS.
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE, Mar 18, 2025 | Agenda | 4 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Representative Keith Brooks Chair
Unverified
Representative Wade Andrews
Unverified
Representative Hope Duke
Unverified
Speaker 15
Speaker 19
Speaker 17
Speaker 27
Speaker 30
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
Speaker 40
Speaker 41
Representative Justin Gonzales
Unverified
Representative Denise Garner
Unverified
Speaker 51
Tony Rose
Unverified
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
Representative Brit McKenzie Chair
Unverified
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
Representative David Ray
Unverified
Speaker 102
Speaker 105
Representative Nicole Clowney
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
Speaker 113
Speaker 107
Speaker 117
Representative Lincoln Barnett
Unverified
Speaker 135
Speaker 139
Speaker 52
Morgan Matthews
Unverified
Speaker 155
Alison Pike
Unverified
Speaker 163
Speaker 166
Speaker 169
Speaker 59
Speaker 177
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
Speaker 182
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
Speaker 190
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
Speaker 215
Speaker 218
Speaker 221
Speaker 224
Speaker 223
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
Speaker 199
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
Speaker 258
Speaker 259
Speaker 276
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified
Speaker 280
Speaker 286
Speaker 83
Speaker 295
Representative Steven Walker
Unverified