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House Convenes

March 5, 2025 ·1:30 PM ·House Chamber ·2:05:26
Video Transcript

Bills discussed (44)

Bill Title Sponsor Status
SB265 Act 294 · 5 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “SB265 #1 Irvin Gramlich TO REDUCE AND MODIFY THE MEMBERSHIP OF TH…”
TO REDUCE AND MODIFY THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LICENSING COMMITTEE RELATING TO WASTEWATER AND THE … Irvin Notification that SB265 is now Act 294
HR1043 · 3 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “Madam Clerk, please read House Resolution 1043. House Resolution”
TO SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF FORMER GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS MICHAEL DALE "MIKE" HUCKABEE AS UNITED … McGrew Resoultion received unanimous support
HR1061 · 3 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HR1061 Painter TO RECOGNIZE THE MOUNTAIN HOME BOMBERS HIGH SCHOOL…”
TO RECOGNIZE THE MOUNTAIN HOME BOMBERS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' INDOOR TRACK TEAM AS THE CLASS … Painter READ AND ADOPTED.
HB1369 Act 270 · 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HB1369 #1 Ray CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MAXIMUM CAMPAIGN…”
CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MAXIMUM CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMIT BY THE ARKANSAS ETHICS COMMISSION; AMENDING … Ray Notification that HB1369 is now Act 270
HCR1007 · 2 mentions in chapter, transcript
Matched: “HCR1007 Painter TO ENCOURAGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REEVALUA…”
TO ENCOURAGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REEVALUATE THE MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE LOCALITY STRUCTURE … Painter Approved by the Governor
HB1117 Act 229 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…measures from the regular session in 95th General Assembly, House Bill 1117 Act 229, House Bill 1478 at 2:30. House Bill 1256, Act 231.…”
CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF INSTRUCTION ON FIREARM SAFETY IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OPEN-ENROLLMENT PUBLIC … R. Scott Richardson Notification that HB1117 is now Act 229
HB1185 Act 799 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1185 L. Johnson TO ADOPT THE DIETITIAN LICENSURE COMPACT IN ARKA…”
TO ADOPT THE DIETITIAN LICENSURE COMPACT IN ARKANSAS. L. Johnson Notification that HB1185 is now Act 799
HB1256 Act 231 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Assembly, House Bill 1117 Act 229, House Bill 1478 at 2:30. House Bill 1256, Act 231. House”
TO REQUIRE THE ARKANSAS BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN COUNSELING TO ISSUE A PROVISIONAL LICENSE FOR … Wooldridge Notification that HB1256 is now Act 231
HB1268 Act 450 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1268 Unger TO ALLOW A PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO BECOME A PARTI…”
TO ALLOW A PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO BECOME A PARTICIPATING PUBLIC EMPLOYER AND FOR ITS … Unger Notification that HB1268 is now Act 450
HB1279 Act 285 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ture, Forestry and Economic Development to who was referred House Bill 1279 vaguely”
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS EGG MARKETING ACT OF 1969; AND TO AUTHORIZE REPACKAGING OF EGGS … Lynch Notification that HB1279 is now Act 285
HB1325 Act 286 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1325 C. Cooper TO ALLOW A MEMBER OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEE…”
TO ALLOW A MEMBER OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO RECEIVE SERVICE CREDIT … C. Cooper Notification that HB1325 is now Act 286
HB1347 Act 363 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1347 Warren TO ALLOW THE ARKANSAS TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO P…”
TO ALLOW THE ARKANSAS TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO PAY AN ANNUITY OR BENEFIT OWED TO … Warren Notification that HB1347 is now Act 363
HB1348 Act 364 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1348 Warren TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SURVIVOR BENEFITS FOR TH…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SURVIVOR BENEFITS FOR THE DEPENDENT CHILD OF A MEMBER OF … Warren Notification that HB1348 is now Act 364
HB1365 Act 938 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1365 K. Brown TO REMOVE RACIAL AND GENDER QUOTAS AND QUALIFICATI…”
TO REMOVE RACIAL AND GENDER QUOTAS AND QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP FOR CERTAIN BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COUNCILS, … K. Brown Notification that HB1365 is now Act 938
HB1385 Act 374 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development and home of House Bill 1385, House Bill 1516, Senate Bill 224, Senate Bill 249, Senate…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OIL AND GAS COMMISSION; AND TO REQUIRE THE OIL … C. Cooper Notification that HB1385 is now Act 374
HB1400 Act 259 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1400 Richmond TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REDEMPTION OF A TA…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REDEMPTION OF A TAX-DELINQUENT PARCEL; AND TO EXEMPT DISABLED … Richmond Notification that HB1400 is now Act 259
HB1414 Act 417 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ee on city, county, and local affairs, to whom was referred House Bill 1414, House Bill 1503. House Bill 1555, House Bill 1589. House B…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CLAIMS FOR FIRE SERVICES; AND TO UPDATE THE SCHEDULE OF … Andrews Notification that HB1414 is now Act 417
HB1477 Act 303 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1477 Barker TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY OF AN OPEN- ENROLLMENT P…”
TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY OF AN OPEN-ENROLLMENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO SUBMIT AN APPLICANT … Barker Notification that HB1477 is now Act 303
HB1496 Act 304 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1496 Andrews TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO ENSURE…”
TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO ENSURE ARKANSAS STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT BY QUALIFIED … Andrews Notification that HB1496 is now Act 304
HB1502 Act 325 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1502 Maddox TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REGISTRATION AND LIC…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF A HISTORIC OR SPECIAL INTEREST … Maddox Notification that HB1502 is now Act 325
HB1503 Act 313 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…y, and local affairs, to whom was referred House Bill 1414, House Bill 1503. House Bill 1555, House Bill 1589. House Bill 1590. House B…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS; AND TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON THE REGULATION … Clowney Notification that HB1503 is now Act 313
HB1516 Act 326 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…estry and Economic Development and home of House Bill 1385, House Bill 1516, Senate Bill 224, Senate Bill 249, Senate Bill 250, Senate…”
TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Richmond Notification that HB1516 is now Act 326
HB1552 Act 420 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1552 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN INCHOATE OFFENS…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN INCHOATE OFFENSES RELATED TO FENTANYL; AND TO ESTABLISH THE … Gazaway Notification that HB1552 is now Act 420
HB1555 Act 995 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…irs, to whom was referred House Bill 1414, House Bill 1503. House Bill 1555, House Bill 1589. House Bill 1590. House Bill 1591. House B…”
TO ESTABLISH UNIFORM PROCEDURES FOR FILLING A VACANCY IN A MUNICIPAL OFFICE. Painter Notification that HB1555 is now Act 995
HB1559 Act 632 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1559 McGrew TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO SEEK…”
TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO SEEK A WAIVER TO THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID … McGrew Notification that HB1559 is now Act 632
HB1581 Act 316 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1581 Henley TO ADD TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS TO THE LIST OF OFFENSE…”
TO ADD TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS TO THE LIST OF OFFENSES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF … Henley Notification that HB1581 is now Act 316
HB1589 Act 676 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…referred House Bill 1414, House Bill 1503. House Bill 1555, House Bill 1589. House Bill 1590. House Bill 1591. House Bill 1600, Senate…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE FINANCIAL OPERATIONS OF A COUNTY; AND TO AMEND THE … Schulz Notification that HB1589 is now Act 676
HB1590 Act 454 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ll 1414, House Bill 1503. House Bill 1555, House Bill 1589. House Bill 1590. House Bill 1591. House Bill 1600, Senate Bill 297, beg lea…”
TO COMBINE THE OFFICES OF TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR IN WOODRUFF COUNTY. J. Moore Notification that HB1590 is now Act 454
HB1591 Act 455 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ll 1503. House Bill 1555, House Bill 1589. House Bill 1590. House Bill 1591. House Bill 1600, Senate Bill 297, beg leave report window…”
TO COMBINE THE OFFICES OF TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR IN ARKANSAS COUNTY. J. Moore Notification that HB1591 is now Act 455
HB1593 Act 358 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1593 Wooldridge CONCERNING THE REPORTS MADE TO THE GOVERNOR AND…”
CONCERNING THE REPORTS MADE TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY THE BOARD OF … Wooldridge Notification that HB1593 is now Act 358
HB1596 Act 327 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1596 Steimel TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIO…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS IN A HIGHWAY WORK ZONE; TO CREATE … Steimel Notification that HB1596 is now Act 327
HB1597 Act 456 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1597 Dalby TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE. Dalby Notification that HB1597 is now Act 456
HB1600 Act 317 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ll 1555, House Bill 1589. House Bill 1590. House Bill 1591. House Bill 1600, Senate Bill 297, beg leave report window same consideratio…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HOLIDAY … Tosh Notification that HB1600 is now Act 317
HB1605 Act 328 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1605 Wing TO AMEND THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER- GENERAL CONTRACTOR…”
TO AMEND THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER-GENERAL CONTRACTOR METHOD OF PROCUREMENT PILOT PROGRAM TO TO MAKE THE … Wing Notification that HB1605 is now Act 328
HB1609 Act 366 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1609 Lundstrum TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO CREATE AN ENHANCED PENALTY FOR RECRUITING TRAFFICKED … Lundstrum Notification that HB1609 is now Act 366
SB224 Act 290 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…c Development and home of House Bill 1385, House Bill 1516, Senate Bill 224, Senate Bill 249, Senate Bill 250, Senate Bill 251, Senate…”
TO REPEAL THE LAW CONCERNING NATURAL ORGANIC FERTILIZERS. Stone Notification that SB224 is now Act 290
SB226 Act 247 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB226 G. Leding McKenzie TO AMEND THE SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVE…”
TO AMEND THE SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION ACT; AND TO MODIFY THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL … G. Leding Notification that SB226 is now Act 247
SB249 Act 291 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…home of House Bill 1385, House Bill 1516, Senate Bill 224, Senate Bill 249, Senate Bill 250, Senate Bill 251, Senate Bill 259, Senate…”
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 transcript
Matched: “…ll 1385, House Bill 1516, Senate Bill 224, Senate Bill 249, Senate Bill 250, Senate Bill 251, Senate Bill 259, Senate Bill 267, vaguely…”
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 transcript
Matched: “…ll 1516, Senate Bill 224, Senate Bill 249, Senate Bill 250, Senate Bill 251, Senate Bill 259, Senate Bill 267, vaguely report with the…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE ARKANSAS TRAILS COUNCIL; AND TO … Stone Notification that SB251 is now Act 276
SB253 Act 256 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB253 Hill Hawk TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF A MANUFACTURED HOME UN…”
TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF A MANUFACTURED HOME UNIT. Hill Notification that SB253 is now Act 256
SB259 Act 293 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ill 224, Senate Bill 249, Senate Bill 250, Senate Bill 251, Senate Bill 259, Senate Bill 267, vaguely report with the same consideratio…”
TO TRANSFER APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE ARKANSAS WATERWAYS COMMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR. Gilmore Notification that SB259 is now Act 293
SB267 Act 295 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ill 249, Senate Bill 250, Senate Bill 251, Senate Bill 259, Senate Bill 267, vaguely report with the same consideration here for”
TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS ALTERNATIVE MOTOR FUEL DEVELOPMENT ACT; AND TO REPEAL THE ALTERNATIVE MOTOR … Irvin Notification that SB267 is now Act 295
SB297 Act 283 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ll 1589. House Bill 1590. House Bill 1591. House Bill 1600, Senate Bill 297, beg leave report window same consideration here for time w…”
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPALITIES CHOOSING TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBERS; AND TO REQUIRE FILING … K. Hammer Notification that SB297 is now Act 283

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October 2, 2026
Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:23
I invite the members, staff, press, and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by Pastor Mike Gorman, Cornerville Missionary Baptist Church in Star City rest guest today of Representative Jeff Wardlaw, and to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean. Let's
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Speaker 4 1:45
pray, please. And we follows, thank you so much for this day. Just, uh, as we find in First Timothy chapter 2, verses 1 through 2, we're urged to, first of all, the petitions and prayers and intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives and all godliness and holiness. So we come for you today to pray for all the men and women that are serving this great state of Arkansas. And representing his people with dedication and commitment. Lord, we ask you to give them strength and courage in Psalms 46:1, it says, God is our refuge and our strength and ever present help in trouble. You're our source of all strength and comfort, God. Father, when they are feeling overwhelmed by the tremendous weight of demands of their duties, and many responsibilities and face challenges and opposition. Please grant them the courage and the strength to do the right thing, even when it's not popular, even when they stand alone, may they seek this strength and courage in you, Lord, give him wisdom in James 1:5 says any of you like wisdom, you should ask God. Father, we seek your wisdom for our officials. Give them the precious. give the wisdom and discernment among the many difficult diseases they have to make each and every day. During these times, we asked that they have the wisdom to turn to you for clarity and insight. Lord, we also ask that you give them guidance and in Psalms 32:8, I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my eye upon you. May our officials never lean on their own understanding, or listen to improper or unwise counsel. Let them always seek you and your counsel and God is first and foremost to guide their past and their decision making. Lord, we ask for a unified voice in 1 Peter 3:8. Finally, all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind. Lord, with such division in our world today, we pray for unity, unity among local, state, and national government bodies elected leaders, political parties and, and our communities that they may work together for well-being of the whole state and for the benefit of all of our citizens who live and work here. Give each one a heart to listen of understanding and let them always be the spirit of cooperation and collaboration and respect for each other in this house. Heavenly Father, we ask that you give them a good health and well-being. The tremendous responsibilities of leadership can take a toll on their health and well-being. We ask for your blessings of good health, both in physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Give them the strength to fulfill their duties while also taking care of themselves and their loved ones. Among their demanding schedules and public scrutiny, we ask that you, that they find rest, peace, strength, encouragement, and support always in you. Now, I pray that you would bless our leaders with your presence and guidance and use them to bring about positive change, not only in our state, but even nationwide and worldwide. We thank them for their tireless dedication and sac but they always know and feel the prayers and well wishes that are being lifted up and pleaded on their behalf and all these things I pray and your precious Son's name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 5:33
Members, please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone indicated their presence. Springer Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. There are 99 members present, chair sees a quorum.
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Chair Unverified 6:15
Any requests for leave? Representative Shepherd, for what purpose? Leave, you're recognized.
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Representative Matthew J. Shepherd Unverified 6:19
leave requested for Representative Eubanks is leave
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 6:22
granted for Representative John Eubanks. So ordered. Representative Shepherd moves that we
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Chair Unverified 6:29
dispense the reading of the previous day's journal with no objection, so ordered.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 6:38
Madam Clerk of the reports from select committees or the reports from standing committees, Madam Clerk, please read
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Chair Unverified 6:45
the reports from standing committees. Mr. Speaker, your committee on city, county, and local affairs, to whom was referred House Bill 1414, House Bill 1503. House Bill 1555, House Bill 1589. House Bill 1590. House Bill 1591. House Bill 1600, Senate Bill 297, beg leave report window same consideration here for time with the same recommendation that do pass respectfully submitted. Representative Gonzalez, chair. Mr. Speaker, we are a Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development to who was referred House Bill 1279 vaguely reporting the same consideration here for terms the same recommendation that it do pass concur in Senate Amendment number 1, respectfully submitted. Representative Moore. Vice chair. Mr. Speaker, we your Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development and home of House Bill 1385, House Bill 1516, Senate Bill 224, Senate Bill 249, Senate Bill 250, Senate Bill 251, Senate Bill 259, Senate Bill 267, vaguely report with the same consideration here for
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Speaker 27 7:28
time with the same recommendation that it do pass, respectfully submitted Representative Lynch, chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 7:39
Is there any unfinished business? Is there any executive communications? Madam Clark,
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Chair Unverified 7:53
please read the letter from the governor to the Speaker of the House. Dear Mr. Speaker, this is informed me that on March 4th, 2025, I reviewed and approved the following measures from the regular session in 95th General Assembly, House Bill 1117 Act 229, House Bill 1478 at 2:30. House Bill 1256, Act 231. House Bill 1049 Act 238. House Bill 1397 Act 239. Sincerely, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Arkansas.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 8:18
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Members, if you would, I'd ask you direct your attention to the back of the house chamber, serving with us today, our Arkansas state troopers, Captain Brad Land of the Highway Patrol Administration Division and Corporal John Hollington of the regulatory Services Division, both of Little Rock. Gentlemen, thank you for your service to the great state of Arkansas. Also with us in the back of the chamber, our doctor of the day today is Doctor Tracy Baltz, an ophthalmologist from Little Rock, Representative Andrew Collins' district. Doctor Baltz, thank you for being here today. And serving alongside Doctor Baltz today is our nurse, Ms. Lee Fazio. Ms. Lee, thank you. Members, we are blessed today. We have a lot of guests. Uh, first, I want to recognize, uh, you see them moving about the chamber. We have a wonderful group of pages here with us today, working hard. Pages, thank you so much for being here and the service you're providing the House of Representatives, please make them welcome. With us in the North gallery today, we have Jim and Kay Hinkle from Mountain View. They are guests of Representative Chad Pierce. Please make them welcome. Also in the North gallery, you may recognize him. We have here with us today Secretary Darryl Bassett of the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Welcome, Mr. Secretary. Over to your ride up in the East gallery today, we have the Rogers High School student leaders and staff, they're here participating in the RVs first leadership program with the Rogers Lowell Chamber of Commerce. They are guests today of Representative Scott Richardson, Representative John Carr, and Representative Britt McKenzie. Thank you for being here today. Also in the East gallery, we have students here today from the Calvary Academy High School of North Little Rock. They are guests of Representative Carlton Wing. We thank you for being here. Additionally, in the East gallery today, we have Scott Sanson of Faulkner County, Ruby Dillian of Arkansas County and Selina Blair, treasurer and president of the County treasurers Association of Columbia County. They are all three here today and guests of Representative Wade Andrews. Members, Representative Grahamlich moves that we place Senate Bill 265 back on second reading for the purpose of amendment. That objection So ordered Madame Clark, please read amendment number 1, the Senate Bill 265.
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Speaker 39 11:25
Amendment number 1 to Senate Bill 265. Representative
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 11:30
Graham, you're recognized to explain Amendment One. Uh, thank you very
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Speaker 41 11:36
much. Um, when we passed it out of committee, we did not yet have a house sponsor, uh, we we were referring it to get a house sponsor on. Representative Gramlich
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 11:47
has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment? Representative Gramage is closed for the amendment. The question before the House is the passage of Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 265. All in favor say aye. nay, the eyes have it, the amendment is adopted. Madam Clerk, please send the bill as amended back to engrossing. Madam Clerk, please read House Resolution 1061. House resolution 1061 by
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Chair Unverified 12:42
Representative Painter to recognize the mountain Home Bomber's high school boys indoor track team as the Class 5A state champion, you're
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 12:49
recognized to explain your resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Representative Stetson Painter Unverified 12:56
Um, this is to recognize the mountain Home Bombers high school boys, uh, indoor track team as the 2025 state champions. Uh, they couldn't be here today because as you know, where I live at, it takes about 3 hours to get here. It takes about 6 hours in a bus. So, if you would join me and let's give them a round of applause for their championship on the camera. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, can
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Speaker 48 13:27
you have the clerk read my title only and go Bombers.
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Chair Unverified 13:31
Madam Clark, please read the title of the resolution to the mountain Home Bombers high school
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 13:39
boys indoor track team as the Class 5A state champions. Representative Painters explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution? For the resolution. Representative Painter is closed for the resolution. Question before the house is the passage of House resolution 1061. All those in favor say aye. Po nay, the eyes have it. Congratulations, Representative Painter, your resolution is adopted. Madam Clerk, please read House concurrent
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Chair Unverified 14:14
resolution 1007. As concurrent resolution 1007 by Representative Painter to encourage the United States Congress to re-evaluate the Medicare physician fee schedule, local locality structure and ensure accurate geographic practice cost indices for the Metropolitan Statistical Ares of this state. Representative painter
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 14:32
you recognize to explain the resolution. Thank
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Representative Stetson Painter Unverified 14:37
you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, today I'll bring you a resolution that's all about fairness, because when it comes to healthcare, Arkansas shouldn't be stuck at the bottom of the Medicare reimbursement list, specifically 3 on the list. Right now, the federal government treats every part of our state the same when deciding how much to reimburse doctors and clinics. But all we know, there's a big difference between running a clinic and Mountain Home versus one in the Delta. Or in a fast growing part of the state like Northwest Arkansas. The cost of doing business isn't the same everywhere, and yet our Medicare payments are stuck under one size fits all approach. This resolution just simply ask our Congress to just take a look at it and let us be treated fairly like compared to the rest of
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 15:23
the states. Colleagues, I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Painter has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak? Against the resolution. Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Representative Painter is closed for the resolution. The question before the House is the passage of House concurrent resolution 1007. All those in favor say aye. Pos nay. Ya have it. Congratulations, Representative Painter, your resolution has been
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Speaker 68 15:50
adopted. Representative Garner, for what purpose you're recognized. Thank you. Thank you again,
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Representative Denise Garner Unverified 16:07
Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, it is my honor today to welcome CSG South to the Arkansas State House. CSG South is a nonprofit, nonpartisan member organization that serves 15 Southern states. Acting as an extension of our offices. They provide policy research and analysis, leadership development, and government staff training. I have learned so much from sitting on their education committee and from attending their cow's leadership and to fellows program. And if you haven't taken taken advantage of one of their policy master classes, please check them out. They're amazing. CSG also hosts their annual Southern Legislator conference, also known as SLC, which will be held this year in Birmingham, Alabama, July 19th through the 23rd, and in 2026, it will be in beautiful Lexington, Kentucky. CSG is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, but today we have several of the team with us, and I'll ask y'all to stand there in the north gallery. Regional director Lindsay Gray. Director of a development, Joe Clark. Policy analyst Eller. Erin, to me, And programs associate Jaslyn Jones. Please help me give them a warm Arkansas welcome. Members of the House will stand in recess for 15 minutes.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 31:54
Madam Clerk, please read House Resolution 1043. House Resolution
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Speaker 33 31:58
1043 by Representative McGrew to support the nomination of former Governor of Arkansas, Michael Dill Mike Huckabee is United States ambassador to Israel. Representative McGrew, you're recognized to explain
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 32:08
your resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In anticipation
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Representative Richard McGrew Unverified 32:14
this day and knowing that we shared this resolution with the Senate. Is and then you ask me which end did I think the governor would start on. Well, I answered Governor Mike Huey is a former lieutenant governor, so it's his job early in his career to go down and get that rough bunch on the end of the building operating efficiently. For the state of Arkansas and conducting themselves properly. So it just makes sense to me that he would go down there first to make sure they're still under control and everything is OK. But, but most of all, you must understand. Governor Mike Coney isn't an extremely intelligent individual. So he's always going to save the best for last. Governor, thank you for being here. But the whole thing. Mhm. And Governor, the first time I met you, It was many years ago in Hot Springs at Second Baptist when you were preaching a sermon. We both were much younger then. And I would have never envisioned that someday I would be standing here in the House of Representatives presenting this resolution. It is my absolute honor and pleasure, sir. We have followed your amazing career as a pastor, a lieutenant governor, a governor, candidate for the president of the United States of America, a TV personality and more. Gever, you have made many significant contributions to the state of Arkansas, and then the middle of that, very busy life, you found time to produce a very important contribution to our state that continues to mold and grow Arkansas today. That competration, that contribution was a lady by the name of Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Thank you so much for that, Governor. And we're very thankful and proud. For your service and contributions over the years. And considering the times we are in in the present state of affairs that exist in the Middle East, your knowledge and experience, we believe President Trump could not have made a better choice in the General Assembly is extremely proud to support you as a United States Ambassador to Israel. But sure our gratitude. Mm Speaker, would you have the clerk read the resolution in its entirety. Madam Clerk, please read the resolution
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Speaker 27 34:52
in entirety. Whereas President Donald J. Trump has nominated former governor of Arkansas Michael Dale Mike Huckabee
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Chair Unverified 34:58
is United States Ambassador to Israel in recognition of former Governor Huckabee's extensive experience, passion, and commitment to the United States-Israel alliance. And whereas former Governor Huckabee was a three-time governor of Arkansas is a Baptist minister and is well known as an advocate for Israel and therefore he brings a unique combination of political expertise, faith-driven values, and personal ties to the Israel region. And whereas former Governor Huckabee has been vocal quarter of Israel's right to sovereignty and self-defense rooted in his personal beliefs and unwavering support for democracy in the Israel region. And whereas former Governor Huckabee's nomination highlights the universal importance of the United States, Israel relationship, particularly as he has been nominated as the first non-Jewish United States ambassador to Israel in over a decade. And whereas former Governor Huckabee has demonstrated strong ties to Israel through frequent visits, leadership of evangel to emphasizing the spiritual and historical emphasis of Holy land and his belief in Israel's right to self-determination and defense as recognized by Christians United for Israel. And whereas former Governor Huckabee's extensive experience as a three-term governor equips him with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of diplomacy diplomacy and to foster peace while advocates advocating for United States' interests abroad, and whereas former Governor Huckabee's background as a Baptist minister provides a unique perspective on the cultural and religious dynamics of the Israel. regions further strengthening the shared values and deep rooted connection between the United States and Israel. And whereas former Governor Huckabee's nomination comes at a critical time, offering hope for the restoration of peace and security in the Middle East following the October 7th, 2023 attacks, as well as his commitment to addressing pressing issues such as the safe return of hostages and rejection of hous. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the ninety-fifth General Assembly of the state of Arkansas that the House of Representatives support the nomination of former governor of Arkansas Michael. Dale Mike Huckabee is United States ambassador to Israel and urged former governor Huckabee Swift confirmation to advance the enduring partnership between the United States and Israel, promote peace in the Israel region and strengthen one of the United States' most important alliances. Representative McGrew has explained the resolution. Would
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 37:14
anyone like to speak against the resolution? Would anyone like to speak for the resolution. Representative McGrew, you're recognized close for the resolution. Representative McGrew is closed for the resolution. The question before the House is the passage of House Resolution 1043. All those in favor say aye. Honey, let the record show
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Representative Richard McGrew Unverified 37:34
that the resolution passed. Unanimously Representative McGrew. The resolution is adopted.
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Speaker 96 38:09
Mr. Speaker, thank you so much, distinguished members of the House. What an honor to be here and to receive this very gracious resolution. And I told Representative McGrew, I said, this is the first time I ever had a unanimous vote in the House. So this is historic for me in more ways than you can possibly imagine, and I was waiting for the nays to scream out, and I want to say thank you for letting it be, uh, a wonderful affirmation, um. I just want to say how grateful I am for the incredible privilege and honor. That the president has given me to represent the United States of America to our greatest friend in the Middle East. The state of Israel is under attack and it has been for since its inception. And yet it's people are resilient. And they're also people who believe in freedom. They elect their leaders. They allow people. disagree with their government. And sometimes I tell people, if you think that we have contentious politics here in the US. And we do You ain't seen nothing until you've seen how they can fight it out over there. But in many ways, that's the sign of a healthy. Democracy A healthy government in which people don't always agree. But they do understand. That they come together. against the forces of hate and anti-Semitism. That has risen up across the world. I consider it an incredible privilege and honor to be able to go to a land that I first visited 52 years ago in 1973 when I was 17 years old. And I've been going back ever since. The only thing the president would have asked me to do that I had any interest whatsoever in doing, I would have said no to anything else. I felt like I had spent my time in government. Had a joyful experience. For the most part. In doing it And I had no interest in Doing anything else, especially at the federal level. But when he called and asked me to do this. It was me and Isaiah moment. Here am I, Lord. Send me And I knew that it was not just simply a Human request But a calling from above, and I truly believe in that. And I want to say thanks to each of you for your service to the state of Arkansas and I realize you have challenges that are extraordinary. When I was governor, I would come into this room to speak in a joint session. I'll never forget when Governor Hutchinson was sworn in his first time. And I was here for that and As he walked in the entire body stood and they applauded him and people were patting him on the back, and afterwards I said, Governor, you know the difference between What you just experienced and what I used to experience. I said, when you walked in there, there were actually people in that room who voted for you. So again, thank you for the magnificent affirmation of your vote, but more than that, I ask for your prayers because it is going to be not. A political challenge but a spiritual one. Because the real issues of that region. are spiritual. People will look at them in geopolitical terms, but let us never forget. That when it's all said and done, There is a Genuine battle. That encompasses. That part of the world. And so I would ask you to do as the scripture commands us to. And that is to pray. For the, for all of those who live there. For the Jews. Or the Arabs For Muslims, for Christians. There are people who share that land. And pray That there will be peace. In the holy city. Thank you God bless you and Mr. Speaker, again, my uh a young lady that I had the opportunity to take to Israel for her first trip when she was all of 11 years old, and I will always believe it had a profound impact. And I hope you'll take good care of your governor, because I won't be here to keep an eye on her. God bless you and thank you very, very much.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 43:05
Members of the morning hour has ended. Representative Ray recommends that we concur in Senate Amendment number 1 to House Bill 1369. Madam Clerk, please
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Speaker 33 43:20
read Senate Amendment number 1. Amendment to Bill
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 43:24
1369. Representative Ray, you're recognized to explain Amendment 1.
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Representative David Ray Unverified 43:29
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues. Uh, all this amendment does is it adds Senator Dotson as the Senate sponsor of the bill, and I humbly ask that you not kill it on
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 43:47
account of that. Representative Ray has explained the amendment. Would anyone like to speak against the amendment. Would anyone like to speak for the amendment? Representative Ray is closed for the amendment. The question before the House is concurrence with Senate Amendment number one, the House Bill 1369. The bill does contain an emergency clause voting on the amendment and the emergency clause with your single vote. Prepare
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Speaker 103 44:19
the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted, Cast
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 44:28
up the ballot. By a vote of 99, 0 nay, and 0 present. You have concurred in Senate Amendment 1, the House Bill 1369. And the emergency clause. Madam clerk, please read House Bill 1365.
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Chair Unverified 44:48
House Bill 1365 by Representative Brown to remove racial and gender quotas and qualifications of membership for certain
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Speaker 93 44:53
boards, committees, councils, and commissions. Representative Brown, you're
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Chair Unverified 44:58
recognized to explain your bill. Thank you,
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Representative Matt Brown Unverified 45:06
Mr. Speaker. Colleagues. House Bill 1365 should be a very easy piece of legislation for you to support. I should simply be able to point out to you that we have 22 sections in the Arkansas code that are unconstitutional because they directly conflict with the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. After all, haven't we all sworn to uphold the Constitution of the The 14th Amendment reads in part, no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction, the equal protection of the laws. Some of you may be asking why I'm running this bill since we just passed SB 3. That bill dealt with employment and contracting. This bill deals with people who want to volunteer to serve their communities, but who are unable to be considered because they are not the race or gender that is specified to fill the vacancy. Prior to this session, we had another section of code that was unconstitutional. The one dealing with the social work licensing board. SB 264 by Senator Missy Urban and Representative Richard Womack. was prompted because we had been sued by the Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of Stephen Hale, who had been denied the opportunity to serve on that board because he did not satisfy a racial quota for that vacancy. Arkansas's quota violated Steven's rights by treating him differently based not on his qualifications, but his race. Our own Attorney general did not challenge the lawsuit because it was indefensible. Subsequently, SB 264 was signed into law by Governor Sanders and became ACT 254 in the 2023 legislative session. The lawsuit then became moot. Arkansas is vulnerable to being sued 22 more times unless we take this opportunity to resolve these unconstitutional requirements in our statutes. But regardless of the legal challenges our state is vulnerable to. We simply must not Allow the government to be in the position to use immutable characteristics such as rice and gender to discriminate against our citizens. As members of this legislature, we are part of the government. It behooves each and every one of us to support the passage of HB 1365 and remove these unconstitutional status statutory race and gender requirements. I asked for a good vote. Representative Brown has explained the bill.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 48:02
Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Richardson, you're recognized to speak
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Representative R. Scott Richardson Unverified 48:16
against the bill. Good afternoon, colleagues. It's unfortunate that this bill has to be run. You know, if we're taking away quotas. We're saying that we don't want the boards and committees to be made up the way our state is made up. Having some of these quotas creates Some guard rails. So that our own biases don't overtake our decisions. I had a member tell me or asked me the other day, if we had a sickle cell, Mary. This would throw that all in, in, in a tizzy. Because my understanding is the only people that have sickle cell or African Americans. And if we can't isolate or at least say we need at least an African American on this group. It negates everything we're trying to do. We passed SB 3. And set a new course of where our state is going. I'm asking you guys today. Listen, I passed this. What we're currently doing is working. There's not been a bill or a law that's been made that hadn't been challenged or somebody wanted to fight against down the line. But this is who we are. And how the boards are made up by identifying specific people by race, gender. I think the bill even, uh, looks at region. Of where we're from. We need all of these things to make well-rounded decisions. And with that, I asked for a no. Representative Richardson has
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Chair Unverified 50:11
spoke against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Womack, you're recognized to speak for the bill.
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Representative Richard Womack Unverified 50:25
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, uh, only reason I'm at the wheel today is I got involved in a Basically the same issue in the last session, uh, a lot of times these things aren't comfortable to talk about and they're. You know, there's questions that we, we may not all agree on and the reality of the situation is that we are putting the state in jeopardy if we do not pass this bill. And I appreciate Miss uh Representative Brown bringing it before us and, uh, it will solve a problem that is a real problem, and there's no downside that, that's come from the passage of a similar bill in the last session. So I would appreciate a, a good
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 51:02
vote on this bill. Representative Womack has spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak
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Speaker 116 51:07
against the bill? Representative Springer, you're recognized to
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Representative Joy Springer Unverified 51:18
speak against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues. I would like to bring to your attention. Uh The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution because it was mentioned that we're in violation of the Constitution. Here's what the 14th Amendment says. The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1868. It granted citizenship to all people born in the United States, including formerly enslaved people. It also guaranteed equal protection under the law and due process. And then it goes on to talk about citizenship, equal protection, due process, voting rights, disqualification from office. and more debts. It is clear to me that if this bill passes, we will be in violation of our United States Constitution. I ask that you vote no on this legislation. Representative Springer has spoke against the resolution. Would anyone
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 52:21
like to speak for the resolution. And when I speak against the res. Representative Ray, you recognized to speak for
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Representative David Ray Unverified 52:36
the resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, colleagues, I, I agree with what Representative Womack pointed out, um, anytime we talk about these types of issues, it can be certainly a difficult conversation. Uh, and that's certainly understandable. I think we all get that. Um. So I just want to real briefly touch on some of the facts of the bill. As Representative Brown pointed out in 2023, our state was sued by, um, a public interest law firm on behalf of an Arkansan who wanted to be considered for service on the social work board, um, the problem was that the position that was open specified in law that that individual had to be a minority. So he was literally prohibited, uh, by law from being. considered And the Attorney general in that case, found that he had no duty to defend the state's law. If you're familiar with duty to defend, that basically means that in the Attorney General's view, there was no, um, reasonable argument in good faith that could be made that the statute was unconstitutional. And when we have language like that in our laws that is unconstitutional, we should go ahead and remove it. I had, uh, last session after our Um, our, our law against panhandling was struck down by federal court on First Amendment grounds. I ran the legislation to take the unconstitutional language out of that that had been struck down. And so Last session, the legislature passed a law that Representative Womack ran repealing the racial quotas on that. So it became a moot issue. But this has come up in other states. There, there have been similar measures, um, that were overturned or struck down in, in Iowa and in Kansas. And, and so the problem is we have 22 more instances in the law like this. Um, if we decline to pass this bill, then what we are doing is just inviting 22 other lawsuits just like this one before. So we can pass this law, or we can subject ourselves to future lawsuits that clog up our courts. Waste at AG Resources, all in an effort that the state will be very unlikely to prevail in. Um, we recently just debated SB 3. And I think, honestly, I think Representative Brown's bill is much more narrowly tailored than that bill was to address a specific problem. Um You know When we debated that bill, I read online some comments that Um, people made about Governor Mike Huckabee when he was once asked what his stance was on on affirmative action. And he said, I don't believe in affirmative action, but I believe in acting affirmatively. And what I believe he meant was appointing people to positions on boards and commissions. And positions of influence that reflect the, the many ways in which our state, uh, is diverse and You know, the governor represents the whole state and is accountable to the voters. It is in the, it is in his or her best interest to appoint people that look like the state of Arkansas, and I just, I just believe that it is OK. To believe in diversity and believe in the benefits that come with diversity, but Also recognized that those sorts of things don't need to be mandated in statute. And so that I would ask for a
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 56:06
yes vote on the bill. Representative Reyes spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Representative Collins, you're recognized to speak
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Representative Andrew Collins Unverified 56:26
against the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Um, well, I appreciate the opinions offered on the constitutionality of the statutes that would be amended here. They are ultimately just opinions because only a court can hold that a law is unconstitutional and a court has not held that these laws are unconstitutional. We've had this conversation many times in this chamber about this exact issue. I would also point out that these have been on the books for years and in some cases decades, and they have never been successfully challenged, including by the organization that proposed the challenge, uh, to the social work law. First of all, they're different. Every one of these things that is being struck is slightly different. So the facts are not the same, so it would be inapplicable to compare one to another. But even if you do, the law was changed before there was a, a holding by the court in that social work case. So again, it was mooted, it was not ruled to be unconstitutional. I want to point out a couple of other quick things. The title of the bill says to remove racial and gender quotas. It actually does a lot more than that. There's a lot of places in here that deal with things beyond quotas that deal with consideration of not only race, not only gender, but also geographical diversity and socioeconomic diversity. Things that have nothing to do with race, gender, or quotas, and I want to make sure you know what you're doing if you vote for this bill because it's a scattershot approach when if you want to get at racial and gender quotas, a scalpel might be more appropriate. That's not what this bill is. I also just want to say that, you know, There is a difference between this bill and SB 3. An important difference. and I was opposed to both, but SB 3 was about opportunity. And this bill is about power. These are powerful commissions and boards, um, and they make decisions for the people of the state, and they are by and large appointed. They're appointed typically by the governor. And so there's a heightened risk, in my opinion, of going with who you know. I mean, look around. We know how these boards and commissions are appointed, and it's not the fault of any one person. I don't blame the governor. I don't blame anyone who makes appointments for doing. ing their friends, appointing their people that they're familiar with, appointing people in their circles. That happens. But that's why we have these guardrails, as Representative Richardson said, these are guard rails to make sure that we think a little bit broader, that we go outside of our immediate circle to ensure that there is a little bit of diversity in a commission, for example, to close the achievement gap. That's one of the ones where changing here. If, what is the achievement gap? The achievement gap is a gap that exists between people of different races and people of different socioeconomic strata, and we would take that diversity potentially away from the board and rely on the goodwill of the governor to uh make that future appointment in a way that is shared diversity. And I don't feel comfortable assuming that. I think it's more important that we Put up the guardrails to help ensure that future appointments are done in a way that is in the best interest of the state, and that's why I urge you to please vote no. Thank you. Representative Collins who spoke against the bill.
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Speaker 34 59:57
Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Representative Brown, you're
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Representative Matt Brown Unverified 1:00:17
recognized to close for your bill. Thank you, uh, Mr. Speaker. Um, I appreciate that people have differences of opinions and I'm certainly not here to invalidate anybody's personal experience. But we never want to give the government the authority. The statutory authority to use bias or to discriminate based on immutable characteristics of race or gender. Providing government with the authority to use race or gender rather than skills and abilities demeans the very people it purports to be helping. For that reason, we have a wealth of laws to protect people from their government using bias or to discriminate. Some have asked who this bill helps. This bill neither hurts nor advantages anyone. It's simply allows those who want to serve their communities that opportunity and ask you for a good vote. Thank you. Representative Brown is closed
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:01:18
for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1365. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot A vote of 61, 27 nays, and 7 present. The bill is passed. Madam clerk, please read House
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Speaker 50 1:01:48
Bill 1400. That's the 1400 by Representative Richmond to amend the law
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Chair Unverified 1:01:55
concerning the redemption of a tax delinquent parcel into the exempt disabled veterans from certain penalties when redeeming a tax delinquent parcel. Representative Richmond, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Representative Marcus E. Richmond Unverified 1:02:14
Thank you, colleagues. Just for your information. This is the first bill to emerge from the new joint military and Veterans Affairs. And I just want to thank all of you, as well as the speaker, For standing up and creating this particular committee. I think it's an important step in the right direction. It may be the only step that we need to take to ensure that our veterans and our active military are properly represented here in the state of Arkansas. This bill is a land commissioner bill. It's a simple bill. We should be very happy that I'm here with this bill after the last bill, because I don't foresee a lot of discussion or debate on this particular effort that the land commissioner is making. In section 2, page 2, what this bill does is a disabled veteran is not subject to the penalty imposed under subdivision A2 of this section when redeeming a tax delinquent parcel owned by a disabled veteran if the disabled veteran, and I'll give you the list here. The veteran that qualifies on this saying is the one that has lost eyesight. In one eye or both eyes. In other words, he's blind in one eye or the other, or he has lost a limb or more than one limb. Or he is 100% disabled. This particular only this particular bill only applies to disabled veterans when their land that they own has fallen into a delinquent status, and they're trying to redeem that. Somebody who is a disabled veteran cannot come in and purchase new land. And say, I'm not gonna pay you that penalty. It does not give them an advantage like that or other people that may be bidding. It only applies to them. The Walking Dead, somebody that's like me, an individual that, that has a certain disability, I don't qualify for this. Somebody that has a disabled plate on their vehicle, and that's all that's going on. They do not qualify for this. It is somebody that is truly paid some type of price, service related. To their service. To this country are the only ones that qualify for that. And it's the 10% penalty. Now, what is the cost of this to the state? It is a whopping estimated to be a whopping $10,000 or less. I think we can afford that. Take any questions anybody has, seeing none. Appreciate a good one. Representative Richmond has explained the
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:04:51
bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for
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Chair Unverified 1:04:56
the bill? Representative Richmond Representative Crawford, you're recognized
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Representative Marcus E. Richmond Unverified 1:05:15
to speak for the bill. F Isn't it
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Representative Cindy Crawford Unverified 1:05:18
great that we have this new committee. I'm so proud. Of our speaker who, um, I think came up with the idea. So proud. I would ask you to vote for this bill. If it weren't for our veterans. None of us. would be sitting here. So, uh, this is very small to be able to give them. But I probably will never get My, my tax bill here for veterans. So I wanted to speak for his. But if I ever do get it here after 3 years, we are going to party. But remember the veterans. Always in what they do. And thank them for their service, Pa Barinas. Thank you. Representative Crawford has spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
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Chair Unverified 1:06:15
Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Richmond, you're recognized to close for your bill. Thank you, Cindy, uh, and just
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Representative Marcus E. Richmond Unverified 1:06:30
in closing, just let me remind you that this is the Speaker's Pet Project, and we all voted for it 100%. Don't, don't let that influence you any, but I just want you to be reminded, I'm closed.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:06:47
Representative Richmond is closed for the bill. question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1400. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted? So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk, by a vote of 98, 0 nay, and 0 present. Bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill
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Chair Unverified 1:07:20
1502. House Bill 1502 by Representative Maddox to amend the law concerning the registrations and licensing of a historic or special interest vehicle and to amend the law concerning antique motor vehicle special license plate.
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Representative John Maddox Unverified 1:07:31
Representative Maddox, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues. This really is a very simple bill. So this bill rolls back the requirement for an antique car tag from 45 years back to 30 years. So for those of you who have been here for a while, I want to give some context, you know, Representative Fortner ran some legislation, um, where he took it from 25 to 45. Um, so this takes it back to 30. Now, I do want to say I had a, I had a member ask this does leave all of the good, um, safeguard we put in place like proof of ownership of another vehicle, mileage limitations, so you cannot abuse it and have just have this be your primary vehicle. You cannot do that. So I'm not changing that, just rolling it back to 30 years, um, to be completely frank, I'm not an antique car enthusiast by any stretch, but I have a very large contingent of them in my district. And if you have any in your district, they will be very, um, happy with this bill. So, um,
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Chair Unverified 1:08:35
Seeing no questions, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Beatty. Maddox has left the well. Representative Maddox has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? But when I speak for the bill. Representative Maddox is
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:08:55
closed for the bill, question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1502. Prepare the machine, madam clerk.
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Speaker 103 1:09:05
one voted So everyone voted. Cast
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:09:13
up the ballot. By a vote of 92, 6 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1596. 1596 by Representative Steinel
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Speaker 24 1:09:25
to amend the law concerning moving traffic violations in a highway work zone to create mobile work
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Speaker 33 1:09:30
zones and access a fine for a moving traffic violation in a mobile work zone.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:09:36
Representative Steiner, you recognized to explain your bill. Thank
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Representative Steiner Unverified 1:09:39
you, Mr. Speaker. So right quick, what this, uh, bill does is it defines a mobile work zone and what's going to allow to do is the, uh, fine, uh, law enforcement officers that we have across Arkansas is going to allow them to double the fine in these mobile work zones, just like they can in a regular work zone right now that we have in the statute. So, what we have, we've had about 23 RO employees and contractors over the last 20 years lost while on this. And when we think about mobile work zones, I'm going to kind of to find the most quintessential work zone that we're gonna see out here in, in, in the, uh, state highway. So, just imagine a two-lane road and you have a pothole crew out there working. You're gonna have them working out of a dump truck and also a trailing vehicle, and one of the requirements that on this bill to define a mobile work zone is they are going to have to have a sign that's about 3.5 to 4 ft wide, and it's gonna have to be present in order for them to write that ticket. And when we think about writing a ticket and potentially, you know, doubling a fine, we put some, uh, wording in here, that's going to allow them to potentially not write a double fine. So we're not, it's not gonna be a May, it'll be a show. And same way, so they have the due process. They also can go in front of a judge if they feel that they, uh, got double, you know, we got written a double fine, and they did not deserve it. They can go in front of a judge. And that judge can determine whether or not use that discretion, if they Warrant a double fine based on the uh egregiousness of, uh, you know, The, the ticket. So, what we need to do here, guys, I feel that we've lost our employees, and we need to make sure that they can go home and I'm sure we've all lost someone, know someone adjacent to us in a district that's lost in our employee in the last, uh, you know, 20 years. And what I ask is, let's protect our, some of the most vulnerable people out there that are working in these pothole crews. And another little tidbit here, this does not include litter pickup. This is actually our do workers. in the roadway and have a sign that is on the back of a truck that shows that there is a mobile work zone here in order for that ticket to be doubled. So with that, I'll take any questions. With
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Speaker 162 1:11:57
that, I'll take a good vote. Thank you. Representative Steinmel has explained the
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:12:01
bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone I speak for the bill. Representative Steinman is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1596. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. Everyone voted So
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Speaker 103 1:12:26
everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:12:31
a vote of 98, 4 nay, and 3 present. The bill is passed.
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Speaker 33 1:12:41
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1605. 1605 by Representative Wing to amend the construction
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Chair Unverified 1:12:48
manager general contractor method of procurement pilot program to make the construction manager general contractor method of procurement program permanent for the
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:12:55
State Highway Commission Representative, you're recognized to explain
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Representative Carlton Wing Unverified 1:13:00
your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back in 2017 as a freshman, I had the opportunity to run this bill to create the pilot program for construction manager, general contractor, method of procurement for the Arkansas Department of Transportation. And I'm guessing most of you sit around the dinner table each night talking about these same things with your families. And so this is great. So you're all well versed, but for those of you who might not be aware of what a construction manager, general contractor method of procurement is the brief history is, it differs. From the traditional design build and that you have someone at the beginning of the project, who is able to seamlessly work through all of the different phases of construction. A typical project will have many starts and stops with different companies doing different parts of the project and so what a construction manager is able to do is kind of seamlessly work through those projects to be able to take advantage of some possible economies of scale, also possibly doing some things at the same time and so ideally, what happens is, is we're able to do these a little bit less expensively. We're also able to do them in a shorter time frame, which also makes it. Less expensive. The beauty of this also, it has a guaranteed maximum price and anything that comes in underneath that is returned to the taxpayer. So we started this project as a pilot in 2017. We had 5 projects come under this pilot program. We've had one of them come through to completion. That was on Highway 10 in West Little Rock where you have the interchange with I-430. That project was completed. It was an $81 million project and through the use of the construction manager general contractor method, we were able to save the taxpayers of Arkansas $7 million on that $81 million project. The next project is, uh, the second one is up in Fayetteville on I-49, right around that, uh, interchange of 62, uh, that is still in construction, but we've already identified 5.5 million at least that we've been able to save by using this. method of procurement. We have 3 others that are more, uh, in the early phases of construction, um, Conway, Bryant, and Jonesboro. And so we can say that this pilot and each of them are projected to have savings as well. It's a little bit early, but they'll be in the 7 figures is what it appears on scale. So we can say that this pilot program was a success. House Bill 1605 merely lifts off the pilot and makes this an actual program that the Arkansas Department of Transportation can use for the projects with which it will benefit the taxpayers of Arkansas. I'm happy to
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:15:41
take any questions. Representative Beatty, for what purpose? You're recognized for a question,
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Representative Carlton Wing Unverified 1:15:54
can you tell me how many projects and I know it's not very many. But I have no idea what that number would be, but it, that's a, that's a pretty high number. So it would, it would include most. Uh, the I-30 interchange over here, that vastly exceeds. Seeing no further questions. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Wing has explained the bill.
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Chair Unverified 1:16:19
Would anyone likes to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:16:24
the bill? Representative Wing is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1605. Prepare the machine, madam clerk.
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Speaker 103 1:16:42
Everyone voted So everyone voted Cast up the
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:16:48
ballot. By a vote of 94, 2 nay, and three present. The bill is passed.
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Speaker 27 1:16:55
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1597. Gospel 1597 by Representative Dalby to amend the law concerning
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:17:04
the administration of the oath of office.
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Representative Carol Dalby Unverified 1:17:09
Representative Darby, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, this is really a very simple bill. It's adding language to those who can give oaths of office to judges constitutional officers other than the governor and all other officers, both civil and military, that they can now take their oaths through the list, but we're adding any former circuit or chancery judge who has served at least 4 years or any municipal or district judge who has served at least 4 years. That'll be happy to take any questions. Seeing no questions, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Darby
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:17:43
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Day is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1597. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk.
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Speaker 103 1:18:04
So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:18:10
the ballot. By a vote of 97 0 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 15811581 by Representative Henley to add trafficking
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Chair Unverified 1:18:20
of persons to the list of offenses included in the definition of sex offense for rights of victims of a crime. Representative Henley, you're recognized to explain your bill.
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Representative Dolly Henley Unverified 1:18:40
Mr. Speaker, members. Thank you. House Bill 1581 is a good bill. The bill will enhance the rights of victims of a crime. A recognizing two offenses within the legal framework. As a sex offense to include Trafficking a persons and grooming a minor for future sex trafficking. Currently There are 19 offenses on the list to define sex offenses. Rape. Sexual indecency with a child. Iest Sexual assault, stalking, and their sport more. But trafficking of persons and grooming of a minor for future sex trafficking are not on that list. The legislative session of 2013 passed the trafficking of persons Act. The grooming of a minor for future sex trafficking Act passed in 2021. Neither of these have been added to the code with respect to the rights of victims of crimes. I want to be clear with you about a couple of questions that came up in committee. The offense of trafficking of persons covers both sexual trafficking as well as labor trafficking. Arkansas law treats them as the same. They are not different crimes. Because of the offense of trafficking a persons includes both labor and sexual trafficking. The question was whether a labor trafficker has to register as a sex offender under the law. Well, the answer is no. This bill only deals with victim rights. The notice of certain hearings and confidentiality of victim information. It is good policy to ensure all victims of human trafficking, both labor and sexual are protected and supported during the prosecution for human trafficking. The bill is to add tea. Trafficking a persons and you Grooming a miner for future sex trafficking to the definition of sex offense for the rights of victims of a crime. I appreciate
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:21:24
a good vote. Representative Henley has explained the bill. Would anyone
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Chair Unverified 1:21:27
like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:21:32
speak for the bill? Representative Henley is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1581. Prepare the machine, Madam clerk. So everyone voted. As everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Madam clerk. By a vote of 98 yeah, 0 nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill
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Chair Unverified 1:22:11
1609. 1609 bypresentative Longstrom to amend the law concerning human trafficking to create and enhanced penalty for recruiting trafficked persons for certain places and to declare an emergency. Representative Lindstrom, you're
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Representative Robin Lundstrum Unverified 1:22:23
recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This simply adds a tool in the toolbox for judges. A judge may have an enhanced sentence if they sex if they sex trafficker recruits, entices, obtains a trafficked person from a shelter facil facility or a residential treatment center, and it goes on to list a few other areas where a vulnerable child could be easily accessed and trafficked. So this adds that important tool for judges to make decisions and add an enhance sentence. And with that, I'd appreciate a good book.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:22:57
Representative Lindstrom has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Lungstrom is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1609, repair the machine, Madam clerk. members your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. So everyone voted So everyone voted. By a vote of 90, uh cast up the ballot by a vote of 97, 0, nay, and 3 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1552. House 1552 by Representative
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Chair Unverified 1:23:53
Gazaway to amend the law concerning certain inchoate offenses related to fentanyl and to establish the class. Classification for a criminal attempt solicitation or conspiracy for certain fentanyl-related offenses. Representative Gaza, what you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this bill, uh, amends the fentanyl
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Representative Jimmy Gazaway Unverified 1:24:11
Enforcement Accountability Act that we passed. Last session, what we did in that bill is, uh, actually, maybe what we didn't do in that bill is classify the inchoate versions of the offenses that we created. So in the fentanyl enforcement Accountability Act, we created aggravated death by delivery, predatory marketing of fentanyl to miners and trafficking of fentanyl. So the NOA version of those offenses is conspiracy, solicitation, and attempt. And so typically in criminal law, when you have so we have the Ecode defenses such as the ones I just mentioned. They're one step below what the, uh, classification of the original offenses. Well, in this case for those offenses in the fentanyl enforcement Accountability Act, we made those what I would call super Y felonies. So for instance, uh, aggravated death by delivery in many circumstances was an automatic life sentence. And so we take the NOA versions of that solicitation attempt, and conspiracy, and we make those a why felony. Same thing for predatory marketing of fentanyl to miners. It's an automatic. Life sentence under the fentanyl enforcement Accountability Act. We make the NOA versions of Y felony, trafficking of fentanyl under the Fentanyl enforcement Accountability Act was 25 to 60 year life. And so that's more than a Y felony and so dropping that down to the next classification would be a wide, so we make the inchoate versions of trafficking of fentanyl, um. A Y felony. So with that, I'm happy to answer any questions. Seeing none, I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Representative Gazaway has explained the bill. Would anyone
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Speaker 12 1:25:43
like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like speak for the bill? Representative Gasway is closed for
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Chair Unverified 1:25:49
the bill. The question before the House is the passage
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:25:56
of House Bill 1552. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone
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Speaker 103 1:26:06
voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:26:12
By a vote of 98, 0, nay, and 1 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1593. 1593 by Representative Woolridge concerning
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Chair Unverified 1:26:22
the reports made to the governor and the General Assembly by the Board of Corrections Division of Correction, Division of Community Correction, and to combine reporting requirements. Representative Wooldridge,
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:26:32
you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you,
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Representative Jeremy Wooldridge Unverified 1:26:36
Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this bill, uh, does exactly what it says in the title. It's been vetted by the Judiciary Committee. It takes multiple reports, 3 reports, uh, from the board of the Department of Corrections that's reported to the governor and reported to the General Assembly and streamlines that into one report. It doesn't take away any information or any accessibility, uh, of the report. It just combines that for an efficiency standpoint. And with that, I'd take any questions. Seeing none, I'd appreciate a good vote.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:27:06
Representative Wooldridge has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Representative
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Chair Unverified 1:27:13
Wooldridge is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1593. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:27:30
Is everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, madam clerk. By a vote of 99, 0 nay, and zero present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1477. That's
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Speaker 27 1:27:43
1477 by Representative Barker to allow the governing body of an open enrollment public charter school to submit an applic
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Chair Unverified 1:27:49
applicant for consideration for the Arkansas Teacher of the Year. Representative Barker,
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:27:53
you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you,
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Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker Unverified 1:27:57
Mr. Speaker. Members, this just allows our open enrollment public charter schools to nominate a teacher for Arkansas Teacher of the youth, the
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Speaker 186 1:28:05
title says, I'd be happy to answer. I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Barker has explained
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:28:14
the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Barker is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1477. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 95 yeah, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please
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Chair Unverified 1:28:54
read House Bill 1496. 16 bypresentative Andrews to amend provisions of the Arkansas Code to ensure Arkansas students are taught by qualified
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:29:01
teachers. Representative Andrews, you're recognized to explain the.
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Representative Wade Andrews Unverified 1:29:06
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, So House Bill 1496. So currently here in Arkansas, um, so this bill talks about teacher licensures and a couple other different things. Um, what this does is gonna allow the department to come in and streamline the licensure process, um, and make it easier, uh, to come out and, um, about the licensure process here in Arkansas, you know, we're Arkansas is full of hardworking, dedicated teachers, and it's very important that our students have the qualified licensed educators and so the department's gonna work through the rules process to revamp the lotshore process and, um, and they promised that, um, they'd work with us on that. Another thing this bill does is it gives local control back to school districts. It also in the professional development area and, um, it reduces some of the state mandated stuff and allows the districts to have more control over the hours and the curriculum area of what the PD hours will be.
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Speaker 92 1:30:14
Representative William, for what purpose? You're recognized
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:30:17
you define Arkansas students. Arkansas students. Uh, you're preschool to In school. This is,
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Representative Wade Andrews Unverified 1:30:24
this is for your public supplies. This will apply
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:30:31
to private schools. No, this is for your public schools and open enrollment
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Representative Wade Andrews Unverified 1:30:38
charter schools. Why, why are we requiring uh
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:30:46
Arkansas teachers to me qualifications and we don't require that a private school. This is only for our public schools, so you can't answer that. Representative Wooten,
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Speaker 199 1:30:53
is that your follow-up? Yes sir. He didn't answer the question, he couldn't answer it. Let me ask you
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:31:06
one more, if I may. You recognized you better He didn't answer the question, he couldn't answer it. Let me ask you one more, if I may. You recognized you? OK, what, what are the, uh,
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Representative Wade Andrews Unverified 1:31:18
professional development requirements. Right now they have uh 36 hours and this is going back to just, um, 8 hours it's gonna be what the state mandates. It's gonna be really security and the rest of that hours is gonna be um district controlled, so they're gonna be come up with the curriculum of what that teacher is going to look at and everything. It's local control. Representative Lindstrom, for what purpose?
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Representative Robin Lundstrum Unverified 1:31:49
You're recognized this give the school districts more flexibility? Yes. Representative Hawk. Andrews
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Chair Unverified 1:31:57
left the well. Representative Andrews has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Andrews is
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:32:10
closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1496. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Madam clerk. By a vote of 77, 8, nay, and 5 present, the bill is passed.
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Speaker 33 1:32:44
Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1185. 1185 by Representative Johnson. To adopt the dietitian licenser compact in Arkansas. Representative Johnson, you're
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Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified 1:32:51
recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this is another one of these compacts, uh, it was supported by the dieticians and brought to me by them. Uh, we have had the added the language, language that we've been adding to all these contacts, uh, delegating or compacts, delegating authority ALC of the General Assembly for any rule changes. Uh, I don't know of any opposition to this compact, and I'd be happy to answer your questions. Thank you. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Johnson has explained the
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:33:20
bill, would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Johnson is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1185. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. So everyone voted Everyone voted Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 99, 0 nay, 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clark, please read House Bill 1559. 1559 by
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Speaker 27 1:33:58
Representative McGrew to require the Department of Human Services
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Chair Unverified 1:34:01
to seek a waiver to the Arkansas Medicaid program for coverage for inpatient treatment services for substance use disorders. Representative McGrew, you're
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Representative Richard McGrew Unverified 1:34:11
recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Speaker. Substance abuse disorder has become a major problem. Not just in Arkansas, but all over. It drives most of the crime. It fills our prisons. It's a major concern. It's also a major medical or health concern. It has been proven by the medical personnel that it is a disease. It's not a simple choice. But yet we under, we do not fund it well enough. If we do any other health concern. How we fund it in Arkansas for the engine it is through block grants and they're very limited in that. So what this bill does is it's, it requires the Department of Human Services to seek a waiver to the Arkansas Medicare program for coverage of inpatient treatment service for substance abuse disorders. And all this is, is requiring them to apply for this. Uh, running this bill, in fact, DHS is already making this application. But what this does is have them report back to us and tell us what it's doing with this, with the status of this, so they have to report back to the legislation on this. Any
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Speaker 213 1:35:23
questions? Representative Richardson, for what purpose? Question you're recognized. So this is Medicaid
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Speaker 214 1:35:31
dollars, not Medicare. Correct. Medicaid, yes, sir. Follow up Recognized. Our other states already receiving this kind of funding for substance abuse. I
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Representative Richard McGrew Unverified 1:35:43
have been told that other states aren't taking, have applied for this and have received it. Yes. You know the questions. I appreciate a good vote. Representative McGrew
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:35:55
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative McGrew is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1559. Prepare the machine,
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Speaker 103 1:36:19
madam clerk. Everyone voted Everyone voted Cast up the ballot. By
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:36:27
vote 84, 9 nay, and 4 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House
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Chair Unverified 1:36:35
Bill 1268. Unger to allow a public transit authority to become a participating public employer and for its employees to become members of the
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:36:45
Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System. Representative Unger,
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:36:48
you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, House Bill 1268 allows our transit employees to basically become a part of the APRR system. I have economic impact statements here from both an actuary and from Apers. And because this is not involve taxpayer money. You only get out of it what you put into it. This bill would mostly benefit transit employees who join. Or get into it after this becomes law. If you are a transit employee now and you want to get in on this, you have to talk to a benefits counselor and make contributions to catch up. This adds uh transit employees to a list of by my count, 13 different non-state employees and roughly defined as a broad brush. If you live in a city or a county that hauls your own trash, your trash guy is a non-steady employee. Your wastewater employee. There's other just different, they're not government employee, governmental employees, but they do a governmental function. And none of these folks make a lot of money, but we definitely need them. We need to retain them. We need to recruit them, and I believe this would be a tool in the toolbox to do that. I will try to answer questions
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Chair Unverified 1:38:08
if they're easy. Representative Kavanaugh, for what purpose? You're recognized.
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Representative Frances Cavenaugh Unverified 1:38:14
Thank you. uh, Rebuer, I just want to make sure that with this, when we're adding new people into the APRS program. If the program, or should I say the plan, starts to have trouble in actuarly gets unsound or the taxpayers of Arkansas going to be held responsible for all these new people we're adding to it, to, for their plan. Are we gonna be on the hook to make these payments, if it becomes actuarly unsound. I guess
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:38:49
the stock market would have to crash or something. I mean, this is like buying into an employee. 401k or something. I don't know how to answer it other than that. Follow up, Mr. Speaker. You're recognized.
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Representative Frances Cavenaugh Unverified 1:39:03
Thank you. Well, I mean, This is not really a 401k plan. It's a little different. It's a little different beast. And my understanding is we've always had this Problem about Outstanding debt on the The benefits versus what we have in assets. When we continue to add people to this, my only concern is we then also add that risk to the taxpayers of Arkansas, if something were to go south, and that's really what my concern is if you knew the answer to that. I'm afraid I don't. That's
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:39:38
probably an Aper's question. Aper said that they can handle it. And that's That's what I believed. Representative Warren
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Speaker 227 1:39:46
for what purpose? Question, you're recognized. Uh, Representative Unger, it's
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Representative Les Warren Unverified 1:39:51
my understanding that the transit authority and the employees. would have to contribute to cover 100% of what they would be able to get out of the program. It would be no strain on As Yes, sir. Is that
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:40:13
the employee and the employer and as I said, if you wanted to buy into this system, you
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Representative Les Warren Unverified 1:40:19
would have to pay more in to get yourself vested, but they cannot take more than what The individual and the transit
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Speaker 42 1:40:27
authority take out of the system. Yes,
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Speaker 233 1:40:30
sir. Thank you. Representative Wooton, for what
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:40:32
purpose? You're recognized. Thank you. Uh Public transit and you mentioned garbage truck drivers and sanitation drivers and so is this include
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:40:44
Above public transit. No, this bill is only public transit. I mentioned those other category of employees just to sort of give a sampling of other people who are considered non-state employees, but yet they do do a critical governmental functions that are coming No, this bill is only public transit. I mentioned those other category of employees just to sort of give a sampling of other people who are considered non-state employees, but yet they do
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:41:03
do a critical governmental function. Yes, sir, under this bill, it's only public transit. You're recognized. Do they, and you may have covered this, and I think you did, but I want to be sure if they come in, do they buy in or do they
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Speaker 237 1:41:25
just start off or what? Yes, sir. As I said, if the, the person who would
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:41:30
get the maximum benefit from this would be somebody who actually becomes a transit employee after this bill becomes law. However, for your current transit employee, you're gonna have to pay to catch up.
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Representative Jim Wooten Unverified 1:41:48
It will pay to catch up for the years of service. Could you say that last sentence again. Yes. Representative
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Speaker 116 1:41:57
Wooldridge for what purpose? Question you're recognized. Thank you, Mr.
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Representative Jeremy Wooldridge Unverified 1:42:00
Speaker, uh, Representative Unger, so your, your example was public transit drivers would now be in acres and they'd have to pay 100% to be able to draw out. So what retirement system are they currently participating in? Probably they're just, they
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Speaker 241 1:42:13
don't have one. You know, frankly, it's
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:42:18
Statistically, most people who have some sort of investment or retirement system are people who have, uh, something that they're helped along by their employer. And so this would be that, uh, a lot of people, frankly, need to have their own initiative to have their own IRAs and 401ks. Follow up. You're
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Representative Jeremy Wooldridge Unverified 1:42:35
recognized. So who would their employer be? Would it not be the city that they're operating in? So, I
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:42:42
can only speak for Ozark Regional Transit because that's the one I'm familiar with. Ozark Regional Transit actually gets money from the quorum core to both Washington County, Benton County. He gets some money from the cities, and it also gets grants. So they're not really employed by the city. In, in the case on most familiar with. Now, say here in Little Rock, it's very possible the city owns the bus line. I just don't know that. One
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Representative Jeremy Wooldridge Unverified 1:43:12
more follow up. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this, this broadly would then apply to every transit person across the state, even though you're example is of a unique situation that sounds like maybe it's a nonprofit or a small locally governed board, but this would then apply to the city of Little Rock, Jonesboro, anybody that's got public transit, they would be able to join APRs. But no one else that works for the city. would be able to because the city
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:43:40
on public transit, does that make sense? Actually, there may be non-state employees working in Pullessi County in Little Rock that I just don't know. This is simply
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Chair Unverified 1:43:50
opens the narrow door to transit workers. Thank you, sir. Representative
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Representative David Ray Unverified 1:43:57
Ray, for what purpose? Uh, question, you're recognized. Representative Munger, I apologize. I don't already know the answer to this question, but I might not either. Fair. So APRS is the retirement system for state employees. Transit workers are not state employees. Can you Give me the the background for why I will do my best. Arkansas
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:44:25
Code 24-4-101, paragraph 28, concerns the definition of non-state employees and non-state employees, and I gave a very abbreviated list of all the people of, uh, Municipal employees rule waterworks. Regional airport employees, the guys that sweep up the trash and keep the junk off the flight line. Garbage men, they call them sanitation people now. And uh water, wastewater treatment, stuff like that. So basically, there's a, a category within the code. That lines out what a non-state employee
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Chair Unverified 1:45:04
is. Representative Rye, for what purpose? You're recognized. Who
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Representative Johnny Rye Unverified 1:45:09
sets the schedule for this. Could you, um, could you say it again? The schedule, sir. So in other words, if they pay a certain amount each month for say a 10. The quota that they spoke and there maybe their company too. How is that schedule
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Speaker 236 1:45:33
set up? somebody smarter than me. Thank you. I appreciate a good
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:45:41
vote. Representative Unger has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? You would
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Speaker 68 1:45:46
like to speak for the bill, Representative Warren,
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Representative Les Warren Unverified 1:45:57
you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. OK, colleagues. Heard the AR's code. You have to be a governmental agency in order to participate in an APERS program. The transit authority that, uh, Representative Unger is talking about is a qualified governmental agency that can participate in APER's program. The other Uh, transit programs as long as they are set up in a proper governmental organization set up, they can participate as well. So And as far as, uh, meeting the qualifications for the program. These entities will have to the individual and the government agency that's backing them will have to contribute. To be able to fund each individual's ability to collect a retirement. Payment from the system. Now then he mentioned. Uh, buying Service Into the program. And if they do that, That amount is calculated where it is uh an actuarial equivalency. That is very close to the very amount that they would be collecting from the system. So it is not going to hurt the system. They would have to put in enough, which one example I was given, it would be like $25,000 for a year to buy in. It is not cheap. So they would have to pay in a lot to buy a year of service. The requirements are still there. 5 years festing or whatever is required for each of the systems. You don't just get to pay in. A year and you collect, you have to meet the minimum requirements for contributing into a system in order to get a benefit from the system. And we've got it set up where they would have to contribute in. If they only contributed the minimum number of years, their benefit is going to be a minimum benefit from the system. We're not letting the system be drained by a new member who only contributes for a little bit. They're going, so I hope that answer. Representative Warren spoke for
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Speaker 68 1:48:34
the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the
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Chair Unverified 1:48:38
bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Hunger. You recognized the clothes for your bill.
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Representative Steve Unger Unverified 1:48:48
Take everything that Representative Warrens just said. And pretend that I said it. I am closed for my bill.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:49:11
Representative Unger is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1268. Prepare the machine,
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Speaker 103 1:49:25
Madam Clerk. Everyone voted So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. By a vote of
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:49:35
83, 8 nay, and 5 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clark, please read House
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Speaker 27 1:49:43
Bill 1325. 25 by Representative Cooper to
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Chair Unverified 1:49:46
allow a member of the Arkansas Public Employers' Retirement System to receive service credit from service under an alternate retirement
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:49:53
plan to meet eligibility requirements. Representative Cooper,
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Representative Cameron Cooper Unverified 1:49:58
you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, be kind to me, please. Uh, HP 1325. Deals with already existing state employees. We're not adding anybody to your retirement systems on this. 1325 would allow an APRs member to receive service credit from service under an alternate retirement plan. Like the majority of my bills, this is a constituent-driven bill. I have a citizen in my district who is a long-term state employee. Who brought this issue to me. We'll use his example. He started his career at UAMS where he worked at the library reference desk for nearly 2 years before transferring to the Department of Human Services. Recently, while working on his retirement planning, he discovered that his time at UAMS would not count toward his total years of service with the state. Because UAMS is under a different retirement system. He didn't make any contributions to that plan. And the contributions that were made by UAMS on his behalf were forfeited because he did not work there long enough to be vested in their plan. So essentially he has nothing to show for those two years of work. Of service with the state. I also want to make clear that in doing research on this bill, we found that there's other state employees that fall into this category, so this is not just I contacted ARs about this situation and after some research, it was determined that there was nothing specific in law that would authorize them to grant service credit to employees in this situation. Aris agreed to work with me on the work with me on a solution and their legal counsel actually drafted the language for this bill simply states that a member of APERS who has previously covered under an alter alternate state retirement plan. Maybe credited for each year of employment covered under that alternate plan in order to meet Eligibility requirements for full retirement, that's 28 years. Bill for other states that this will strictly apply to situations where the employee did not vest in the alternate retirement plan. I did not receive any payment or withdraw any contribution from the alter alternate retirement plan. In other words, they received absolutely no benefit from that plan. The employee must provide all proper documentation that these criteria have been met and the director of APRs will make the final determination if all requirements have been satisfied before we before crediting the service time to the employee. It's very important to note that under this bill, The years served under an alternate retirement system only count toward the employees total number of years served for retirement purposes to reach These years do not count toward the multiplier or the final average compensation. The multiplier and final average compensation will, will be based only on the years. That they were a contributing member of APRS. The fiscal impact and the actuarial actuarial analysis indicated that since this addresses a fairly narrow set of circumstances. not very many employees would be assumed to qualify. And with so few employees falling into this category, it would not have a significant impact to ARS and its contribution rate. Appreciate As working with me on this bill, and I sincerely hope we can help these state employees fall into this category. These are dedicated long-term employees to serve the state of Arkansas. And I believe that all of the years of service should be recognized for retirement purposes. Representative Unger, I had it easy. I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you. Representative Cooper has explained the bill. Would anyone like to
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Chair Unverified 1:53:49
speak against the bill? For the bill
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:53:54
Representative Cooper is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1325. Prepair the machine, madam clerk. Everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 91, 2 nay, and 4 present, the bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House
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Speaker 27 1:54:24
Bill 1347. Representative Warren to allow the Arkansas Teacher retirement system to pay an annuity or benefit owed
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Speaker 33 1:54:30
to a person to a special needs trust established for
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:54:34
the benefit of the person. Representative Warren,
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Representative Les Warren Unverified 1:54:39
you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, this is related to Arkansas teacher retirement system. Basically, if you have a person who's worked with Arkansas teacher retirement, and they have a child. Who is special needs. When they set up a beneficiary. For their payments to be made In some cases, some of the people who have special needs children, have set up a special needs trust. All that this is doing, the code is silent on this, so all this is doing is allowing the special needs trust to be named as the beneficiary instead of a child. with special needs. So with that, I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Warren is
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:55:27
explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? And when I speak for the bill, Representative
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Representative James Eaton Unverified 1:55:40
Eaton, you're a recognized speak for the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, uh, real quick, this would definitely personally affect me. I think it's an outstanding bill and thank you very much Representative Eaton
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Chair Unverified 1:55:53
has spoke for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Warren is closed for the
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:56:02
bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1347. Prepare the machine, Madam clerk. So everyone
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Speaker 103 1:56:16
voted. Has everyone voted. Cast up the ballot by a
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:56:22
vote of 99, 0 nay, and 0 present, the bill is passed.
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Chair Unverified 1:56:29
Madam Clark, please read House Bill 13488 by Representative Warren to amend the law concerning survivor benefits for the dependent child of a member of the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System or a member of the state
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:56:43
police retirement system and to declare an
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Representative Les Warren Unverified 1:56:47
emergency. Representative Warren, you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, this bill affects provisions of the APRR system as well as the Arkansas State Police retirement System. It deals with survivor annuity benefits for dependent children of active members who die. The requirement has been that a child be enrolled in higher ed to get that benefit. Uh, as we've shifted and encouraged some kids to go to trade schools, uh, this has been where they don't get the benefit. So in other systems, it's been changed where if the child is a beneficiary, they get it until they turn 23. We're just making it where they don't have to prove if they're going to a college of higher ed. Kids get it till, uh, they turn 23. And basically, this is a very small number of the spouse is gone. Here's a small benefit for the children. These benefits are like 300 $350. They only last from the time these kids are 18 till the time they turned, uh, Basically a 4 to 5 year period. And, uh, so the total benefit that's been paid out 7 million. So you can see that it's a very, uh, minuscule part of the total system, that amount would grow a little bit, but not that much. So I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Warren
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:58:20
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill Representative Warren is closed for the bill, question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1348. Prepare the machine, madam clerk.
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Speaker 103 1:58:41
Members, your one vote is for the bill and the
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 1:58:49
emergency clause. Everyone voted. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By a vote of 92 ya, 1 nay, and 4 present bill and the emergency clause has passed. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 253.
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Speaker 27 1:59:00
Then about 253 by Representative Hawk to amend the definition of a manufactured home unit. Representative Hawk,
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Chair Unverified 1:59:05
you're recognized to explain your bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker,
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Representative RJ Hawk Unverified 1:59:11
colleagues, this is a bill that is going to remove some unnecessary regulatory burdens when it comes to mobile offices and classrooms when they're transported, uh, this bill is going to, um, really affect our contractors and our schools, and oftentimes whenever you see a construction yard and you see the little mobile command posts that they've got out on the construction yard or even at a school when they've got a mobile classroom, uh, right now the way it works is that if they need to transport that across the school or across the street, they've got to go. get a mobile home permit, and these are not mobile homes. Now, one thing if if this bill is passed, they still got to maintain weight requirements and if it's a wide load, they would still have to go through that with our dot. All we're saying is that if they're gonna transport this or move this on site, just a little bit down the road, they no longer have to get a mobile home permits. So if there's any questions, I'll be glad to take them. Thing. I'd appreciate a good vote. Representative Hawke
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Chair Unverified 2:00:07
has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 2:00:15
Representative Hawk is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 253. Prepare the machine, Madam clerk. Everyone voted Everyone voted. Cased up the ballot By a vote of 97, yeah, 0, nay, and 0 present. The bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read Senate Bill 226. 26 by Representative
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Chair Unverified 2:00:45
McKenzie to amend the sudden cardiac Arrest Prevention Act and to modify the requirements for professional development in school districts related to sudden cardiac arrest. Representative McKenzie, you're recognized
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Representative Brit McKenzie Unverified 2:00:56
to explain your bill. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, ladies and gentlemen, I rise today to present Senate Bill 226, um, my Senate, um, spirit animal, Greg Letting, um, asked me to be a co-sponsor on this bill. Uh, I know ideologically we're probably one and the same. The Venn diagram is almost a concentric circle, but this is a great bill. This is a great bipartisan bill back in 2017, then Representative letting pass the uh cardiac arrest. Uh, prevention acts which detailed the necessary steps for at the time was a licensed teacher, uh, to get, uh, CPR as well as defibrillator training. What this bill does is it extends that requirement to license teacher coaches, registered volunteers, or competitive or non-competitive, uh, spirit coaches. And that's, it requires them to um receive that same CPR training as well as external automated defibrillator training, which is recognized by the Red Red Cross and or the uh American Heart Association. Um, This bill again initially passed in 2017. It is the AAA supports this legislation. Arkansas, when we passed the initial initial enacting legislation in 2017, we became one of the top ranked states for emergency preparedness for student safety. Um, as a result, in some other states, uh, innovating and augmenting their laws, we've slowly lagged behind. This would put us back towards the top again. Uh, there's no known opposition, uh, in the spirit of what Representative Ray said at the beginning of the regular, uh, regular hour. This bill passed with zero opposition. Uh, in the Senate with the exception of Senator Jim Dotson, who non-voted. So, um, don't hold that against him either, but I'd be happy to take any questions. Not seeing any, I would encourage a good vote. Representative McKenzie has explained the bill. Would
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Chair Unverified 2:02:41
anyone like to speak against the bill? And then when I speak for the bill.
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 2:02:48
Representative McKenzie is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 226. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Everyone voted. So
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Speaker 103 2:03:04
everyone voted. Cast up the ballot. By
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 2:03:11
a vote of 93, 1 nay, and one present. The bill is passed. Represent McKenzie.
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Chair Unverified 2:03:21
You'd be glad to know that I was just received a text message from Representative Eubanks, and
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Speaker 270 2:03:28
he was very much in favor of this bill. Representative Meeks, for what purpose? Motion, please. You're recognized. Pursuant to House Rule 33M. I move we adjourn until 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. That's a proper motion. It's non-debatable.
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Chair Unverified 2:03:40
All those in favor say aye. Po nay, eyes have it. any announcements from committees, representative Jean,
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Representative Lane Jean Unverified 2:03:51
your purpose announcement you're recognized. Joint budget will meet tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. Big
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Chair Unverified 2:03:57
Mac A. Representative Barnes, for what purpose? Announcement, you're recognized. Uh,
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Representative Glenn Barnes Unverified 2:04:01
tomorrow, March 6th is Pastor's Day at the Capitol. Pastors, chaplain, and church leaders will be in attendance. You're invited to join us for a meet and greet over light breakfast at 9 a.m. and inspiring worship service, 9:30 a.m. in second floor Rotunda, please join us for a group photo inside on the steps leading to the house at 9:20 a.m. before service and I'll be preaching.
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Speaker 276 2:04:29
they say. Look for you to be there. Representative Underwood, for what purpose? You're
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Chair Unverified 2:04:36
recognized judiciary tomorrow at 10 a.m. Representative Kavanaugh, for
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Representative Frances Cavenaugh Unverified 2:04:39
what purpose? You're recognized tomorrow at 10 a.m. and 1:51.
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Chair Unverified 2:04:43
Representative Gazzaway, for what purpose? Announcement you're recognized. State agencies will be 15 minutes upon adjournment. Representative Walters, what purpose? Announcement, you're recognized. Public Health will
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Speaker 233 2:04:54
meet tomorrow morning 100 a.m., room 1:30. Representative Brooks, for what purpose? Announcement you're recognized education we'll meet tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m., 1:38. Representative
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Speaker 270 2:05:02
Meeks, for what purpose? You're recognized. The technology committee will meet at noon tomorrow, wear your best. We're getting our photo, Mac B. Any other announcements from committees. Committee announcements. Seeing no The desk will remain
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Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified 2:05:18
open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in the adjourned
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Unknown speaker 2:05:25
resolution, the House will be
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Agenda

Call To Order

1:20

Prayer

1:42

Pledge

5:13

Roll Call

5:34

MOTION TO AMEND

SB265 #1 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.

11:38

RESOLUTIONS

HR1043 McGrew TO SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF FORMER GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS MICHAEL DALE "MIKE" HUCKABEE AS UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL.

32:10

HR1061 Painter TO RECOGNIZE THE MOUNTAIN HOME BOMBERS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' INDOOR TRACK TEAM AS THE CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONS.

12:52

HCR1007 Painter TO ENCOURAGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REEVALUATE THE MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE LOCALITY STRUCTURE AND ENSURE ACCURATE GEOGRAPHIC PRACTICE COST INDICES FOR THE METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS OF THIS STATE.

14:33

End of Morning Hour

CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT

HB1369 #1 Ray CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MAXIMUM CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMIT BY THE ARKANSAS ETHICS COMMISSION; AMENDING PORTIONS OF LAW RESULTING FROM INITIATED ACTS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

43:16

REGULAR BILLS

HB1365 K. Brown TO REMOVE RACIAL AND GENDER QUOTAS AND QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP FOR CERTAIN BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COUNCILS, AND COMMISSIONS.

44:46

HB1400 Richmond TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REDEMPTION OF A TAX-DELINQUENT PARCEL; AND TO EXEMPT DISABLED VETERANS FROM CERTAIN PENALTIES WHEN REDEEMING A TAX-DELINQUENT PARCEL.

1:02:11

HB1502 Maddox TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF A HISTORIC OR SPECIAL INTEREST VEHICLE; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ANTIQUE MOTOR VEHICLE SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.

1:07:18

HB1596 Steimel TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS IN A HIGHWAY WORK ZONE; TO CREATE MOBILE WORK ZONES; AND ASSESS A FINE FOR A MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATION IN A MOBILE WORK ZONE.

1:09:25

HB1605 Wing TO AMEND THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER- GENERAL CONTRACTOR METHOD OF PROCUREMENT PILOT PROGRAM TO TO MAKE THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER-GENERAL CONTRACTOR METHOD OF PROCUREMENT PROGRAM PERMANENT FOR THE STATE HIGHWAY

1:12:46

COMMISSION.

1:17:13

HB1597 Dalby TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE.

HB1581 Henley TO ADD TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS TO THE LIST OF OFFENSES INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF SEX OFFENSE FOR RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF A CRIME.

1:18:28

HB1609 Lundstrum TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING HUMAN TRAFFICKING; TO CREATE AN ENHANCED PENALTY FOR RECRUITING TRAFFICKED PERSONS FROM CERTAIN PLACES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

1:22:11

HB1552 Gazaway TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CERTAIN INCHOATE OFFENSES RELATED TO FENTANYL; AND TO ESTABLISH THE CLASSIFICATION FOR A CRIMINAL ATTEMPT, SOLICITATION, OR CONSPIRACY FOR CERTAIN FENTANYL RELATED OFFENSES.

1:23:43

HB1593 Wooldridge CONCERNING THE REPORTS MADE TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY THE BOARD OF CORRECTIONS, DIVISION OF CORRECTION, AND DIVISION OF COMMUNITY CORRECTION; AND TO COMBINE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

1:26:28

HB1477 Barker TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY OF AN OPEN- ENROLLMENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL TO SUBMIT AN APPLICANT FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE ARKANSAS TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

1:27:44

HB1496 Andrews TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE TO ENSURE ARKANSAS STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT BY QUALIFIED TEACHERS.

1:28:50

HB1185 L. Johnson TO ADOPT THE DIETITIAN LICENSURE COMPACT IN ARKANSAS.

1:32:42

HB1559 McGrew TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO SEEK A WAIVER TO THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR COVERAGE FOR INPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.

1:33:55

HB1268 Unger TO ALLOW A PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO BECOME A PARTICIPATING PUBLIC EMPLOYER AND FOR ITS EMPLOYEES TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENTSYSTEM.

1:36:47

HB1325 C. Cooper TO ALLOW A MEMBER OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO RECEIVE SERVICE CREDIT FROM SERVICE UNDER AN ALTERNATE RETIREMENT PLAN TO MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

1:49:39

HB1347 Warren TO ALLOW THE ARKANSAS TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO PAY AN ANNUITY OR BENEFIT OWED TO A PERSON TO A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST ESTABLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PERSON.

1:54:32

HB1348 Warren TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING SURVIVOR BENEFITS FOR THE DEPENDENT CHILD OF A MEMBER OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR A MEMBER OF THE STATE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

1:56:34

REGULAR SENATE BILLS

SB253 Hill Hawk TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF A MANUFACTURED HOME UNIT.

1:59:00

SB226 G. Leding McKenzie TO AMEND THE SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION ACT; AND TO MODIFY THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS RELATED TO SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST.

2:00:43

Motion to Adjourn

2:03:34

Announcements

2:03:46

Adjourn

2:05:24

Documents

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Speakers

Representative Brian S. Evans Chair Unverified
121 segments
Speaker 4
8 segments
Chair Unverified
60 segments
Representative Matthew J. Shepherd Unverified
1 segment
Speaker 27
8 segments
Speaker 39
1 segment
Speaker 41
1 segment
Representative Stetson Painter Unverified
6 segments
Speaker 48
1 segment
Speaker 68
3 segments
Representative Denise Garner Unverified
4 segments
Speaker 33
6 segments
Representative Richard McGrew Unverified
11 segments
Speaker 96
9 segments
Representative David Ray Unverified
11 segments
Speaker 103
11 segments
Speaker 93
1 segment
Representative Matt Brown Unverified
9 segments
Representative R. Scott Richardson Unverified
4 segments
Representative Richard Womack Unverified
2 segments
Speaker 116
2 segments
Representative Joy Springer Unverified
3 segments
Representative Andrew Collins Unverified
8 segments
Speaker 34
1 segment
Speaker 50
1 segment
Representative Marcus E. Richmond Unverified
8 segments
Representative Cindy Crawford Unverified
3 segments
Representative John Maddox Unverified
2 segments
Speaker 24
1 segment
Representative Steiner Unverified
5 segments
Speaker 162
1 segment
Representative Carlton Wing Unverified
7 segments
Representative Carol Dalby Unverified
3 segments
Representative Dolly Henley Unverified
6 segments
Representative Robin Lundstrum Unverified
3 segments
Representative Jimmy Gazaway Unverified
4 segments
Speaker 12
1 segment
Representative Jeremy Wooldridge Unverified
6 segments
Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker Unverified
2 segments
Speaker 186
1 segment
Representative Wade Andrews Unverified
6 segments
Speaker 92
1 segment
Representative Jim Wooten Unverified
9 segments
Speaker 199
1 segment
Representative Lee Johnson Chair Unverified
2 segments
Speaker 213
1 segment
Speaker 214
1 segment
Representative Steve Unger Unverified
18 segments
Representative Frances Cavenaugh Unverified
5 segments
Speaker 227
1 segment
Representative Les Warren Unverified
14 segments
Speaker 42
1 segment
Speaker 233
2 segments
Speaker 237
1 segment
Speaker 241
1 segment
Representative Johnny Rye Unverified
2 segments
Speaker 236
1 segment
Representative Cameron Cooper Unverified
9 segments
Representative James Eaton Unverified
2 segments
Representative RJ Hawk Unverified
2 segments
Representative Brit McKenzie Unverified
4 segments
Speaker 270
2 segments
Representative Lane Jean Unverified
1 segment
Representative Glenn Barnes Unverified
2 segments
Speaker 276
1 segment