Senate Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (63)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB307
Act 373
· 4 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB307 J. Dismang TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC UTILITIES; TO…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC UTILITIES; TO CREATE THE GENERATING ARKANSAS JOBS ACT OF … | J. Dismang | Notification that SB307 is now Act 373 |
|
SB227
Act 505
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB227 #5 C. Tucker Tucker TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT…”
|
TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO AMEND THE PROVISIONS OF … | C. Tucker | Notification that SB227 is now Act 505 |
|
SR41
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SR41 C. Tucker TO RECOGNIZE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025, AS SCOUTI…”
|
TO RECOGNIZE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025, AS SCOUTING DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL. | C. Tucker | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SR43
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SR43 Irvin TO DESIGNATE MARCH 12, 2025, AS STARS OF LIFE DAY AND…”
|
TO DESIGNATE MARCH 12, 2025, AS STARS OF LIFE DAY AND TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS … | Irvin | Sine Die adjournment |
|
HB1474
Act 484
· 2 mentions in chapter
Matched: “HB1474 Joey Carr Wallace CON4CERNING THE PREVENTION OF HUMAN TRAFF…”
|
CONCERNING THE PREVENTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO REQUIRE THE DISPLAY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE … | Joey Carr | Notification that HB1474 is now Act 484 |
|
SB246
Act 340
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB246 #2 J. Dismang Dismang TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS ACCESS ACT; AN…”
|
TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS ACCESS ACT; AND TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE … | J. Dismang | Notification that SB246 is now Act 340 |
|
SB282
· 2 mentions in chapter
Matched: “SB282 C. Penzo AMENDING THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS;…”
|
AMENDING THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS; AND TO ALLOW VOTERS TO ELECT "FOR" OR … | C. Penzo | Died on Senate Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB305
Act 491
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB305 #1 C. Penzo Penzo TO REQUIRE CERTAIN TESTING OF PROCESSED M…”
|
TO REQUIRE CERTAIN TESTING OF PROCESSED MARIJUANA PRODUCTS SOLD AS MEDICAL MARIJUANA. | C. Penzo | Notification that SB305 is now Act 491 |
|
SB319
Act 461
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB319 #1 J. Boyd Boyd O AMEND THE UNIFORM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPA…”
|
TO AMEND THE UNIFORM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACT; AND TO CLARIFY CHARGING ORDERS UNDER THE … | J. Boyd | Notification that SB319 is now Act 461 |
|
SB325
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB325 #1 A. Clark Clark TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS JUVENILE CODE OF 19…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS JUVENILE CODE OF 1989; TO AMEND THE CHILD MALTREATMENT ACT; TO … | A. Clark | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1271
Act 479
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1271 - Refer to Senate Insurance and Commerce”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MECHANICS' AND MATERIALMEN'S LIENS; AND TO CLARIFY THE PRIORITY OF … | Warren | Notification that HB1271 is now Act 479 |
|
HB1298
Act 307
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1298 L. Johnson Irvin TO MODIFY PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN…”
|
TO MODIFY PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS UNDER A HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN. | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1298 is now Act 307 |
|
HB1347
Act 363
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1347 #1 Warren Hammer TO ALLOW THE ARKANSAS TEACHER RETIREMENT S…”
|
TO ALLOW THE ARKANSAS TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO PAY AN ANNUITY OR BENEFIT OWED TO … | Warren | Notification that HB1347 is now Act 363 |
|
HB1348
Act 364
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1348 #1 Warren Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SURVIVOR BENEF…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SURVIVOR BENEFITS FOR THE DEPENDENT CHILD OF A MEMBER OF … | Warren | Notification that HB1348 is now Act 364 |
|
HB1365
Act 938
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ded number calendar Committee on state agencies who was for House Bill 1365 by Brown recommended new pass calendar Committee on state a…”
|
TO REMOVE RACIAL AND GENDER QUOTAS AND QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP FOR CERTAIN BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COUNCILS, … | K. Brown | Notification that HB1365 is now Act 938 |
|
HB1410
Act 323
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…pass calendar Committee on state agencies to whom his refer House Bill 1410 by Representative Un recommend do pass calendar Committee o…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES BY PUBLIC SERVANTS. | Unger | Notification that HB1410 is now Act 323 |
|
HB1460
Act 324
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1460 Rose Dotson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING APPOINTMENTS TO CER…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING APPOINTMENTS TO CERTAIN BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COUNCILS BASED ON CONGRESSIONAL … | Rose | Notification that HB1460 is now Act 324 |
|
HB1479
Act 418
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1479 #1 & 2 Warren Penzo TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SCRIVENER'S…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SCRIVENER'S AFFIDAVITS; AND TO ALLOW A LICENSED ENGINEER, SURVEYOR, OR … | Warren | Notification that HB1479 is now Act 418 |
|
HB1496
Act 304
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…arker recommended past calendar me on education who was for House Bill 1496 by Representative Andrew's recommended Du pass calendar Com…”
|
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO ENSURE ARKANSAS STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT BY QUALIFIED … | Andrews | Notification that HB1496 is now Act 304 |
|
HB1503
Act 313
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1503 Clowney Hester TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL REGULA…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS; AND TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON THE REGULATION … | Clowney | Notification that HB1503 is now Act 313 |
|
HB1510
Act 314
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1510 Gonzales Stubblefield TO REPEAL THE AUTHORITY FOR A MUNICIP…”
|
TO REPEAL THE AUTHORITY FOR A MUNICIPALITY TO EXERCISE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OVER AN UNINCORPORATED AREA … | Gonzales | Notification that HB1510 is now Act 314 |
|
HB1516
Act 326
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1516 Richmond Crowell TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS CONCERNING THE DEPAR…”
|
TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. | Richmond | Notification that HB1516 is now Act 326 |
|
HB1527
Act 315
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1527 Hudson Tucker TO AMEND THE PERMISSIBLE INVESTMENTS A GUARDI…”
|
TO AMEND THE PERMISSIBLE INVESTMENTS A GUARDIAN OF THE ESTATE MAY MAKE ON BEHALF OF … | Hudson | Notification that HB1527 is now Act 315 |
|
HB1552
Act 420
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…s calendar Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred House Bill 1552 by Representative Castleway recommend due pass is amended n…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN INCHOATE OFFENSES RELATED TO FENTANYL; AND TO ESTABLISH THE … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1552 is now Act 420 |
|
HB1563
Act 356
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…d new pass calendar Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was House Bill 1563 by recommended pass. Committee on the Judiciary, to whom hi…”
|
TO ADD A FELONY OFFENSE THAT FALLS UNDER THE DEFINITION OF RESTRICTED RELEASE FELONY WITH … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1563 is now Act 356 |
|
HB1579
Act 357
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…y recommended pass. Committee on the Judiciary, to whom his House Bill 1579 by representative Gasway recommended new pass calendar Comm…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SEX OFFENDER REASSESSMENT; AND TO PROHIBIT AN INCARCERATED PERSON FROM … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1579 is now Act 357 |
|
HB1587
Act 310
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1587 L. Johnson Boyd CONCERNING THE ANY WILLING PROVIDER LAWS; A…”
|
CONCERNING THE ANY WILLING PROVIDER LAWS; AND TO AMEND THE PATIENT PROTECTION ACT OF 1995. | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1587 is now Act 310 |
|
HB1600
Act 317
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1600 Tosh B. Davis TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL LAW ENF…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HOLIDAY … | Tosh | Notification that HB1600 is now Act 317 |
|
HB1607
Act 318
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1607 Rose B. Davis TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION WI…”
|
TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM. | Rose | Notification that HB1607 is now Act 318 |
|
HB1614
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1614 #1 Lundstrum Clark TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DESIGNATIONS…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DESIGNATIONS RELATED TO CERTAIN CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRANT PROGRAMS. | Lundstrum | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1628
Act 367
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “who was referred House Bill 1628 by Gassway recommend do pass calendar judiciary to who was…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING AN EXTENDED POST-CONVICTION NO CONTACT ORDER; AND TO ADD SEXUAL … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1628 is now Act 367 |
|
HB1634
Act 305
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1634 Hawk Dismang TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS SPORTS RAFFLE ACT; A…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS SPORTS RAFFLE ACT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Hawk | Notification that HB1634 is now Act 305 |
|
SB148
Act 587
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…instein correctly engrossed. Calendar Committee on gross to Senate Bill 148 by Central English compared to the grossed copy of the orig…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE CREATING AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKERS ACT OF 2025. | J. English | Notification that SB148 is now Act 587 |
|
SB222
Act 301
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ded number oneittee on Public Health, to whom was the first Senate Bill 222 by Senator Davis recommend Du past to concur in Senate Amen…”
|
TO AMEND THE MEDICAID PROVIDER-LED ORGANIZED CARE ACT; TO CLARIFY MARKETING BY PROVIDERS UNDER THE … | B. Davis | Notification that SB222 is now Act 301 |
|
SB302
Act 659
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB302 Gilmore TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF GIFT CARD FRAUD;…”
|
TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF GIFT CARD FRAUD; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Gilmore | Notification that SB302 is now Act 659 |
|
SB314
Act 661
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB314 Irvin TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SEXUAL SOLICITATION; AND…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SEXUAL SOLICITATION; AND TO AMEND THE PENALTIES FOR THE OFFENSE … | Irvin | Notification that SB314 is now Act 661 |
|
SB323
Act 516
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB323 J. Bryant TO AMEND THE HORIZONTAL PROPERTY ACT.”
|
TO AMEND THE HORIZONTAL PROPERTY ACT. | J. Bryant | Notification that SB323 is now Act 516 |
|
SB326
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB326 #1 A. Clark Clark TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS JUVENILE CODE OF 19…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS JUVENILE CODE OF 1989 AND THE CHILD MALTREATMENT ACT; TO MODIFY … | A. Clark | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB340
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB340 A. Clark TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN FEES, EXP…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN FEES, EXPENSES, AND COSTS IMPOSED ON A JUVENILE OR … | A. Clark | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB342
Act 749
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…t recommended pass calendar judiciary to whom was the first Senate Bill 342 by Senator Clark recommend to pass as number one calendar c…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INJURIES TO CERTAIN ANIMALS BY DOGS TO AUTHORIZE TREBLE DAMAGES. | A. Clark | Notification that SB342 is now Act 749 |
|
SB352
Act 721
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ecommend do pass calendar on Education. who was referred to Senate Bill 352 by Central Stone recommend new pass calendar to me on educa…”
|
TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND TO PROHIBIT ANTISEMITISM IN STATE-SUPPORTED … | Stone | Notification that SB352 is now Act 721 |
|
SB361
Act 576
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB361 Dees TO CREATE THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES EXPAN…”
|
TO CREATE THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES EXPANSION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF … | Dees | Notification that SB361 is now Act 576 |
|
SB364
Act 750
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…number one calendar committee on judiciary to him was first Senate Bill 364 by Senator Hester recommended pass calendar Committee on th…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES RELATED TO CONTRACTORS. | Hester | Notification that SB364 is now Act 750 |
|
SB366
Act 427
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB366 J. Boyd TO CREATE THE STRENGTHEN ARKANSAS HOMES ACT; AND TO…”
|
TO CREATE THE STRENGTHEN ARKANSAS HOMES ACT; AND TO CREATE THE STRENGTHEN ARKANSAS HOMES PROGRAM … | J. Boyd | Notification that SB366 is now Act 427 |
|
SB371
Act 653
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…correctly engrossed. State agencies on gross who was first Senate Bill 371 by Senator Scott compared the gross copper the original and…”
|
TO ESTABLISH A STANDARDIZED SYSTEM TO AID IN THE SEARCH OF MISSING CHILDREN WHO DO … | J. Scott | Notification that SB371 is now Act 653 |
|
SB375
Act 662
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB375 Stone TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF CAPITAL RAPE; AND TO AMEND A…”
|
TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF CAPITAL RAPE; AND TO AMEND A PORTION OF ARKANSAS CODE … | Stone | Notification that SB375 is now Act 662 |
|
SB376
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Committee on State agencies to whom was Senate Bill 376 by Senator Clark, recommended past calendar Committee on st…”
|
TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING … | A. Clark | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB378
Act 446
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…nded due pass Committee on Revenue and Tax who was referred Senate Bill 378 recommend new pass calendar Committee on Revenue and tax to…”
|
TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SUBMIT A QUARTERLY REPORT CONCERNING … | Crowell | Notification that SB378 is now Act 446 |
|
SB380
Act 439
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ew pass calendar Committee on Revenue and tax and his first Senate Bill 380 by Crow recommended calendar tax is for 381 Central Crowl r…”
|
TO REPEAL THE LAW REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT TO SUBMIT A REPORT … | Crowell | Notification that SB380 is now Act 439 |
|
SB384
Act 468
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ed past calendar Committee on Revenue and Tax who was first Senate Bill 384 by Central. recommended past calendar Committee on Revenue…”
|
TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE ARKANSAS DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY SUBMIT A PROGRAM FACT SHEET … | Crowell | Notification that SB384 is now Act 468 |
|
SB385
Act 469
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ded past calendar Committee on Revenue and tax to his first Senate Bill 385 by Central Crow recommend new past calendar Committee on ha…”
|
TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RURAL SERVICES DIVISION OF THE ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION … | Crowell | Notification that SB385 is now Act 469 |
|
SB387
Act 470
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…recommended past calendar Committee on Revenue Tax Homeless Senate Bill 387 by Senator Crow recommended pass”
|
TO REPEAL THE LAW REQUIRING OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING ENTITIES TO SUBMIT A REPORT CONCERNING THE NUMBER … | Crowell | Notification that SB387 is now Act 470 |
|
SB401
Act 448
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB401 J. Boyd TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS UNDERGROUND FACILITIES DAMAGE…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS UNDERGROUND FACILITIES DAMAGE PREVENTION ACT. | J. Boyd | Notification that SB401 is now Act 448 |
|
SB403
Act 449
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…past calendar Committee on state agencies to whom his first Senate Bill 403 by Senator Tucker recommended new passes amended number cal…”
|
TO CREATE THE THE 2030 ARKANSAS COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE; AND TO PLAN AND CONDUCT STATEWIDE … | C. Tucker | Notification that SB403 is now Act 449 |
|
SB413
Act 401
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…commend new pass calendar to me on education, who was first Senate Bill 413 by Senator Hammer recommend Du past calendar Committee on E…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS; AND TO AMEND THE … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB413 is now Act 401 |
|
SB433
Act 573
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…508 by representative Shepherd recommend new past calendar. Senate Bill 433 by Central Dotson regarding the display of the national mot…”
|
REGARDING THE DISPLAY OF THE NATIONAL MOTTO AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. | J. Dotson | Notification that SB433 is now Act 573 |
|
SB434
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “5, Section 1, Senate Bill 434. State agencies before 35 by Senator Irving to create the.…”
|
TO CREATE THE "PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION ACT"; TO AMEND A PORTION OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION … | J. Dotson | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB435
Act 753
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…nd to find healthcare worker regarding assault and battery, Senate Bill 435. Judiciary sym 436 by Senator Clark to amend the ability of…”
|
TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT UPON A HEALTHCARE WORKER; AND TO DEFINE … | Irvin | Notification that SB435 is now Act 753 |
|
SB438
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…oach or an athletic personnel member who recruits a student Senate Bill 438. Education. before 39 by sent to Irving. To amend the dutie…”
|
TO PERMANENTLY BAN FROM COACHING A COACH OR AN ATHLETICS PERSONNEL MEMBER WHO RECRUITS A … | A. Clark | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB439
Act 737
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…of the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Licensing, Senate Bill 439. State agencies 440 by central Wallace to amend the law”
|
TO AMEND THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND LICENSING; AND … | Irvin | Notification that SB439 is now Act 737 |
|
SJR11
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…d the same correctly engrossed. Public health and as far as Senate joint resolution 11 by Senator Payton, the engrossed copy with the ritual and f…”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO AMEND ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 2, § 5, TO PROTECT THE RIGHT … | J. Payton | Approved by the Governor. |
|
SJR15
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SJR 15 - Dismang - Motion to withdrawal SJR15 for Amendment”
|
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS; AND AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL … | J. Dismang | Approved by the Governor. |
|
SJR17
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SJR17 - Dotson - Motion to withdrawal SJR17 for Amendment”
|
AN AMENDMENT TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS. | J. Dotson | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
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Chair
Unverified
4:22
Senate will be called to order any requests for leave at
this time. See none. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boyd Bryant
Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, lighting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott Stone Stubber Phil
Speaker 12
4:52
Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Thank you, Madam Secretary. If everyone in the galleries and in the chamber would please rise. We'll first be led in
prayer by Senator Justin Boyd, and that will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. If everyone
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
5:09
will quiet themselves and be in the presence of the
Lord. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Thank you for the many blessings you've given us. We'd like to ask for a special blessing on all of our visitors to the capital today. I'd like to thank
you for the opportunity to be here and do the people's work and please give us guidance as we do
Speaker 21
5:34
the work of the people, Christ's name we pray. Amen. to the Of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank
Speaker 25
5:49
you, Senator Boyd for those words, encouragement, ladies and gentlemen in the
galleries, welcome to your Arkansas State Senate.
Chair
Unverified
5:56
It is our expectation that each of you will exercise proper decorum and govern yourselves accordingly during today's proceedings. Without objection, the rules will be suspended, and the Senate will dispense with the reading of the journal. Morning hour has now begun. I would like to recognize Senator Tucker to introduce our
pages for the day. Senator Tucker, you're recognized.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
6:26
Thank you, Madam President. We have a very special group of pages today. Come on down,
ladies. We have Ms. Cortland Doster, known to her friends and family sometimes as corndog. We have Miss Staley Katherine Johnson, sometimes known as Stay Stay. Sometimes sis, sometimes hurricane. We have Mary Frances Tucker, known to her friends and family as Pooky.
Then we have Jimena Harris, known to her friends as he may. Who's that Kennedy? Next we have Ms. Kennedy Jane Peake, known occasionally as Ken Dog. And then we have Ms. Adie Anne Rogers, known affectionately as Patty. Sometimes she gets hangry. Then we have Miss Cleo Merrick, known to her friends and family as lily.
Mary Addison Daniel, known sometimes as MA or Mary Addy. Next we have Ms. Stella Burbank, known to our friends as Stel still sometimes. And then these are all my pages, and at the end we have a page for Senator Hammer, Amelia Lissaway, and she's the elder stateswoman of this group, so they call her Miss
Lisa Way. Now these are all professional national championship winning dancers with dance dynamics. Yeah
And if we need an intermission on the debate on Senator Disma's bill later on the
floor, I think they can provide some entertainment that will lighten the mood around here. So thank you, colleagues, please join me in welcoming these pages to the Senate. Thank
you, Senator Tucker, and welcome to our Senate pages. Any other announcements or introductions at this time.
Chair
Unverified
8:40
Seeing no others, Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk?
Speaker 41
8:44
Yes, we're your committee on gross bills to his first Senate Bill 307 by Senator dismayed
the gross copper with rich and Feinstein correctly engrossed. Calendar Committee on gross to Senate Bill 148 by Central English compared to the grossed copy of the original name correctly engrossed retirement
Speaker 41
8:58
and gross who was first in 204 by Central Penzo compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Revenue and tax Committee on the Gross, who was first sent by 353
by Senator Hester compared the gross copy of the ritual and found
sign correctly engrossed. State agencies on gross who was first Senate Bill 371 by Senator Scott compared the gross copper the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Public health and as far as Senate joint resolution 11 by Senator Payton, the engrossed copy with the ritual and find the
Speaker 41
9:32
same correctly engrossed. State agencies for your committee on state agencies who was referred sym 283 by Senator Hammer. Recommend Du pass as amended number 1 calendar
Committee on State agencies to whom was Senate Bill 376 by Senator Clark, recommended past calendar Committee on state agencies to whom his first Senate Bill 403 by Senator Tucker recommended new passes amended number calendar Committee on state agencies who was for House Bill 1365 by Brown recommended new pass calendar Committee on state agencies to whom his refer House Bill 1410 by Representative Un recommend do pass calendar Committee on State agencies to house
1597 by Representative Dalby recommended passes amended number one calendar Committee on state agencies to Misser House was 1608 by Representative Rose recommend do pass calendar on Education. who was referred to Senate Bill 352 by Central Stone recommend new pass calendar to me on education, who was first Senate Bill 413 by Senator Hammer recommend Du past calendar Committee on Education and was first Senate bill for 17 by Senator Dotson recommended pass calendar Committee on Education to who was referred House Bill
1477 by Representative Barker recommended past calendar me on education who was for House Bill 1496 by Representative Andrew's recommended Du pass calendar Committee on Judiciary to who his 1st 321 by Central Bryant recommended pass calendar judiciary to whom was the first Senate Bill 342 by Senator Clark recommend to pass as number one calendar committee on judiciary to him was first Senate Bill 364 by Senator Hester recommended pass calendar Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was first sent Bill 404 by
Senator Boyd recommend new pass calendar Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was House Bill 1563 by recommended pass. Committee on the Judiciary, to whom his House Bill 1579 by representative Gasway recommended new pass calendar Committee on the Judiciary to whom his 3rd house about 1593 by Representative Wooldridge recommended pass calendar Committee on the Judiciary, to whom his house was 1603 by Representative Gasway recommended pass calendar Committee on the Judiciary to
who was referred House Bill 1628 by Gassway recommend do pass calendar judiciary to who was far House was 1644 by represent. I'll be recommended pass calendar judiciary to whom was 3rd house was 1661, but Cynthia we recommend they pass calendar Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred House Bill 1552 by Representative Castleway recommend due pass is amended number oneittee on Public Health, to whom was the first Senate Bill 222 by Senator Davis recommend Du past to concur in Senate Amendment number 1
calendar. Sorry, it should be House Amendment number one. on public health team was the first Senate 264 by Senator Irving recommend new pass. Calendar Committee on Public Health was first sent 278 by Central English recommended past calendar Committee on Public Health home was first sent 279 Irving recommended pass calendar Committee on Public health to whom was first sent 285. I sent
her Payton recommend their pass calendar on public health team was first sent 286 by Central Patton recommended pass calendar. We now have a calf team that person in about 288 by Senator Payton recommended past calendar. I have a coum assured house. 45s in climate recommend due pass as amended number 3, calendar on public health team is for 1250, 53 by Representative Johnson recommend due pass calendar Committee on Public Health tour House Bill
1610 by Lungstrom recommended due pass Committee on Revenue and Tax who was referred Senate Bill 378 recommend new pass calendar Committee on Revenue and tax to as far as 379 by Central. recommend new pass calendar Committee on Revenue and tax and his first Senate Bill 380 by Crow recommended calendar tax is for 381 Central Crowl recommended pass calendar Committee on Revenue and tax him as first Bill 382 by Central Crow
recommend new pass calendar Committee on Revenue attached to him as first symbol 383 by Central Crow recommended past calendar Committee on Revenue and Tax who was first Senate Bill 384 by Central. recommended past calendar Committee on Revenue and tax to his first Senate Bill 385 by Central Crow recommend new past calendar Committee on have been attached to him as far as 387 by Senator Crow recommended past calendar Committee on Revenue Tax Homeless Senate Bill 387 by Senator Crow recommended pass
calendar attached to as far a house for 1508 by representative Shepherd recommend new past calendar. Senate Bill 433 by Central Dotson regarding the display of the national motto and the 10 Commandments, Senate Bill 433 state agency 434 by Dotson to create the protection to the, to create and protect our Constitution Act and to amend a portion of the Arkansas consultation as authorized by Arkansas Consultation, Article
5, Section 1, Senate Bill 434. State agencies before 35 by Senator Irving to create the. criminal offense of aggravated assault upon a healthcare worker and to find healthcare worker regarding assault and battery, Senate Bill 435. Judiciary sym 436 by Senator Clark to amend the ability of a student who transfers under the public school Choice Act of 2015 to participate in an extracurricular activity. Senate Bill 436437 by Cen Hester to
create the Arkansas Wind Energy Development Act 437. Insurance and commerce y 438 by Central Clark, to permanently ban from coaching a coach or an athletic personnel member who recruits a student Senate Bill 438. Education. before 39 by sent to Irving. To amend the duties of the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Licensing, Senate Bill 439. State agencies 440 by central Wallace to amend the law
concerning bombers and funeral directors to regulate the use of alkaline hydro. Politics and to regulate alkaline uhnosis facilities. Public health I said 4:40,
Speaker 62
16:13
441 by Central Hester to create the junk lawsuit Prevention Act of 2025 before 41. Judiciary.
Thank you, Madam Secretary. Any further business to come before the body in the morning hour.
Chair
Unverified
16:33
Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized for an
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
16:37
introduction. Thank you, Madam President. Uh, this is a special honor day, of course, we, we have, this is scouting week or scouting day and we have so many scouts here today. I want to welcome all of them, but I especially want to welcome my friends from Scout troop 71 in Conway, if they will stand there in the West gallery, and I especially want to
recognize uh the son of one of my dear friends growing up, we lost him a couple of years ago, uh, he was a school teacher and an assistant principal in Rock School District, uh, Ricky Willie, but his son Michael Woolley is the scoutmaster of Troop
Speaker 68
17:22
71 in Conway. So please welcome them. Who, who are they?
Speaker 70
17:29
OK. I also, I just want to recognize all the scouts. I know there's a few of you
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
17:34
from some smaller troops, but please, all of you scouts, we're so please all stand. We want to recognize all of you and
Chair
Unverified
17:50
thank you for coming. Thank you, Senator Johnson. There's no further business to come for the body in the morning hour, the morning hour has expired. We will now begin the
business agenda, since we've had a little appetizer from Senator Johnson on this matter. We'll take a Senate Resolution 41. Senate Resolution
41 by Senators Tucker and Boyd to recognize Wednesday, March 12, 2025, a scouting day at the state Capitol. Senator Tucker, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
18:23
Madam President. Thank you, Senator Johnson, for that nice appetizer as the lieutenant Governor put it. We have a resolution we've seen the
scouts at the Capitol all day today, which is wonderful. So happy to see them in every part of the capital, and we have a resolution. We all know how important scouting is to the community, the state, and the country and the world. It was established by an Englishman, Lord Robert Baden Powell, in 1908, established in the United States in 1910. The Scout oath, you know, has 12 points. Being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and
reverent, and we want to thank the scouts for instilling those qualities in our young people, scouting today exists in 216 countries around the world and has 50 million members. Its highest honor, the Eagle Scout Award, has instilled in numerous participants a love of service and leadership. It includes former presidents of the United States, governors of Arkansas, judges, astronauts. The filmmakers and many, many others. The natural State Council has recently united with neighboring scouting councils to
form a near one state council for greater greater service and program opportunities statewide and I don't know if he's in here, but I want to recognize my friend Pulaski and Perry County Circuit Judge Shawn Johnson, who's, oh there he is. Come on, Judge. Thank you very much and Judge Johnson is a great, great leader, longtime leader for the scouts in Arkansas, and we're so glad that you're now on the with us, Judge. And so if we can, yeah, recognize the scouts and, and, and ask for a good vote on this resolution.
Chair
Unverified
20:03
Thank you, Senator Tucker, and always great to have my former colleague at the Attorney General's office, now circuit Judge Shawn Johnson with us here today. He helped me quite a bit, uh, working on legislation over the years and what a great example the judge is of a scout. With that, all those in favor of
Speaker 73
20:21
Senate resolution 41 to recognize Wednesday, March 12, 2025 as Scouting Day at the state Capitol, please signify by saying I, and he opposed. eyes have it, Senate Resolution
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
20:33
41 is adopted. Thank you members. I'd ask for leave for Judge Johnson just to offer
Speaker 85
20:50
a few words briefly. Thank you, senators. It is a delight and an honor to be with you today. I just want to be very brief and tell you how grateful we as a scouting movement are to be recognized by this body and by the House as well. Scouting is America's premier youth leadership
program. It is for family. It is designed to help support family and all families can be apart, and we look for ways in your communities where this program can be brought into our churches and into our charitable organizations in order to provide character and leadership development. youth. Thank you so much. Thank you on behalf of all of us. Thank you. Thank you, Judge. Now we will
Chair
Unverified
21:36
take up Senate resolution 43. Senate Resolution 43 by Senator Irving, to designate March 12,
Speaker 41
21:41
2025 as Stars of Life Day and to recognize the accomplishments of certain emergency medical service personnel. Senator
Chair
Unverified
21:48
Irvin, you're recognized. Thank you, and, yes, I'd ask leave for our
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
21:53
um to recognize and designate.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
22:16
perfect. Thank you, members and thank you, Madam President, really excited to have these stars of life award recipients with us today. The resolution that I am so very proud to be able to present today, just highlights the excellence in which all of these individuals live and work every single day to help save lives all across the state of
Arkansas. This resolution designates March 12, 2025 at Stars of Life Day and to recognize the accomplishments of certain emergency medical services professionals. Um, I won't read all of it, but you all know that when you're in trouble, Who do you call these folks. Uh, these emergency medical services teams are ready to provide life saving care and to those in need, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Um, whether they
are career or volunteer, they go beyond the call of duty to carry out life saving measures and to promote the clauses of the ambulance industry, and it is incredibly appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of selected individuals who epitomize the spirit of emergency medical services. And we have with us today, those stars of life. And so I ask you for a good vote and for us to make this great proclamation to
designate this day for them and in honor of them and
what they've achieved. Thank you, Senator Ervin. All those in favor of Senate resolution 43 to designate March 12, 2025
Chair
Unverified
23:52
as Stars of Life Day and to recognize the accomplishments of certain emergency medical services professionals, please signify by saying I, ah, and he opposed, I have it sent a resolution 43 is adopted.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
24:15
And I, I just personally, I would just want to say, I mean, on behalf, I'm sure of every single senator here. Thank you so much. We're so proud of all that y'all have achieved and accomplished, and your awards for Star of Life are so earned and so well deserved. I wish we could go through every single one of your stories because it's amazing. So thank you again for the work that you do on behalf of the citizens of the state of Arkansas and the care that you give to our constituents, we're really grateful. Thank you.
Speaker 111
26:17
Senators are now like to recognize Senator Tucker and Senator Davis to introduce our doctors
Chair
Unverified
26:22
of the day. Doctor of the day, I know, I know at least one of them,
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
26:29
but I think we have to. Yes, that's right.
Doctors of the day, we have my constituent Dr. Chad Rogers, who's a wonderful pediatrician here in Little Rock. Not only is he a pediatrician. I know he's the pediatrician for at least one of our pages today. That, that being Mary Frances Tucker and her brother, so In the Tucker family, we are
especially grateful to Dr. Rogers for his service and thank you for being here today, Doctor
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
26:58
Rogers. And we've got my constituent, Doctor Tony Davis, in the back, he's a neurologist, and I would argue the best neurologist in the state, he is working with UAMS now, and we are very glad to have him here today. Thank you, senators, and
Speaker 120
27:20
Welcome doctors to the Senate. We will now move to Senate bills
Speaker 25
27:29
with Senate amendments. Beginning with Amendment 5 to Senate Bill 227. I remember
Speaker 62
27:37
5 to Senate bill 227. Senator Tucker, you are recognized. Thank
Chair
Unverified
27:45
you, Madam President. My bill, my amendment.
Speaker 82
27:52
All those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying aye, and he opposed, I have it, Amendment passes, please send to engrossing. Amendment 2 to Senate
Chair
Unverified
28:04
Bill 246. Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 246. Senator dismaying, you're recognized.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
28:09
Alright thank you members. This is the Central High School amendment and it also allowing for virtual uh uh scholar or scholarships for the virtual concurrent credit classes. All those in favor of the
Speaker 82
28:22
amendment, please signify by saying aye, any opposed, I have it. Amendment is adopted, please send
Speaker 128
28:30
it to engrossing. Amendment 1 to send Bill 305. Amendment 1
to Senate Bill 305. Senator Penzo, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. My bill, my
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
28:48
amendment. Appreciate a good vote. All those in favor of
Chair
Unverified
28:53
the amendment, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed? I have it.
Amendment is adopted. Please send to engrossing. Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 319, Amendment 1, Senate Bill 319. Senator Boyd, you're recognized?
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
29:09
Thank you, Madam President. This is an
amendment to my bill that makes a good bill, even better, and I'd appreciate a good vote. All those in favor
Chair
Unverified
29:24
saying aye. Any opposed? I have it amendment is adopted. Please send to engrossing.
Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 325. Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 325. Senator Clark, you're recognized. This amendment does a
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
29:39
number of things, but it's uh comes from all the stakeholders which we met 3 hours with 17 of them, so good amendment. All those
Speaker 111
29:48
in favor, please signify by saying I, any, any
opposed, I have it. Amendment is adopted, please send to engrossing. Amendment 1, Senator Clark to Senate Bill 326. Amendment 1 to Senate
Chair
Unverified
30:05
Bill 326. Senator Clark, you're recognized. Same thing. all those in favor of
Speaker 82
30:11
the amendment, please signify by saying aye, and he
Chair
Unverified
30:16
opposed. I have it. Amendment is adopted. Please send to engrossing. Senator dismaying you're recognized for emotion? I can
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
30:22
make a motion with raw or SJR 15
Speaker 111
30:26
from state agencies for purpose of amendment. You all have heard the motion. All those in favor, please signify by
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
30:37
saying aye. Any. pose a habit, motion carries. Make a motion to spin the rules to adopt
Speaker 41
30:43
Amendment 1 to SGR 15. Amendment 1, the Senate joint resolution 15.
Speaker 120
30:50
All those in favor, please sign and say aye. And he opposed as habits
adopted, please send to engrossing. Senator Dodson, you're recognized for purposes of
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
31:10
emotion. Thank you, Madam President. Members make a motion to suspend the rules for purposes of for SJR 17, withdrawal from state agencies for purposes of amendment. You all have heard the motion, all
Speaker 111
31:21
those in favor, please signify by saying aye, and he opposed, I have it.
Speaker 41
31:30
Amendment 1 Senate joint resolution 17. A
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
31:33
move we adopt a Senate Amendment 1 to SJR 17. All those
Speaker 73
31:39
in favor, please signify by saying aye.
Speaker 82
31:41
And he opposed as habit amendment is adopted, please send to engrossing. Senator Penzo,
Chair
Unverified
31:53
you're recognized for the purpose of a motion. Yeah
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
32:02
You are recognized for the. I do. Which one?
Really A motion to re-refer House Bill 1271 back to insurance and commerce for amendment. All
Speaker 73
32:25
in favor of the motion, please signify by saying aye. And he opposed. I haven't. Now.
Speaker 120
32:36
Now we'll go to page 2. We'll now go to page 2. For House
Chair
Unverified
32:42
bills with send it, Senate amendments beginning with Amendment 1, House Bill 1347. Amendment 1, the House Bill 1347.
Senator Hammer, you're recognized. My bill, my amendment, as my name as a sponsor. All
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
32:59
those in favor of the amendment please signified by
Speaker 73
33:10
adopted, please send to engrossing. Amendment 1, the House Bill 1348. Amendment
Chair
Unverified
33:16
1, the House Bill 14, 1348. Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you. My bill, my
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
33:21
amendment, it adds me as the Senate sponsor to the bill. All
Speaker 82
33:26
those in favor of the amendment, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed? I have it. Amendment is adopted, please send to engrossing. Amendment 12 and 2 to House Bill
Chair
Unverified
33:38
1479. One at a time. Remember one, the house 1479. Senator Penzo, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
33:48
President. My bill, my amendment, appreciate a good vote.
Chair
Unverified
33:51
All those in favor of Amendment 1 to House Bill 1479, please sign saying
Speaker 82
33:57
I. And he opposed, I have it. Amendment 1 is adopted, please send to engrossing. Amendment 2 to House Bill
Chair
Unverified
34:05
1479. Amendment 2 to 1479. Senator Penzo, you're
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
34:08
recognized. Thank you. My bill, my amendment. I appreciate
Chair
Unverified
34:12
a good vote. All those in favor of Amendment 2 to House Bill 1479, please signify
Speaker 73
34:20
it. Amendment is adopted, please send to engrossing Amendment 1 to House Bill 1614. Senator Clark Here he comes.
Chair
Unverified
34:39
And then one is House Bill 1614. Senator Clark, you're recognized. My bill, my amendment. All those in favor of Amendment 1, House Bill 1614, please
Speaker 120
34:53
signify by saying aye. Any opposed. I have it. Amendment is adopted. Please send to
Speaker 184
35:01
engrossing. We will now begin the Senate bill's calendar, beginning with Senate
Speaker 185
35:05
Bill 282. Senate Bill 282 by Central Penzo, amending the
Speaker 41
35:09
law concerning public water systems and to allow voters to
Chair
Unverified
35:13
elect for or against Water fluoridation. Senator Penzo, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
35:22
282 is just a little bitty bill that doesn't do much, isn't that what they say? All
right guys, so I had a SB 2 and SB 4 that I prefiled that were fluoride bills, um, there was a lot of feedback that I
received on SB4 which set up a process for our constituents to vote on whether or not they wanted fluoride in their water. Um, I thought Senate Bill 282 addressed a lot of those concerns. There were some emails circulating around last night. I'll probably get to some of those questions as well, but I wanna, I wanna talk about fluoride. People say it's natural occurring in well water, and it is, but there's a big difference between what's in well water,
which is calcium fluoride. And which put into our municipal water supplies. That's calcium or I'm sorry, 4 silicylic acid and sodium fluoro silicate. Those are from industrial processes like aluminum manufacturing. It's an industrial waste. That we've found a use for and put it in our water supply. There's been several studies come out. There was actually a federal judge who just ruled
against the EPA and wants them to go back and look at whether or not this should be in our water supply because there are studies that show that it can cause cognitive defects in children. So we're adding something to the water supply. That's classified as a drug by the FDA. It's a regulated drug. And they can regulate how much is put into the water supply, but they can't guarantee the dosage that gets into a person.
Because some of us drink more water than others. People in the South drink more water than people in the north. So you cannot regulate dosage, and we're giving a drug to people. That they don't have informed consent on. We're putting an FDA regulated drug into our water supply. I think it's up to us to allow our constituents to vote on whether or not
The water's fluoridated. So what this bill does, and there is no perfect bill, the only perfect solution is to repeal the mandate and then that just allows the water districts to decide if they're gonna Regulate the water. I tried that first. It was unsuccessful. So here I am with an imperfect bill, and I know that, but it, it's, it's almost impossible to figure out a way to do this. The, the, the counties were upset initially because they
were like, we can't tell you where the water district is. And they're saying that it has to do with terrorism and stuff because we can't disclose where exactly the water district lines are, and I said, OK, well, how do we do it? And there was mention of levee districts and things like that, but then again, that falls back into the same issues. How do we determine who's in it. So this bill Sets up a countywide vote. Some people are like, how are we
gonna pay for this? Well it's during a general election, no more than every 4 years. So it's piggybacking on a general election. So there is no Increased costs because it's during a general election. We don't have to worry about the district lines or the water district lines with this bill because it's the entire county votes on it. Well, so we've got people, they say, that aren't served by a water district.
They're going to be voting on whether or not the water's fluoridated, and I'll argue that if I'm on well water, and I go down and decide to get me a cup of cup of coffee at the cafe. I'm drinking fluoridated water. I think everybody in the county should have a say in what goes in the water supply of that county. There, there's no perfect way to do this. So I've got a countywide vote. Let's say there's 3 counties
covered by a water district. Two of the three counties vote to remove fluoride from the water. It's removed from the water. This can be triggered two ways by a petition process by the people or the Quorum Court can vote. Pass a resolution, or however they see fit to trigger this vote for that county alone. So the Quorum
Court or the people of the county. will decide if they get to vote on this. And if nobody decides to vote, then they don't. You know, we need, we need more than the majority of the counties and a majority of the people in that county to vote for it. I just Like I said, it's an imperfect bill. Trying to accomplish something my constituents want me to
accomplish. A lot of your constituents. Once you To fix and There's, there's got to be a way to do this, and I think this is probably the best way to do it. There's also a section in here that just allows the uh The water board to vote on it. But whatever the people say, supersedes with the water board wants. And that's how it should be. I'd be happy to answer any questions that some of y'all might have.
Chair
Unverified
41:19
Any questions for Senator Penzo, I see Senator Tucker, Senator Hammer, Senator Boyd, and Senator Hill and
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
41:25
Senator King, line them up. Thank, thank you, uh, Madam Governor, you know, I see two issues. You've got the issue of the fluoride over here, but combined into this bill is the election process or the way in which the decision's going to make, so I'm sure there are others in here that have the same situation I've got. The water comes from County XYZ comes into county
County A comes into County B, but then it goes on down to County C and If County B says we don't want it, but County C
says we do want it. How do you resolve that? You
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
42:05
mentioned 3 counties, right? Yes, sir. And you only had a choice of two counties, one of them 11 and one of them didn't, so There's 3 counties. In that, in that equation. So it would depend what the other county wanted. If they don't do
anything and only one county wanted it removed. One county voted to keep it and the other one didn't vote, then you don't replace it because it's the majority vote. Of the three counties. So if, if, if there's 3 counties served, 2 of the 3 have to vote to Remove the fluoride from
Speaker 197
42:37
the water. And And how do you shut the water
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
42:45
off. If that's what I'm trying to get my mind around too, is if it comes if it comes from a
distribution center in County A. You're saying that 2 of the 3, if 2 of the 3 counties say we want it, the 3rd county gets overridden regardless. Is that right? Or did I misunderstand you? No, that's
the majority of the, of the service area, so yes, just like any election, why would, why would you not say all three counties? Why would you disadvantage one county over 22 other counties, just majority rural concept or yes. OK, I mean, the, the other way
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
43:25
is an option. Um, like I said, there was a tremendous amount of feedback on this, and if, if, you know, a lot of feedback uh people said of two of the three counties didn't want it, why should they have to have fluoridated water, um, Because one county wanted it and two didn't. Why should they? Have to have fluoridated water because one county wants water I
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
43:47
understand it's sticky. Uh, one more question.
Oh there's others. County A. Doesn't want it, but County B
and County C do, it's got to flow through County A to get to B and C. How are you going to do, how are you going to respect the customers in a while you respect
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
44:07
the customers in B and C. It's just like any other election process, uh, you know, it's, uh half your constituents, uh, a little over half of them voted for you and a little over half of them didn't or under half, so I mean it's, it's, I mean, it's
kind of the same principle. I mean, you can't, I mean, we can't subject the people that don't want it. Just because a minority of the people do want it fluoridated. How do you, how do you You know, mandate that it stays in the water supply of the folks that don't want it. If the majority of people don't want it. OK, thank you. Thank you. Sender
Chair
Unverified
44:48
Boyd and Senator Tucker, did you have questions? OK, we'll get you next, Senator Tucker. Thank you, Senator Pinzo for
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
44:57
answering my question or staying in the well. I just want to confirm that this is is convoluted as I think it is. So in the, so where I live, my water supply is city of Fort Smith, the water comes from Crawford County. Some of the Crawford County residents are on the city of Fort Smith Water, but a lot of the counties not on any water. They're well water. There are other water. So what, what I'm hearing from you is that the people of Crawford County could
in essence vote to tell the people of Sebastian County, you can'tloriate your water is even though you are the ones that put in the infrastructure, built the
water supply, made the investments. So I just want to make sure. That what I think I'm hearing, so we're, is,
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
45:45
is your water district, how many counties does it cover? And it's got
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
45:50
Crawford County, it's got Sebastian County. I think it might even sell into Oklahoma.
It's, it's pretty big, right? It's, it's a, but it
doesn't cover all of Crawford County. So like people in Alma who have their own water could have a
vote on what happens in Fort Smith is what I'm, I just want to confirm that that's what
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
46:10
I'm hearing from you. Because if, if we had
it split up into just the water district itself. It would serve multiple counties. So if, if the majority of people in that water district in another county voted not to have it, then the whole water district wouldn't have it, so it's, it's the same concept. So
if a majority of the counties got a majority of the vote, then yes, that, that would, but if, if there's two counties, both of them, if there's, if there's an Oklahoma county We can't control, I mean, they're, they're, they're at the will of whatever you know, the water district does. I appreciate
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
46:50
you bringing this and and making sure working to get people having a choice, but I just wanted to confirm it's it's
convoluted as I thought because of the the challenges of water districts. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
47:05
Senator Tucker, you're recognized for a question. Thank
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
47:08
you, Madam President. So the election can be called, say there's a water district like the one that I live in that serves at least 3 counties,
right? So I know the election can be called by the majority of a quorum court of just one of the counties in the water district,
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
47:24
correct? Yes, and that doesn't trigger one for the other two counties. They have to go through the process themselves of their quorum Court doing it or, or a petition in that county.
like I live in Washington County, Benton County couldn't trigger a Washington County vote. It'd have to be a Washington County petition.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
47:44
Well, I've got some other concerns in the bill, but I think the way the bill reads is on lines 33
and 34. You start with line 28, an election under this section may be called by colon. And then I think subdivision A there, the way I read that is you have to have a petition with 5% of the
Speaker 209
48:06
voters in all of the counties covered in the
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
48:12
water district. The petition for each county. Yeah, right, so it says each county there, which tells me it has to be all the counties in the water district, right? And then you move down to subdivision B1B and it says a majority vote of the quorum Court of a county supplied by the public water system. So the way I read that is an election could be triggered by the majority vote of a single quorum court.
If it's at each, it would be consistent with subdivision B1A, but there's a different word there. I see
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
48:57
what you're saying. You did this to one of my bills yesterday, didn't you? Leave, leave it to you and Hickey to make, make, make my
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
49:09
bills better. Well, I'm down here to serve the people. Just down here to serve the people,
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
49:15
including you, Senator Penzo. Yeah, yeah, that's, that's the intent, um.
Was it for each county to trigger it, OK? That's, that's
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
49:25
not the way that I I don't believe it reads that way. Thank you, Senator. Senator Hill,
you're recognized. Senator Pinzo, this is a different version of what was presented in public health, which I supported there. I don't necessarily agree, and I'm going to have a question here, but I'm going to say my piece as I go to it. I don't agree with the way this method
was done, the way it's come. I voted for it. It failed in public health. You have the right to take it to another community if you want to. I don't agree with that. That's your priority there to do that. My, my question is, on this, let's say the largest city in my area, which is, which is Cabot. Baer water from uh Central Arkansas Water, which is Pulasi County. Pulassie County says, let's say Cabot says I want flora or I don't want fluoride. Plai County says you're getting it whether you want it or not. It's how it is today because the
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
50:25
water is in Palache County. So how, how does that, how does that play out? Well, I mean, that's the way it is today if, if people don't want it in their water supply, the, the statewide mandate puts it in their water supply. So even if they vote for it to get out, we have to wait till the other counties, the majority of the other counties, jump in along with them to remove it.
Yeah, I agree with that. So really it doesn't change anything for the smaller cities that have to been on a larger areas to get their water.
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
50:58
Well, I mean, like I said, it's county, countywide vote, majority of the counties. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
51:04
Thank you. Other questions. Senator Hickey, you're recognized. I think I think I
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
51:10
have one that can put up all the members.
I think I have one that can one up all the members here, and I mentioned yesterday whenever our chamber was here that uh We have one water company in Texarkana, actually sits on the Texas side. Water goes across the line.
from Arkansas, they mix it together, do pro allocations back. It's all been set up years and years ago. So if you all were to pass this, somehow I think that I may possibly need an amendment because I do not know how that would operate if the residents of Miller County worked to vote for or against the thing and it was somehow Run contrary with the state of Texas, uh, how I would deal with
that. So, uh, again, I, I have a major
Chair
Unverified
52:11
issue with that. OK. Thank you. Senator. Senator D's. Senator Love, Senator Urban, and Senator King, I see that you're back. I don't know if you have questions, but we'll
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
52:19
begin with Senator D's. Thank you, Madam Governor. Senator, I'm in favor of what you're trying to do. I, I liked your first
bill better, on this, on this bill, just for clarity on the on the 3 county
situation. Um, if you had one voter, In County A. For it. And a handful of voters in County B for it. And hundreds of thousands against it in County C. But by the definition, you had two counties that won the vote, it would move forward in whatever was favorable direction. Is that in my saying that the right way. It's not number of total. Voters in the three counties,
it's County A passed it, County B passed
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
53:05
it. Tennessee didn't. Yeah, well, I tell you what, I can, I can see that a lot of folks
that arguably support this, uh, would probably like to see where every county instead of the majority of the counties was in the bill, um, I don't want to, well, and I understand the state issue. I mean, I don't, I don't think voters in Arkansas can dictate policy in Texas, uh, but there's
some concerns over here. Um, I'm going to
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
53:36
Senator, if there's an appetite to relook at the first bill and see if um the body would be willing to Look at other avenues of passage that somehow just these are options to look at, but I appreciate you bringing options. Send love. No, no, go ahead.
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
54:00
Go ahead. We'll, we'll, I'll tell you
what, Senator Ervin, I'll go ahead and I'll go ahead and answer some questions. Let's, let's get, get this out here and you know, we'll go ahead and we'll go ahead
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
54:24
Yeah, that's why we have it on the calendar to recognize her question. Thank you. I just was contacted by one of my county. County clerks, and they were so water systems, I know you have
in your bill that it's a public water system, but I understand their private entities. Yeah, OK, so just from them, I told them that I would ask this question to you. OK. Um. Water systems are private entities, counties do not conduct elections for private entities. Or do you know of any other type of I mean
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
54:57
how many, how many times is a casino put something on the ballot.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
55:05
Through a petition process. I mean, it, I mean, I mean, this is not I mean, do you. OK. Well, I guess I would think of water as kind of like a public utility, and I'm not sure if we do
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
55:22
that or if they have. I'm just asking should be a process for the people to be able to vote on whether they want a neurotoxin in their water or
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
55:28
not, OK, but, but we don't do this with other types of public utilities currently. This is, this will be a new function. I don't know if we do or not.
Senator Hill, did you still have a question, Senator Hill, you're recognized. I just, let's go. Senator
King, did you have any questions? you did earlier. The amount of I mean this
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
55:49
would just be simpler if we could just. We're only in this situation because it would be easier just to repeal the mandate and let local people be able to decide what they want in their water. That's just the simple, clearest way, and then if somebody's been on the election commission. Basically they're right. You cannot sit there with water
districts and know, so that's why you have to have a county vote. I can tell you as somebody a rural county, you know, that might not have rural areas we're always expand and rule out real water out to people, so them getting a vote on it will actually be a good thing. Uh, but I know it's convoluted, but so with Robert Kennedy in this aspect, Robert Kennedy, not to put words in his mouth, he would support something like this, wouldn't he? He would. May come down from the federal government that we can't put it
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
56:41
in in the near future, so it's possible. They've talked about
Speaker 197
56:46
it. Senator Hill I appreciate that and Senator King does not know,
Robert F. Kennedy is not here. That's true. And so we're we're not worried about what he has to say today in the chambers of the Senate in Arkansas. Uh, you made a comment, well this is an imperfect bill. Why aren't you wanting something to go into law that's imperfect. I mean there is, there is no perfect. The only way is to
Speaker 197
57:05
repeal the mandate you. You said, I know this bill is not perfect, but I've got to do something. There
is no perfect bill that comes before this body. I will argue that, well, I'm not. but you said it was not good, so imperfect. I didn't say it wasn't good. I think it's a great bill. That's not the words I heard you say. We, we'll watch you take back together after a while. OK, we will. Yeah
Speaker 263
57:30
No further questions, anyone wish to speak against? Or 4. Objection to rolling the boat.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
57:50
Bo, Bo. Right Caldwell. Caldwell. Spark Car
Speaker 270
57:58
Carl Davis Davis days, days. This thing. This man Dotson English
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
58:15
Flippo Yeah. Flowers. Gilmore Gilmore Hammer Hammer Hester.
Speaker 185
58:33
Hester Hacky Hill. Irvin Blake Johnson. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson.
Mark Johnson, King lighting, love. McKee. McKee Murdoch. Murder Peyton Penzo. Patty rice, Scott Stone. Stuberfield Sullivan.
attacker Wallace. Any senator who wishes to vote, who did not vote or change your vote, Senator McKee, yes. Senator Crow, yes, Senator Scott No. Senator Murdoch, no. Senator Mark Johnson
Speaker 111
59:42
present. Any other senator, Senator Hester, yes. Senator Das.
Yes. Senator Davis present. Senator Gilmore present. Senator Boyd present. Any other senator, please check
the board. Senator Hammer present. Senator, dismay. Present. Any other senator?
Speaker 111
1:00:23
Please check the board, seeing no other, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 16, 1 nay,
Chair
Unverified
1:00:30
2 not voting, 6 present, Senate Bill 282 fails, Senator Penzo, you're recognized for emotion. Thank you, Madam President.
No. Um, I think I got the feedback from
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
1:00:48
several people in here that would like it to be all the
counties. There's probably some other cleanup that uh Senator Clark Uh, mentioned, uh, Make an imperfect bill a little bit better, maybe throw in some out of state stuff. I'd like to make a motion we expunge the vote, um, and then I'll decide if we what to do from this point forward, but I'd ask for a good vote. Thank
Speaker 73
1:01:15
you. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. And he opposed I have it motion carries.
Chair
Unverified
1:01:25
That Senator Stubblefield has an announcement, but before he does, the presiding officer would like to take a moment after this contentious debate to announce that my alma mater, the University of Arkansas Razorbacks
Speaker 111
1:01:38
won the first game in the SEC tournament by 4. 68. We can always find something
Speaker 289
1:01:48
to agree on, Senator, I have, I have a couple of uh
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:01:57
constituents uh from my area, Carter Crane and uh Natalie Chichester, uh, they're both students I think of Hendricks.
Speaker 294
1:02:04
So if you would give them a round of applause. We will now
take up Senate Bill 302. Simba 302
Speaker 185
1:02:22
by Senator Gilmore to create the criminal offense of
Speaker 55
1:02:28
gift card fraud and declare an emergency. Senator
Gilmore. Senator Gilmore, you're recognized for Senate Bill 302. Thank you, Governor.
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:02:51
Um, good thing we have speakers out in the hallway. Members, this is a bill that's part of the package
related to retail crime, um, two of those bills have already passed, move on to the house. This is just targeting those who are stealing gift cards, spoofing gift cards, trying to defraud those who have gift cards and using them um to basically uh an article that I read to, to the tune of about 200+ million dollars billion, yeah, $200 million worth of uh gift card scams. So this bill just delineates out what it means to, um, has a definition of what a cardholder is, card issuer gift card, and then how
it delineates out the criminal charges associated with those who were trying to obtain steel and defraud people of their gift
Chair
Unverified
1:03:39
cards. question, Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized for a question. Senator,
Speaker 89
1:03:43
does this bill have anything to do with US currency? In a way,
Speaker 301
1:03:49
yes, Senator. Thank you, Senator. Any other questions?
Chair
Unverified
1:03:54
Send her here, you're recognized for a question. We just explain that a
little more in depth about the about
the currency farce. Well, there's I'd like for you to go into that a little more how this
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:04:07
affects that. Well, this affects the establishments and the retailers that are losing money as a result of gift cards that are stolen. So at the end of the day, it has a direct impact on the consumer and the end user, so they are losing money, which is currency, Senator, and someone in the baking industry, I think probably understands that. follow up. You recognize Senator Hill. If, if this case,
Speaker 302
1:04:26
should they not put these behind the locked
case and stick them behind the counter where people just can't get a
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:04:36
hold of them. In many retailers, retail establishments and and stores, they are doing that, um, because of the amount of money that they're losing as a result of these cards being stolen, um, and so in fact, over the holidays I was buying some gift cards from a certain large retailer that's headquartered in the state of Arkansas and uh they had to go get the gift cards from a um space that was uh locked and get me what I needed, and I still don't understand
where you're tying that back to US currency, but thank
you. Thank you, Senator. Any other questions for Senator Gilmore? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator, you're a recognized clothes.
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:05:18
I'm closed members, I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you for the uh uh great questions. Senator has closed
Speaker 72
1:05:25
any objection to rolling the vote, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bo Bront Caldwell, Clark, Crow,
Davis, Ds, Dima dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott Stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or
Speaker 111
1:05:55
her vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by votes of 35 yeah, zero nay, Senate
Bill 302 passes in the corresponding emergency
clause is adopted, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 307. 307 best cent
Speaker 41
1:06:11
Dima to amend the law concerning public utilities to create the generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025 and declare
Chair
Unverified
1:06:18
an emergency. Senator dismaying, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Members, I think we generally have a good discussion
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:06:24
on the bill and its parameters around CWIP and what we were looking to implement and all the uh I guess guardrails that were in place in the last time that we debated
this on the floor, uh, since then, you guys have adopted the amendment, largely that was some clarification language that was requested by the PSC, and there are a few other pieces that we've incorporated that are a little bit more than clarification, and so that's what I want to focus on today. And so if you take just a second, it's a 62 page bill. I haven't looked. I think it's still that, uh. If you can open it up on your phone if you want to follow along, I will go through some of the more substantial changes that go beyond, I believe, what just would be clarification, um. And even some that I think
provided more substantial clarification. I'll mention those too. So with that, I'll start on page 4 of the bill, and this is going to be lines 32 to 35. This is the amended version uh that has been engrossed, and this is where we clarify that the commission, uh, if there is a 10% of the members on a rate increase in a member owned utility, uh, petition to the PSC that the commission notifies that they will initiate an investigation and then they will apply a rape case procedure if it determines that there is substantial evidence in indicating the rates and charges
are unreasonable, and so that's going to give some latitude that they currently don't have at the PSC right now, uh, or it's undetermined what they do have as far as costs of service studies. Uh, so it's a backstop. On page 11, there are changes that have been made through 14 through 1516 and 17. These are legislative findings, uh, these are generally going to make sure that when we're talking about these strategic investments uh that we are doing what we can to make sure that they're creating energy that is a available, reliable, dispatchable, affordable,
resilient, uh, that sort of thing. Also, there's some clarification provided to make sure that if there that there's not a cost shifting amongst to, you know, one user to another unjustly so it's going to ensure that the PSC takes that into consideration, um, anyway, that, so you can
read through those legislative findings. If you'll move to page Sorry, I said that 14, so you're gonna look at the
year uh that that's the talent size. So 1415, 16, and 17. Uh, there was one piece above that. If you look at line 7, I think it's probably one of the more important changes of scenario. This is where we talked about not unreasonably shifting costs from one customer to another, and it does call and ask that that be considered in the public interest, which is important component for uh the
PSC. Yeah, there's a provision in here that does address natural gas that is in this because we want to make sure that that's that's a natural resource that we have in Arkansas. It's readily available and we wanted to make sure to state that here in the bill that that is our preference because we have that uh, you know, that here and it can be really a contributor to what we're having to do with rebuilding these systems in the state. The next is on page 14, it limited down uh natural gas transmission lines to 125 pounds per square
inch. There were some other feeder line language in here that that was removed. That's on page 1425 and 26. If you go to page 1919 uh utilities worked with Senator Hickey on this language. This is going to begin on line 13 and go through line 16, and I'll just read it at any time during the process, if the commission finds that any costs were not prudently incurred, the commission so ordered that the costs were not prudently
incurred and refund refunded to customers through Bill credits. So it's at any point in the process as they're looking through things like we've talked about on the annual basis. There's something to determine, then that could immediately begin. and in the commission could require those to be returned to the ratepayers through build credits. On page 2, lines 9 and 10. This is where we set a minimum threshold of an equity investment for a investor owned utility, and so now you would have a range from 30% to
50%. That's on page 20. And by the way, just to go back one, just so I don't have to repeat it in a minute, that same language on page 19 is in the member-owned utility. section that's later on on page 33. So it's the exact same language. It's in 33 for the member owned utilities and so your co-ops. If you go to page 22, 22 is where we start the conversation about what happens if there's an overcollection by a utility. And so the way that that reads now, uh, the middle section is not available, so if there was discussion, they couldn't ask,
they could have escrowed it underneath the old bill. There would have been short term interest calculation that would have been added to that and they could have applied it to a future strategic investment if the PAC decided to. That section is eliminated, the only opportunity right now is for that those overcollections to be to be applied to approved strategic investments, and if it has not started construction yet, then there is also that interest component that would have to be recognized and attributed to that strategic investment, but they have to be
approved strategic investments. And the second part is they could be refunded to tax or to the ratepayers Again with that interest calculation, uh, that, that is, you'll see those sections on page 23, where you get more specific. On age 26, I think it's one of the things that was changed was just if it was not inferred by the legislation on line 13, page 26, we added the word immediately notify the commission of any significant delays, so that would have to occur immediately.
Uh, that would just bring them up to date. That same language reoccurs on page 39 for the member-owned utilities or co-ops. Um, the other thing, if there is a uh abandonment or an issue with a project. There was one edition on page 26, line 30, and that is that the recovery of those costs is in the public interest. That's going to mirror the procedures that are in place right now if there were an issue with a project, but we're gonna that will mirror essentially what's happening. CWIP with a
traditional build. If you go to That again is restated on line 20 or line 5 on page 27. Again, that gets you closer to what the current
process would be for traditional project. Uh, page 33, you've already mentioned that. Mission 39. Abandonment
as far as it goes to member owned, uh, that same language we just talked about is also on page 40, line 4, in the member owned section. And then
lastly, uh, we stay on page 42 that once a strategic investment and public utility facilities are complete and in service previous to that, it only had the words in service, and that's when the reconciliation would occur in the 12 month audit. Uh, with that, I would be happy to take any questions on the bill or the changes. I'm a little off in my page numbering because of the amendments, so bear with me if I
have to flip through. Any questions for Senator Dismay. Sender Stubblefield and Senator
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:13:54
Payton, Senator Stubblefield, you're recognized. Just like you said of of the people of one area could petition the Public Service commission
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:14:04
that is as it stands right now. There was a little, there was one portion of the law that said 15%. We
clarified that, uh that's already been agreed to, but right now, if you are a member owned utility in a service district or area, 10% of those, if there's a rape case or a rate increase competition to the PSC. And so what we wanted to make sure is that the PSC had the
ability to do an investigation. and also call for a cost of service study if one was deemed to be needed by the PSC. Why not 20%. Well, 10% is a greater level of protection for the ratepayer and a member owned utility. And so the higher that that percentage goes, the harder it would be for a group to petition the utility
or petition the PSC for the utility rate increase. Can you tell me what's the national average is? Oh,
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:14:50
yeah, I'm sorry, I misunderstood what you're saying
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:14:56
OK, uh, right, you're talking about 10% below the national average in the language that's in the bill for that. I apologize. I thought you were talking about the 10% of those that required the petition my understanding is you're somewhere around 23% is what I understand us to be at right now. There's a big reason for that, and one of the reasons is is most of our facilities are getting close to end of life, not most. We have 4 facilities that are getting close to end of life, which obviously the of the depreciation. Everything is already occurred and we have
to create new energy that's going to be through the writer or strategic investment like this, uh there are increased costs that will be borne by the ratepayer. Was
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:15:36
there any talk, because there, there is discussions in Washington about reopening some of these coal-fired plants. In the United States, was there any discussion about that at all in Arkansas, yeah, we had a lot of
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:15:49
discussions about that here, you know, even in the bill, Senator McKee can probably address that better than anyone
else. Uh, we are where we are and we have to create new generation in Arkansas, my understanding, and again, it's not my expertise, but it may be as much as a million dollars or a billion dollars to replace a scrubber in one of those coal fire plants and so that, that there are additional
costs that would have to be borne. Either way, with whatever direction we go in. OK, fine.
Chair
Unverified
1:16:21
Senator Payton is not, I have a question. Senator Hammer. You're recognized for a question.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:16:28
Thank you. I just want to give you a chance to respond to this publicly, so still getting some messages that they've got other similar situations like this in other states and that, you know, it's been 5 years they haven't, you know, they they've paid the higher price but haven't seen any, you know, any progress in the project, if one at all. So could you just respond to that publicly and
Speaker 335
1:16:49
Yeah, so this is a bill that sets in place parameters
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:16:53
for for us to have construction work in progress or CWIP in Arkansas. The vast majority of this bill
is parameters, not the program. And so are the guardrails that may or may not exist in some other state. Uh, I, I would say that that potential exists in our current structure much more so than what would be in this bill. I mean, like I said, Senator Hickey, there's language that what is on page 33 for the member owned, uh. And then on page 19, which essentially at any time in the process, if the commission finds that any costs were not prudently incurred the commission she ordered that the costs were not prudently
incurred and refunded to customers through build credits. I don't know if that type of language is any other law. I know that that is very stringent and something that the utilities are going to have to follow and be mindful of as they implement any of these projects, uh, there, there are more stopgaps and reviews in this process. Then if you wanted to go in under the more older, more expensive, traditional model. Thank
you. Other questions for Senator Dismay, Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:18:04
Thank you, Madam President. Senator Dismay, I have a lot of trouble with the definition of uh uh Economic or investments of looking at this as strategic investment. I even and I don't know if it was taken out where a carbon sequestration system could be considered a strategic investment. Is that, has that been removed or or curtailed in some manner.
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:18:27
That is still in the bill, but one
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:18:32
thing you'd be mindful of is
that that would require a complete review and approval by the PSC, all parties would be able to be a part of that. And as it stands right now, those would not qualify. So they, they, they would not be an option as it stands today. But if, if it
did ever get to a point that it could, all that would go through before the PSC and the regular
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:18:56
process, so the bill wouldn't prohibit it. It would leave the reg that regular y authority to
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:19:01
the PSC whether to allow or disallow that type of investment. Yeah, and it would have to be in the public interest and benefit the
ratepayer if it were to allow to be moved to move forward. At this point with where we are, it
would not. OK. Are there any other changes in in either definition or even constraints on strategic investments since the bill was amended. I think we added language that they had to be in the
public interest. I mean, I think it would have been implied,
but that would be the one change, I think, to the definition section. OK, thank you. Thank you, Madam
President. Any other questions for Senator Dismas. Senator Hill, you're recognized.
OK, just mean just for the general public out here, I'd like to get kind of clarification on something. I'm gonna use Floyd, Arkansas as an example. That's your district. So in in Floyd, Arkansas, they decided they need some infrastructure calls someone's going to build a big database there. Of the database that they build. Let's say if that company is going to be using 30% of it. They'll pay for 30% of it, if I'm correct on that. Are the ratepayers in Floyd, Arkansas
going to pay the other 70% are the people throughout the state of Arkansas that are on that utility company who will actually
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:20:20
pay that. Yeah, no, the way that this is written, I mean, it's going to be born to the user of the project and
the new electricity, there is a benefit that is derived by the ratepariers, so maybe we've overbuilt. We have some extra generation that did not otherwise exist or we improved transmission lines that then been defended other ratepayers, then those would be costs that would be reasonably, uh, you know, added to their, their calculation, but the bill
is very specific in that that can't be shifted from one white crass to the other
unfairly. Any other questions for Senator Dismay? Senator Stubblefield.
Speaker 353
1:20:58
Senator dismay, sir. Uh, can you tell me? How much? Of
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:21:06
the energy, the new, this new energy. It's going to be directed
towards data centers, crypto, AI, how much of all the new energy work anticipating it's going to be directed towards those three. Just to keep
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:21:25
status quo with the energy production that we have in Arkansas right now, not counting data centers,
nothing else we would have to build rebuild 4 plants. And so at a minimum, if they're utilized, they may not be utilizing a strategic investment or to do that, or they may not utilize CWIP to do that, uh, but we have
4 plants that are going to have to be converted at a minimum. And if we do more construction for a data center or someone else, I think it speaks back to Senator Hill's point. they will be the ones paying for that, and if there are some other benefits that derived because we've decided that we need to build out more power than may be
used by that customer, then those would be the, the portions that would be attributed to other ratepayers.
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:22:09
Well, OK, those 4 projects will require, how many, how many new megawatts, I think it's 3.2 gigs
if I remember right. OK. A lot. You don't know how many gigs are
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:22:24
for these data processing. We don't, we don't have a data center right now that's in the state. I mean, I know that there are conversations about, you know, trying to attract one to the state, and again, if that happens, they would be expected to pay for their share of the energy
that they're utilizing. Any other questions for Senator Dima, Senator Flowers, you're recognized.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:23:01
How the Projects get started. Where's PSC involved in approval of the projects, how long will it take before we see something implemented. And a project implemented.
estimation. And then how long will we anticipate seeing results. And taxpayer rates rising. So the uh my understanding, a construction
project or conversions of 3 to 5 year project in the bill, if there was a request to utilize this program for strategic investment, uh, that the PSC has 6 months to approve or disapprove that project. Uh,
then after that they have 60 days to set the new rates for that project with the ability to extend an additional 30 days. It will all be up to, I think, how quickly utilities would like to take advantage of the
program. Before we start seeing results because of this particular program. And
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:24:12
then under the original bill, there was a twelve-month review. That still exist.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:24:18
Yes, ma'am. So, yes, ma'am. OK, and so
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:24:28
If a utility starts a project. And you
Speaker 368
1:24:37
mentioned the 6 months. PSC will review it, approve it, approve it within 6
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:24:46
months. When would we expect rate increases. To existing customers after construction starts, and
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:24:52
it would be only that portion that was attributed to the first
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:24:58
years where the cost of construction. OK. And You, you are aware,
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:25:10
I would think that some projects are ready to be submitted to PSC. Is that correct? My understanding
that there are several entities outside of just our rebuilds that are interested in the state of Arkansas. But in terms of the utility
using this legislation to start a project that may end up in rate increases for customers. What I want to
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:25:38
know, and I think the people of Arkansas would like to know When Will that
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:25:45
project begin? If I think there was a 90 day it was 60 days or 6 months, you say they have to approve it. They
don't have to use the whole 6 months PSC, do they?
No, they do not. And in several conversations with PSE staff, they said that they could approve
a project and would be a reasonable to prove 1 in 4 to 5 months. So they may not utilize the
full 6 months. Well, I think concern from Ratepayers Is Paying something extra.
For something they don't necessarily see the benefit. And
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:26:37
so Just like Last session, I think it was. When we repealed an economic development. Law that provided for energy through solar, that kind of thing. What kind of
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:26:55
redress, will the people have Maybe in 2 years.
If they don't see something, but yet they get a
bill that's higher. They have us. They have, they have us as members. I mean we would have the right to adjust and do what we need to do the legislation every time we come into session, uh, but as far as the ratepayers themselves what would need to be known is that the PSC has a very close eye because the way this legislation is written and the more recent changes that have been made that their interests are being,
you know, taken into account through this process, and one of the things as far as
paying for someone else's power, and I would go back to page 11. Uh, 13, Section 13, uh, I mean, it, it is very explicit that there would not be an unreasonable shift to cost from one customer to another, uh, to another class of customers and manage that would result in rates that are not just and reasonable, which essentially would mean that it would have to be to the benefit of the ratepayer if they're going to be pay an increased rate. They would have to be receiving a
Speaker 378
1:28:02
benefit, OK, and the last question I'll ask. is for
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:28:11
Industrial users that are existing manufacturers or whatever. Will their
agreement or rate of pay. Change And To decrease. The rate of
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:28:21
pay. Would they, would they decrease because of this bill?
I mean, the reality is we have power that is coming offline that we have to replace. There is a cost to that, and the
users of that power based on the process that we have regardless of this bill would be required to pay for that increased improvement and a new generation that's required, uh, but as far as those individual contracts that have been worked out and approved by the PSC, that same process
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:29:00
would still exist. Does anything in the amended bill allow PSC. To allow a negotiation. Between these utility companies.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:29:13
And these larger industry customers. Yes, it does allow for that, um, but that has to be done in the public interest, so there be a review of that contract. It had to be deemed to be appropriate and in the public interest. But just like it would with any other large industrial
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:29:30
that's operating right now. OK, so that's for industrial. What about The average consumer, the homeowner, There would have to be
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:29:38
a benefit to the homeowner for them to be paying the increased rates and maybe again that's improved
redundancy, improved transmission, a greater availability of power than otherwise it doesn't exist today, but there would have to be
a benefit to the residential ratepayer. OK, thank you. Senator Murdoch, you're
Chair
Unverified
1:29:58
recognized, and then Senator Hammer. What she said. Right.
Speaker 126
1:30:08
Thank you for your statement. Senator Hammer, you're recognized for a question. Thank
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:30:15
you, Senator. Just mean one thing I think that needs to be brought out,
and I haven't heard brought out, it has, I apologize for repeating. Between now and the time that the first project is presented and the and it goes through the process that's going to be allowed in that we are seeing now currently rates going up in various locations, whether it's co op energy, first select whoever we're currently seeing rates go up now. So as far as if somebody wanted
to watch this and if they were to say my rates are going up because of what we allowed to go through. What would be a line in the sand or help people understand how would they, how would they know what the way it is now with the rates going up the way they are now and probably will go up more because as these coal units come offline and something's got to be purchased somewhere. How is it going to be that we would know the difference. How we would know the difference. How would we know
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:31:17
this is a specific rider, um, and so I, I, I don't know how it would play out on a bill. I mean, I guess in part my response would be rates are going up. And the, and the best way for us to control rates in the state of Arkansas is to control our own energy production. We have traditionally in all of our lifetimes, I think probably in this chamber, been an exporter of energy, which is a benefit to our ratepayers here in the state. I think you have a situation up north right now where we're importing energy from Canada and we just imposed tariffs and so there may be a
counteraction that increases the energy cost for those that are relying on Canadian-made energy. I, I mean, I think just state by state, we want to be in control of our new production, our generation, and we don't need to be relying on someone else's, and that ultimately be what protects our ratepayers.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:32:05
The As far as like the current customers now, well, do, are there any projects that they're ready to put forward
to the PCP to the public Service commission that you're aware of as soon as this legislation passes, not
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:32:19
that I'm not specifically in a lot of that,
no. I mean, I know we've got plants that we have to rebuild, and I would anticipate that those would be, you know, some of the initial projects,
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:32:31
but outside of that I don't, I'm not privy to. OK, so, so this goes into effect. Maybe there are, maybe there aren't necessities going. Determined that we're going to have to do something, the, the cost of that, is it going to be attributed to the current ratepayers and when the project is complete, is there any
adjustment to where those are going to benefit afterwards will share some of the cost that's borne by the current customers. Try to make sure I understand
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:32:58
your question. So those rate increases would have to be to the benefit of the ratepayer to be attributable to the ratepayer, you
know, by the legislation and so I, I think I've answered that question about as many round ways as I can. I does that answer your question? I'm I'm having a hard time stating it a different way. So you've got, you got a project that's going
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:33:20
to come online if this bill passes. They're going to want to start to assign the cost for that project immediately that's going to be distributed to the ratepayers that they are able to bill it to because their current customers and then somewhere that project's going to be done and the costs from that point on will be lower because those on the front end have had to pay the portion, the larger, a portion of it. I think, how do they adjust that will be
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:33:47
determination by the PSC when those rates are set
for a large industrial or somebody else that may be coming into play. It may be a specific contract that's in between the utility. and, you know, whoever that entity is, but those will all be factored in to the overall cost of the construction of the project
as it moves through the process. OK, thank you. Seeing no other
Chair
Unverified
1:34:11
questions. Senator Petty, you'll recognize her question. Sorry, I'm late to the game. Um, So
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
1:34:23
this body has debated this and it's been, it's been very informal, informative. The one thing that I want to make sure is crystal clear that everybody understands, especially those ratepayers and those that are listening at home is that we all agree that rates are going to go up because of the looming for power plants coming offline. So if we just stopped today and said scrap this, we're not going to pass this. Rates. going to go up. We all know, I mean, I'm in the
building business and what I was building just 5 years ago for $90,000 a unit is costing me about 180,000 a unit, and I'm not near as complicated as some of the construction components that we're talking about with the billion dollar reactors or whatever they mentioned a minute ago, but before we cast this vote, whether we vote for it or against it, we all know without this vote, rates are still going up. And yeah,
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:35:21
it's if someone outside this chamber tries to
say that this is going to be the driver rates going up. I don't believe that's correct. Rates are going to go up because we have to produce more energy in Arkansas and we have to replace energy in Arkansas, and, and there's one, there's a traditional method to do that. And in that process, and then in that all the uh carrying cost for that construction project are still capitalized at the end of the day and what we'll have is a rate shock to ratepayers if we were to utilize the old system. This will result in
creating energy the same amount of energy. at a lower long term rate rate to the consumer. Again, it's going to have to be created. That is undeniable. And again, if someone outside the chamber says otherwise, that is unviable. It's almost like, I mean, I've seen 3 articles now that say that it doesn't require approval from
the PSC. It requires approval from the PSC to be able to implement a
Speaker 404
1:36:22
strategic investment project. Approval at more points than the current approvals and reviews
and yes, thank you, thank you. Any other questions? Anyone wish to speak against. Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized to speak against. Absolutely. Thank you, Madam President.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:37:00
Sometimes It bothers me when I think about How long I've been around this world. Uh, but other times I'm grateful for the experiences that I've had because you learn from them. Uh, utility regulation has 2 essential components. The utility has a monopoly for a designated service area. It's not free enterprise. See it's because they're private, they're for-profit,
that's not free enterprise. In exchange for this monopoly franchise. The public Service commission sets their rights. And the utility charge that, that the utility company charges its customers, allowing a guaranteed rate of return, and that's the trade-off. Now, SB 307 changes that dynamic in favor of
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:37:51
the utilities and to the detriment of the ratepayers. Now in the early 70s, the
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:38:02
utilities convinced the PSC, right or wrong, and the General Assembly to approve fuel adjustment clauses. In response to price increases due to the Arab oil embargo. I remember those days. I parked my car in gas lines to fill it up. Thus, the risk of fluctuating fruit fuel prices was passed from utility to the consumer. Then in the 1980s came the Grand Gulf debacle. Some of y'all
remember it. Some of y'all have heard of it but don't remember it. I'm mainly talking to the, those of you that don't remember him. And now I quote
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:38:46
directly from the encyclopedia of Arkansas. Grand Gulf nuclear generating station is a nuclear powered electricity generating station on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River downstream from Vicksburg, Mississippi, near the town of Port Gibson. Issues surrounding the financing of the station convulsed
politics in Arkansas for the last two decades of the 20th century and continued to create legal controversy until 2022 over the financial harm, the giant Plant did to homeowners and other power users in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. It contributed directly to the defeat of Governor Bill Clinton in 1980 and also to the revival of his political career in 1982.
It was an issue in a series of elections for state and congressional offices in the 1980s and early 1990s. By 1980, a year into Clinton's first term as governor, the anticipated construction cost of Grand Gulf One alone had soared from 1.5 billion to 3.5 billion. Frank White, a Republican, defeated Clinton in the general election in November of 1980, thanks in part to generous
financing from utility officials, shareholders and contractors. Why it's first act after taking the oath on January 13th, 1981 was to return to the governor's office and order the Arkansas Energy Department to fire the staffers who had opposed Grand Gulf. He also called for abolishing the Energy Department, which the legislature promptly did in the same month. But Governor White soon soured
on Grand Gulf, and in 1982, he publicly ruminated about state government taking over AP&L, which of course is now energy and running it as a state utility, if that was the only way to protect people from Grand Gulf costs. He thought the high rates would deter industries from moving to Arkansas. Clinton easily defeated White that year, partly by tying white to Grand Gulf and trumpeting. his own involvement in writing the Grand Gulf Expose in 1980.
Why would argue for a state takeover more vociferously in another losing race for governor in 1986, and that's the end of my quote from the encyclopedia of Arkansas. It's words, not mine. Now back to just my words. Arkansas ratepayers paid and continued to pay a significant portion of the cost of this generating facility. And now under SB 307, they will be required to pay for the cost of new generating facilities upfront.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:41:43
It's as if you want a new Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado, but your local forward or Chevy dealer requires you to order the new F-160 are Gold Dorado or whatever they're gonna call it, but I want you to start making payments on the truck now, even though it won't be
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:42:03
delivered for years. Traditionally, utilities have accessed the capital markets to pay for new construction. They get along.
Just like other businesses do. And that's how their capital is raised. They don't make their customers pay for it upfront. And I appreciate the fact that there is no free lunch and that as several have alluded to, and I especially associate myself with agreeing that the rates are gonna go up. We know that. Go buy eggs if you don't believe prices are going up. We know they are. We have inflation and we have a greater need for generation.
To make clear, I'm not opposed to economic development, and it is insulting to those of us who question this financing method to imply otherwise. I absolutely support developing new sources of generation, including natural gas and renewables. I still support coal generation. The turk plant near Hope is the newest, cleanest coal-fired power plant in the world. If you visited with it,
you keep looking for the smoke and you don't see any. It's a fantastic piece of engineering. We need more of those, especially since coal is still one of the cheapest forms of electrical generation. we can get. And it's clear that nuclear is the cleanest and best option available when regulatory issues are not ridiculously extreme. Now both population growth and the requirement to meet power demands of new industry coming to Arkansas necessitate that we
facilitate more generation capacity. Both base load and renewables. I appreciate the efforts of Senator Disma to improve this bill, and it is better, but it still ain't good. It doesn't adequately, uh, protect the ratepayers, in my opinion. But I believe the economic development aspect of this legislation is effectively a Trojan horse, a vehicle to disguise the weakening of the public service commission's
ability to protect consumers and to determine a fair rate of return to the investment by utilities. When these riders are added to the rights, they will be noted separately on Arkansas ratepayers' bills. Yeah. Make no mistake about this, that means that Every month, your constituents will be reminded that we allowed these increases if this bill passes. I, I don't know about you, but I don't want to get those calls when those, those bills hit their door.
We can create new energy sources to meet projected needs and economic growth without jeopardizing the protections to our system of regulated utilities. I was hoping that we would have had an opportunity to have the committee of the whole as Senator Hickey had had alluded to last week. I remember when that was used uh by our attorney general at the time, Steve Clark, when the General Assembly was grappling with how to reinstitute the death penalty in Arkansas after the US Supreme Court ruled it
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:45:22
unconstitutional. It was an opportunity for our body, their body at the time. I was not a senator, but I sat in the gallery and devoured the process to fully flesh out a bill to come up with something that solved a problem. I wish we could have done that on this bill. Maybe we still can. I encourage you for these reasons and many others to vote
no. Thank you, Madam President. Anyone wish
Speaker 415
1:46:02
answer. Speakers left the well. Anyone wish to speak for or
Chair
Unverified
1:46:07
against. Senator Wallace, you are recognized to speak for.
Senator Dave Wallace
Unverified
1:46:26
And just a short time. Two sessions away, we're gonna start losing. Our power plants here in Arkansas. When we had that ice storm for 5 years ago. Those plants, those coal-burning plants saved us from the fate that I saw in Texas and in Louisiana, where people in San Antonio were without. Power.
For more than 2 weeks. We're here. To protect the people of Arkansas. Sometimes we have to make hard choices. If we don't have those power plants. If we don't do something now. 2 years from now. It's going to be too late because those power plants go off.
Very quickly in our future 2028, 2030. We need
Speaker 282
1:47:41
to act now. Thank you. Yeah. Senator has left the well. Anyone else
wish to speak against or for? Seeing no other senator dismaying, you're recognized clothes. Thank you, members, CWIP is not
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:48:02
new. It is being utilized by almost all the surrounding or I think it is being utilized by every surrounding state. I'm not sure that they have this extensive amount of parameters in place for their program. In fact, I know in many cases they do not, in particular as it comes to co-ops. We can pretend like we don't have to do something. And maybe that makes us feel good in the moment. Or we can accept that there's a reality. We have to generate
more power in Arkansas, and we have to generate new power in Arkansas. Again, we can say that we're going to just sidestep that and not do anything about it, Senator Johnson. And when we do that, we will be at the mercy of all the surrounding states that have decided to take up the charge and create new power. I want Arkansas to be a leader in every possible way. And this sets us up to be a leader. That's what we should
want. We can try to tell our constituents. That this is what's going to make their rates go up. That's not reality. Rates are going to go up because we have to create new power or we're going to have to buy new power from someone else. I want to be in control of that. I think our ratepayers want the state of Arkansas to be in control of that. That is what this bill does. Knowing that we're going to have to generate new power. Again, the only option either building under the old program or buying from someone else that
is willing to make the investment for the future. Or a third way that will let us create and generate new more power, new power at a lower rate to the ratepayer than the traditional model. So this is a 3rd way and the one that I think we should utilize. And if we're being direct and open with our constituents. One that will ultimately save them money instead of political talking points. With that, I appreciate the dialogue that we've had. I think it's been helpful. I appreciate
Senator Hickey and so many others that have brought ideas to the table as we reworked this bill. That's
the way that we should do it. Uh, with that, I'm
Speaker 4
1:50:18
closed for the bill and I'd appreciate a good vote. Senator has closed, Madam Secretary, please call the
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:50:25
roll. Bo Brant. Bron Caldwell Clark Davis. Day Da
Speaker 270
1:50:37
dema Dotson, English. Flappo. Flowers. Gilmore
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
1:50:45
hammer, Hester Hickey. Hell,
Speaker 269
1:50:50
Irvin. Irvin. Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson. letting. Gladding,
Love Love. McKee Murdoch. Murdoch. Peyton. Penzo Patty. Brice Rice Scott Do. Stab
Wallace. Senators who did not vote or who wish to change your vote, Senator Bryant, yes. Send her love present. Senator Murdoch, yes. Senators on this side,
Chair
Unverified
1:51:57
Senator Ervin, no. Letting present. And other senator, Senator Rice. No.
And feel free to speak up. Anyone
Chair
Unverified
1:52:24
else? Please check the board. Any others? Seeing no others, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 23 9 nay, 1 not voting, and 2 present Senate Bill 307 passes. However, the corresponding emergency clause is not adopted.
Transmit the bill to The house. We will now take up Senate Bill 314. So
Speaker 185
1:52:53
3:14 by Senator Irving, to in the law concerning sexual solicitation and to amend the penalties
Speaker 41
1:52:59
for the offense of sexual solicitation. And urban,
Chair
Unverified
1:53:04
you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. What this bill does is it
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:53:09
increases the penalties for sexual solicitation from an
unclassified misdemeanor, uh, to a class A misdemeanor for the first offense, and then for any second or subsequent offense, it would be a class D felony. Uh, this is part of a package of bills too that went through yesterday in combating human trafficking, and this is um on the front side of trying to curve the demand for sex for victims of human trafficking. Um, part of uh working with the Republican Women's Legislative Caucus and, I mean, the Attorney General Tim Griffin.
Any questions? For Senator Urban, anyone wish to
Chair
Unverified
1:53:53
speak against or for. Send her your recognized clothes. I'm clothes. I appreciate a good vote, Senator has closed.
Speaker 82
1:54:03
Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll
Speaker 269
1:54:09
the boat. Bryant Caldwell Clark Crowell, Davis,
Des, dismayed thoughts and English flippo flowers, Gilmore
hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Light Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love McKee Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberil, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator was to change his or her
Speaker 111
1:54:36
vote, seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By votes of
Speaker 55
1:54:48
Senate Bill 314 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 323 December 323 by Central Bryant to amend the horizontal Property
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
1:55:01
Act. Bryant, you recognized. Thank you, Madam President, members, Senate Bill 323. Uh, is, is really, even though we call it horizontal property act, um, we, we commonly refer to as horizontal property regime, about 10 years ago, I entered into a horizontal property regime through construction, whereas I, I built
a constructed my own building on a shared parcel with another owner of which I had no No responsibility to, but we could not break apart the parcel, so we built two buildings, and it was called a horizontal property regime, and we established rights to the parking lot, rights to how much we were going to pay into common expenses and in 1961, that's what we contemplated here in Arkansas is how we would do this. Well, fast forward to today and we're asking our, our
law, our attorneys to basically fit a square peg into a round hole because now that we're building up and we're building mixed use and different owners parking on one floor, commercial spaces on the floor, residences on another floor, um, restaurants on another floor, all these have different owners and we're trying to go through the wall and have different deed restrictions and covenants that our attorneys are having a hard time following generation one language. So this is uh this bill is a result of basically
adding new definitions and new terminology into how we can have the appropriate Beads entered into our um Property records to ensure that all members of the ownership groups are represented, um, examples would be um as the terms of declarants or common elements, which is all shared properties, limited common elements where maybe one has access to, but not all development rights, rights reserved through the master deed of the property, uh, established
association provisions and allows flexibility for allocated interest or expenses of which the 1961 law never really accounted for, and so this just brings clarity to that original 1961 and gets us into modern terminology for our horizontal property regimes. Another simple way to think of it is a condominium act. If you ever went to a state that had like Florida, where you're staying in a condominium, that one unit was owned by an individual, and they had access, shared access to multiple parts
of maybe a complex, and that would be done under a horizontal property or a Condominium Act, so that's the intent of this bill, and with that I will be glad
to take any questions. Any questions for Senator Bryan. Senator Payton, you're recognized. Thank
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
1:57:40
you, Madam President. Sorry I wasn't up to speed on this bill. I know there's been some other
Senator John Payton
Unverified
1:57:45
bills circulating this session. This doesn't appear to be the same, but I'm unfamiliar with This stuff. So, bear with me. You're talking about where a, a
portion would be owned by one individual and occupied, not like a timeshare where there would be multiple owners of one of those portions, not, not a timeshare, it would be
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
1:58:06
like an entity owns a portion of a of a building that has a certain function and they want to co-own another owner wants to own another section of the building, and they need to have equal rights to certain things and ion al rights to others. I'm just trying to make sure this bill
Senator John Payton
Unverified
1:58:22
is not one of the ones that I'm worried about where you have
homeowners association or something like that, everybody gets a vote, but you've got an apartment here with 25 owners and you get 25 votes from that one apartment. Yeah, no,
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
1:58:36
nothing to do with that. Thank you Senator. Any other
questions? Anyone wish to speak against or for. Send her your recognized clothes. I'm close. Appreciate a good vote,
Speaker 82
1:58:53
Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat. Saying no objection, Madam
Speaker 269
1:58:59
Secretary, please roll the boat. Bowen, Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Dees,
dismaying dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer, Hester Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberil,
Speaker 55
1:59:18
Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote.
Speaker 111
1:59:30
Seeing no one. Please cast up the ballot by a vote
Chair
Unverified
1:59:38
of 35, 0 nay, Senate Bill 323 passes. Please transmit to the House. Senate Bill 340. Senate Bill
Speaker 41
1:59:45
340 by Senator Clark to in Arkansas law concerning certain fees, expenses, and costs imposed on a juvenile or the parent, guardian or custodian of a juvenile. Senator Clark, you're recognized.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:00:01
Thank you, Madam Governor. Uh, SB 340 has had no opposition. This bill uh takes the burden of services off of impoverished families and takes from a fund that already exists. I'll be happy to take any questions. Any questions for Senator Clark? Seeing
Chair
Unverified
2:00:22
no questions. Anyone wish to speak against or for.
Speaker 82
2:00:32
Senator, you're free to close. I'm closed. I'd appreciate a good vote, Senator has
Speaker 269
2:00:42
closed any objection to rolling the vote, seeing no
objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bowen, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, dismay Dotson English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin, like Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting Love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, stone. Phil Sullivan Tucker Wallace.
Speaker 245
2:01:06
Any senator wish to change his or her vote, send her flowers
present, any other senator. Dotson present urban present Bryant present. King not voting. Any other? Please check the board. Seeing no other
Chair
Unverified
2:01:29
please cast up the ballot. by a vote of 30, 0, nay, 1 not
voting for president. Senate Bill 340 passes. Please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 360 senator dismaying, would you like to be recognized for a motion? Senator dismaying you're recognized
for a motion. Make a motion to
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
2:01:56
expunge a vote by which the emergency clause failed on Senate Bill 307.
Chair
Unverified
2:02:08
Motion by a sender dismaying to expunge the vote by which the emergency
clause failed on Senate Bill 307. This is for the emergency clause only. All those in favor of the motion, please signify by saying
Speaker 452
2:02:24
I. And he opposed. I have it, motion carries. Yeah. Do
Speaker 185
2:02:40
symbol 307, I sent this to amend the law
Speaker 41
2:02:43
concerning public utilities to create the generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025. And Clare an emergency. Senator Dima, this is a revote
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
2:02:53
on the emergency clause. Appreciate a good vote. Senator
Speaker 82
2:02:57
has closed. Again, this is only a vote on the emergency clause, any objection to rolling the vote. Saying no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat.
Boyd, Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott Stone, Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her
vote, Senator Caldwell present. are not voting, Senator Caldwell not voting.
Speaker 82
2:03:44
Senator Tucker not voting. Senator, love present, Senator Penzo present. Senator King not voting. Senator Scott, no. Senator Mark Johnson present.
Any other senators Senator Urban present. Any other senators, please check the
Chair
Unverified
2:04:09
board. Seeing no others.
Please cast up the ballot by a vote of 27 yeah, one nay, 3 not voting, and 4 present, the emergency clause to Senate Bill 307 is adopted, please transmit. Senate Bill 307 and the corresponding emergency clause to the house. We will now take up Senate Bill 361. Sending
Speaker 41
2:04:37
about 361 by Centra Ds to create the industrial Development Authorities expansion Act and to provide for the creation of industrial
development authorities to secure and develop industry and foster economic development. Senator days
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
2:04:54
Governor. Members 361 is an update to a 1961 law that in which we started allowing the regional port authorities. And so what this bill does is takes the same benefits and same advantages that we have for regional port authorities and allows them to be created just not on a on a waterway. And so
that's what this does, it creates industrial development authorities and is an advancement. for Economic development across our state. Any questions for
Speaker 245
2:05:26
Senator Dees. Senator Blake Johnson. Is this uh very similar to the intermodal authorities that is
Speaker 457
2:05:33
in place now, very similar, yes sir. Any other questions? Saying no questions, anyone wish to speak against or for.
Chair
Unverified
2:05:49
Senator Dasia recognized clothes. Senator
Speaker 82
2:05:51
has closed any objection to rolling the vote, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please
Speaker 269
2:05:58
roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis, Des, dismaying
dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester Hill, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott.
Speaker 55
2:06:19
stone stubberville, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any
Chair
Unverified
2:06:23
senator wish to change his or her vote, Senator Dodson not voting. Senator Bryant present. Senator McKee present.
Speaker 82
2:06:31
Henzo present. King not voting. Any other senator saying no other, please cast up the ballot.
Chair
Unverified
2:06:51
By a vote of 300 nay to not voting, and 3 present, Senate Bill 361 passes police transmit to
Speaker 438
2:07:00
the house. Senate Bill 366. spent about
Speaker 41
2:07:02
366 by Senator Bowen to create the strengthen Arkansas Homes Act and to create the strength in Arkansas
Chair
Unverified
2:07:08
Hos Program fun. Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. The path
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:07:17
to the strength in Arkansas Homes Act began with the
leadership of Senator Hill in the last General Assembly. An insurance and commerce interim committees, we learned that Tornado Alley has shifted east and Arkansas is the only state 100% in tornado alley. That's right. It's moved from Oklahoma all the way to, to Arkansas is the Illinois. Hail and wind storms are strengthening and being more persistent across our state and property and casualty insurance rates are increasing and putting home mortgages at risk with these increases. So not only are we all having to face the increase in property and casualty insurance rates, but as those go up, they're also
threatening the the mortgage market because you have to have the property and casualty and their insurance on a home that has a mortgage. Uh, other state, Southern states with changing weather patterns such as Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina have introduced strategies to encourage building more resilient homes. This bill introduces the framework for implementing cash grants which reimburse homeowners for Implementing weather mitigation costs such as upgrading shingles, Alabama, Kentucky,
Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Minnesota have implemented this strategy. The mitigation standard is, is fortified home program developed by the Insurance Institute for Business Home and Safety. Any questions for Senator Boyd.
Anyone, yes, Senator Clark, you're recognized for a question. Senator Boyd, where does this bill
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:08:46
come from? So I worked with the insurance commissioner's office, the National Association Insurance
Commissioners have uh kinda given some structure to this. But basically I based it off what Oklahoma did. OK, all right, thank you. And I also forgot to mention this place is no man, no mandates on builders.
Speaker 342
2:09:10
Sure. It doesn't, I promise. That was a stipulation of the bill. Any
other questions for Senator Boyd. Anyone wished to Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Senator Boyd. This is
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
2:09:26
kind of like the question I asked you in committee,
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
2:09:30
uh, we saw some presentations at Ecoil, uh, which are, uh, the people that are watching, that's a national council of Insurance Legislators, uh, that showed how they had used this like on the Gulf Coast to have basically built houses that were resistance resistant to hurricanes and things like that. This is this strengthened home uh thing that would be safer and
stronger in a storm situation, even though you can still build for lack of a word, the old way. This is to recognize opportunity to build in a more strong way to resist storms. Is this, Am I reading that correctly? Yes, sir.
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:10:11
National Council of Insurance Legislators, we, we learned about it there, um, and so Alabama was the first state, as I understand it, to implement this type program. We learned a lot from that, but they did it primarily due to hurricanes. And so it was really Oklahoma who
again experiences more similar weather to to Arkansas that we patterned this after, so follow
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
2:10:35
up, if I may, is it anticipated that if someone were to build these standards that they would perhaps be able to get lower insurance premiums. Because of their resistance to damage by those those houses. Is that what the idea is so there is a mandate in here
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:10:51
and insurance companies are fine with it.
The mandates insurance premium discounts if you build to the fortified standard. Yes,
sir. And in fact, in the Alabama housing market, houses that homes that have been built with the fortified standard actually have averaged 7% more in retail value than those who have not been built to the fortified standard. OK, thank you very much.
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
2:11:13
Thank you. in prison. Any other questions
for Senator Boyd. Anyone wish to speak against or for.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:11:30
Senator Clark, you're recognized to speak on the bill. I appreciate what such boy Bill tries to do, and it probably does that. But I can't help but be skeptical when we uh When they started implementing the green building codes and I can't remember Senator Caldwell may remember what the system's called, uh, it became very political, uh, you can't use
local lumber because it's not designated. It doesn't have the, I wish I could remember the name of the system, doesn't have the number on it. The, this will be, let me prophesy to you, this will lead to being in building codes and it being force. I have no problem with what Senator Johnson asked Senator Boyd. I think that is wonderful that for insurance companies to offer discounts, uh, and for people to suggest this is the way to make your house strong because there's a whole lot of people
who will, and I don't think that's a bad idea, but this will eventually become a forced thing. I don't think that's what Senator Boyd envisions nor what he would want. But for those reasons, I
Chair
Unverified
2:12:45
can't vote for it today. Anyone wish to speak for. Against Senator
Boyd, you recognized clothes. Thank you, Madam President. So
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:12:55
it was very important to me that there are no mandates on builders. There are 2 mandates
on insurance companies and the insurance companies are not arguing with those mandates. One, if you build to the fortified standard, you do have to offer a premium discount. That's in there. I've heard from no insurance company complaining about that. I've only heard positive things. The second thing that it does is if you're going to sell a property and casualty insurance policy, it has to offer a rider that says, hey, If my home is blown down by a tornado or my roof is, is, uh, damaged, that if I want to
rebuild it, that they have to pay to rebuild it at the fortified standard. So I appreciate Senator Clark's concern. I share his concerns, but I went out of my way to make sure that we were doing what conservative Oklahoma did, what conservative conservative Alabama did and we're acknowledging to the insurance or the property and casualty ratepayers that we understand your premiums are going up. And while we can't stop that. This is one thing the state of Arkansas can do that has been proven in other states to help
uh with that, that issue. So with
that said, I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you.
Speaker 82
2:14:12
Senator has closed. Is there any objection to rolling the boat scene, no, I see
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:14:25
objections. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Yes. No Bran Bran. Caldwell So. Park.
Speaker 270
2:14:42
Days This man Dotson. Dotson, English. Bye. Flap
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:14:54
out Flowers. Gilmore, Gilmore. Hammer.
Speaker 185
2:15:06
Hammer. Hester Hike Heke. Hell Irvin. Like Johnson. Mark Johnson. King
Speaker 275
2:15:28
King Letting love. Love McKee. Murdoch Murdoch.
Speaker 185
2:15:38
Payton. Payton. Penza. Patty rice Scott. Stone. I have a feel.
Speaker 55
2:15:57
Stab afield. Sullivan. Tucker? Tucker Wallace. So
Chair
Unverified
2:16:09
start again, excuse me, I will begin over here, any senator who did not vote or
wish to change your vote, Senator Bryant, no. Send a hammer, yes, crow present. Tucker, no. King, no. Stubblefield presents. Hickey, no. Gilmore,
yes. Please check the board.
Speaker 111
2:16:41
Murdock present. Any others, please check the board. Seeing no other. Please cast up the ballot by a vote of 18, 9 nay,
Chair
Unverified
2:16:55
4 not voting, and for present Senate Bill 3366 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 375 seat
Speaker 185
2:17:07
belt 375 by Central Stone to create the
offense of capital rape and to amend a
Chair
Unverified
2:17:15
portion of Arkansas code, which resulted from initiated Act 3 of 1936. Senator Stone, you're recognized. Members currently
Senator Matt Stone
Unverified
2:17:29
in Arkansas capital murder is the only time when capital punishment can be administered by the state. We have a continued problem. In Arkansas where our children
are being raped by the by the worst among us. This bill seeks to expand capital punishment when an adult rapes a child of the age 13 or younger. And
Speaker 245
2:17:58
I'm open for questions. Any questions for Senator Stone. Anyone wish
Chair
Unverified
2:18:04
to speak against. Anyone wish to speak for. Senator, you're recognized clothes. I'm clothes for my
Speaker 82
2:18:13
bill. Thank you, Senator has closed any objection? Objection noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boy.
Speaker 268
2:18:26
Brant. Brant. Caldwell, Caldwell. Clark. Clark Crowe,
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:18:44
This man Dotson English. Flipper flowers. Gilmore. Hammer
Speaker 185
2:19:00
Hester Hickey. Hill Irvin. Irvin Like Johnson, Mark Johnson, King lighting.
Speaker 275
2:19:15
Letting Love McKee. Murdoch Murdoch Peyton Penza. Penza Patty. Rice. Scott Stone. Stuberfield Sullivan. Tucker?
Wallace. Before I will remind members because this is unusual that because this is
Speaker 82
2:20:03
was an initiated act. It will take 24 votes to pass, so I'll begin on this side. Any member wished to vote, he did not vote. D's, yes. Bryant,
yes, Murdoch, no. Anyone else on this side, this side. Boyd present Caldwell, yes. Irvine, yes. Letting no. Any other
Chair
Unverified
2:20:30
senator, please check the board. Seeing no other
Speaker 111
2:20:36
senator, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 26 6 nay, one not voting to present Senate Bill 375
passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 401.
Speaker 41
2:20:54
401 by Central Bowen to amend the Arkansas Underground Facilities Da Prevention Act. Senator Boyd, you're
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:21:05
recognized. Thank you, Madam President. This bill adds an exception to the underground facilities
damage prevention Act in this statute, exceptions are those actions that do not require calling 811 to have underground facilities located, the exception being added would clarify that a utility provider is able to hand dig with a shovel around their
own terminal or pedestal in a very limited scope, 12 inches of their own terminal into a depth of no more than 12 inches. This practice allows customer service to be handled more quickly and efficiently. This language was shared with the 811 organization and they fully approve of the change. In fact, they viewed it as a clarification saying they believe it's been common practice. It was also shared with several other utilities who have no concerns. Energy Summit, Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Black Hills Energy,
Cox Windstream, Bright Speed, and other telecommunication providers.
Any questions for Senator Boyd. Anyone wish
Chair
Unverified
2:22:08
to speak against or for. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote, seeing
Speaker 269
2:22:16
no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bowen, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell,
Davis, Des, dismaying Datsun English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark
Johnson, King, letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, stone, steer Phil Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or
Speaker 111
2:22:43
her vote. See no one please cast up the ballot. Uh uh 34 yeah,
Chair
Unverified
2:22:52
0, nay, Senate bill, 401 passes, please transmit to the house.
We will now take up house bills, beginning with House Bill. 1298
Speaker 41
2:23:07
1298 by Representative Johnson, Senator Irving to modify payment of benefits for certain healthcare providers under health benefit plan. Senator Ervin, you're recognized.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:23:20
Thank you, Madam President. What this bill does is it allows for the um insurance carrier to pay directly to the provider if they are out of network.
Chair
Unverified
2:23:34
force and urban, saying no questions, anyone wish to speak against or for
Speaker 82
2:23:39
Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote, seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please
roll the boat forward, front, Caldwell, Clark, Crow, Davis, Des, Dismay dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton. Patty, rice, Scott, stone,
Chair
Unverified
2:24:06
Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote, King not
Speaker 111
2:24:16
voting. Any other senator? Seeing no other, please cast up the ballot by
Chair
Unverified
2:24:21
a vote of 34 ya, zero nay, 1 not voting. House Bill 1298 passes. Please return to the house. House Bill
Speaker 41
2:24:29
1460. 1460 by Representative Rose and Senator Dodson to amend the law concerning appointments to certain board boards,
commissions, and councils based on congressional district.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:24:43
Senator Dodson, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Members, House Bill 1460 There's one very simple thing, it requires that these certain boards and commissions that were established at various times in history when the appointment comes due for uh that were based off congressional district maps. A lot of those have the date of the time in which that border commission was created, so as the law is currently written,
the map is based off of the decade in which that map existed at that time, so there's a poor appointments, reappointments have to be based off that. Old congressional district map. What this bill simply does is says in those various sections that these members shall be appointed or reappointed at off the maps as they exist at the time of the appointment, so the current congressional district map. So when somebody gets appointed out of the 1st or 3rd or 4th district, it'll be based off.
Today's district maps not, there's actually one from 1975 in here. So it goes back a little ways. More than happy to try to answer any
Chair
Unverified
2:25:52
questions. Questions for Senator Dodson, Senator Martin Johnson, you're recognized for a question.
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:25:57
Thank you, Madam President. Senator Dodson, obviously y'all are
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
2:26:00
trying to make a correction on this. Were there other boards similarly situated that you identified that didn't, we didn't get them in this one. I'd
I'd like to see this done to everyone simply because
Speaker 401
2:26:13
congressional districts reflect population, so did, did you get everybody kind of what I was
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
2:26:19
saying. Well, since this was a House bill by Representative Rose. I didn't actually help him draft it at the original. I didn't ask Billard to do research for additional ones, but I'm sure if there are any out there, we could certainly find those. They're not contemplated in this bill.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
2:26:36
Well, I'm confident that Representative Rose was not near as diligent legislative
technician as you are, but I'll have to trust him on this one. So thank you
Chair
Unverified
2:26:50
for answering the question. Thank you, ma'am. Appreciate a good vote. Anyone wish to speak against or for Senator
Speaker 82
2:26:56
has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote, saying
Speaker 269
2:27:04
no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. one Bullet, Bryant Caldwell, Clark K Crowell, Davis, Des, dismaying dots
and English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey,
Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott stone, Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change
Chair
Unverified
2:27:33
no one, please cast up the ballot by votes of 350 name. House Bill 1460 passes, please return to the house. House Bill
Speaker 41
2:27:46
1474, Haville 1474 by Representative Carr and Central Wallace concerning the prevention of human trafficking and require the display of information about the national human trafficking hotline. Thank you,
you're recognized members, I need to pull this bill down. We're
Senator Dave Wallace
Unverified
2:28:03
going to make an amendment, make it a little bit better bill. Thank you.
Speaker 161
2:28:11
Thank you Senator Wallace. We're going to pull down House Bill 1474. Yes, ma'am.
Senator Dave Wallace
Unverified
2:28:18
Yes, please. No, no, take it off the calendar. I'm gonna refer it to
Speaker 506
2:28:38
committee. Yeah, I'm going to refer it to committee. I'd like to re-refer
Chair
Unverified
2:28:42
it to the judicial. Thanks, Senator Wallace, all those in
favor of the motion to re-refer House Bill 1474 to Judiciary for
purposes of amendment, please signify by saying aye, and he opposed, I have it, motion carries.
will now take up House Bill 1503.
Speaker 185
2:29:01
Has about 1503 by Representative Clowney and Senator Hester to amend
Speaker 41
2:29:06
the law concerning municipal regulations and to prohibit certain restrictions on the regulation of accessory dwelling
units. Senator Hester, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. So members,
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:29:16
I think we all have affordable housing
issues in every one of our districts regardless of how rural they are or urban that they are. We have a difficult time finding affordable housing for our teachers. This is a direct response to that. So when you get asked, What are you doing for affordable housing, this is something that you can respond that we did, but it is, uh, saying that by right, you can build an accessory dwelling unit on your property. So in an accessory dwelling unit would be maybe a
studio apartment in your garage. Maybe it's a small home behind your home, but by right you have the right to do this, something that can be rented out or maybe an adult child lives in it or uh maybe in a, you know, A parent lives in that or something that you could rent out. Now, the protections are still there, uh, you can't build something that's uh more than 75% the size of the current home by right, you still have to have the setbacks. It can't be taller than your current home. So there's still plenty of
protections there, but by right, if you own the land, you have the ability to put an accessory dwelling unit on your property. I think that this is a win for our cities and our overworked. Infrastructure and
I'm happy to answer any questions. Questions for Senator Hester. Oh, I'm sorry,
Chair
Unverified
2:30:43
Senator Urban, you are recognized for a question. Thank you,
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:30:46
Senator Hessler. So on TV I saw where I think it was in California,
where the law had changed and it was a famous movie producer who had a historic home, and they had bought this and they had built this incredible treehouse structure behind their house, but because of these types of regulations, they had to tear down this very historic structure that was put in place by a very famous historical person in, I guess that would be in Hollywood, so I guess my question would be like if you do have something that's historical presently would it also be protected from not
Speaker 510
2:31:24
having to be destroyed if you already have it, it
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
2:31:27
would absolutely be protected. I just thought it was pertained so perfectly to what your bill does, and I think it's a great
Speaker 347
2:31:32
bill. Thank you, Senator. Sandra Hill, you're recognized for a question. Sent
to Hester just looking at this. It looks to me like it's just taking away local control instead of giving it. Yes, so you won't, you want to do away with local control and let the state mandate to all the cities and counties what they must do. Yes.
OK, so what, how do you feel about the federal government? Should they tell the state
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:32:00
exactly what to do. No, the states created the federal government, the states created
the cities and counties, the state should have the authority. This bill does away with local control, correct? Yes. OK. Thank
you, sir. Any other questions for Senator Hester. Senator Clark, you're recognized. Senator Hester,
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
2:32:18
is this a freedom bill? Yes, it is. Is it a property owner's rights bill. It is absolutely property owners' rights bill. Is it a
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:32:29
bill for renters who can't find any place to live. That is absolutely, it is for renters that are having a difficult time affording
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:32:39
a home. Thank you. Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you. This does not in any way, shape or form. Um, limit like inspections as far as cities being able to come in and inspect for like electrical and plumbing, make sure all those codes are complied with, does it? Absolutely not. You still have
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:32:54
to pull a permit, you still have to go through all the normal uh permitting and inspections. OK,
Chair
Unverified
2:32:59
thank you. The questions. Senator King. OK. Saying no the questions. Anyone wish to speak against or for?
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
2:33:16
Senator has senators recognized clothes, members, yeah, I'll just close with this. When you get asked what you're doing about affordable housing for your teachers or in your community, this is
Speaker 82
2:33:26
a great response. Thank you. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat. Objection
noted. Madam Secretary, please. Called
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:33:37
the roll boy. Yeah. Bran Caldwell, Caldwell, Clark. Crowe.
Speaker 270
2:33:46
Davis. Days. Dismaying This Dotson English. Flipper Flipper
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:34:01
Flowers, Flowers. Gilmore. Hammer? Hester
Speaker 185
2:34:14
Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson. King King lighting, love. Love
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:34:32
The key Like Murdoch Peyton. Tenza. Patty,
Speaker 185
2:34:42
rice. Scott. Stan, Stub afield. Sullivan Sullivan, Tucker. Wallace.
Chair
Unverified
2:35:06
Any senator who wishes to vote, who did not vote, or change votes, and her flowers. Yes, Senator Flippo,
yes, Senator Love, yes. Any other senator, please check the board. Seeing
Chair
Unverified
2:35:22
no other police cast up the ballot. By a vote of 29, 2, nay, for not voting. House
Speaker 82
2:35:31
Bill 1503. Passes, please return to the house. House Bill 1510.
Speaker 41
2:35:39
House for 1510 by Representative Gonzalez and Central Stubberfield to repeal the authority for a municipality to exercise territorial jurisdiction over an unincorporated area of the county.
Speaker 525
2:35:50
Senator Stubblefield, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
2:35:53
Madam Governor. gentlemen, colleagues, this is a property rights bill. Uh, this is concerns uh territorial jurisdiction. Uh, we run this bill yesterday and so we're running it in committee. I live out in the country and
we've got a lot of acres around us. So I'm not used to annexation. I don't think I'm gonna have to worry about annexation. But you know, a farmer that's got a 150 acre farm that's been in the family for 100 years. He shouldn't have to worry about a city annexing land a mile from his land and didn't really controlling that land from now on, telling him what he can and can't do. If he wanted to build his granddaughter or grandson a house, he couldn't do it without the City, uh, they may have plans to
do something, uh, and this doesn't stop them from planning, but they may have planted, they may not execute for 10 years, 20 years, or never. And he's sitting there on land that's been devalued his own property. So this, this bill solves that. Just make sure that they cannot do that. They could still plan if they want that land, if they really want that land, they can annex it. And then they can have it. I'll be glad to take any questions. The center has to be taken.
Chair
Unverified
2:37:15
Any questions? Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator Petty, you recognized to speak for.
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
2:37:25
Think about a President. Members, this is truly a property rights bill. I think it's a win-win. I assume that you probably heard from your uh cities and and your mayors and your planners, uh, this will not prevent them from planning. It will not. They can continue to plan when they plan. They don't go out and annex or
they don't get out and acquire, they put it on paper and then they plan this road is going to be here and then 10 years later the road may be over here. That's not going to eliminate that. What is also going to happen in this is the landowner can plan if they want to build that house for their daughter or son or they want to put a, a chicken house. They can do that. I have a situation will not mention where, where there was a a large, larger tract of land,
about 4 or 5 families unrelated farmland that had a long-range plan, and when I say long range, we're talking a road plan that had been on the books for 15 or 20 years with still no plan to build the road. One of the guys decided to sell, and it encumbered his property because of the road plan that was etched on paper for their property. And so it prevented them from initially from doing anything, they did eventually take a
lesser price for their land. And so this is pure and simple. It's a, it's, it's not taking away the ability to plan if it's that important to plan, if it's growing that fast, you can
acquire it. You can do what you want, but this is a personal rights bill, and I would
appreciate a good vote for this. What Anyone else wish to speak against or for. Seeing
Speaker 82
2:39:12
no other senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat. Objection noted.
Madam Secretary,
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:39:23
please call the roll. Boy Brant
Speaker 270
2:39:31
Caldwell, Caldwell, Clark, Clark. Davis. These dismaying Dotson
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:39:41
English Flippo. Flowers, Gilmore. Gilmore, hammer.
Hester, Hickey. Hecky. Hi Irvin,
Speaker 185
2:39:54
Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Laing love. Love McKee Murdoch. Murdoch Peyton and uh
Speaker 55
2:40:24
Patty, rice, Scott. Scott Stone Stuberfield. Sullivan Tucker Wallace. I Any senator wished to vote
Chair
Unverified
2:40:36
who did not vote or we should change your vote. Seeing no one. Police cast up the ballot by a vote of 24, 5 nay, 5 not voting, 1 present. House Bill 1510
Speaker 185
2:41:01
House Bill 1516. House for 1516 by Representative Richmond and
Speaker 41
2:41:05
Central Crowell to in various laws concerning the Department of Agriculture.
Senator Crow, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
Senator Steve Crowell
Unverified
2:41:13
President. Uh, colleagues, this is a bill that kind of cleans up, there's some and consolidation, they came over to the Department of Ag, these enforcement agents, and what they do is they are a first
line of fence for livestock disease. If there's a wildfire, these are the people who find the where it started and with all of our legislation and the China bills, these are the people who help hunt down that land. So what had happened is there Some administrative changes, puts a little teeth into the them placing the disease, and it also gives them, since they are law enforcement, their service weapon upon retirement or death. Any questions for Senator Crow.
Chair
Unverified
2:42:00
Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed any objection to rolling
Speaker 269
2:42:12
the vote. Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat.
Boy, Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, Dima Dotson, English flippo flowers, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo,
Speaker 55
2:42:32
Petty, Rice, Scott, So, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to
change his or her vote, seeing no one, please
Chair
Unverified
2:42:40
cast up the ballot, by a vote of 35 ya, your name, House Bill 1516 passes. Please return to the house. We are going
to move House Bill 1527 to the end. We will now take up House Bill 1587.
Speaker 41
2:43:07
Council of 1587 by Representative Johnson, Senator Boyd, concerning the any willing provider laws and to amend the patient Protection Act of 1995. Senator Boyd, you're
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
2:43:22
recognized. Thank you, Madam President. This bill
simply updates any willing provider law. It adds pharmacies to pharmacists typically when their contracts in the pharmacy world, most of the time the contracts are with the pharmacy,
not the pharmacist, though there are some exceptions, and that's why it's not a change,
Chair
Unverified
2:43:44
it's an addition to. Any questions for Senator Boyd, anyone wish
to speak against or for. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat. Objection noted,
Speaker 82
2:43:53
Madam Secretary, please call the roll, boy, Objection noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll it Bran
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:44:02
Objection noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll, boy, Brant Caldwell, Caldwell, Clark.
Speaker 270
2:44:14
Clark Crowell, Davis, Davis. Days Days. This man. This
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:44:30
man Dodson, English. English Flap out Flipper. Flowers. Flowers? Gilmore. Gilmore,
Speaker 185
2:44:44
hammer, Hester, Hester. Hi He L Irvin. Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, King. Letting love.
Speaker 275
2:45:03
Love, the key. Murdoch. Hayton And so. Penza
Speaker 185
2:45:17
Harry rice, Scott. So Stab afield. Stabil. Sullivan, Sullivan.
Speaker 55
2:45:30
attacker Tucker. Wallace Any senator who wishes to
vote, who did not vote, or wish to change vote Tucker, yes, love.
Yes These, yes. Sullivan, yes. Hester, yes. Pennzo, yes. Stubblefield. Yes, flowers, yes. Flippo, yes. Any other senator?
Chair
Unverified
2:46:06
Seeing no other. Rather, Clark, yes. Any other
Speaker 111
2:46:21
Seeing no other police cast up the ballot by
Chair
Unverified
2:46:25
a vote of 31, 0, nay, for not voting. House Bill 1587 passes, please return to the house. House
Speaker 41
2:46:34
Bill 1600. House for 1600 by andtash and centros to amend the law concerning municipal law enforcement and to amend the law concerning holiday compensation, annual vacation leave, and a sick leave for law enforcement officers. Senator Davis, you're recognized.
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:46:52
Thank you, Madam President. This is just essentially a cleanup bill, it just clarifies that it is full-time officers and employees, um, that are able to be the ones earning sick leave and annual leave. Um, it still gives cities the ability to um create a policy for part-time employees to have a sick leave or annual leave, but this just clarifies that specifically the law mandates um full-time law enforcement and full-time employees. Happy to take any questions.
Chair
Unverified
2:47:22
Questions for Senator Davis. Saying no questions. Anyone wish to speak
against or for. Senator has closed any objection
Speaker 421
2:47:42
to rolling the boat. Objection noted. Madam Secretary, please call
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:47:46
the roll it, Bront Caldwell, Caldwell. Clark. Clark
Crow Davis. Days days.
Speaker 270
2:47:57
This man. This man. Dotson English. English. Flippo. Flip out.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:48:12
Flowers Gilmore. hammer hammer Hester.
Hester. Hi. Hell. Irvin. Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson,
Speaker 275
2:48:46
Mark Johnson. King Laing love. Love McKee Murdoch. Peyton Penza.
Chair
Unverified
2:49:17
Sullivan Tucker, Tucker Wallace Any senator wished to vote who did not vote or wish to change your vote, Senator
Speaker 111
2:49:25
Dees, yes. Senator Crow, yes. Senator
Hester, yes, this may, yes, Mark Johnson, yes. Love. Yes, Hickey, yes. Penzo, yes. Flippo, yes, hammer, yes. Clark, yes. Any others? Oh Please check the board,
Chair
Unverified
2:50:05
Seeing no others, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 34 yeah, 0, nay, 1 not voting, House Bill 1600 passes, please return to the house. House Bill 1607 hospital
1607 by Representative Rose and Centra Davis to create the office of Outdoor recreation within the Department of Parks, Heritage and tourism. Senator Davis here recognized. Thank you, Madam President. In
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
2:50:37
2021, this office was created by executive order. Um, it was the 16th office of its kind in the country, it's given out millions of dollars in grant money across the state to um our local parks and uh we are just taking it from executive order into law. Happy to answer any questions.
Any questions for Senator Davis. Anyone wish to speak against or for.
Chair
Unverified
2:51:07
Senator has closed any objection to rolling the
Speaker 269
2:51:13
boat? Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boy, Bryant Caldwell,
Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo,
Speaker 55
2:51:32
Petty, Rice, Scott stone Stubberville Sullivan, Tucker Wallace.
Any senator wish to change his or
Chair
Unverified
2:51:42
her vote, seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 35 yeah, 0 name, House Bill 1607 passes, please return to the house. We going back?
Speaker 550
2:51:57
No, you got, you got this one. Senator Tucker. No, we've got. I.
Speaker 106
2:52:12
Yeah. Senator Tucker, if you're ready,
Chair
Unverified
2:52:15
we can take up House Bill 1527. 1527 by Representative
Speaker 185
2:52:25
Hudson Sandra Tucker to amend the permissible investments, a guardian of the estate may make
Speaker 553
2:52:34
Senator Tucker, you're recognized. Thank
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
2:52:37
you, Madam President, when a person is managing the assets
for a minor, usually your own child in those circumstances is because there was a settlement at a certain threshold, and of course just making sure you're making the investments properly. There's a list of permissible investments that you can make. This is the only thing this bill does does is at a 529 account to the lists of investments that you can
make on behalf of your child if it's a court supervised settlement. So that's, that's it. It's a very short bill, that's all the
Chair
Unverified
2:53:06
bill does. Any questions for Senator Tucker? Anyone wish to speak against or for
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
2:53:14
Send her your recognized clothes. Thank you, Madam President. As I said in committee, a vote for this bill
is a vote for parental freedom. Thank you, members.
Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat? Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dismay Dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love,
McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, Stone, Stubbervi, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish
Chair
Unverified
2:53:52
to change his or her vote, seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. by a vote of 35 yeah, 0, nay, House Bill 1527 passes. Please return to the
house. We will now take up House Bill 1634. House
Speaker 41
2:54:12
1634 by Representative Hawke and Senator Dema
to establish the Arkansas sports Raffle Act
Chair
Unverified
2:54:20
and to declare an emergency. Senator dismaying, you're recognized.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
2:54:24
Thank you, Governor. Members. House Bill 1634 utilizes Amendment 84 to
create the Arkansas sports raffle. It's going to allow for one raffle per game and the proceeds can be used for prizes, admin costs, software cost, uh, scholarship, stipends and I or compensation and also improvement to facility. ities you have to be 18 to participate in the raffle and there, it requires an age
verification system will be in place, and then credit card
Speaker 396
2:54:51
transactions are capped to $2500 per transaction.
Questions for Senator Dismay. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator dismaying
Speaker 82
2:55:12
has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat. Objection noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:55:19
Poet, Boetron. Brant. Caldwell Caldwell. Clark Clark
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
2:55:51
Flipper, Flipper. Flowers. Flowers Gilmore Gilmore. Hammer. Hammer Hester. He Heck Hill.
Speaker 185
2:56:14
Yeah Hell Irvin. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson.
Speaker 524
2:56:25
King. King. That can be quiet. Thank Members If we
Speaker 82
2:56:39
can have 0 to no talking during voting so that way the Secretary can properly record votes. I would appreciate it. Thank
Speaker 275
2:56:49
you, members. Letting Laing love. Love. McKee Murdoch.
Speaker 185
2:56:56
Peyton. Payton. Penza, Patty rice. Scott Yeah. Do
Chair
Unverified
2:57:18
that a fail? Sullivan. Tucker? Wallace. Senators who did not vote wish to vote, wish to change your vote, Senator Clark, no. Senator
Crow, yes. Bryant, yes, love, yes. King, yes. Filippo, yes. He'll no. Gilmore, yes. Any others hammer present. Any
others, please check the board. Seeing no others, please cast up the
Chair
Unverified
2:57:53
ballot by a vote of 25, 3 nay, 3 not voting, and 4 present
House Bill 1634 passes and the corresponding emergency clause
is adopted, please return to the house. Are there items at the desk? Were your committee on
Speaker 179
2:58:17
gross bills who was for Senate joint resolution 15 by central dismay compare the
Speaker 41
2:58:22
engross copy of the original and find the same correctly engrossed. State agenciesittee on grossils, who was first Senate joint resolution 17 by Senator Dodson
compared the engrossed copy with the rich and find the same
Speaker 41
2:58:34
correctly engrossed. State agencies, were you on gross bills to his first Senate Bill 227 by Senator Tucker compared the ingressed cop with the rich and find the same correctly engrossed calendar Committee on Westfields who was first symbol. 46 by Senator Dimay compared the engrossed copies richel and find the same correctly engrossed calendar Committee on resil who was first sent 305 by Central Penzo compared the ross copper rich and find the same correctly engrossed calendar. We commit on grossels to his 1st 319 by
Senator Boyd compared the engrossed copper with the rich and find the same correctly engrossed calendar gross was first sent Bill 325 by Senator Clark compared the gross cop with Rich and Feinstein correctly engrossed. Calendar Committee on Gross, who was first sent 326 by Senator Clark compared the gross cop with original and correctly engrossed calendar Committee on Aggressist who was for House Bill 1347 by Representative Warren and Central Hammer compared the grossed copy of the original time correctly engrossed calendar Committee on
aggress who was referred house with 1348 by Representative Warren and Senator Hammer compared the res copy of the ritual and find the same correctly engrossed calendar Committee on Glass bills to as for House Bill 4 1979 Warren and Central Penza compared to engross copper rich by the same correctly engrossed calendar Committee on Gress who has fired
House was 1614 in Lindstrom in Central Clark compared the engrossed copy of the original and find some Franklin grossed.
Chair
Unverified
3:00:06
Senator Hester, you're recognized for an announcement. Remember,
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
3:00:10
just, just to clarify, tomorrow will be 1:30 in session, 1:30. Madam Secretary,
Speaker 564
3:00:21
do you want to do first? What do you have? OK,
Speaker 41
3:00:28
I'll do first and seconds then. 442 by Senator Bryant to amend the law concerning human trafficking to provide for forfeiture of assessments used
to conduct human trafficking and to create the offense of harboring and endangered runaway Charles Senate Bill 442. Judiciary 443 by Senator Bryant to amend the duties of the state board of appraisers, abstractors, and home inspectors to amend the law regarding licensure of abstractors to amend the law regarding licener of Inspectors and declare an emergency. Senate Bill 443 state agencies symbol 444 by Centra Hammer to amend the medical
ethics and Diversity Act before 44 public health. Havi 1103 by joint budget, and I for the Department of Corrections Division of Community Correction Appropriation of 2025, 2026 fiscal year. As 1103 calendar has 1218 by Representative Mayberry in Central Penzo to create licener for therapeutic recreation specialists and create the therapeutic
recreation Practice Act, House Bill 1218. Public health. 1275 in the Cavanon Central John about Blake Johnson prior authorizations for healthcare services provided for treatment of a mental health crisis. Hospital 1275. Public health has 1451 Borough Lundstrom in Central English to amend the definition of a student and the Arkansas current challenge scholarship program
has about 1451 calendar house for 1546 for joint budget. An act for the Department of Corrections Division of Corrections supplemental Appropriation of House Bill 1546 calendar house was 1612 by joint budget and act for the Department of Education, educational television division, capital improvement appropriation house for 1612 calendar. House for 1613 budget what budget and I for the Department of Education Division of Higher Education, Northwest Technical Institute Capital Improvement
Appropriation, as was 1613 calendar has 1616 joint budget tonight for the Department of Energy and Environment, Oil and Gas Commission, capital improvement appropriation House Bill 1616 calendar was 1617 match and I for the Department of Corrections Division of Correction Capital Improvement Appropriation, has 16. 17 calendar has a 1629 by Representative Gassway in Central Gilmore to prevent a retiring prosecuting attorney to be awarded his or her service
firearm upon a retirement house for 1629 judiciary, 1633 by Representative Brooks and Senator Hester. to amend eligibility requirements for participating in extracurricular activities for certain students who transfer schools
Speaker 55
3:03:28
and declare an emergency. 1633. Education has 1654 by Representative Tash and Senator Wallace
Speaker 41
3:03:36
to authorize the issuance of a special license plate for a Make A Wish
Foundation of the Mid-South and to address the inventory of the Mid-South Community College Education, special license plate for 1654. Transportation has 1682, they represented Purier and Senator Davis to create the Good Neighbor Act and to clarify food donation liability and immunity house for 1682. they represented Purier and Senator Davis to create the Good Neighbor Act and to clarify food donation liability and immunity house for 16821689 by Representative Shepherd and Senator Wallace require a public high school to grant access to its facilities to military
Speaker 55
3:04:16
recruiters and to require certain state-supported post-secondary institutions to grant access to its facilities to military recruiters. Education. Senate Bill 445 of Central hammer to amend the law concerning the licenger of electrical inspectors in 445. State agencies, other announcements.
Speaker 557
3:04:40
desk. These are all just to be enrolled.
Speaker 55
3:04:48
Return of Senate concurrent resolution 4 from the House has passed and roll it, retiring Senate Bill 101 from the House has passed and roll it. Retire sent 200 from the House has passed and roll it return to Senate Bill 263 from the House has passed and roll it return of Senate Bill 298 from the House has passed and roll it return a symbol 300 from the houses passed and roll it sent 301 from the House has passed and roll it.
Speaker 41
3:05:19
We return as symbol 3:34 from the House has passed and roll it return symbol 335 from the house this passed and roll it return 337 from the House has passed and roll it. Uh. Now, other
Chair
Unverified
3:05:32
announcements, Senator Flippo, you're recognized. Madam President, members, just a reminder that state
Senator Scott Flippo
Unverified
3:05:35
agencies is going to be hearing constitutional amendments 15 minutes upon adjournment. We're only going to have about 5 hours to midnight,
so we're going to work to kind of get through them all. Thank you. Senator McKee Members special language that
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified
3:05:51
was scheduled upon adjournment today is canceled. We'll probably schedule it for Tuesday morning of next
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
3:05:59
week. Senator Hammer, I don't believe it's on your schedule, but the circuit
clerk's luncheon is tomorrow at the Association of Counties. It's at 12 o'clock if you want to catch lunch before you leave
Speaker 347
3:06:11
town if we get out of here. Any other announcements. Seeing no others. Senate
Speaker 161
3:06:16
will stand in adjournments subject to the clearing of the desk until 1:30 p.m. March 13th, 2025.
Agenda
Call to Order
Roll Call
Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Introductions of Senate Pages
Announcements
Doctor of the Day
Announcements
Items to be Read Across the Desk
RESOLUTIONS FOR THIRD READING AND ADOPTION
SR41 C. Tucker TO RECOGNIZE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025, AS SCOUTING DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
SR43 Irvin TO DESIGNATE MARCH 12, 2025, AS STARS OF LIFE DAY AND TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF CERTAIN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROFESSIONALS.
SENATE BILLS WITH SENATE AMENDMENTS
SB227 #5 C. Tucker Tucker TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO AMEND THE PROVISIONS OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967 CONCERNING PUBLIC MEETINGS.
SB246 #2 J. Dismang Dismang TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS ACCESS ACT; AND TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE AS THEY RELATE TO EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.
SB305 #1 C. Penzo Penzo TO REQUIRE CERTAIN TESTING OF PROCESSED MARIJUANA PRODUCTS SOLD AS MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
SB319 #1 J. Boyd Boyd O AMEND THE UNIFORM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACT; AND TO CLARIFY CHARGING ORDERS UNDER THE UNIFORM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACT.
SB325 #1 A. Clark Clark TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS JUVENILE CODE OF 1989; TO AMEND THE CHILD MALTREATMENT ACT; TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING REINSTATEMENT OF PARENTAL RIGHTS; AND TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING THE CHILD MALTREATMENT CENTRAL REGISTRY.
SB326 #1 A. Clark Clark TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS JUVENILE CODE OF 1989 AND THE CHILD MALTREATMENT ACT; TO MODIFY GUIDELINES FOR A JUDGMENT MADE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF A CHILD; AND TO AMEND PROCEDURES AROUND REPORTING CHILD MALTREATMENT.
SJR 15 - Dismang - Motion to withdrawal SJR15 for Amendment
SJR17 - Dotson - Motion to withdrawal SJR17 for Amendment
HOUSE BILLS WITH SENATE AMENDMENTS
HB1347 #1 Warren Hammer TO ALLOW THE ARKANSAS TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO PAY AN ANNUITY OR BENEFIT OWED TO A PERSON TO A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST ESTABLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PERSON.
HB1348 #1 Warren Hammer TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SURVIVOR BENEFITS FOR THE DEPENDENT CHILD OF A MEMBER OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR A MEMBER OF THE STATE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1479 #1 & 2 Warren Penzo TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SCRIVENER'S AFFIDAVITS; AND TO ALLOW A LICENSED ENGINEER, SURVEYOR, OR NOTARY PUBLIC TO EXECUTE AND RECORD A SCRIVENER'S AFFIDAVIT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
HB1614 #1 Lundstrum Clark TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DESIGNATIONS RELATED TO CERTAIN CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRANT PROGRAMS.
HB1271 - Refer to Senate Insurance and Commerce
SENATE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE
SB282 C. Penzo AMENDING THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS; AND TO ALLOW VOTERS TO ELECT "FOR" OR "AGAINST" WATER FLUORIDATION.
Expunge the vote on SB282
SB302 Gilmore TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF GIFT CARD FRAUD; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB307 J. Dismang TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC UTILITIES; TO CREATE THE GENERATING ARKANSAS JOBS ACT OF 2025; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB314 Irvin TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SEXUAL SOLICITATION; AND TO AMEND THE PENALTIES FOR THE OFFENSE OF SEXUAL SOLICITATION.
SB323 J. Bryant TO AMEND THE HORIZONTAL PROPERTY ACT.
SB340 A. Clark TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN FEES, EXPENSES, AND COSTS IMPOSED ON A JUVENILE OR THE PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR CUSTODIAN OF A JUVENILE.
SB307 - Motion to expunge the Emergency Clause vote on SB307
SB307 - Vote on the Emergency Clause only on SB307
SB361 Dees TO CREATE THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES EXPANSION ACT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES TO SECURE AND DEVELOP INDUSTRY AND FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SB366 J. Boyd TO CREATE THE STRENGTHEN ARKANSAS HOMES ACT; AND TO CREATE THE STRENGTHEN ARKANSAS HOMES PROGRAM FUND
SB375 Stone TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF CAPITAL RAPE; AND TO AMEND A PORTION OF ARKANSAS CODE WHICH RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 3 OF 1936.
SB401 J. Boyd TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS UNDERGROUND FACILITIES DAMAGE PREVENTION ACT.
HOUSE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE
HB1298 L. Johnson Irvin TO MODIFY PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS UNDER A HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN.
HB1460 Rose Dotson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING APPOINTMENTS TO CERTAIN BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COUNCILS BASED ON CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
HB1474 Joey Carr Wallace CON4CERNING THE PREVENTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND TO REQUIRE THE DISPLAY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE.
HB1474 - Motion to re-refer HB1474 to Senate Judiciary Committee
HB1503 Clowney Hester TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS; AND TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON THE REGULATION OF ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
HB1510 Gonzales Stubblefield TO REPEAL THE AUTHORITY FOR A MUNICIPALITY TO EXERCISE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OVER AN UNINCORPORATED AREA OF A COUNTY.
HB1516 Richmond Crowell TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
HB1527 Hudson Tucker TO AMEND THE PERMISSIBLE INVESTMENTS A GUARDIAN OF THE ESTATE MAY MAKE ON BEHALF OF A WARD.
HB1587 L. Johnson Boyd CONCERNING THE ANY WILLING PROVIDER LAWS; AND TO AMEND THE PATIENT PROTECTION ACT OF 1995.
HB1600 Tosh B. Davis TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HOLIDAY COMPENSATION, ANNUAL VACATION LEAVE, AND SICK LEAVE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
HB1607 Rose B. Davis TO CREATE THE OFFICE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM.
HB1634 Hawk Dismang TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS SPORTS RAFFLE ACT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
Items to be read across the desk
Announcements
Adjourn
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Chair
Unverified
Representative Justin Gonzales Chair
Unverified
Speaker 12
Senator Ricky Hill Chair
Unverified
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
Speaker 21
Speaker 25
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
Speaker 41
Speaker 62
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Speaker 68
Speaker 70
Speaker 73
Speaker 85
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Speaker 97
Speaker 111
Senator Breanne Davis
Unverified
Speaker 120
Speaker 82
Speaker 128
Senator Clint Penzo
Unverified
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
Senator Jim Dotson
Unverified
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
Speaker 184
Speaker 185
Speaker 197
Speaker 209
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
Speaker 7
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
Speaker 263
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
Speaker 270
Speaker 289
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
Speaker 294
Speaker 55
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
Speaker 89
Speaker 301
Speaker 302
Speaker 72
Speaker 335
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
Speaker 353
Speaker 358
Speaker 368
Speaker 378
Speaker 126
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
Speaker 404
Speaker 415
Senator Dave Wallace
Unverified
Speaker 282
Speaker 4
Speaker 269
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
Senator John Payton
Unverified
Speaker 245
Speaker 452
Speaker 453
Speaker 457
Speaker 438
Speaker 342
Speaker 275
Senator Matt Stone
Unverified
Speaker 268
Speaker 401
Speaker 161
Speaker 506
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
Speaker 510
Speaker 347
Speaker 525
Senator Steve Crowell
Unverified
Speaker 421
Speaker 136
Speaker 550
Speaker 106
Speaker 553
Speaker 396
Speaker 524
Speaker 179
Speaker 46
Speaker 564
Speaker 557
Senator Scott Flippo
Unverified
Senator Matt McKee
Unverified