House Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (46)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1213
Act 266
· 4 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1213 #1 Achor TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ATHLETIC TRAINERS ACT; TO CL…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ATHLETIC TRAINERS ACT; TO CLARIFY THE DEFINITION OF "ATHLETE"; AND TO … | Achor | Notification that HB1213 is now Act 266 |
|
HB1367
Act 346
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1367 Warren TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS TITLE INSURANCE ACT; AND TO RE…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS TITLE INSURANCE ACT; AND TO REGULATE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS BY … | Warren | Notification that HB1367 is now Act 346 |
|
HB1583
Act 348
· 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1583 Bentley TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY.”
|
TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY. | Bentley | Notification that HB1583 is now Act 348 |
|
HB1517
Act 347
· 2 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “please read House Bill 1517. 17 by Representative Ra to establish the Iron Wage Access”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE EARNED WAGE ACCESS SERVICES ACT. | Ray | Notification that HB1517 is now Act 347 |
|
HB1548
Act 375
· 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1548 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DIVISION OF INFORM…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS; AND TO ABOLISH THE DATA … | S. Meeks | Notification that HB1548 is now Act 375 |
|
HB1129
Act 407
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1129 Gramlich TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "HOMESTEAD" FOR THE PUR…”
|
TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "HOMESTEAD" FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR … | Gramlich | Notification that HB1129 is now Act 407 |
|
HB12
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “the House Bill 12:13. Representative Acer, you were recognized to explain”
|
Pre-2017 bill | ||
|
HB1386
Act 410
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1386 Cavenaugh TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ASSESSMENT OF PRO…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SUBSTANTIAL … | Cavenaugh | Notification that HB1386 is now Act 410 |
|
HB1429
Act 854
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1429 M. Shepherd TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY WHILE ENSURING QUALIT…”
|
TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY WHILE ENSURING QUALITY FOR CERTAIN FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY SERVICES; AND TO AMEND … | M. Shepherd | Notification that HB1429 is now Act 854 |
|
HB1444
Act 548
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1444 Pilkington TO AMEND THE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION”
|
TO AMEND THE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR DATA CENTERS. | Pilkington | Notification that HB1444 is now Act 548 |
|
HB1488
Act 391
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1488 Wardlaw TO AMEND THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW FOR LIFE IN…”
|
TO AMEND THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW FOR LIFE INSURANCE; AND TO REQUIRE AN INSURER TO … | Wardlaw | Notification that HB1488 is now Act 391 |
|
HB1563
Act 356
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1563 Gazaway TO ADD A FELONY OFFENSE THAT FALLS UNDER THE DEFINI…”
|
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 chapter
Matched: “HB1579 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SEX OFFENDER REASSESSME…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SEX OFFENDER REASSESSMENT; AND TO PROHIBIT AN INCARCERATED PERSON FROM … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1579 is now Act 357 |
|
HB1603
Act 365
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1603 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS BY…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS BY A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT IN CIRCUIT COURT. | Gazaway | Notification that HB1603 is now Act 365 |
|
HB1624
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1624 Gazaway TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP…”
|
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF COUNTY LAW LIBRARY BOARDS. | Gazaway | Died on Senate Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1628
Act 367
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1628 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING AN EXTENDED POST-CONVIC…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING AN EXTENDED POST-CONVICTION NO CONTACT ORDER; AND TO ADD SEXUAL … | Gazaway | Notification that HB1628 is now Act 367 |
|
HB1641
Act 600
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1641 Clowney TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HARASSMENT; AND TO INCL…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HARASSMENT; AND TO INCLUDE THE USE OF A TRACKING DEVICE … | Clowney | Notification that HB1641 is now Act 600 |
|
HB1643
Act 369
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1643 Dalby TO ALLOW A CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYER TO DISCLOSE SUB…”
|
TO ALLOW A CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYER TO DISCLOSE SUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OR … | Dalby | Notification that HB1643 is now Act 369 |
|
HB1644
Act 370
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1644 Dalby CONCERNING THE COMPENSATION OF A RETIRED JUDGE APPOIN…”
|
CONCERNING THE COMPENSATION OF A RETIRED JUDGE APPOINTED AS A SPECIAL JUDGE; TO CLARIFY THAT … | Dalby | Notification that HB1644 is now Act 370 |
|
HB1647
Act 412
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1647 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DIVISION OF INFORM…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS; TO CHANGE THE NAME OF … | S. Meeks | Notification that HB1647 is now Act 412 |
|
HB1661
Act 371
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1661 Dalby TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING STATE DISTRICT COURTS; T…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING STATE DISTRICT COURTS; TO ELIMINATE THE OBLIGATION OF CITIES AND … | Dalby | Notification that HB1661 is now Act 371 |
|
HB1666
Act 656
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1666 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS SELF-FUND…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS SELF-FUNDED CYBER RESPONSE PROGRAM. | S. Meeks | Notification that HB1666 is now Act 656 |
|
HB1673
Act 436
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1673 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING BARBERS.”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING BARBERS. | L. Johnson | Notification that HB1673 is now Act 436 |
|
HB1677
Act 637
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1677 Bentley TO AUTHORIZE ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT PROGR…”
|
TO AUTHORIZE ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAMS TO MAINTAIN EMERGENCY MEDICATION KITS. | Bentley | Notification that HB1677 is now Act 637 |
|
SB119
Act 269
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB119 C. Penzo Pilkington TO ESTABLISH THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL LIC…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT. | C. Penzo | Notification that SB119 is now Act 269 |
|
SB188
Act 272
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB188 C. Tucker Ray TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE P…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC POSTING … | C. Tucker | Notification that SB188 is now Act 272 |
|
SB209
Act 273
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB209 K. Hammer Underwood TO DISQUALIFY SIGNATURES OBTAINED BY A…”
|
TO DISQUALIFY SIGNATURES OBTAINED BY A CANVASSER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | K. Hammer | Notification that SB209 is now Act 273 |
|
SB210
Act 274
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB210 K. Hammer Underwood TO REQUIRE THE SIGNER TO READ THE BALLO…”
|
TO REQUIRE THE SIGNER TO READ THE BALLOT TITLE OF THE PETITION IN THE PRESENCE … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB210 is now Act 274 |
|
SB224
Act 290
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB224 Stone Beaty, Jr. TO REPEAL THE LAW CONCERNING NATURAL ORGAN…”
|
TO REPEAL THE LAW CONCERNING NATURAL ORGANIC FERTILIZERS. | Stone | Notification that SB224 is now Act 290 |
|
SB236
Act 261
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB236 J. Boyd Steimel TO AMEND THE INSURANCE HOLDING COMPANY REGU…”
|
TO AMEND THE INSURANCE HOLDING COMPANY REGULATORY ACT. | J. Boyd | Notification that SB236 is now Act 261 |
|
SB244
Act 275
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB244 J. Bryant Unger CONCERNING POSTPONEMENT OF JUDGMENT IN DIST…”
|
CONCERNING POSTPONEMENT OF JUDGMENT IN DISTRICT COURT; AND TO PERMIT A SUSPENDED IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE … | J. Bryant | Notification that SB244 is now Act 275 |
|
SB249
Act 291
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB249 Stone Beaty, Jr. TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VIOLATIONS AND…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES RELATED TO FORESTRY; AND TO AMEND THE … | Stone | Notification that SB249 is now Act 291 |
|
SB250
Act 292
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB250 Stone Beaty, Jr. TO AMEND THE PEST CONTROL LAW; AND TO REAS…”
|
TO AMEND THE PEST CONTROL LAW; AND TO REASSIGN CERTAIN DUTIES OF THE STATE PLANT … | Stone | Notification that SB250 is now Act 292 |
|
SB251
Act 276
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB251 Stone John Carr TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EXECUTIVE S…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE ARKANSAS TRAILS COUNCIL; AND TO … | Stone | Notification that SB251 is now Act 276 |
|
SB259
Act 293
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB259 Gilmore Beaty, Jr. TO TRANSFER APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY FOR TH…”
|
TO TRANSFER APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE ARKANSAS WATERWAYS COMMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR. | Gilmore | Notification that SB259 is now Act 293 |
|
SB260
Act 277
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB260 J. Bryant Gonzales TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE COLLECTI…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE COLLECTION OF COURT FINES, FEES, OR COSTS AFTER DEFAULT. | J. Bryant | Notification that SB260 is now Act 277 |
|
SB265
Act 294
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB265 Irvin Gramlich TO REDUCE AND MODIFY THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE L…”
|
TO REDUCE AND MODIFY THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LICENSING COMMITTEE RELATING TO WASTEWATER AND THE … | Irvin | Notification that SB265 is now Act 294 |
|
SB267
Act 295
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB267 Irvin J. Moore TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS ALTERNATIVE MOTOR FUE…”
|
TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS ALTERNATIVE MOTOR FUEL DEVELOPMENT ACT; AND TO REPEAL THE ALTERNATIVE MOTOR … | Irvin | Notification that SB267 is now Act 295 |
|
SB272
Act 278
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB272 Crowell Wooldridge TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VOTER REGIST…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VOTER REGISTRATION; TO PROHIBIT PRE-FILLED FIELDS ON A VOTER REGISTRATION … | Crowell | Notification that SB272 is now Act 278 |
|
SB291
Act 279
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB291 K. Hammer Rose TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COMPLAINTS OF EL…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COMPLAINTS OF ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS; AND TO AMEND THE DEADLINES … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB291 is now Act 279 |
|
SB292
Act 264
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB292 K. Hammer Rose TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DATE OF AN A…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DATE OF AN ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION; TO MOVE THE … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB292 is now Act 264 |
|
SB294
Act 280
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB294 K. Hammer Underwood TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ELECTION AU…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ELECTION AUDITS; AND TO ALLOW THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTION … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB294 is now Act 280 |
|
SB295
Act 281
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB295 K. Hammer Rye TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING APPROPRIATION FOR…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING APPROPRIATION FOR ELECTION EXPENSES; AND TO ALLOW COMPENSATION FOR A … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB295 is now Act 281 |
|
SB296
Act 282
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB296 K. Hammer Beaty, Jr. TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DESIGN…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION BY THE COUNTY … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB296 is now Act 282 |
|
SB297
Act 283
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB297 K. Hammer Beck TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPALITIES C…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPALITIES CHOOSING TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBERS; AND TO REQUIRE FILING … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB297 is now Act 283 |
|
SB308
Act 284
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB308 K. Hammer Rose TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A WRITE-IN CANDI…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE; AND TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO A WRITE-IN … | K. Hammer | Notification that SB308 is now Act 284 |
Machine transcript
May contain errors. Verify important quotations against the official video.
About transcript accuracy
- Source
- SliQ live captions
- Model
- SliQ live ASR
- Processing date
- October 2, 2026
I invite the members, staff, press, and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by House Chaplain, Brother Richard Hamlin, senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church of Cabot and to remain standing for the Pledge of allegiance to be led by Representative Bruce Cozart. of
Speaker 9
6:59
prayer, we bow now as you command us to with that objective of bearing one another's burdens. We do lift up the speaker and his family.
As they deal with, uh, funeral of his father-in-law tomorrow, just give him the grace that they stand in need of some money. God, we pray also today, mindful of the words of the psalmist in Psalm 5. And though he was a king whose word was law. Yet he bowed before you, God. And called you my king, and rightly so, for you are the king of kings. And the Lord of Lords.
And he promised God that he would lift his voice to you every day. He would raise his face to you every day and bow his knee, though he was a king, he would make. And I would pray God then over the legislator today and this week, what he prayed, God, that you would lead him in the way of righteousness. Uh, because their enemies are many.
Uh, that you'd make the path ahead of them straight. So that it would be plain.
Unknown speaker
9:07
Members, please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow
Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. There are 100 members present. The chair sees a quorum. Representative Matthew Shepherd moves that we dispense with the reading of the previous day's
journal. With no objection, so ordered. Madam Clark on the reports from select committees, reports from standing committees. Is there any unfinished
business? Do you have communications? Seeing none. Thank you, Madam Clerk.
Members, we have, uh, if you look around the galleries, we have several guests here today, but first, we want to direct your attention to the back of
the chamber. We want to welcome with us today from the Arkansas State Police Sergeant Zach Owens of the administrative Services Division and Corporal Trey Keller of the Highway Patrol Administration. Gentlemen, thank you for your service to the House of Representatives.
Members also want to recognize in the back of the chamber, Ms. Lee Fazio. She is our house nurse. Thank you for your service, Miss Lee. Members, uh, over
to your left in the West chamber today, we have guests of Representative Matt Duffield. We have the Russellville Chamber of Commerce. I want to welcome you to the House of Representatives.
Over in the East gallery today, we have a guest of Representative Ron McNair. This is the Valley Springs High School's AP history
and government class. Welcome to the house. We appreciate you being here today. Representative Ladyman, for what purpose? You're recognized.
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
11:45
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, I'd like to invite, uh, Representative McGruder. Wooton, Anchor, Grimlich, and Carr, join me in the well. These gentlemen, uh, like me have, have coached young people, and uh, they want to be a part of this, uh, Presentation. Colleagues, we have with us today our athletic trainers up in the East Gallery, uh, I have a resolution and the governor has a declaration.
To designate March 2025 as the National Athletic Training Month in Arkansas. I did not get the resolution. Uh, or the Declaration ready and on the agenda today, so we'll do that later on. Uh, before I talk about the resolution, I wanted to recognize a few people. We have a number of the, uh, ASU UFA and Central Arkansas University Athletic training students with us today. I would ask them to please stand. And if y'all would hold your
applause, till till I got somebody else I want to stand with. Uh, I wanted to, uh, ask Ron Carroll. To stand. I wanted to recognize Ron individually. Uh, he has been the athletic trainer at Arkansas State University for 49 years. Uh, the training room at ASU is named after Ron, and I wanted to recognize his commitment to ASU and to the profession of athletic trainers. Uh, Ron has helped many leadership role
positions in the athletic Trainers Association and is dedicated to improve the profession, please help me welcome Ron and the students to the House of Representatives. I think it is appropriate to celebrate March as national athletic trainer Month. These are the professionals that keep our children and our grandchildren safe and healthy
when participating in sports at the elementary high school and college levels, they even help us older folks if we continue to participate in sports. Right The Arkansas Athletic Trainers Association was founded in 1987 to educate its members and promote better healthcare for the population it serves. Athletic trainers are highly skilled healthcare professionals who specialize in risk reduction, wellness, and all aspects of health management,
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
14:25
and I'd like to ask, uh, Representative McGruder if he wants. I am excited, uh, to see all the athletic trainers here today. I, I also want to inform them that anything that a coach says during the game, please don't take it personal, uh, but we are thankful for you all. I'm so happy to see uh Brother Carol here, Ron Carroll, uh, he was actually at ASU when I was at ASU. He was my instructor in class and and kept a lot of us uh uh able to play in football games and other activities that were participating on campus.
But uh you all are joy, I'm glad that uh Arkansas was shifting and trainers are going to be at most schools in Arkansas, and we'll do our best to make sure that trainers are at all the schools in Arkansas while
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
15:11
we're here. Thank you all for coming. Thank you for those comments. Uh, National Athletic Training Month is observed every March in order to spread awareness regarding the important work of athletic trainers to make physical activity safer for all. Would y'all please help me recognize our athletic trainers.
Please stand. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Representative Ladyman for recognizing
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
15:48
this group. Members of Representative Brandon Aker recommends that we concur and send an amendment number 1 to House Bill 1213. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Amendment number 1. Amendment 1,
Chair
Unverified
15:57
the House Bill 12:13. Representative Acer, you were recognized to explain
Speaker 41
16:07
your amendment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, uh,
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
Unverified
16:09
this is a technical correction requested by DHS to help clarify, uh, certain reporting mechanisms on half the report the, uh, provider types, not necessarily the individual names of all those providers, uh, and with that, I appreciate a good vote. Representative Acer has
explained the amendment. Does anyone wish to speak against the
amendment. Does anyone wish to speak for the amendment? Representative Baker is closed for the amendment.
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
16:37
The question before the House is concurrence with Senate Amendment number 1 to House Bill 1213, repair the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted.
Cast up the ballot. The vote of 96, 0, nay, and zero present. You have concurred in Senate Amendment number 1 to House Bill 1213. Members also, and you'll see them moving all around the floor today
here serving, uh, us as pages. We have a wonderful group. We appreciate very much them taking their time to come down and be a part
of this process. Would you please give our pages a warm welcome today.
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1367.
Speaker 38
17:57
16 by Representative Warren to amend the Arkansas Title Insurance Act and to regulate access to public records by a title agent in a title
Chair
Unverified
18:07
company. Representative Warren, you're recognized to
Representative Les Warren
Unverified
18:12
explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, each circuit clerk is the custodian of their county's public records. In recent years, out of state, third parties have persuaded largely inexperienced circuit
clerks to delegate that authority to them. That's not a duty they can delegate to someone, some other entity. Those third parties then watermarked the documents as their own versus the public records that they are and allow access to the documents for a profit. This reinforces this bill reinforces the circuit clerks. Custodial role and brings the current statute into the electronic age. Previously, the statute
contemplated mechanical transmittal of documents. This covers the current electronic transmittal of the documents. While the circuit clerks and land title groups were meeting, they agreed to a maximum fee per month for the electronic transfer of documents to licensed members of the title industry. The circuit clerks in the Arkansas Land Title Association are in complete support of this bill. be glad to answer any questions. I don't see any. I'd appreciate
a good vote. Representative Warren has explained the bill. Would anyone
Chair
Unverified
19:29
like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like speak for the bill? Representative Warren is
closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1367. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. Everyone voted, everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
By a vote of 98, 0, nay, 0 present. The
bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1583.
Speaker 59
20:05
1583 by Representative Bentley to mandate coverage for acquired brain injury. Representative Bentley, you're
recognized to explain your bill. Thank you Speaker.
Colleagues about 7 years ago on Mother's Day, I received a phone call, no parent ever wants to receive
from the chaplain at UMS tell me that my son had been involved in a car accident, severely injured. He'd been med-flighted into UAMS and, um, as a nurse, I knew when the chaplain calls, it's never good when the chaplain that calls you. So I got all my prayer worries, praying for my son to get to the hospital to find out he had definitely broken his neck, but thankfully, his brain had not been injured. Unfortunately, for many, our Kans since that's not the, the case that they do have traumatic brain injury, and we cannot treat traumatic brain injury like you would a broken arm or a broken leg. It's important that they get the necessary treatment
that they can get because just like with a stroke, we have a golden opportunity to make sure they have a good outcome that their life, life expectancy is good that they can get up and walk and talk, and if they get the proper treatment, that will happen. And actually, at the end of the day, we'll save money. This bill is copied from a bill that was passed in Texas, and they have not really seen any increases in premiums due to this, where they have seen cost savings because people get the treatment that they need when they need it. They're not cut off with arbitrary caps from an insurance company to get the treatment they need and the outcomes are better in the end
we save money. So, um, this will allow DHS to apply for a waiver they've been wanting to do for a number of years. So, once the waiver is in place, we'll be able to get the treatment for our Medicaid patients. And um this is a lengthy bill,
so I'll take any questions that anybody may have. Representative Shepherd, for what purpose? You're
Representative Tara Shephard
Unverified
21:50
recognized for a question. Thank you. Representative, we spoke earlier about the fiscal impact statement and that there was not one completed because of the waiver. So if you could speak more to that, please. Yes, so um
again, DHS asked to apply for this wherever something they've been wanting to do for years to apply for the waiver, but right now there's no way for us to have a fiscal impact on that. But as I said in Texas when they passed this bill, actually save money in the long run because we had better outcomes for our patients, they weren't as dependent on long-term care. So Thank you, Representative Shepherd. Any other questions? All right, I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
22:23
Representative Bentley has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like speak for the bill? Representative Bentley is closed
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
22:32
for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1583. Prepare the
machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 94, 1 nay, and 2 present. The bill is passed.
Members got a couple of other guests, uh, here with us this afternoon, uh, in the East gallery here today,
uh, guest of Representative Dwight Tosh is Mr.
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
23:10
Timothy Richmond from Tuckerman. You give him a welcome here today. Madam Clerk, please read House
Bill 154848 by Representative Meeks to amend the law
Speaker 38
23:33
concerning a division of information systems and to abolish the data and transparency panel.
Speaker 78
23:37
And it makes you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this is an
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
23:41
agency bill and what it does is back in 2015, um, I set up a data and transparency panel. The purpose of that panel was to bake down silos between state government and allow for the better sharing and integration of data across state governments. Purpose of that panel was to allow for the cataloging of the data that we had as a state. A lot of times we didn't even know what we had. And then to create data
governance on how that has been used. That process has been completed, so This is the next step in that process, uh, what this bill does is it, it eliminates the panel because it is no longer needed. It allows DIS to become an authorized user of that data to allow for the integration, and it allows for DIS to work with data stewards in each one of the departments to allow for, again, that, uh, data integration for, uh, make state government more efficient and quicker responding. Uh, happy to answer any questions. Saying none, appreciate a good vote.
Representative Meeks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Anyone likes to speak
Chair
Unverified
24:42
for the bill. Representative Meeks is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1548. Prepare the machine, Madam clerk. Everyone voted, everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
25:06
By a vote of 98, 0, nay, and 1 present, the bill is passed. Madam Clark,
Speaker 38
25:13
please read House Bill 1517. 17 by Representative Ra to establish the Iron Wage Access
Chair
Unverified
25:19
Service Act. Representative Ray, you're recognized to explain
Representative David Ray
Unverified
25:23
the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this legislation in front of you lays out a legal framework for earned wage access companies to abide by in the state of Arkansas. Uh, the first couple of pages, uh, layout definitions. It defines earned wage access and
some of the corresponding terms, uh, the, the rest of the bill, um, lays out the requirements for earned wage access companies, um, as well as prohibited practices which establish consumer protections, uh, for Arkansans and lays out the acts that they have to undertake to operate in our state. Uh, there are currently over 400 companies in Arkansas that offer earned wage access as a benefit to their employees and we, we have well over 50,000 Arkansans in
the state that have access to, um, earned wage access through their employees. Uh, for those who aren't familiar, I'll take a second to explain what earned wage access is. It is a unique financial services product that allows workers to access wages that they've already earned ahead of their typically scheduled payday. So it's just like what the name suggests. It allows workers to access their earned wage. So you can essentially,
instead of waiting on your regularly scheduled payday, you can get paid when you need to get paid. Uh, why would anyone want need this. As most of us experience, uh, employers typically pay either twice a month or once a month, but life doesn't conveniently happen to us in two-week increments. A lot of workers, especially low to moderate income workers live paycheck to paycheck, depending on what study you choose to follow, somewhere between 50 to 65% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. And as a result,
They have financial stress about not being able to pay a bill on time or a check that they just wrote, not clearing before payday. Um, and so that higher than expected utility bill or that unexpected flat tire, um, or any of the unexpected health care bill. All of these things can put people in a tight spot. So to help people that are living closer to the margins, um, earned wage access allows them to use wages. They've already earned and accessed them prior to payday. Functionally, um, these work just like if you, if
you're familiar with PayPal or the Venmo app on your phone. It works very similar to that. The big question that people, um, when they're learning about earned wage access, always ask is, you know, is this a, is this a loan? Is this a payday loan? The answer to that is, is unequivocally no. um, this is not a loan based on future wages, and it doesn't share any of the common characteristics of loans. There's no interest, there's no credit checks, there's no late fees or penalties. There's no debt collection. This is a non-recourse product.
Um, but it does allow workers to access their earnings after they've earned them and when they need them. Uh, and with that, I would be happy to answer
questions. Representative Richardson, for what purpose? You're recognized for a question? I'm sorry, Representative, you may have
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
28:29
said this, but is there a fee attached
Representative David Ray
Unverified
28:36
to it? So All earned wage access companies are required under this bill to allow workers to access their
wages without a with a no fee option. There are, there are also fee options, um, but these are entirely voluntary. So think about, um, if you're familiar with are you familiar with PayPal? OK. So when you have money in your PayPal account, you can do the 2 to 3 day transfer to your checking account that has no fee attached to it. But if you want to do an instant transfer, you know, you pay a $2 or $3.5 fee or something associated with that instant transfer, and that's, that's typically how the process works. All up, you're recognized.
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
29:17
Does the fee, because that makes sense, does the fee in the bill, give it the opportunity where it can go up over a period of time or is it locked
Representative David Ray
Unverified
29:29
in or whatever the fee is currently. No, these are, these are, these are typically standard fees. So it's the
Chair
Unverified
29:39
most common fee is about $3.5. Representative McCullough, for what purpose?
Representative Tippi McCullough
Unverified
29:43
Question you're recognized. So could this allow a consumer to have more overdrafts,
possibly repeat borrowing, um, loan stacking in a sense across different apps. Repeat your question again. Yeah, this allow a consumer using this service to, um, rack up overdraft fees, um, have repeat borrowing practices or do loan stacking against different apps. No,
Representative David Ray
Unverified
30:10
so, in fact, um, Earnway access is almost always an alternative to a lot of the things you just described. So, typically, when, when someone
encounters an expense that they can't pay for. They, they've got a handful of options. They can put it on a credit card. They can. You know, usually a truly destructive option like a payday loan, um, or they can write a check and hope that that check clears before they're, you know, before they have the balance of funds in their account to pay for it. Um, Earned wage access simply, if you've earned wage access just allows so that if you, let's say
you've worked for 10 days out of your 14-day, uh, pay period, and you need to access some of those funds, you can access up to Those 10 days' worth of wages. Representative Wooldridge, for
Chair
Unverified
31:01
what purpose? Recognized. this will be optional obviously for employers,
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
Unverified
31:05
so they will have to opt into being able to offer this to employees, they don't have to opt out. It's not an automatic thing. That's absolutely right.
Representative David Ray
Unverified
31:13
It's not required of anybody. We do have over 400 employers in the state that offer earned wage access as a benefit, and a lot of the
companies that offer it are names that you would recognize their companies like Kroger, Tractor Supply, Casey's General Stores, Hilton Hotels. A lot of companies that you would recognize. And the one thing that I would emphasize, um, is that this practice or this product is legal in all 50 states, um, because it's a new product, regulations are just now emerging. Um, we currently don't have any regulation around this space and this bill
provides some basic consumer protections that companies have
Chair
Unverified
31:59
to abide by. Representative Wooten, for what purpose? Question.
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
32:03
You're recognized Representative Ray is, as it was explained to us in insurance and commerce, they cannot get in. That's correct. Nobody can access future wages that have yet to
Representative David Ray
Unverified
32:16
be earned. They can only access wages that have already been earned. Thank you,
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
32:29
for what purpose? You're recognized provides a service to their employee example you just gave, they could, uh, with, uh, would they? Right. They would, they would still get paid on their payday,
Representative David Ray
Unverified
32:54
the balance of what is owed to them through their paycheck. So if they let's just to use nice round numbers, you know, if an employee was due to be paid $2000 and they had taken out $500 through EWA they would still receive the other 1500 on payday. Alright.
Speaker 112
33:15
Any other questions? OK. With that, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Ray
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to
speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Ray is closed for the bill. closed. You,
Chair
Unverified
33:32
you recognized the clothes for the bill. I
Representative David Ray
Unverified
33:36
just want to emphasize something I mentioned in, in response to Representative Wooldridge's question. The, like I said, I know this is a new topic, so not everybody may be familiar with it, but it is, this product is legal in all 50 states. We don't currently have any regulation around this area. This just provides some basic consumer protections. And so, if
we didn't pass this bill, all it would mean is we would just go 2 more years without having any parameters on the, on these products. So, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative
Chair
Unverified
34:08
Ray is closed for the bill. You wanna like speak. pushing before the house is the passage of House Bill 1517. the machine, Madam Clerk. So everyone voted
Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. A vote of 93 e, 3 nay, and 4 present. The
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
34:33
bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read
House Bill 148848 Representative Wardlaw to amend the
Speaker 118
34:39
standard non-forfeiture law for life insurance and to require an insurer to pay interest on deferred payment of any cash surrender value under certain policies to explain your bill. Thank
you, Mr. Speaker. This bill is
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
34:52
a good consumer bill. What it does, it says, if you
have a cash, whole life policy. Or a life insurance policy that you want to cash out, they must pay your money within 30 days, or they will pay the prime interest rate on your money past 30 days. So if they want to keep your money for 6 months, then they're gonna pay you interest. The other thing it does is it adds a binder in there. In most states until that cash is rendered back to you, they have to maintain that life insurance policy to that point. Uh, this bill just makes sure
they cover that until they can cut you the check
Chair
Unverified
35:33
back. Represent Wardlaws explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? when I speak For the bill. Representative Wardlaw is closed for the
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
35:43
bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1488. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted So everyone voted.
Cast up the ballot. By about 100, 0 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Representative MacGruder, what purpose? Personal privilege. Good afternoon,
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
36:25
everyone. I take this moment just to recognize the, I know everybody saw people with red and white walking
around the Capitol. I want to recognize my fraternity, uh, Kappa Alpha Psi attorney, uh, they are here in the West Gallery, if I'm not mistaken, but we want to make sure we acknowledge them at a resolution has been done and it will get to the organization, but I want you all to recognize the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi haternity Incorporated.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Madam Clerk, please read House
Speaker 118
37:07
Bill 1643. 1643 by Representative Darby to allow a current or former employer to disclose substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or harassment
Speaker 38
37:14
by the current. For former employee to a prospective employer upon written consent. Representative, you're recognized to
explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
37:25
Members, this bill comes from the Department of Corrections, and they were needing to have a clause added into current statute because under the
Federal Prison Rape Elimination Act. Federal regulations require that the department make its best effort to contact former employees concerning substantiated allegations of sexual abuse, excuse me, are, uh, sexual harassment within the employment. So what this does is it amends the current law adds that language to it, and, uh, that will get our Department of Corrections in line with the federal law. And with that, I'll be happy to. Thank you. I'd appreciate a good vote.
Chair
Unverified
38:07
Representative Dalby has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Day is closed for the bill.
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
38:15
The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1643. Prepare the machine,
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
38:20
Madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted, cast up the ballot.
By a vote of 97, 0 nay, and 0 present. The bill is
Speaker 134
38:42
passed. Madam Clark, please read House Bill
Speaker 38
38:45
1429. 14 by Representative Shepherd to increase accessibility while ensuring quality for certain facilities performing mammogram, mammography services and to amend
Speaker 119
38:51
the law concerning the quality standards for accreditation of facilities for mammography. Representative Shepherd, you're recognized to explain
your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, members,
Representative Matthew J. Shepherd
Unverified
39:09
House Bill 1429 actually originated with, uh, some issues that arose at my local hospital in El Dorado, uh, they had reached out to me with regard to diagnostic mammograms. And so, uh, I think Representative Johnson likely will follow me here in the well. He can clarify if I'm stating this incorrectly, but a diagnostic mammogram is generally a mammogram that may be a follow-up to a screening mammogram. We're probably most familiar with the screening.
mammogram that uh that women uh routinely, uh, go in for, but then you have this follow up if they see something and they want to have a follow-up, they schedule a diagnostic mammogram. So what has happened is in the, the rules and rags, a diagnostic mammogram could only occur with a radiologist on site. And the problem is we have a shortage of radiologists, uh, among other things that we have a shortage of when it comes to healthcare. And so, for example, at El Dorado, uh, for a period of time, there was maybe half a day, there's a half a day window
when there was a radiologist on site who could conduct the diagnostic mammogram. And actually, I think the testimony in committee has been for the last couple of years, there has been no radiologist available and therefore, in many of our rural hospitals such as El Dorado, there was not the opportunity to have a diagnostic mammogram. Performed. Well, the issue that arises is that If an individual is unable to have that diagnostic mammogram, particularly in rural Arkansas, there would be many that would
probably be, be willing and able to get to Little Rock or some other area to have that performed, but the testimony in committee is that there was a significant number of individuals who would never have a follow-up. And so we set out to try to work on this and work with the governor's office in the Department of Health and filed this legislation, and I want to, uh, mention Representative Johnson. We filed it several weeks ago. We let it kind of sit out there so that we could get feedback. And then Representative Johnson worked with our radiologist, uh,
because what we found was with the original bill draft, there were some radiologists that were adamantly, uh, in favor of that, but then there were some concerns raised about where we going to create any Um, uh, decrease in the level of care. And so what we were able to come up with with Representative Johnson's health help here is this particular bill and what the amended language, it will provide for a diagnostic mammogram to be performed, but a, a radiologist will need to be immediately available through tele
telemedicine, and that's important for them to be able to make sure they get the proper imaging so that they can properly diagnose and ultimately treat any issue that may have arisen. And so I to give uh Representative Johnson a lot of credit for that. I think this is a good bill that is going to help women across Arkansas, and obviously, that's first and foremost, is health and safety. But the other thing is that this is going to allow our rural hospitals to provide a needed service across our state. And so with that, I'd be glad to.
Chair
Unverified
42:16
If not, I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Shepherd has explained the bill. Would anyone like to
speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Johnson, you're recognized to
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
42:37
speak for the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Shepherd gives me too much credit. Uh, this was his idea, and it's a great
idea. This is gonna help, uh, provide access that's much needed in
rural areas in a way that's very safe and now supported as far as I can tell by all the radiologists. And so, uh, I was happy to play a role in helping try to get this organized and, and together and, uh, I appreciate him bringing this, uh, issue forward, and I would appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Representative Johnson has spoke for the
bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Shepherd is closed for the bill. The
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
43:14
question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1429,
prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Madam clerk. By a vote of 100, 0, nay, and
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
43:38
0 present. The bill is passed. Representative Bentley, for what purpose? Let's hear your motion-refer this bill
back to committee for amendment. That's a proper motion. It is
debatable. Uh, you're recognized to come to the well and explain your
motion. Thank you, Speaker, uh, colleagues, I promise the pharmacy associate and I would pharmacy association, I would have made this on the Senate end and they'd asked me if I would just take care of it on the house and do it right, so let's bring it back to the House committee, make sure we do this bill correctly, and I appreciate a good vote. Representative Bentley has
explained the motion. Would anyone like to speak against the motion. Would anyone like to speak for the motion, Representative Bentley is closed for the motion. Prepare the machine, madam clerk.
everyone voted Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
By a vote of 98, yeah, 0, nay, and 0 present. Motion passes. Send the bill back to committee. Representative McCullough, for what
Representative Tippi McCullough
Unverified
45:09
purpose? Point of personal privilege recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, if you'll direct your attention into the North gallery, we have some guests with us today. They are the parliamentary staff of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, US relations with Vietnam were normalized and renewed in 1995. This is our
30th year anniversary of the normalization. They are 10th largest trading partner. Would everyone please welcome them to the Arkansas House. Madam
Clark, please read House Bill 16733 by Representative
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
45:58
Johnson to amend the law concerning barbers. Representative Johnson, you're
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
46:07
recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Speaker, members, uh, this bill was brought to me by the Arkansas, uh, Board of Labor and Licensing is a cleanup bill around some of the things we do with barbers. Uh, it removes the requirement to have an actual Social Security card as part of their application, uh, removes one of the requirements for notarization of the application. As I understand it lines them up with what we do in the cosmetology, uh, board, which is
actually over in the Department of Health, um, I visited with some barbers and as far as I can tell, it has no opposition. I'd be happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Appreciate a good vote. Representative
Chair
Unverified
46:42
Johnson has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
46:49
Johnson is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1673. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Everyone voted Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 97, yeah, 0, nay, and 1 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk,
please read House Bill 1386 by Representative Kavanaugh to
Speaker 118
47:20
amend the law concerning the assessment of property to amend the law concerning substantial improvement to real real property and to
Speaker 119
47:26
amend the method of evaluation for real property under Arkansas Constitution Article 16, Section 5.
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
47:35
Representative Kavanaugh, you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, this bill, uh, sets out the definition of substantial improvement, so it'll be consistent across all counties in the state of Arkansas. It also goes in and says that if someone is rebuilding because of a natural disaster, as long as they're using the same components and not upgrading their components, then it won't trigger a substantial improvement, um, and it also states that, um, only in-state comps can be used.
for determination unless it's commercial and there are no comps in the state for that commercial facility. And with that, I would she had a good vote. Representative Kavanaugh has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak
Chair
Unverified
48:22
for the bill? Representative Kavanaugh is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1386,
repair the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot By a vote of 99, 0 nay, and 0
Speaker 134
48:49
present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1129.
Speaker 38
48:54
High school 11:29 by Representative Graham to amend the definition of homestead for the purpose of property tax exemption for disabled
Speaker 118
49:00
veterans, surviving spouses, and minor dependent children. explain
the bill. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker.
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
49:08
House Bill 1129, uh, aims to rectify an issue that we, um, accidentally passed two years ago when trying to redefine what a homestead was. We set it to many, many of their property taxes were then required to pay property taxes and they were accident, 88 of us in this chamber voted on this bill and we didn't, we didn't catch this when it happened. So what we're gonna do is we're going to amend
that to 160 acres to be in line with the homes. Um, we've had individuals who literally, literally been living on. family farms for, for over a century who got hit with taxes. Oh, there's no state, this only affects the, uh, the county. There's no state. Representative Gramlich has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the
Chair
Unverified
50:02
bill Representative Gramage is closed for the bill. Question
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
50:07
before the house is the passage of House Bill 1129,
repair the machine, Madam Clerk. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 100, 0
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
50:28
nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clark, please read House Bill
Speaker 38
50:34
1444. 1444 by Representative Fointon to amend the sales and use tax exemption for data centers. Representative Pilkington,
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
50:40
you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, As many of you probably remember from last session, we had the, the, we had the original bill, uh, that created the sales tax exemption for for data centers. Um, what we're doing is taking my bill from last year. We're, we're adding to it. This came from ADC and I want to appreciate, uh, AADC for working, for working to create this legislation as well as testifying for it as long as, as a longer alongside Secretary
McDonald, who also helped. So just real quick, there's a couple of things in this bill. One is cleanup language as a, as it pertains to adjacency. Um, and so obviously if you have a data center with 2 units that are separated by a road. We wanted to make sure that that was, that was one data center as opposed to two so they could qualify this. We also expand, expanded the program with, uh, the creation of what we're on a large scale data center, very similar to what it was before, but this is an investment of $2 billion with $3 million being paid to Arkansas employees, uh,
and to give you kind of an idea of what these large scale data centers are like. Uh, I'd like to bring your attention to the large-scale data center that was built in, uh, Mississippi or is being built by Amazon. It's about a $10 billion investment with 100 jobs, uh, located there. So, um, That's essentially what this spill's doing, but I want to talk a little bit to why this bill is so important. Over the last few years since we passed our bill, it was so good that everyone else decided to copy it. And so we've got now these large scale data centers
in Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia. Um, We, we are Literally the only state in the Mid-South that does not have one of these large scale data centers. And it's a problem. This is the future. They're not going away, and yet we've been found to be flat-footed. So this bill is aimed to, to get us back in the game, to be more aggressive, um, and this is not just something we're doing here locally. The feds have announced a $2 billion or have announced a
partnership with UAE for $2 billion investment into the United States, which includes all those states, um, but yeah, it doesn't include Arkansas because we're not seen as a, uh, competitive market here on the map. So this is to essentially a bill to put us back in the game. to get us to where we're now competitive and um I think it's a great bill and I hope to see one of these large $10 billion dollar investments come here to Arkansas. But that asks for a good vote. Thank you. Representative Pilkington has explained the bill.
Chair
Unverified
53:11
Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative Pilkington is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1444. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Everyone voted So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
53:47
By a vote of 71, 17 nay, and 11 present. The bill is passed.
Speaker 118
53:54
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1641. That
Speaker 82
53:57
1641 by Representative Clowney to amend the law concerning harassment and to include the use of a tracking device in the in the
offense of harassment. Representative Clowney, you're recognized to
Representative Nicole Clowney
Unverified
54:08
explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, over the interim, a courageous constituent of mine named Aaron came to me after a scary encounter with a controlling and
abusive ex-boyfriend without her knowledge or consent, Aaron found that he had placed a tracking device on her car and was following her every move. Arkansas law had not caught up with the technology around this and so unfortunately, was not able to provide Erin, um, with the protection that she needed and deserved. And so this bill is an attempt to just close that gap. It's a problem lots of states are grappling with. So we looked at what about 30 other states have done. I also worked with Representative Gazaway, um, appreciated his help. Prosecutors and defense
attorneys to come up with the language that we did. What we ended up doing was including, um, digital tracking. Without consent, um, without good cause and without legal authority to our state's harassment code. Because the question came up in committee. I do want to just expressly note that there are exceptions for parents who want to keep tracks on the whereabouts of their minors, as well as law enforcement, um, but I'd be happy to answer any questions and I'd appreciate a good vote.
Chair
Unverified
55:21
Representative Clowney has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like speak for the bill? Representative Clowney is
closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1641. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Everyone voted So everyone voted.
Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 98 ya, 1 nay, and one
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
55:57
present. The bill is passed. Madam Clark, please read House Bill 164444 by Representative Dalby
Speaker 38
56:03
concerning the compensation of a retired judge appointed as a special judge to clarify that a retired judge may serve as a special judge immediately upon retirement and to declare an emergency. Representative Darby, you're recognized to
explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
56:23
now that Amendment 80 is now in full force and effect. All this bill is doing is clarifying, uh, section 13 of Amendment 80, that a retired judge may serve as a special judge immediately upon leaving office. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Darby has explained the bill.
Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like speak for the bill? Representative Day
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
56:50
is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the
passage of House Bill 1644. Prepare the
machine, Madam Clerk. Members, your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Everyone voted So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 99, 0 nay, and 0 present. The
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
57:19
bill and the emergency clause has passed. Madam clerk, please read House
Speaker 38
57:27
Bill 16616 Representative Dalby to amend the laws concerning state district courts to eliminate the obligation of cities and counties to pay the salaries of state
Speaker 118
57:34
district court judges and to amend the laws concerning
district court clerks. Representative Doby, you're recognized to
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
57:43
explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This bill is a little bit longer maybe than the last one or the last couple I've run. Uh, this particular bill is a result. From the joint House and Senate Joint Task Force that was
created in the last session. This bill is actually began at least 4 to 5 years ago, with the culmination of Act 80, we now have 70 district judges, state district judges in the state, as opposed to the 170. I mean, not circuit 170 municipal city judges, uh, various, uh, judges throughout the state, as you now know from Amendment 80 that was passed 25 years ago. We now have 70 district judges.
The task force. Worked the last 2 years, we heard from all the different stakeholders. We had audit do special reports for us. And we did all of that and then in October of last year, we presented our final report. This bill has the backing of The municipal League, the Association of Counties, the district Judges Association and the administrative Office of courts, so all the stakeholders have come together, as they were
all involved for the two-year task force study. So let me give you the highlights of this bill, because this is, I think, a bill that certainly your cities and counties are going to be very, uh, happy with. I know that their associations are extremely happy with it. Under the the current law, there is still a portion of the state district judge's salaries, just the state district judge's salaries that were being paid by your cities and counties. The rest of it was being paid out of the state constitutional Officerss Fund.
This bill now requires that it all be paid out of the state constitutional Office Fund. And yes, there is plenty of money in that fund to take care of it. So, in certain situations, your counties may have been, some counties may have been paying up to 3540 $50,000 toward a salary in the cities were paying a portion of it too. So now all of that's being taken over. There was a $4 million shortfall that the cities and counties were having to cover, but now that's all being, will be taken care of out of the fund that already exists.
So that is one thing that this bill does. Another thing that this bill does, if you er, if you came to any of the committee meetings and you're involved in any way throughout this last two years. Colloquially, we would talk about fifty-fifty corps. Well, with this is what this is referring to is That from the collection of the uniform court costs and fees, these district courts would send in a portion of it to the state. Now, the last time this was set
was in 1996. So in 1996, to give you an example, Farmington, Arkansas in 1996 was not a very big city. They were sending 90% of what they collect. Well, since 1996, things have changed in Farmington, Arkansas and it's just an example, but instead of sending 90% now, they will be required just to send 50%. And then there are some district courts that maybe were only sending 25% in the state. They'll be sending 50%, but
remember that offsets being taken care of the fact that they will no longer have to pay part of the district court's salaries, the district judges' salaries. So it be right, so that it will all even out. It may take a year or so, but it will eventually even out to where they're not, nobody's behind. The other big issue, and there were 5 issues in this, but the, the other main issue that we had a lot of discussion on was the installment fee that defendants could be charged. Here's an
example. Let's say that I'm before the district court, I get a $1000 fine, court cost, and all of that. And I can't pay that $1000. dollars. So the court would allow me to pay an installment fee to pay it out. And that installment fee was $10 every month. So let's say if I could only spend $25 to pay toward my fun, but then another $10 was getting tacked on. Sometimes it would take years to get this paid. And with that $10 fee is broken down in several different
ways, but we couldn't completely eliminate it, though that was probably the wish of everybody that we could, uh, when that fee was set up more than 25 years or 20 years ago now. It was for courtroom automation. They still need some of that. And so instead of the $10 a month, it's being dropped to $7.50. And with that, it's still going to courtroom automation. We've expanded what they could use it for instead of just courtroom automation. It can now be used
to help defray the cost for courtroom security in district courts. So that's a win-win, that's something cities and counties really, uh, were wanting, and I think it's a good thing to be able to allow that to be expanded. So we're allowing that, but we're putting a cap on it that the cap for as much as a defendant can pay would be $90. Instead of it going out 5 years or whatever. Instead, it's gonna be $90 at that 750 a month fee
if they so choose to pay their fines and fees out by an installment. And also, we have put a sunset on that to wear that installment fee would end in the year 2031. And you, what's the significance of that is because you will recall those of us who have been here a while, the Supreme Court is in the process of developing a new tracking system that we've given them money for. They're bringing corpse on slowly to
that tracking system. So eventually, all these district court that are paying various vendors throughout the state to care of the nation to keep up with their tracking, that will then go to the court tracking, and it won't cost anything. But we've got to kind of give that some time to see how that will work and if there's still a need for some of the installment fee, but hopefully, that will take care of it. No doubt in a perfect world, we wouldn't be tacking that on, but we don't have a perfect world. We have to have
some way to pay for it. So those are the major things in this bill. The other thing you will see there's a lot of strikeouts. Once again, if you've been around here a long time, I would announce I have the court clerk pay bill on my desk. Well, we would set the court clerk clerk's pay. But we don't pay them, and so we're leaving that up to the cities and counties to decide what they're gonna pay their clerks. They're, their employees, not our employees. You may see another companion bill in that regard, but we just
wanted to make that clear in this bill, that that's how that's being handled. That's a lot to say, but I'll be happy to take any questions. I'm very proud of the work that, uh, The task force did proud of the work that the, uh, county association did and their help, the municipal League and their help and the district judges, everybody had a seat at the table. They spent hours and, and I'm very proud of the work that they have all done to get it to
this point. I think now that Amendment 80 is in full force and effect. It's important that we bring the court along into the modern age. So, with that, I'll be happy to answer any questions. Not appreciate a great vote. Thank
Speaker 23
1:05:25
you. Representative Darby has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:05:32
the bill? Representative Darby is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the
passage of House Bill 1661. Prepare the machine, madam
clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 100, 0, nay, 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:06:04
Clerk, please read House Bill 1563. 1563 by
Speaker 38
1:06:07
Representative Galloway to add a felony offense that
falls under the definition of restricted release felony with respect to release eligibility and procedures for offenses committed on or after January 1st, 2025.
Representative Gaway, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, as many of you
may remember in the Protect Arkansas Act. We created 4 classifications for early release. We have the what, what I would call the 100% category, which is the felonies ineligible for early release. Second category was the restricted release felonies, which requires a person to do
85% of their time before they're eligible for release and then a 50% category and a 25% category. One of the things that we failed to do, however, when we were running all of the fentanyl-related legislation and, in one of those bills, the fentanyl Enforcement Accountability Act, we made provision for If that bill passed to protect Arkansas Act passed those offenses were classified, but there was one separate bill, which was knowingly exposing another person to fentanyl, and we did not put a classification as to where the release eligibility would fall. And so
that's all this bill does is it classifies knowingly exposing another person person to fentanyl as a restricted release felony, which means that they must serve 85% of their time before they're eligible for release. It's all the bill does. Happy to answer any questions. Saying no to appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Representative
Chair
Unverified
1:07:29
Gazaway has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? anyone likes to speak for the bill. Representative Gazaway is closed for
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:07:37
the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1563. Prepare the
machine, madam clerk. Everyone voted Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:08:00
100, yeah, 0, nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clark, please read House
Speaker 38
1:08:06
Bill 1579. 1579 represented Gazaway to amend the law concerning sex offender reassessment and to prohibit any incarcerated person
from being eligible for risk level reassessment,
to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, this is a bill that comes to us from the Department of Corrections. Basically, uh, what it does is it says that someone who is incarcerated, is not entitled to a reassessment of their sex offender, uh, classification. Right now, under existing law, they're entitled to a reassessment every 5 years. Well, we have individuals who are in the Department of Corrections that are there for life, but they're still doing
these reassessments. You have people there that are on these sexual offenses that are for 40, 30 years, and yet the Department of Corrections is spending time and resources to continually reassess them every 5 years when they know that there's no hope of them getting out. They're not eligible for parole. They have life sentence. They have a 40-year sentence. And so why are we going to continue to keep expanding these resources and time assessing people who are not going to be, get out. Now, however, They will be eligible for a reassessment upon release. And so the bill specifies that, and
with that, I'm happy to answer any questions. Seeing down to appreciate a good boat. Thank you. I'll
Speaker 194
1:09:23
I'll. for what purpose? Question, you're recognized. Representative Casaway,
Speaker 195
1:09:27
is it possible? And did it come up in the debate that you can't actually commit a sexual crime while you're incarcerated. I don't think anyone
brought that up, but that's a great point. Certainly, that does happen. Thank you
Chair
Unverified
1:09:45
Seeing no further questions, appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Representative Gazaway has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:09:55
against the bill? For the bill Representative Gazaway is closed for the bill, question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1579, prepare the machine,
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:10:01
Madam clerk. Everyone voted everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
By a vote of 100, 0 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk,
Speaker 38
1:10:25
please read House Bill 1603 Representative Gasway to amend the law concerning installment payments by a criminal defendant
in circuit court. Represent Gazaway, you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, this is a
bill that comes to us from our circuit clerks. Basically what this bill says is, and we passed a statute, I believe, uh, a year ago that tells the circuit clerks when criminal defendants pay in on
their fines, costs, and restitution that they're applied that they are to apply that to restitution first, then court costs, then the fines. This bill just, there's a section in the code that states that the court costs are first, the strikes that to make it clear that in the, in accordance with other existing law that we have. That the payments that criminal defendants makes, make will be applied to restitution first as opposed to their court costs and fines so that victims of crime are paid before anybody else. It's all the bill does. Happy to answer any questions.
Chair
Unverified
1:11:20
Saying then to appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Representative Gazaway has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Gazaway is closed for the
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:11:33
bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1603. Prepare the machine, Madam clerk. Everyone
voted So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:11:54
By a vote of 99, 0 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam clerk, please
Speaker 118
1:11:59
read House Bill 1624 by Representative Gasway to amend the Arkansas law concerning the membership of county law
Chair
Unverified
1:12:05
library boards. Representative Gazaway, you're recognized to explain
the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, this bill comes to us from some judges who, uh, I want to be involved on their county law library board currently county law library boards are made by appointment of the county judge. This doesn't change that. The statute
already specifies certain people that have to be a member of that board. However, one group of people who are not required to be a member of the county law library board are judges who actually preside over court in the county. And so it's, this is important because many of the people who actually use the county law library are indigent, uh, whether they're defendants in a criminal case or there are people that don't otherwise have representing themselves prose in, in some litigation. They don't have access to legal research, so they use the county law library and the judges are
the ones who have to deal with these pro se litigants. They have to deal with the indigent criminal defendants. They're the people that primarily use these and so all this bill does is it says that among all the other people who are members of a Law Library Board. It will include one circuit judge who lives in the county or presides over court in the county and one district judge who either lives in the county or presides over Court in the County. We actually passed this last session out of the house. It was in the Senate, and, uh, We ran out of time at the end of session before we could get it
through the Senate. So, with that, I'm happy to
Speaker 71
1:13:29
answer any questions. Representative Richardson, for what purpose? You're recognized.
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
1:13:32
Represent the guys, so with that going into effect, how will the bill we just passed last week that gets rid of quotas. Based on some of the things that are required and what you just said, how
will that hold up? So, that's a, I mean, that's a good question. As I recall that bill had to do maybe specific
race and other identifying characteristics, you know, these, uh, this current law library board deals with people that hold certain positions. I'm not sure if it applies the same way, but, uh, it's a great question. I, I really don't know that I can fully answer it for you right here. I'm happy to follow up with you. Uh, and try to get an answer for you, but I'm not sure I can get you one right now. Happy to answer any other questions? Seeing no and appreciate a good vote. Thank you.
Representative Gazaway has explained the bill. Would anyone
Chair
Unverified
1:14:30
like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Gazaway is closed for the bill. question before the House is the
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:14:37
passage of House Bill 1624. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. Everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot
By a vote of 90, 2 nay, 1 present, the
Speaker 118
1:15:06
bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1628. 1628 by Representative Gasway to amend the law concerning extended post-convention conviction, no contact order and to add sexual assault in the second degree to the offenses for which a court may issue an extended post conviction, no contact order.
Representative Gazaway, you're recognized to explain the bill. Thank
you Mr. Speaker, colleagues, all this bill does, there's a certain list of offenses that are already in code for which following a a
criminal conviction, a judge can issue a, an extended no contact order essentially prohibiting. The person who's been convicted from ever having contact with that victim. For life and extended no contact order. And it's about, uh, 15 or so offenses, but er currently on the list, you have rape, you have sexual assault in the first degree. This just adds to that list, sexual assault in the second degree, which is a very serious crime. Interestingly, you know, a lot of times in these criminal cases, you, uh, a rape case, for instance, may be
pled down to a sexual assault in the second degree. That's not at all uncommon. And so we just want to make sure that the courts have the ability to, uh, in those cases where you have a victim of A pretty serious sexual offense to the judge to issue that extended no contact order so that that defendant can't contact that victim ever again. It's all the bill does. Happy to answer any questions. Saying no to appreciate good vote. Thank you. Representative Gazaway has explained
Chair
Unverified
1:16:27
the bill, would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:16:33
Representative Gazaway is closed for the bill, question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1628. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted.
So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 99,
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:16:56
0 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clark, please read House Bill 1647
Speaker 38
1:17:04
Representative Meeks to amend the law concerning the division of information systems to change the name of the division of Information Systems and to declare
Chair
Unverified
1:17:12
an emergency. Representative Meeks, you're recognized to
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:17:14
explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this bill comes from
the Department of Information Systems, evidently they've come across a unique challenge. There's a lot of people who think that they are the Department of Information for the state. And so they have to deal with a lot of FOIA requests and information requests that have absolutely nothing to do with technology, uh, especially
from incarcerated uh individuals seeking FOIA requests and all that. And of course, that takes away from what they have to do. And so what they are requesting is that we simply change the name from the Department of Information Systems to the Office of State Technology. It follows the same nomenclature like the, the, you know, office of procurement, Office of Personnel Management, so forth, um, as far as any expenses related to making this change, uh, the letterhead, they'll just do through attrition, the website, they can, you know, they manage the website so they can just change the name. The
only cost that they will incur by making this name change is just the sign on the front door. They have assured me they've got plenty of Money to, uh, to do that. So, uh, unless there are any
Speaker 171
1:18:19
questions, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Meeks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:18:26
bill? For the bill Representative Meeks is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1647, prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Members, your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Everyone voted Everyone vote. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 98, 0 nay,
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:18:53
and 1 present, the bill and the emergency clause has passed. Madam Clark, please read House
Speaker 119
1:18:59
Bill 1666 Representative Meeks to amend the law concerning the Arkansas self-funded cyberpon Program. Represent it makes you
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
1:19:07
recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, despite the house number on this bill, we
actually almost refiled it just to get a better number. This is actually a good bill. Uh, last session, um, y'all help me pass a bill that set up a, uh, cyber response board for our city, counties, and public schools, uh, like anything else, as you get these things set up and going, you learn about how to do it better. And that's what this bill does is it basically makes technical corrections to that bill to allow them to, uh, Improve and operate the, uh,
fund better and, uh, that's basically all it does. If anybody wants the details, happy to get into that. But if not, for brevity of time, I'll just ask for a good vote and get out
Chair
Unverified
1:19:52
of the way. Representative Meeks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:19:57
bill Representative Meeks is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1666. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:20:10
Everyone voted Everyone voted Cast up the ballot. With a vote of 100, 0, nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clark, please read Senate Bill 265. Senate Bill 265 by
Speaker 38
1:20:32
Representative Grahamley to reduce and modify the membership of the licensing committee relating to wastewater and the licensing committee relating to solid waste and to amend the
Speaker 119
1:20:40
apprenticeship licenses and solid waste licensing. Representative
Gramlich, you are recognized to explain your bill.
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
1:20:47
Uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, Senate Bill 265 is a department bill. Um, it does 5 things, expands eligibility to serve the environmental officer program to planning and development districts, reduces the solid waste lights and in community from 7 to 5 voting members, uh, reduces wastewater licensing committee from 8 to 5 voting members, makes modifications to the solid waste licensing committee to remove outdated references and extends
apprenticeship licenses and solid waste management. Facilities from 1 year to
2 years, consistent with all other solid waste operator licenses. And with that, I appreciate a good vote. Representative Gramlich has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Gramlich is
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:21:29
closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 265, Prepare the machine, madam clerk.
So everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot With a vote of 94, 0, nay, and 3 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:21:56
Senate Bill 2977 by Representative Beck to amend the
Speaker 38
1:21:59
law concerning municipalities choosing to elect council members and to require filling of the ordinance describing
Speaker 121
1:22:03
the election of city council members with the county clerk. Representative Beck, you're recognized to explain your bill.
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
1:22:14
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, colleagues, uh, this bill comes from the state elections board. It, uh, basically deals with the elections of the city councils for cities of the 1st and 2nd class, what Senate Bill 297 does it requires that those cities can select whether those council members are, some of them are uh by wards, some of them are at large or a combination thereof, but all this bill does is it says that on
August 31st of the year prior to the election that they have to file an ordinance with the county clerk as to how those seats are to be elected, uh, and then at that time, uh, once I did it once, I wouldn't have to do it again unless they change how the, the wards, uh, were to be elected. There is a thing in here for the first time, uh, January 1st of 2026, so they get it done by then for the next. cycle. The reason really for
the, the bell was that we, we've actually had an election where some ward positions were changed in the city clerks and the county clerk were notified, so they didn't have the ballots right and we had to go back and straighten out a lot of that stuff. So all this does is just gives the county clerks, our county clerks, a little bit time to make sure that they can get this all taken care of and all of our elections for city councils are done this. Intended. Saying no question. Representative Beck has explained the bill.
Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Beck is
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:23:56
closed for the bill. Question before the house is the
passage of Senate Bill 297. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot By a vote of 93, yeah, 0, nay, and 4 present. The bill is passed.
Speaker 38
1:24:22
Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 267. Cinderel 267 by Representative Moore to repeal the Arkansas Alternative Motor Fuel
Development Act and to repeal the alternative motor
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
1:24:41
fuel development fund. Representing more you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, this is simply put in the agency bill this is brought to me by environment, um. All this does, it's, it
eliminates the Arkansas alternative motor fuel Development Act, um, and the last time funds. Representative Moore has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
bill. For the bill. Representative Moore is closed for the bill. Question
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:25:16
before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 267,
repair the machine, Madam Clerk. So everyone voted So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:25:40
88, 0, nay, and 5 present. The bill is passed. Madam
Clerk, please read Senate Bill 224. 24 by Representative
Speaker 38
1:25:48
Beatty to repeal the law concerning natural organic fertilizers. Representative Betty, you're recognized to explain the bill.
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:26:00
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members here to present Senate Bill 224 is to repeal the law
Chair (Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.)
Unverified
1:26:05
concerning natural organic fertilizers. Uh, basically, this bill was passed in 1988. There's never been a fertilizer product registered pursuant to this act, uh, the current fertilizer law in current encompasses natural fertilizer ingredients, the term organic, uh, has evolved to take on certifications and meanings not intended in this law, and the continued existence of the causes confusion.
Uh, for, for a potential restaurants and the ag department recommends the repeal of the Act. So with that, I'd appreciate. Representative Beatty
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill Representative Beatty is closed
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:26:48
for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 224. Prepare the machine, madam
clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 99, 0 nay, and
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:27:10
0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill Senate bill, excuse me, Senate Bill 249 resentative
Speaker 38
1:27:18
Beatty to amend the law concerning violations and penalties related to forestry and to amend the powers of the Arkansas Forestry Commission. Representative Betty, you're recognized to
Chair
Unverified
1:27:27
explain the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, uh,
Chair (Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.)
Unverified
1:27:33
members, uh, another agency bill, uh, basically it is, um, to amend the law for violations, uh, penalties related to forestry and to be the powers of the forestry commission. Uh, in Arkansas, persons, uh, conducting the practice of forestry must be registered, uh, with the state and historically, those pers persons have been subject to disciplinary action by the Forestry Commission. Uh, this statute, uh, would allow for the imposition of a civil penalty for someone that
impersonates our, um, uh, represents that they're register forest or when they're not, uh, and, um, it also would add a class A misdemeanor fee, but the, the penalty would, would be more expeditious though, the trial or, or, uh, charges on a misdemeanor. So with that I Representative Beatty has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak
Speaker 171
1:28:27
against the bill? For the bill Representative Beatty is closed for the bill.
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:28:37
Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 249, prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted.
everyone voted. Cast up the ballot By a vote of 96, 1 nay, and zero present. The bill is
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:28:58
passed. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 250. Bill 250 by Representative Beatty to amend the pest control
Speaker 38
1:29:08
law and to reassign certain duties of the
Chair
Unverified
1:29:12
state plant board. Representative Betty, you're
Chair (Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.)
Unverified
1:29:17
recognized to explain the agency bill. Basically, this is, uh, a bill from the ag department to amend the pest control law and to reassign certain duties of the state to the state plant board, uh, basically, this bill contains outdated language regarding employment prior to 1984 under current law, uh,
there, there's an exam, uh, there's a waiting period on the exam for 3 months, and that would change the three-month waiting period to 14 days. Uh, also, this law does not require that a, a license holder, uh, have his name and, uh, license number displayed on the side of his vehicles when he's out in the state. Uh, this would require that to be placed on both sides, and the department recommends amending the Act to, uh, make those
Chair
Unverified
1:30:08
changes. Representative Beatty has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:30:18
Beatty is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 250. Prepare the machine,
Madam Clerk. So everyone voted, everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
Uh, about a 97, 0 nay, and zero present.
Speaker 38
1:30:51
The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 259. 259 by Representative Beatty to transfer appointment authority for the
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:30:58
director of the Arkansas Waterways Commission to the
Governor. subscription to Betty, you're recognized to explain the tag. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, it's Senate Bill 259 to transfer the appointment authority for the director of the Arkansas Waterways Commission
Chair (Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.)
Unverified
1:31:11
to the governor. Uh, this bill is basically a cleanup that began during transformation.
Uh, currently, this statute does not apply or does not say who the director of the Waterways Commission reports to on a daily basis, or who has the authority to fire the director. The proposed amendment transfers the appointment power to the governor with confirmation by the Senate and clarifies that the waterway director serves at the pleasure of the
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:31:40
governor and reports to the Secretary of Commerce. It streamlines operations and reduces ambient
Chair
Unverified
1:31:49
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Beatty is closed for
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:31:56
the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 259. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 83, 5 nay, and 3 present. The bill is passed.
Speaker 38
1:32:22
Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 251. 251 by Representative John Carr to amend the law concerning the executive secretary of the
Speaker 118
1:32:30
Arkansas Trails Council and to amend the law concerning the participation of the Department of Parks, Heritage and tourism
on the Arkansas Trails Council. Representative Carr, you're
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:32:42
recognized to explain your bill. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues. Today I present to you Senate Bill 251. Currently, the, the Arkansas Parks Heritage and Tourism sits on the Arkansas Trails Council
and with the current law, they're required to be the executive secretary on that committee. This law, this bill, what it does, it removes that requirement, allows someone else to be uh appointed executive secretary. Thank you and I appreciate a good
Chair
Unverified
1:33:05
vote. Representative Carr has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:33:10
bill? For the bill Representative Carr is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of
Senate Bill 251. Prepare the machine, Madam clerk. Everyone voted. Everyone voted.
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:33:36
Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 97, 1 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clark, please read
Speaker 82
1:33:43
Senate Bill 2366 by Representative Steinel to amend the insurance holding company regulatory Act. Stemo, you're recognized
to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr.
Representative Trey Steimel
Unverified
1:33:52
Speaker. What this bill does is it allows the insurance department the necessary
authority to look into a holding company that possesses insurance companies to make sure they're financially solvent as a whole. So what can happen there is you can have an insurance company that is an A plus rating on Ave, but you have also other companies under that holding company that may have, uh, companies that are not very well solvent, they may be able to go under, um. it allows the insurance department some latitude and authority to get with that holding company to make sure that those are being met
financially in order to, uh, keep selling insurance in Arkansas. So, that pretty much wraps up the bill, uh, with that, I'll take any questions. See you. I appreciate a good vote. Representative Steinel has explained
Chair
Unverified
1:34:43
the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Steinmel is closed for
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:34:50
the bill. The question before the House is the
passage of Senate Bill 236. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. by a vote of 98, 0 nay, and 0 present. Bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 295 Representative to amend the law
Speaker 38
1:35:20
concerning appropriation for election expenses and to allow compensation for a certified election monitor as an election expense. Representative Rye, you are recognized to explain your bill.
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
1:35:42
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This bill today. Uh, colleagues comes from the state board of Election commissioners. It's more or less, uh, an inclusive of, um, Of the monitor within the voting system, actually straightens up code to be inclusive. That's basically it. Representative Rye has explained the
Chair
Unverified
1:36:03
bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? for the bill Representative Ry is closed for
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:36:12
the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 295. Prepair the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted.
Cast up the ballot. a vote of 95 yay, 1 nay, and zero present. The bill is
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:36:34
passed. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 2911 by Representative Roast and then the law
Speaker 38
1:36:43
concerning complaints of election law violations and to amend the deadlines for
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
1:36:50
complaints of election law violations. Representative Rose, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues, SP 291 is a common sense election integrity measure. It's been requested and approved by the nonpartisan Arkansas State Board of Election commissioners. And this bill brings clarity and uniformity to election law by standard, uh standardizing
deadlines across multiples of 7, such as a 49 day window for filing complaints. Uh, before and after an election, and the 182 day deadline for resolving complaints, this multiple of sevens, uh, moves all of these deadlines to be in accordance with Tuesdays, so they don't fall on holidays and the structured time frame, uh, kind of creates a clear and yet predictable process for election oversight, and we believe that this ensures every case is
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:37:45
handled fairly and thoroughly. I appreciate a good vote. Representative Rose has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? for the bill Representative Rose is closed for the bill. Question before the house is
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:37:59
the passage of Senate Bill 291. Prepare the machine, Madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
By a vote of 88, 8 nay, and 1 present. The bill is passed. Madam
Speaker 59
1:38:25
Clerk, please read Senate Bill 2944 by Representative Underwood
Speaker 38
1:38:28
to amend the law concerning election audits and to allow the State Board of Election commissioners to audit, a county in the preceding election
in certain circumstances. Representative Underwood, you're recognized to explain
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
1:38:38
your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this is another, uh, Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners bill.
Currently, uh, if you uh currently they audit elections by doing a 15 county random
draw. And so what this bill does, it says if you fail your election audit or you don't get a 100%, you're automatically added to the list the next election cycle. So it'd be 15 plus whoever failed it. And once you get a 100% audit, you then roll off. Um, it's essentially ensuring that elections are done with integrity and everybody's votes counted. How? Take any questions. Seeing none, appreciate a good bit. Representative Underwood has
Chair
Unverified
1:39:14
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill
Representative Underwood is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate
Bill 294. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted? Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. by a vote of 94 yeah, 1 nay, and 2 present.
Speaker 100
1:39:50
The bill is passed. Representative Steinmel, for what purpose? Point of personal
privilege. You're recognized. I guess on the back
Representative Trey Steimel
Unverified
1:39:58
of our chambers, we have, uh, former Representative Scott Baltz, one of my constituents, and, uh, one of my mentors. So a lot of y'all here may know him, and I wanted to make sure that, uh, y'all got a chance to visit with him if he wanted to here in a little bit. So if everyone would please, uh, say hi to Scott Boss.
Madam Clerk, please, please read Senate Bill
Speaker 82
1:40:32
188. 188 by Representative Ray to amend Arkansas law concerning
Speaker 118
1:40:35
concerning initiative petitions and referendum petitions and to require public posting of statewide initiative petitions and referendum petitions. Representative Ray, you're recognized to
Chair
Unverified
1:40:44
explain your bill. Thank you, Mr.
Representative David Ray
Unverified
1:40:49
Speaker. Uh, those of you who have been eagerly awaiting the David Ray Clark Tucker combination Bill. Uh, you can cross that off your bingo card.
This currently when all these uh petitions are out there being circulated for various measures. There's no central repository where folks can go to read the full text of the measures, read the ballot, uh, titles and things of that nature. This legislation would just require the Secretary of State's office to list those those um ballot titles and the full text of the measures on their website, uh, the Secretary of State, uh, has no objection to doing this, and it's just a common measure that would give voters
more information about the issues that are being circulated, uh, and, uh, increased transparency around the process. I'd be happy to take any questions. Seeing none, would appreciate a
Speaker 171
1:41:44
good vote. Representative Ray has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:41:50
For the bill Representative Ray is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 188. Prepare the machine,
madam clerk. Everyone voted. Because everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 97, 0, nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam
Clerk, please read Senate Bill 308. Is to amend
Speaker 59
1:42:20
the law concerning a right-in candidate and to remove references to a right-hand candidate. Representative Rose, you're recognized to explain your bill.
Chair
Unverified
1:42:26
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you again, colleagues, SB
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
1:42:35
308 is some cleanup language on write-in candidates on our ballots. Uh, so this is a simple, uh, removal of some outdated language, last session, write-in candidates, uh, were removed, um, or disallowed, and there were still some lingering language pertaining to write-in candidates. And so this removes those outdated references and it ensures consistency, clarity, and accuracy in election law. And with that, I'd appreciate.
a good vote. Thank you. Representative Rose has
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:43:11
the bill Representative Rose is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 308. Prepair the machine, madam clerk. So everyone
voted, so everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 94, yeah, 0 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed.
Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 209
Speaker 75
1:43:41
20 by Representative Underwood to disqualify signatures obtained by a canvasser under certain circumstances and to declare an emergency.
Representative Underwood, you're recognized to explain the bill.
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
1:43:51
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This bill clarifies that signatures that are obtained improperly or criminally are disqualified. Under
this bill, uh, a determination to disqualify signature signatures is based on preponderance of the evidence standard, meaning more likely than not that the camps are engaged in illegal or improper procurement of signatures during
the petition process. In short, it gives the Secretary of State more uh ability in securing the petition validity and holds the Secretary of State's office accountable for the for the determination of ensuring that there is a sufficient proof for the disc. qu al ific ation So it's not an arbitrary ar arbitrarily enforced. Um, in short, this holds canvassers accountable for requiring them to follow the rules. It discourages one from improper activities such as forgery, fraud, and dishonest acts, because it sets clear consequences for misconduct, and it ensures only valid signatures
Chair
Unverified
1:44:42
count toward a ballot measure. I'll take a few questions. Say none. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Underwood has explained the bill.
Representative Andrew Collins
Unverified
1:45:05
Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Collins, you are recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this is the continuation of these petition bills which came through a few weeks ago. We're now out of the park where these
were the bills that were stalled in the Senate. So they really are the more controversial of the bills. Um, this one in particular does something very um strange. It makes the Secretary of State, it puts it into kind of a, uh, judicial role. It, you know, he talked about the preponderance of the evidence that the, that has to be shown to prove some violation of law. That's actually determined by the Secretary of State, not a court. So in this case, the Secretary
of State would really be the prosecutor, the judge, the jury, and the executioner. And by execution, of course, that's not literal, but what would happen is that all of the signatures collected by the canvasser would be thrown out. If a violation of various laws were proven by a preponderance of the. evidence to the Secretary of State. And just to again reiterate, the Secretary of State is not set up as a court. It's not set up to gather evidence. There's no
opportunity for a formal rebuttal. There's no discovery. The Secretary of State was asked about this, and they said, well, of course, we would reach out to someone that we, uh, you know, accused of violating a law and have a conversation with them, but that's not in the bill. Our courts have a lot of processes set up to make sure that they're fair, to make sure that we're, uh, respecting all rights. This doesn't have that. Secretary says it's just not set up for that. What this is set up to do is be another way to chill
people from participating in direct democracy and a lot of signatures will be thrown out because the Secretary of State will have the freedom to find whatever they want. Now, in committee Representative Underwood said that if someone doesn't like the outcome, they can appeal to the Supreme Court. Well, that's true, they can appeal in these matters to the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court is not a trial for. They're not set up to find facts. There's no requirement in this law that a record be kept, the Supreme Court can look at, um, Representative Underwood said a special master could be
appointed. All of this is gonna delay things and make it more expensive for the state. It's just, it's not a good process and I have to think that maybe intentional, um, these bills gum up the works and they break the process. And ultimately, if what you want to do is break the petition process, voting for this bill is probably fine. Otherwise, um, we can oppose this bill and the next one and stop um too much damage from being done to our direct
democracy process. So I'd urge you to vote now. Representative Collins has spoke against the bill. Would anyone
like to speak for the bill? Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
1:48:06
Underwood, you're recognized to close for the bill. Thank you
colleagues for your consideration of this bill. I would say, uh, to Representative Collins' points, uh, first of all, there is a standard here for the Secretary of State to follow, and it's already in statute that there is due process. So you, in statute currently, they are provided notice if there's an issue, they
have the opportunity to cure and then they also have the opportunity to present evidence that they disagree with the Secretary of State's office. And then additionally, they still have the opportunity to take this to the Supreme Court. As mentioned, there's a, a special master that's appointed and they make a recommendation to the Supreme Court and the statute says, That this, uh, that it must be done expeditiously. So, I would say, look, um, Amending our constitution is a serious process. The process matters, rules matter, and they should be followed, period. And I appreciate a good vote. Representative Underwood has
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
1:48:54
closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 209. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. Members your
one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 62 ya, 29 nays, and 5 present the bill.
Speaker 128
1:49:24
Has passed Members will now vote separately on the emergency clause. Repair the machine, Madam Clerk.
Speaker 47
1:50:01
your one vote is for the emergency clause. Everyone voted Has everyone voted. Cast
up the ballot. About a 65 years, 30 nays, 1 present, the emergency clause has failed. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 210. Bill 210 by Representative Underwood. To require?
Speaker 118
1:50:32
To require the signer to read the ballot title of the petition in the presence of a canvasser and to declare an
emergency. Representative Underwood, you're recognized to explain the bill.
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
1:50:41
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I also want to, um, for this bill, thank the Madam Clark for reading the ballot title, uh, to us in our presence, which is basically what this bill is about. So, um, in short, this requires canvassers to not knowingly accept a potential signer's signature and until a signature, the signer has read the ballot title or it's been read to them in their presence. I want to note that it only
requires that the ballot title, which is a summary of the proposed initiative be read, not the entire amendment. Uh, this is a good faith requirement for the canvass. Um, so if the signer indicates that they read it, that meets the requirement. I do want to note some reasons for why I'm bringing this bill. There have been numerous reports in the last uh couple of years, especially, uh, of canvassers misleading or misrepresenting to Arkansans, uh, as to what they were signing. And oftentimes the the signers are signing things
that they otherwise would not support. For example, last cycle, Canvassers gave misleading information calling an abortion amendment, an amendment about protecting pregnant women. So I think by passing this measure, uh, it provides more information to signers and allows them to be more informed. Um, and that they're signing something that they actually support, which will go on the ballot, that changes our foundational document of our Constitution. It also holds canvassers accountable for, uh, what they're indicating to signers of what they're, what they'll be signing. And importantly, I
think it will help, uh, incentivize that these ballot titles are drawn in a more digestible way or, or drafted in a more digestible way of a way, um, for the signers. Representative Clowney, for what
Speaker 128
1:52:15
purpose? You're recognized. Thank you, Representative Underwood, you mentioned that, um,
Representative Nicole Clowney
Unverified
1:52:19
we just had about the, the bill title read to us and that's true, as we all know, ballot titles can be much longer. They do go through a lengthy process to be approved by the AG's office to make sure that those titles are accurate, not
misleading, all of that. So we do have something in place for that already. I guess my question is, if somebody goes home and reads online, thanks to Representative Ray's bill, you know, they can read the whole text of the ballot title and they're at the farmer's market, they're running to pick up a. kid from dance class, whatever it is, and somebody approaches them, and they want to sign. They say, I don't need to read it. I've already, I've already read it at home. I'd love to just sign and be on my way. Is it your intention that that person would not be allowed to sign if this passes, because that is what That is the actual impact of this bill. I think like I mentioned a moment ago, if they
Speaker 257
1:53:01
just, if they indicate that they've read it, then it meets
Representative Nicole Clowney
Unverified
1:53:04
the requirement. Even if they didn't do it in front of the, the canvasser. Sorry, I didn't mean to
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
1:53:10
cut you off before you finish your question. I would say that we're not taking a test on this deal. They say that they've read the ball
Speaker 241
1:53:15
title, they've read the ballot title, and that meets the requirement. Follow
Representative Nicole Clowney
Unverified
1:53:22
up. You're recognized. Thank you. So I guess I'm just The language of the bill refers to doing these things in the presence of a canvasser. So I'm just envisioning a lot of iPhone videos or whatever it is being taken of folks we know there are
people who show up where people are having petitions signed to try to discourage that from happening. If those people are there and they have an iPhone video, this will now be on the Secretary of State's office to watch that video, um, determine, I guess, whether they believe that the person has in fact already read the ballot title. I mean, just walk me through logistically. How this works. Yeah, so the signer, the canvasser, can't
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
1:53:57
accept the signature that knowing that they didn't read the ballot title or wasn't read in their presence. And so
Chair
Unverified
1:54:05
they're going to sign an affidavit to that effect. OK, thank you. Appreciating the vote. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Underwood has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak
Representative Andrew Collins
Unverified
1:54:29
against the bill? Representative Collins, you reckon I speak against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, so just to that question, which was a question we asked in committee and Representative Underwood
answered differently in committee. I, I wanna emphasize what the language actually says. It says that the ballot title of the petition has to be read in the presence of the canvasser. So, if you have a, a petition and you offered someone and they say, I've already read it, that person can't sign. It's not a valid signature. And if they say, I don't want to read it. I know what this one's about. Then they can't sign it. We have to trust the people of Arkansas to, to sign things like
petitions based on whatever criteria is important to them. We don't force someone to read a biography of a candidate before voting for him. We don't force ourselves to read the full text of a bill before signing on to co-sponsor it. Why should we force someone who wants to sign a petition to read the petition or have it read aloud to them process for some of these titles could take up to 8 minutes. Why can we not just trust the people of Arkansas to make that decision based on whatever criteria it matters to them.
We offered in committee a potential amendment that would take care of the perceived issue that people are being asked to sign things that, uh, don't match up with what the canvasser says. What if the law was that you had to offer the full text of the amendment or the ballot title for the person to read, and they could choose whether to read it or not. That offer, that proposed amendment was rejected because again, the goal here is to slow the process down, make it harder for people to
find the time to sign, make people say, no, I don't want to read all that. No thanks, I'm just not gonna do that. Um, so this one, not only does it slow down the process, gum up the works, but it also is kind of uh an insult, I would say to the people of Arkansas. Some people sign every petition that's put in front of them. That's just their personal standard because they think, well, we'll just vote on it in the fall. That's fine. There were people who testified to that affecting committee. If someone wants to do that, who are we to tell them? they are not allowed to do that,
and that's what this bill does. So please vote no.
Chair
Unverified
1:56:45
Representative Collins who spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Ray, you recognized to speak
Representative David Ray
Unverified
1:56:54
for the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, I'll be brief. We had a really long debate about this bill and state agencies, these bills aren't just coming out of thin air to fix problems that don't exist. One of the most common things that we encounter in the initiative
process are unscrupulous canvassers that are purposefully misleading voters about what those issues represent. I'll give you just a few examples. I received numerous calls in the last election from people who had signed the abortion amendment, who we're told, hey, will you sign our petition to protect women's healthcare. Well, that's an innocuous. Sounding description. Who wouldn't sign a petition to protect women's healthcare. But that's not what the the the issue that they were circulating was about.
There were others that said sign they, there were other instances where people were told, hey, sign this, uh, amendment, which is actually the abortion amendment. And they were, they were told, sign this, it's for limited government. OK, well There's a lot of people that would sign something for quote unquote, limited government that wouldn't sign a pro-abortion amendment, OK? So you, you have people, I remember a time where I was literally pumping gas at the double B's on Cantrell, and a guy with a clipboard walked up to me and said, hey, will you
sign my petition to hold politicians accountable. And I said, well, let me see what you're circulating. I looked at it, it was a term limits amendment. And I'm thinking to myself, come on guys, term limits is popular enough. You don't have to try to pull the wool over people's eyes to get them to sign it. That's, that's all this is about. So to me, this is a common sense bill, uh, and I appreciate Representative Underwood Bran. Representative Rayes
Chair
Unverified
1:58:36
spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill
Representative Underwood, you're recognized to close for the bill.
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
1:58:47
Again, colleagues, thank you for your consideration of this bill. I would say, uh, in terms of Collins,
I think the question that I got asked in committee was actually worded differently, which is why my answer. I think it was a, uh, I think, and maybe I just misunderstood, uh, in committee, but I think the question was, Some such scenario where somebody absolutely wanted to word some, sign something that absolutely didn't want to know what they were signing. Um, maybe I mischaracterized that, but what I would say on this is, again, these ballot titles have,
in my opinion, have been drawn to where their intentionally, um, long and hard for people to follow, and I think this bill will help mitigate that process. I also think it'll mitigate somebody, um, from misrepresenting what people are signing because they know that The signer is going to be reading that ballot title. With that, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Underwood is closed for the
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:59:36
bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 210. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot By a vote of 57, 33 nays, and 6 present. The bill is passed. We will now vote on the emergency clause. Madame Clerk, prepare the machine.
So everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. I voted 56 years,
35 nays, and 3 present emergency clause has failed. Madam Clark, please read Senate Bill 296. Center Bill
Speaker 118
2:00:41
296 by Representative Beatty to amend the law concerning the designation of an early voting location by the county clerk.
Chair
Unverified
2:00:48
Representative Beatty, you're recognized to explain the Thank
Chair (Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.)
Unverified
2:00:55
you Mr. Speaker. Members Senate Bill 296 to amend the law concerning the designation of an early voting location by the county clerk. Basically, this bill does two things. First, it treats single county seat, county clerks the same as Du County seat clerks, meaning that the county clerk designates early voting location must be within the county seat of the county. And that avoids the clerk playing partisan politics and selecting one location over another. another. The second thing that this bill would do is it
requires a, a positive and unanimous vote of the county Board of Election commissioners for an additional early voting location in the county. Um, And this is, I, I guess this kind of comes out of the Crittenden County issue that arose last, uh, last year, and the Supreme Court ruling there. So with that, I would appreciate a good vote. Representing MacGruder for what
Speaker 8
2:01:48
purpose? Question. You're recognized for a question. Uh, my question, uh.
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
2:01:57
I know a few people in Crian County, uh, does
this mean if uh the election commission doesn't unanimously vote on this bill, I mean, vote on uh election site, it goes back to
Chair (Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.)
Unverified
2:02:11
I think what it says is, um, basically what I said that it would have to be a positive and unanimous vote of the county Board of Election commissioners. So it, it's not going to go back polling sites
because, uh, the issues that, uh, if, if it's gonna stay the same throughout the, the elect churches and, and polling sites that are willing to be, uh, polling sites in those elections. Some, some folks so it has to be unanimous
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
2:02:46
vote of because. And if they don't vote, you follow up. You're recognized. And if they don't vote unanimously voting location. I
Chair
Unverified
2:03:04
think it's gonna go back to a location in the county. Representative
Representative Carlton Wing
Unverified
2:03:11
Wing, for what purpose? You're recognized. Representative Beatty, was it, is it just the additional early voting location? For a unanimous consent of the election commissioners just for an additional one, not changing or reverting back. Is that correct? That is correct. The be the, the
Chair (Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.)
Unverified
2:03:25
one primary seat in, in the county seat, um, at the courthouse or the designated area there. And then if they want to add an additional
Speaker 100
2:03:35
location in, in the county, then it has to
Representative Rick McClure
Unverified
2:03:42
be Representative McClure, for what purpose? Question, you're recognized. So with the, with the early voting being in the county seat. And the election commission not voting unanimously for a Another location. What do we do in rural counties that may be 2030 miles away from their county seat. Well,
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
2:04:02
I think you're gonna drive. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
2:04:14
Representative Beatty has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative MacGruder, you're recognized to speak against
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
2:04:32
the bill. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, uh, as I've stated before, all of our counties are different and unique. Uh, I am, I was elected out of Crian County, and we had a lot of challenges. Uh, what I love
about being in this body is we all can sit down and have conversations about things that are occurring in our districts. And when we have a conversation, we come to a resolution or a happy medium on how things would work best for our district, uh, Critan County, we don't have reasonable people in positions. And when you don't have Aboriginal people in positions, they can't sit down and discuss in a manner to decide on a voting location. My concern is, since early voting was originated, we've had a voting site in West Memphis. Last
election cycle, they did not want a voting site in West Memphis. They only want the voting site in Marion. Marion is a population of 13,000 people, whereas West Memphis is a population of 27,000 people. It makes no sense to me that we don't have a voting location in West Memphis. So my concern about this issue is that we Make sure that people can sit down and discuss things in an intellectual manner. And if you cannot discuss it in intellectual manner. Those voting sites need to return to the previous location until we can sit down and make a decision and informed decision, because
we have people in rural areas all over the state that need to get to a voting location. The only thing that matters right now is people voting. We want to make sure that everybody can vote. So I'm against this bill and I ask for you to vote against this bill also until we can get it in a place where all the voting location return to the previous voting site.
Thank you. Repton and MacGruder has spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Against
Chair
Unverified
2:06:13
the bill. Beta, you recognized clothes for the bill?
Chair (Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.)
Unverified
2:06:21
Members, I would just remind you that the, the county seat is the center for county business. The clerk has no choice in that location, the county seat. And primarily that this is the way it's done in '74 of the 75 counties in the state other than Crittenden because of the Supreme Court ruling. The court ruled in that, in that matter that the County Board of Election commissioners could not reach a decision to move a site that had to use the sites last used. And that doesn't work for early voting. If a church is on
the hook to always and forever be a voting location because the commission can't agree to move, then the churches. will probably not use their space, and that will tie, because that would tie them up forever. It's just not practical to ask a location to agree forever to allow the use of their space for 2 weeks for every early voting period. So with
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
2:07:11
that, I'd appreciate a good boat. Representative Beatty is closed for
the bill. The question before the House is the passage
of Senate Bill 296. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 72 ya, 21 nays, and 3 present. The bill
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
2:07:43
is passed. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 272. 22 by Representative Wooldridge to amend the law
Speaker 38
2:07:53
concerning voter registration to prohibit pre-filed fields on a voter
Speaker 118
2:07:56
registration form in certain instances and to amend provisions of Arkansas Constitution Amendment 51, Section 6. Representative Wooldridge, you're recognized
to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
Unverified
2:08:07
Thank you, colleagues. This bill is also brought to us by our clerks, and it simply says that the uh voter voter registration has to be given to the applicant without the party affiliation pre-filled out. So it's blank, so that person makes that selection with that. I'll answer any questions.
See none, I'd appreciate a good boat. Representative Waridge has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For
Chair
Unverified
2:08:33
the bill Representative Wooldridge is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 272. The machine is prepared. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. casts up the ballot.
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
2:08:56
By a vote of 99, 0 nay, 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 119. 119
Speaker 38
2:09:03
by Representative Pilkington to establish the Interstate medical licensure Compact. Representative Pilkington, you're recognized to explain your
Chair
Unverified
2:09:09
bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. This
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
2:09:13
is a pretty simple bill, just like the other compacts we've done. This one's for medical licensure. It
has the ALC language that we've required of all compacts to be in here and, uh, no known opposition. Appreciate a good vote. Thanks.
Speaker 171
2:09:27
Representative Pilkington has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
2:09:32
bill? For the bill for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 119. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted So everyone voted.
Cast up the ballot By a vote of 99 yeah, 0 nay, and
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
2:09:58
0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 29292 by
Speaker 119
2:10:02
Representative Rose to amend the law concerning the date of an annual school election and to move the annual school election if the annual school election is scheduled on a state holiday in
certain instances. Representative Rose, you're recognized to explain
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
2:10:17
your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues, uh, SB 292, I believe, is a short, Important and straightforward, uh, election measure. I want to read to you the substance of the bill, is that an annual school
election that is scheduled to occur in a month in which the 2nd Tuesday of the month under this subdivision of the section falls on a state holiday shall be held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. So, uh, this year, the election falls on Veterans Day,
and we are simply moving it to the following Tuesday. And uh with that, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Rose has explained the
Speaker 171
2:10:53
bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
2:10:59
Representative Rose is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 292, prepare the machine, madam clerk. Members your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the
ballot. By a vote of 98, yeah, 0, nay, and 0 present, the bill and the emergency clause has passed.
Speaker 118
2:11:29
Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 2444 by Representative Unger concerning postponement of judgment in district court and to permit a suspended imposition
of sentence in certain district court cases. Representative
Representative Steve Unger
Unverified
2:11:43
Unger, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, uh, Senate Bill 244 is a postponement of judgment bill. You could call it a second chance bill. It came at the behest of some district court judges, and what it does is to allow a district court to propose, postpone a
judgment for not more than one year, and during that one-year period, while the person at the receiving end of this, uh, basically, he enters, he or she enters a conditional plea of guilty, and if they follow their orders of supervision, go to AA, go to Anger Management, go to whatever, they come back in a year and basically the guilty plea turns into, uh, case dismissed. And it allows somebody who really deserves a second chance to get on with her
Chair
Unverified
2:12:32
life. I asked for a good vote. Representative Unger has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Unger is closed for the bill. Question before the house
is the passage of Senate Bill 244. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. Everyone voted So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot.
By a vote of 99, 0 nay, and 0
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
2:13:14
present. The bill is passed. Represented Meeks, for what purpose? Motion You're recognized. We're showing it to House Rule 33M. I move
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
2:13:22
that we adjourn until 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. That's a proper motion. It's non-debatable. All those in favor say aye. Po, guys
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
2:13:30
have it. I mean he announce committee announcements. Committee announcements
Representative Kavanaugh, for what purpose? You're recognized at 10
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
2:13:38
a.m. tomorrow, room 151. Representative Underwood, for what purpose? You're recognized judiciary will meet
tomorrow at 10 a.m.? Representative McKenzie, for what purpose? Announcement recognized
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
2:13:50
House Education Committee will meet tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
2:13:53
room 138. Representative Wooldridge, what purpose announcement you're recognized public health we'll
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
Unverified
2:14:01
meet tomorrow morning room 1:30, 10 a.m.
Speaker 194
2:14:06
Representative Brooks for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized joint education, we reconvened 15 minutes upon adjournment in Big Mac A. Representative Gazaway. For what purpose? Announcement you're recognized agencies will meet
15 minutes on adjournment room 151. Any representative vote for what purpose? But will meet
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
2:14:31
15 minutes upon adjournment, room 138. Representative Milligan, for
Representative Jon Milligan
Unverified
2:14:38
what purpose? You're recognized meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. and um Mi B. Any other committee
Speaker 128
2:14:45
announcements. The other committee announcements. Representative Kavanaugh, for what purpose? Um, personnel subcommittee of budget will meet at
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
2:14:53
9 a.m. tomorrow in room Big Mac A. Any other committee announcements. Seeing none of the desk will remain
Speaker 171
2:15:00
open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in
Agenda
Call to order
Prayer
Pledge
Roll call
point of personal privalege
CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT
HB1213 #1 Achor TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ATHLETIC TRAINERS ACT; TO CLARIFY THE DEFINITION OF "ATHLETE"; AND TO DEFINE "HEALTHCARE PROVIDER" REGARDING STUDENT ATHLETE CONCUSSION EDUCATION.
REGULAR BILLS
HB1367 Warren TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS TITLE INSURANCE ACT; AND TO REGULATE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS BY A TITLE AGENT AND A TITLE COMPANY.
HB1583 Bentley TO MANDATE COVERAGE FOR ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY.
HB1548 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS; AND TO ABOLISH THE DATA AND TRANSPARENCY PANEL.
HB1517 Ray TO ESTABLISH THE EARNED WAGE ACCESS SERVICES ACT.
HB1488 Wardlaw TO AMEND THE STANDARD NONFORFEITURE LAW FOR LIFE INSURANCE; AND TO REQUIRE AN INSURER TO PAY INTEREST ON DEFERRED PAYMENT OF ANY CASH SURRENDER VALUE UNDER CERTAIN POLICIES.
HB1643 Dalby TO ALLOW A CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYER TO DISCLOSE SUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OR HARASSMENT BY THE CURRENT FOR FORMER EMPLOYEE TO A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER UPON WRITTEN CONSENT.
HB1429 M. Shepherd TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY WHILE ENSURING QUALITY FOR CERTAIN FACILITIES PERFORMING MAMMOGRAPHY SERVICES; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE QUALITY STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION OF FACILITIES FOR MAMMOGRAPHY.
HB1677 Bentley TO AUTHORIZE ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAMS TO MAINTAIN EMERGENCY MEDICATION KITS.
motion to rerefer
HB1673 L. Johnson TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING BARBERS.
HB1386 Cavenaugh TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO REAL PROPERTY; AND TO AMEND THE METHOD OF VALUATION FOR REAL PROPERTY UNDER ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 16, § 5.
HB1129 Gramlich TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "HOMESTEAD" FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED VETERANS, SURVIVING SPOUSES, AND MINOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
HB1444 Pilkington TO AMEND THE SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION
FOR DATA CENTERS.
HB1641 Clowney TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HARASSMENT; AND TO INCLUDE THE USE OF A TRACKING DEVICE IN THE OFFENSE OF HARASSMENT.
HB1644 Dalby CONCERNING THE COMPENSATION OF A RETIRED JUDGE APPOINTED AS A SPECIAL JUDGE; TO CLARIFY THAT A RETIRED JUDGE MAY SERVE AS A SPECIAL JUDGE IMMEDIATELY UPON RETIREMENT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1661 Dalby TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING STATE DISTRICT COURTS; TO ELIMINATE THE OBLIGATION OF CITIES AND COUNTIES TO PAY THE SALARIES OF STATE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES; AND TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING DISTRICT COURT CLERKS.
HB1563 Gazaway TO ADD A FELONY OFFENSE THAT FALLS UNDER THE DEFINITION OF RESTRICTED RELEASE FELONY WITH RESPECT TO RELEASE ELIGIBILITY AND PROCEDURES FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025.
HB1579 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SEX OFFENDER REASSESSMENT; AND TO PROHIBIT AN INCARCERATED PERSON FROM BEING ELIGIBLE FOR RISK LEVEL REASSESSMENT.
HB1603 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS BY A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT IN CIRCUIT COURT.
HB1624 Gazaway TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF COUNTY LAW LIBRARY BOARDS.
HB1628 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING AN EXTENDED POST-CONVICTION NO CONTACT ORDER; AND TO ADD SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE SECOND DEGREE TO THE OFFENSES FOR WHICH A COURT MAY ISSUE AN EXTENDED POST-CONVICTION NO CONTACT ORDER.
HB1647 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS; TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1666 S. Meeks TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS SELF-FUNDED CYBER RESPONSE PROGRAM.
REGULAR SENATE BILLS
SB265 Irvin Gramlich TO REDUCE AND MODIFY THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LICENSING COMMITTEE RELATING TO WASTEWATER AND THE LICENSING COMMITTEE RELATING TO SOLID WASTE; AND TO AMEND THE APPRENTICESHIP LICENSES IN SOLID WASTE LICENSING.
SB297 K. Hammer Beck TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPALITIES CHOOSING TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBERS; AND TO REQUIRE FILING OF THE ORDINANCE DESCRIBING THE ELECTION OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH THE COUNTY CLERK.
SB267 Irvin J. Moore TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS ALTERNATIVE MOTOR FUEL DEVELOPMENT ACT; AND TO REPEAL THE ALTERNATIVE MOTOR FUEL DEVELOPMENT FUND.
SB224 Stone Beaty, Jr. TO REPEAL THE LAW CONCERNING NATURAL ORGANIC FERTILIZERS.
SB249 Stone Beaty, Jr. TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES RELATED TO FORESTRY; AND TO AMEND THE POWERS OF THE ARKANSAS FORESTRY COMMISSION.
SB250 Stone Beaty, Jr. TO AMEND THE PEST CONTROL LAW; AND TO REASSIGN CERTAIN DUTIES OF THE STATE PLANT BOARD.
SB259 Gilmore Beaty, Jr. TO TRANSFER APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE ARKANSAS WATERWAYS COMMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR.
SB251 Stone John Carr TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE ARKANSAS TRAILS COUNCIL; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM ON THE ARKANSAS TRAILS COUNCIL.
SB236 J. Boyd Steimel TO AMEND THE INSURANCE HOLDING COMPANY REGULATORY ACT.
SB295 K. Hammer Rye TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING APPROPRIATION FOR ELECTION EXPENSES; AND TO ALLOW COMPENSATION FOR A CERTIFIED ELECTION MONITOR AS AN ELECTION EXPENSE.
SB291 K. Hammer Rose TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COMPLAINTS OF ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS; AND TO AMEND THE DEADLINES FOR COMPLAINTS OF ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS.
SB294 K. Hammer Underwood TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ELECTION AUDITS; AND TO ALLOW THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS TO AUDIT A COUNTY IN THE PRECEDING ELECTION IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
SB188 C. Tucker Ray TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS; AND TO REQUIRE PUBLIC POSTING OF STATEWIDE INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND REFERENDUM PETITIONS.
point of personal privelege - Steimel
SB308 K. Hammer Rose TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE; AND TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.
SB209 K. Hammer Underwood TO DISQUALIFY SIGNATURES OBTAINED BY A CANVASSER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB210 K. Hammer Underwood TO REQUIRE THE SIGNER TO READ THE BALLOT TITLE OF THE PETITION IN THE PRESENCE OF A CANVASSER; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB296 K. Hammer Beaty, Jr. TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION BY THE COUNTY CLERK.
SB272 Crowell Wooldridge TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING VOTER REGISTRATION; TO PROHIBIT PRE-FILLED FIELDS ON A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM IN CERTAIN INSTANCES; AND TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENT 51, § 6.
SB119 C. Penzo Pilkington TO ESTABLISH THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT.
SB292 K. Hammer Rose TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DATE OF AN ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION; TO MOVE THE ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION IF THE ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION IS SCHEDULED ON A STATE HOLIDAY IN CERTAIN INSTANCES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB244 J. Bryant Unger CONCERNING POSTPONEMENT OF JUDGMENT IN DISTRICT COURT; AND TO PERMIT A SUSPENDED IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE IN CERTAIN DISTRICT COURT CASES.
SB260 J. Bryant Gonzales TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE COLLECTION OF COURT FINES, FEES, OR COSTS AFTER DEFAULT.
Motion to Adjourn
Announcements
Adjourn
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Representative Brian S. Evans Chair
Unverified
Speaker 9
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
Representative Jessie McGruder
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 41
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker
Unverified
Speaker 38
Representative Les Warren
Unverified
Speaker 59
Representative Mary Bentley Chair
Unverified
Representative Tara Shephard
Unverified
Speaker 78
Representative Stephen Meeks
Unverified
Representative David Ray
Unverified
Representative R. Scott Richardson
Unverified
Representative Tippi McCullough
Unverified
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge
Unverified
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
Speaker 100
Representative Matt Brown
Unverified
Speaker 112
Speaker 118
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Unverified
Speaker 134
Speaker 119
Representative Matthew J. Shepherd
Unverified
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
Representative Zack Gramlich
Unverified
Representative Aaron Pilkington
Unverified
Speaker 82
Representative Nicole Clowney
Unverified
Speaker 23
Representative Jimmy Gazaway Chair
Unverified
Speaker 194
Speaker 195
Speaker 71
Speaker 171
Speaker 121
Representative Rick Beck
Unverified
Representative Kendra Moore
Unverified
Chair (Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr.)
Unverified
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
Representative Trey Steimel
Unverified
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
Representative Ryan A. Rose
Unverified
Representative Kendon Underwood
Unverified
Speaker 75
Representative Andrew Collins
Unverified
Speaker 128
Speaker 47
Speaker 257
Speaker 241
Speaker 8
Representative Carlton Wing
Unverified
Representative Rick McClure
Unverified
Representative Steve Unger
Unverified
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
Representative Jon Milligan
Unverified