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Senate Convenes

February 25, 2025 ·1:30 PM ·Senate Chamber ·2:21:27
Video Transcript

Bills discussed (34)
Bill Title Sponsor Status
SB209 Act 273 · 2 mentions in chapter
Matched: “SB209 K. Hammer TO DISQUALIFY SIGNATURES OBTAINED BY A CANVASSER…”
 TO DISQUALIFY SIGNATURES OBTAINED BY A CANVASSER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. K. Hammer Notification that SB209 is now Act 273
SB261 · 2 mentions in chapter
Matched: “SB261 A. Clark TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF AN AL…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF AN ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE ON CERTAIN ROADS; AND … A. Clark Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SR22 · 2 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “22. Senate resolution 22 by Senator Scott to come in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority…”
 TO COMMEND ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED®, FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO … J. Scott Sine Die adjournment
HB1279 Act 285 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1279 by Representative Lynch recommend new pass calendar Committ…”
 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS EGG MARKETING ACT OF 1969; AND TO AUTHORIZE REPACKAGING OF EGGS … Lynch Notification that HB1279 is now Act 285
HB1384 Act 196 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1384 L. Johnson Dismang TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE GRADUATE…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION RESIDENCY EXPANSION BOARD; AND TO DECLARE … L. Johnson Notification that HB1384 is now Act 196
HB1417 Act 215 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “agencies to its 3rd House Bill 1417 member since Lady Man recommend”
 TO DESIGNATE THE OFFICIAL DUCK OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. Ladyman Notification that HB1417 is now Act 215
HB1441 Act 214 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…h recommend new pass calendar Committee on Agrad Humansburg House Bill 1441 by Representative Meeks recommended past calendar on AR who…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ARKANSAS COORDINATE SYSTEM OF 1983. S. Meeks Notification that HB1441 is now Act 214
HB1450 Act 213 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…tive Meeks recommended past calendar on AR who was referred House Bill 1450 by Representative Painter recommend new pass calendar on Ar…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING REPORTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Painter Notification that HB1450 is now Act 213
HB1475 Act 209 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1475 Joey Carr Crowell TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF GREEN LIGHTS; TO…”
 TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF GREEN LIGHTS; TO AMEND THE RESTRICTIONS ON LAMP COLORS; TO … Joey Carr Notification that HB1475 is now Act 209
HB1486 Act 210 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1486 R. Burkes Dees TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE MARKET VALUE…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE MARKET VALUE OF CERTAIN SURPLUS PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY THE … R. Burkes Notification that HB1486 is now Act 210
HB1487 Act 212 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Painter recommend new pass calendar on Aro who was referred House Bill 1487 by Representative Bentley recommending pass calendar Commit…”
 TO AMEND THE NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS ON THE ARKANSAS FORESTRY COMMISSION'S COMMITTEE. Beaty Jr. Notification that HB1487 is now Act 212
SB117 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…d. Public health Committee on Grossels, who was referred to Senate Bill 117 by Senator Penzo compared the engrossed copy with the ritua…”
 TO CREATE THE NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN PRACTICE ACT; TO PROVIDE FOR LICENSURE OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS IN … C. Penzo Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
SB135 Act 399 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB135 J. Boyd TO AMEND ELECTION REQUIREMENTS IN THE CASE OF AN UN…”
 TO AMEND ELECTION REQUIREMENTS IN THE CASE OF AN UNCHANGED RATE OF AN ANNUAL AD … J. Boyd Notification that SB135 is now Act 399
SB183 Act 724 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “Withdrawal SB183 from Education Committee for purpose of amendment.”
 TO AMEND THE UNIVERSAL ACT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM ACT; AND TO AMEND THE TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS … J. Dotson Notification that SB183 is now Act 724
SB210 Act 274 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB210 K. Hammer TO REQUIRE THE SIGNER TO READ THE BALLOT TITLE OF…”
 TO REQUIRE THE SIGNER TO READ THE BALLOT TITLE OF THE PETITION IN THE PRESENCE … K. Hammer Notification that SB210 is now Act 274
SB218 Act 440 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “Senate Bill 218 by Senator Irving recommend new pass calendar Committee on…”
 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. Irvin Notification that SB218 is now Act 440
SB223 Act 400 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB223 M. Johnson TO CREATE THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS…”
 TO CREATE THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT OF 2025. M. Johnson Notification that SB223 is now Act 400
SB253 Act 256 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB253 Hill TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF A MANUFACTURED HOME UNIT.”
 TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF A MANUFACTURED HOME UNIT. Hill Notification that SB253 is now Act 256
SB257 Act 515 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ommittee on Insurance and commerce, to whom was referred to Senate Bill 257 by Senator Penza recommended”
 TO AMEND THE MEDICAID FAIRNESS ACT; TO EXTEND THE APPEAL PERIOD FOR PROVIDERS IN THE … C. Penzo Notification that SB257 is now Act 515
SB259 Act 293 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ecommend Du pass calendar Committee on Agrat, who was first Senate Bill 259 by Senator Gilmore, recommend Du pass as amended number 1 c…”
 TO TRANSFER APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE ARKANSAS WATERWAYS COMMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR. Gilmore Notification that SB259 is now Act 293
SB265 Act 294 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…sed. City county local Committee on the Gross who was first Senate Bill 265 by Senator Irving compared the engrossed copy with the orig…”
 TO REDUCE AND MODIFY THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LICENSING COMMITTEE RELATING TO WASTEWATER AND THE … Irvin Notification that SB265 is now Act 294
SB267 Act 295 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “agro, who was the first Senate Bill 267 by Senator Irving recommend due pass. Calendar Any further…”
 TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS ALTERNATIVE MOTOR FUEL DEVELOPMENT ACT; AND TO REPEAL THE ALTERNATIVE MOTOR … Irvin Notification that SB267 is now Act 295
SB290 Act 921 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ssuance or permits in watersheds and other bodies of water. Senate Bill 290, agriculture symbol 291 by Centra Hammer to amend the law”
 TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF … B. Johnson Notification that SB290 is now Act 921
SB291 Act 279 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…nd the deadlines for complaints of election law violations. Senate Bill 291. State agency 292 by Senator Hammer to amend the law concer…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COMPLAINTS OF ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS; AND TO AMEND THE DEADLINES … K. Hammer Notification that SB291 is now Act 279
SB292 Act 264 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ction is scheduled on a state holiday in certain instances, Senate Bill 292. by Senator Hammer to amend the law concerning the date of…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE DATE OF AN ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION; TO MOVE THE … K. Hammer Notification that SB292 is now Act 264
SB293 Act 487 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…formation, and material at a polling site. on election day, Senate Bill 293. State agencies by Centra Hammer to amend the law concernin…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE REQUIRED POSTINGS AT A POLLING SITE; AND TO AMEND … K. Hammer Notification that SB293 is now Act 487
SB294 Act 280 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…county in the preceding election in certain circumstances, Senate Bill 294 state agencies. 295 by Sent a hammer to amend the law”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ELECTION AUDITS; AND TO ALLOW THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTION … K. Hammer Notification that SB294 is now Act 280
SB295 Act 281 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…sation for a certified election monitor as election expense Senate Bill 295. State agencies by Senator Hammer to amend the law concerni…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING APPROPRIATION FOR ELECTION EXPENSES; AND TO ALLOW COMPENSATION FOR A … K. Hammer Notification that SB295 is now Act 281
SB297 Act 283 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…city county members, council members with the county clerk, Senate Bill 297. City County local. Symbol 298 by Central Rice to repeal th…”
 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MUNICIPALITIES CHOOSING TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBERS; AND TO REQUIRE FILING … K. Hammer Notification that SB297 is now Act 283
SB299 Act 403 · 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…f long-term residential care facility with absentee voting. Senate Bill 299. State agencies. Were your committee on”
 TO REQUIRE A STAFF MEMBER TO WITNESS AN ADMINISTRATOR ASSISTING A RESIDENT OF A LONG-TERM … K. Hammer Notification that SB299 is now Act 403
SB75 Act 244 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB75 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - ARKANSAS SCHOOL FO…”
 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND ARKANSAS … Joint Budget Committee Notification that SB75 is now Act 244
SR23 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SR23 Crowell TO RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY 15-22, 2025, AS NATIONAL FFA…”
 TO RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY 15-22, 2025, AS NATIONAL FFA WEEK. Crowell Sine Die adjournment
SR24 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SR24 J. English TO RECOGNIZE THE ARKANSAS COUNCIL FOR MILITARY C…”
 TO RECOGNIZE THE ARKANSAS COUNCIL FOR MILITARY CHILDREN FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO AND SUCCESSES IN … J. English Sine Die adjournment
SR27 · 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “Motion to take up SR27 and add to the calendar.”
 COMMENDING ARKANSAS FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND FORESTERS FOR THEIR VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SECURITY AND ECONOMIC … Caldwell Sine Die adjournment

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October 2, 2026
Chair Unverified 3:37
Senate will be called to order any requests for leave
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Speaker 5 3:44
at this time. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Bowen, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dima Dodson, English Flippo, flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Lading love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, Stone. have a Phil Sullivan, Tucker,
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Speaker 4 4:12
Wallace. Thank you, Madam Secretary. If everyone in the chamber and in
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Chair Unverified 4:18
the galleries would please rise. We'll first be led in prayer by a pastor who'll be introduced by Senator Crow. Following that, we will
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Speaker 8 4:26
have the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Kroll, you're a recognized to introduce our pastor of the
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Senator Steve Crowell Unverified 4:34
day. I have the distinct honor of introducing my friend Doctor Lewis A. Shepherd. He's visitors from Arkadelphia. He has been the pastor at the Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He's the vice president of Community and intercultural engagement at OBU. Uh, I'd just like to say that he has been a very, very good friend over the last 3 years and we've spent a lot of time in his office talking and getting counsel from him, and I appreciate everything he does in the. Defi. I Would you be so kind as to
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Speaker 14 5:13
connect with me as we go to our Lord and Savior in prayer. Abide with me fast falls even tide. The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee. Help of the helpless or abide in me. Our gracious and kind Heavenly Father, we come to your throne of grace, acknowledging that we can do nothing without you. We are helpless unless you abide with us. And the hurried pace of our days, we thank you for the refreshing respite that you provide for your children. And the chaotic moments that consume us. Thank you for the peace that you give us. In the midst of human frailty. Thank you for the strength, energy, and power that provides for us the ability to continue to do the work that you've called each of us to do. In times of sorrow. Thank you for the joy that brightens our lives. As we gather today we humbly come before your presence of provisions and ask for your protection, guidance and direction for the men and women who comprise this assembly. We ask that you empower our governor with wisdom and confidence as she leads the people of the great state of Arkansas. Lord, we pray that we are constantly reminded that we are our brother's keeper. Please focus our attention on your words that we are responsible for the least of these with our actions, our attitudes and our resources. Please bless our federal, state, and local governments as they lead us through the days ahead. Give them your grace, wisdom, and understanding of the issues that our fellow Americans are facing today. We thank you now for all that you've done for us. We are mindful of what you're doing right now and we want to praise you in advance for all the great things that you have prepared for us. Forgive us of our sins. Forgive us where we have let you down and strengthen us daily with a closer walk with you. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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Speaker 16 7:47
I the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands our nation under God, invisible. Thank you pastor for those
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Speaker 8 8:04
uplifting words, pleasure to have you here with us today. Ladies and gentlemen in the galleries,
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Chair Unverified 8:10
welcome to your Arkansas State Senate is our expectation that each of you will exercise proper decorum and govern yourselves accordingly during today's proceedings. Without objection. The rules will be suspended and the Senate will dispense with the reading of the journal. The morning hour has now begun. I'd
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Speaker 21 8:32
like to recognize Senator Kroll again. I'd like to ask leave for
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Senator Steve Crowell Unverified 8:38
former Senator Bruce Malloch. I Senator Blake Johnson, is he here to introduce our
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Chair Unverified 8:55
Senate pages for the day. If not, other announcements or introductions. Oh Other announcements. I see several
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Speaker 4 9:03
so I just just looking to see if But Thank you, Madam President,
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Senator Jim Petty Unverified 9:15
today we have members of our leadership, Crawford County today at the Capitol, and I don't know if they're on the east side or the west side, but if you would welcome them.
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Chair Unverified 9:26
I Senator Caldwell, you're recognized, and then we'll have Senator Johnson come up and introduce you to
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 9:38
Ashley for my grandson John Weatherford. Senator Blake
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Chair Unverified 9:43
Johnson, you're recognized to introduce our pages. Members, I'd like
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Speaker 39 9:47
to recognize the Senate pages joining us today when I call your name, please come to the front and be recognized. Jack Gunterman. Jack is a faiville high school student and uh Senator Ledings, page, uh, Bristol Warden, Lake Hamilton Junior High, and this is Senator McKee's page. And Lexi McKee, I wonder who she is. This is Senator McKee's daughter, and she is homeschooled and ah Senator McKee's Page, please welcome, welcome our pages of the day and, and uh thank y'all. Members, if you hadn't noticed, this is Farmer's Day in the Capitol and there's a lot of folks wandering around here, and that's why I have my blue jeans on and uh my son and a and a and a neighbor farmer of mine is up here in this West gallery, and I don't know who else is here, but please stand if you're a farmer in those galleries and be recognized.
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Chair Unverified 11:09
Thank you, Senator Johnson, and from my, my farm family to all the farmers, thank you all for being here. Senator Crow, you're recognized.
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Senator Steve Crowell Unverified 11:16
I would like to recognize I have a young lady shadowing me this week, uh, she's actually from Senator Stone's district, but I have known her since she was about this high. She is shadow and she's going to be a political science major at the U of A. So she is shadowing us this week and she said she's earned a lot and who to stay away from and who to learn from. So the Emma Tuberville.
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Chair Unverified 11:45
Senator Stubblefield, you're recognized. Thank you
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Senator Gary Stubblefield Unverified 11:50
Mad governor. I just, uh, colleagues, I just want to announce that tomorrow is homeschool uh day at the Capitol, Wednesday the 26th, uh, there'll be almost over 1000 homeschool kids here tomorrow. So if you would like to have your picture made with some of those from your uh district. If you'll be out front at 12 o'clock, you can have that done. So welcome to homeschool kids, Markansas.
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified 12:20
Senator Clark, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Justice of the peace, Alan Floyd back over in this corner with the yellow tie, is shadowing me today. I'd like to ask
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Chair Unverified 12:35
for leave. Thank. You're Any other announcements or introductions. If not, I would like to introduce a new member that lieutenant Governor's team, John Austin Lynch, John Austin Wave, John Austin is the John Austin is serving as our director of communications and legislative affairs. He is a law student at the Bowen School of Law. He worked with me at the Attorney General's office and public affairs. I have known John Austin about 11 years. Uh, he worked on my First campaign for Attorney general, so when you see John Austin around, if you all need something, please come find him and he'll make sure it gets
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Speaker 55 13:10
done. So thank you guys. That Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? Yes, we your committee on gross
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Speaker 56 13:21
bills, Tomas 1st 100 by Central Pennzo compared to the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Public health Committee on Grossels, who was referred to Senate Bill 117 by Senator Penzo compared the engrossed copy with the ritual and findte correctly engrossed. Public health. Reittee
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Chair Unverified 13:37
on Gross bills who was 1st 183 by Senator Dotson compared to engrossed copy with the original and findte correctly engrossed. Education. We youit
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Speaker 56 13:44
on gross pills who was first Senate bill. 232 by Century Hickey compared the engrossed copy with the ritual and find the same correctly and grossed Education Committee on gross who was referred to 252 by Central Dismay Committee and gross copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. City county local Committee on the Gross who was first Senate Bill 265 by Senator Irving compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly and engrossed public health Committee on Grossils, who was first symbol 267 by Senator Irving compared the engrossed copy with the ritual and find same
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Chair Unverified 14:18
correctly. engrossed. Agriculture, we'reit on AA to whom was referred Senate Bill 218 by Senator Irving recommend new pass calendar Committee on Agrade who was 1st 249 by en for Stone recommend new pass calendar Committee on Aro, who was first sent to 50 by Senator Stone recommend Du pass calendar Committee on Agrat, who was first Senate Bill 259 by Senator Gilmore, recommend Du pass as amended number 1 calendar Committee on Agrat, who was for House 11:49 by Representative Vol recommended new pass calendar Committee on Agra who was for House Bill 1279 by Representative Lynch recommend new pass calendar Committee on Agrad Humansburg House Bill 1441 by Representative Meeks recommended past calendar on AR who was referred House Bill 1450 by Representative Painter recommend new pass calendar on Aro who was referred House Bill 1487 by Representative Bentley recommending pass calendar Committee on Insurance and commerce, to whom was referred to Senate Bill 257 by Senator Penza recommended past calendar Committee on Insurance commerce who was referred to house 1378 Beatty recommend due pass calendar Committee on state agencies to whom was referred 207 by Central Hammer, recommend to pass as amended number 1 calendar Committee on State agencies to house 1121 by Representative Long recommend due pass calendar Committee on State agencies team was. house for 1368 by Representative Rye recommending pass calendar Committee on state agencies who was referred house with 1399 by Representative Richmond recommend due pass calendar Committee on State
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Speaker 56 16:00
agencies to its 3rd House Bill 1417 member since Lady Man recommend
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Chair Unverified 16:08
do pass calendar. Sending Bill 290 by Representative Blake Johnson to prohibit A moratorium on the issuance or permits in watersheds and other bodies of water. Senate Bill 290, agriculture symbol 291 by Centra Hammer to amend the law concerning complaints of election law violations and to amend the deadlines for complaints of election law violations. Senate Bill 291. State agency 292 by Senator Hammer to amend the law concerning the date of an annual school election and to move the annual school election if the annual school election is scheduled on a state holiday in certain instances, Senate Bill 292. by Senator Hammer to amend the law concerning the date of an annual school election and to move the annual school election if the annual school election is scheduled on a state holiday in certain instances, Senate Bill 292293 by Senator Hammer to amend the law concerning the required postings at a at a polling site and to amend the list concerning requiring posting of notices, information, and material at a polling site. on election day, Senate Bill 293. State agencies by Centra Hammer to amend the law concerning election audits and to amend the law, to amend the state Board of Election commissioners to audit a county in the preceding election in certain circumstances, Senate Bill 294 state agencies. 295 by Sent a hammer to amend the law concerning appropriation for election expenses and to allow compensation for a certified election monitor as election expense Senate Bill 295. State agencies by Senator Hammer to amend the law concerning the
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Speaker 62 17:42
designation of an early voting location by county clerksenate Bill 296. State agencies 297
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Chair Unverified 17:49
by Central Hammer to amend the law concerning municipalities choosing to elect council members and require filing of an ordinance describing the election of city county members, council members with the county clerk, Senate Bill 297. City County local. Symbol 298 by Central Rice to repeal the law concerning the setting aside of a decree to quite quick title to land to allow for finality and quick title action sent 298. judiciary Sym 299 by Central Hammer to require a person assisting a voter to present photo identification and require a staff member to witness and administrator assisting a resident of long-term residential care facility with absentee voting. Senate Bill 299. State agencies. Were your committee on
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Speaker 56 18:43
agro, who was the first Senate Bill 267 by Senator Irving recommend due pass. Calendar Any further business to come before the body
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Chair Unverified 18:53
in the morning hour, if not the morning hour has expired, we will now begin the business agenda. Beginning with Senate Memorial resolution 2. Senator Tucker, you're recognized. Senate Memorial resolution 2 by Senator Tucker at A. In respectful memory of former Arkansas Attorney General, United States Congressman and forty-third governor of the Arkansas, James 43rd governor of Arkansas, James Jim Guy Tucker for his service to the nation and the state of Arkansas.
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 19:33
Senator Tucker, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Members, I'd like to ask for leave for Governor Tucker's wife, Ms. Betty Tucker, and his daughter Ms. Kelly Driscoll to come on the floor. That's it. do. Thank you, members. I'm not gonna read the entire resolution because if we went through all of Governor Tucker's accomplishments in his life, we would be here for a very long time. I'm just gonna give a few highlights. He was a very driven and service-oriented man from the time he was born. He became an Eagle Scout at the age of 12, and then he worked his way through high school in the summers by paving roads here in Little Rock when you know that was hot, but that's how he helped pay his way through college. When he was in college in the early 60s, America was becoming more involved in Vietnam, and Jim Go Tucker was determined to serve his country in Vietnam as a United States Marine. For that reason, he joined the ROTC and he accelerated his studies so he could graduate from college a year early to go. He joined the Marines and unfortunately he had a liver condition that plagued him his entire life. And he was discharged from the Marines 3 months after joining, but he did not let that stop him. He traveled by ship from San Francisco to Japan, to South Korea, to Thailand, and then by land into Vietnam where he worked as a war correspondent with platoons, and he was always armed and he covered a lot of Arkansans in Vietnam, and he ended up writing a book, Arkansas Men at War about the Arkansans he covered while he was a war correspondent in Vietnam. between his stints in Vietnam, you should know he came back back to Arkansas to work for a political campaign, a Republican Governor Rockefeller. He also went to law school during that time, and in 1970 he went undercover at Cummins Prison to expose some corruption that we had in Cummins Prison at the time. Then at age 27, after that, he was elected prosecuting attorney for Pulaski County at age 27. He was prosecuted for 2 years. Now we're all veteran legislators in this chamber, and we can all think about what did we accomplish in our first two years in the legislature. Well, Jim got Tucker cleared out over 1000 felony cases that had been pending for a long time from his predecessors. He also found out this this was a trailblazing action. The Arkansas River was being terribly polluted. He tracked down, he traced the pollution to their sources and and prosecuted the people who were polluting. Then two years later in 1972 at age 29, he was elected attorney General for Arkansas. Now we run a lot of bills down here that amend the criminal code before Jim Guy Tucker was governor, Attorney General of Arkansas, there was no criminal code. He spearheaded an effort to create a criminal code for for our state. This was a great man. He was elected to the US House in 1976. That was a huge class of freshmen members of the House of Representatives because it was right after Watergate. Sometime later, I was in a conversation with, with someone who was in that class, who later became agriculture secretary under President Clinton. Congressman from Kansas named Dan Glickman, and he knew I was from Arkansas, and he said we had a lot of people in that class, a lot of future stars, but in 1977 when we showed up at the Capitol, there was one star in that class who shone far and brighter than the rest, and that was Jim Gottucker. Then in 1978 he may have been in the biggest political race in Arkansas history. When he ran for the Senate along along with Ray Thornton and David Pryor. Eventually, of course, he was elected lieutenant governor in 1990, and as you all know, over the next 2 years, the 42nd governor of Arkansas was running for president of the United States and was gone from the state a lot. That could have been a very volatile time for us as a state, but it wasn't because Jim Guy Tucker was lieutenant governor, and he exercised a steady hand over state government the entire time President Clinton was out of state. After President Clinton got elected president, there was a ceremony here where he resigned and then Jim Guy Tucker spoke afterward and and a lot of national media came to Little Rock for that event. President Clinton spoke and then then Governor Tucker spoke, and after he spoke all the national media were like, there's another one of these guys. Uh, I've I've had conversations with y'all about this, but as a state, we punch above our weight politically. On both sides of the aisle, and we've had some big stars. Of the last 100 years, political stars in Arkansas and the country. There was nobody more talented than Jim Guy Tucker, and no one more devoted devoted to serving his state and his country. Two more things I want to say, and I'm going to give Mrs. Tucker an opportunity to comment, but one is, I think just this is a story you all will be interested in. I was in high school at Central High on the debate team with Sarah Tucker. And as you all know, in the mid-nineties, the Huckabee family moved to Little Rock. When Mike Huckabee became governor. When that happened, Sarah Huckabee enrolled at Central High, and she joined the debate team. Now that situation, there's 1000 reasons that situation could have gone wrong. Sarah Tucker handled that with as much grace and class and professionalism, as I would hope my own children to, and Sarah Huckabee handled that situation with as much grace and class and professionalism as I would hope my own children would have, and it made me like and respect both of them so much, and that's a testament to them as individuals, and it's also a testament to their families and to the last point, I've been asked this question 1000 times in my life and several. times in the last week from y'all. Or Jim Guy Tucker and I family. The technical answer to that question is no. But Jim got Tucker always treated me like we were. Anytime I ever asked him for anything in my life. The answer wasn't just yes, it was immediate and enthusiastic, and that's the way he treated everyone coming up after him because he knew they would carry on the work that he cared so much about, and that serving the state and the country that he loves. And so that's why today we are so honored to prevent this resolution present this resolution for Governor Tucker. I'm the one who has a sponsored the resolution, but I want you to know there are 35 senators in this room, and there are 35 sponsors of this resolution because of how much we think of him, and with that, I want to give Mrs. Tucker an opportunity. Thank
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Speaker 88 26:37
you so much. There is nothing that would please Jim Guy more than having this body make this resolution. He loved this state and he loved all of
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Speaker 90 26:48
the work that he did here, and he really credited all of you for being
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Speaker 88 26:53
able to do it. So he would thank you and I thank you. And then I want to add an addition to the Sarah Sarah story. Sarah and Sarah both went to Girls State. They ran for office together as Huck and tuck, and they won. So, thank you so much.
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Speaker 8 27:20
With our colleagues, I request a positive vote on this resolution. Thank you, Senator Tucker, and what an honor it
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Chair Unverified 27:28
is to have you here today, Mrs. Tucker. All those in favor of Senate Memorial Resolution 2 and respectful memory of former Arkansas Attorney General, United States congressman, and 43rd Governor of Arkansas, James Jim Guy Tucker for his service to the nation and to the state of Arkansas, please signify by saying a. And he opposed, ayes have it. Senate Memorial Resolution 2 is adopted. We will now take up Senate resolution 22. Senate resolution 22 by Senator Scott to come in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Incorporated and its contributions to the community and this is February 25, 2025 as Alpha Kappa Alpha day at the state Capitol. Senator Scott, you're
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Senator Jamie Scott Unverified 28:35
recognized. Thank you, Governor. Um, colleagues, I would like to request leave from my guest. Thank you. Today we have with us Doctor Shawn Simmons, who is the 27th Regional Director of South Central Regional Director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. We also have our international connection Committee Chairman Ms Demetria Simpson from Tennessee, we have Shaquetta Cunningham, who is the connections chairman from Arkansas, and we have Carmelita Smith, who is our 19th South Central Regional Director with a host of other um local officials, um, and leaders in the community and We have the Linda Poindexter, Chesterfield, mhm. OK. But I also want to recognize Doctor Felicia Hobbs. Where's she at? OK, she's with our pages. OK, she's waving and Miss Janet Tate, who served with us and help us every day, so we appreciate you ladies. She said my resolution I can proceed. OK, so I'm not gonna read all of the resolution, but I do want to highlight some of the things, um, whereas Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Incorporated founded on January 15, 1908 on the campus of Howard University in Washington DC, America's first Greek letter organization for black women. We're asked a small group of membership grew to 100s of thousands, 360,000. To be exact, college educated women from around the world with an active membership of 1,074 chapters all over the country representing 120,000 women who represent a very diverse group. And this includes educators, head of the state, politicians, lawyers, medical professionals, um, decision makers and major corporations, the former vice president of the United States and Little Rock 9 member Thelma, Mother share where in our late congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, whereas local and statewide members include former state senator Emma Lee Hunter Brown, former um representative Nancy Watt, who is somewhere in the audience. way wherever you are, uh, former representative Llewellyn, myself, Senator Scott, Representative Joyce Springer, our former Linda Poindexter Chesterfield and our deputy director and assistant secretary of the Senate, Sabrina Llewellyn. So we're at the General Assembly today we designate Alpha Kappa Alpha day at the state Capitol and now therefore be it resolved that the Senate of the ninety-fifth General Assembly of the state of Arkansas that the Senate could me Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated for its service and contributions to the state of state of Arkansas and the South Central region and the United States and internationally and celebrate February 25th of 2025 as Alpha Kappa Alpha day at the Arkansas State. Capital. And I would just like to allow our regional director who flew in from Texas to just give a few remarks and Senator Chesterfield, if you would, I always yield the floor to
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Speaker 109 32:14
you, madam. Good, good afternoon. Good afternoon, you all. Just want to say thank you for the welcome. I always feel like Arkansas is a second home, we will be here in just a couple of months as we bring our South Central Regional Conference here to Little Rock, expecting over 5000 participants, but we appreciate the opportunity for our voices to be heard and for the ladies here um in the gallery as well on the floor here. Thank you all for all that you do. to advocate in the communities alongside our legislators.
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Speaker 110 32:44
Thank you very much. Madam Chair, ladies and gentlemen of
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Speaker 112 32:54
the Senate, it is indeed an honor to be back. I would always ask you to wear what today, pink or green ties, uh, because it is Alpha Kappa Alpha day and this is important because these are women of service. To their homes, to their churches, to their communities, to their nation. And so it is with good reason that we celebrate this today and that we thank you for always a welcome, always welcoming us to the Arkansas State Senate. It's so good to see so many of you as devilish as you are, and we appreciate you so very, very much. Thank you. And Madam Vice Vice Lieutenant Governor, Madam President, it's always a joy to see you and, and the group. Y'all are
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Senator Jamie Scott Unverified 33:45
wonderful. Thank you. I moved for, I moved for adoption and ask for a
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Chair Unverified 33:49
good vote. Is that it? Thank you, Senator Scott. All those in favor of Senate Resolution 22 to commend Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated for its contributions to the community and to designate February 25, 2025 as Alpha Kappa Alpha day at the state Capitol. Please signify by saying aye. And he opposed as habit Senate
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Speaker 118 34:19
Resolution 22 is adopted. That. I.
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Unknown speaker 34:41
I. like You
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Chair Unverified 35:44
We will be passing over Senate resolution 23. Senator English, we will now take up Senate resolution 24. Senate resolution 24 by Central English to recognize the Arkansas Council for Military Children for its contributions to
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Speaker 62 36:02
and successes in serving military families in Arkansas.
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Chair Unverified 36:25
Senator English, you are recognized. for
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Senator Jane English Unverified 36:31
members of the military council on Military Children if they would come to the floor, please. Thank you. Come on in. So members, I would like to introduce to you, um, some very important members of our volunteers who are members of our military council of on children. First is Carl retired John Kamenar. He's the military support specialist at the Arkansas Department of Education and chair of the council, who initially thought this was going to be a very small part-time job. It isn't anymore. And command sergeant Major retired Doctor Janice Walker, and she is the assistant superintendent for curriculum and special education and athletics for the Jacksonville, North Pulaski School District, and she's the chair of the council's Awards committee, and Mrs. Jessica Sham. Collaboration inclusion director for Cabot Public Schools and the 2022 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. She is also a military wife and a mother of children, military children, and Ms. Terry Williams, who's a school liaison program manager for the Little Rock Air Force Base. So in 2013, I sponsored some legislation that would um allow the state of Arkansas to join the military interstate Children's compact. which is a nationwide organization to make sure that as children move military children move from one base to another or one post to another, that they are have those opportunities for their education and that it's a seamless transition. One of the things that has happened over the time since 2013 is this organization of a lot of volunteers from across the state have done miraculous things, and we have been recognized by the Department of Defense. as the national national leader in education and taking care of military children, and I firmly convinced that one of the Really good, great, great byproducts of what we're doing here is the uh at Hibbing up in Fort Smith that um foreign sales they would probably not have had as good a chance of locating up there in Fort Smith if it hadn't been for the opportunity that people knew that they moved their children into the Arkansas into that school area that they would be well taken care of by the school district and that all those children would have a chance to succeed. seed. So I would like to read this resolution here to recognize the Arkansas Council for Military Children for its contributions to and successes in serving military families in Arkansas, whereas more than 14,000 Arkansans serve in the military forces of Arkansas and the United States, and whereas more than 60,500 children of military families attend public schools in the state of Arkansas, and whereas the council for Military Children educates. families and school personnel about the rights of children of military families, and whereas the Council for Military Children works to resolve education-related issues for children of military families in transition and whereas the members of the Arkansas Council for Military Children work with public school districts, charter schools, private schools, and military installations across the state of Arkansas to raise awareness of and increase support for children of military families. The United States Department of Defense has recognized Arkansas's statute, programs in the Arkansas Council for Military Children has recommended to the chairman of the United States House Armed Services Committee in the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services that other states should consider adopting Arkansas's model, and whereas the spouse of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has offered an Arkansas's practices as examples for other states to follow in serving military. families, whereas the Arkansas Council for Military Children has been repeatedly highlighted by the military interstate children's compact commission as a leader in serving military families. Now there are for be it resolved by the Senate of the 95th General Assembly, the state of Arkansas that the Senate congratulate and recognize the Arkansas Council for Military Children for its contributions to and successes in serving the military, be it further resolved that upon adoption to copy of this resolution presented by the Secretary of the Senate to Secretary of the Department of Education, Jacob Oliva and chair of the Arkansas Council for Military Children, retired Colonel John Kamenar. Thank you. So I would like to see this proposal passed. Thank you. Thank you,
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Chair Unverified 41:26
Senator English. All those in favor of Senate resolution 24 to recognize the Arkansas Council for Military Children for its contributions to and successes in serving military families in Arkansas. Please signified by saying I. And he opposed as its 24 is adopted. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Perfect. What. Senator Blake Johnson, you are recognized to introduce our doctor of the day, Senator Blake
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Speaker 39 42:13
Johnson. So I want to introduce the doctor of the day, Dr. Lee Kuon. He's a uh internal medicine doctor from Pocahontas, Arkansas, which is in my district, and the nurse of the day who is Lee Fazio, please, please give them a hand.
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Chair Unverified 42:37
Senator Caldwell, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam.
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 42:46
Uh, I moved spin the rules to add uh SR 27 resolution to the calendar, please. All those in favor
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Chair Unverified 42:58
of motion to suspend in order to take up Senate Resolution 27 added to the calendar, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed. Ayes
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Speaker 56 43:08
have it. Motion adopted. Senate Resolution 27 by Central
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Chair Unverified 43:12
Caldwell, commending Arkansas farmers, ranchers, and foresters for their vital contributions to the security and economic well-being of the state of Arkansas and the nation. Senator Caldwell, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Members, I
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified 43:24
want y'all to recognize we have farmers, ranchers, and foresters in the gallery today. You've probably seen them in the uh uh Capitol today, uh, if you have a roof over your head or food in your pantry or clothes on your back, these people furnish that and we're here today to honor those. I do want to read this resolution. I appreciate you putting on it. It was sent over and left off the calendar inadvertently says whereas nearly 20% of Arkansas The economy is based on food, fiber, and forestry, and whereas 2/3 of Arkansas counties rely heavily on farming and forestry as their economic base, whereas agriculture and food-related activities and industries provide more than 240,000 jobs employ 1 in every 7 Arkansans, and whereas agricultural pursuits in this state generate a value in excess of $24 billion to the economy of Arkansas annually. Uh, which contributes to Arkansas's stable and well balanced economy, whereas Arkansas ranks in the top 1/3 of the nation for agriculture cash farm receipts, including being the top 5 producers of rice, broiler chickens, cotton, catfish, and turkeys, whereas Arkansas has more than uh 37,400 farms and nearly 14 million acres in more than 19 million acres of forest land, whereas Arkansas ranges. 14 th in agriculture cash receipts in the nation and whereas Arkansas farmers, ranchers, and foresters feed and clothe people worldwide and whereas the farmers, ranchers and foresters provide the bulk of the state's wildlife habitat, practice sound, environmental stewardship and supply community leadership throughout rural Arkansas, whereas the agricultural community contributes a substantial portion of the revenues that finance state and local services to all of Arkansas citizens, and whereas Arkansas farmers ranchers, and foresters are deserving a public commendation and appreciation. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Senate of the 95th General Assembly of the state of Arkansas that the Senate expresses sincere appreciation to Arkansas farmers, ranchers, and foresters for their outstanding contributions to the economy of the state of Arkansas and the nation into the well-being of the people and commend them for their dedication to wise utilization of our resources. Move for
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Chair Unverified 45:53
adoption. Thank you, Senator Caldwell, all those in favor of Senate resolution 27 to recognize Arkansas's farmers, ranchers, please signify to say aye. Any opposed? I have it, Senate resolution 27.
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Speaker 4 46:19
We will now go back and
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Speaker 56 46:23
take up Senate Resolution 23. Senate Resolution 23 by Central Curl at A to recognize February 15 through 22, 2025 as National FFA Week. Senator Crow,
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Senator Steve Crowell Unverified 46:33
you're recognized colleagues, these are all the officers for the Arkansas FFA. Every one of you signed on this resolution for the recognition of February 15th through 22nd for National FFA Week. Let's give them a round of applause and a good vote.
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Chair Unverified 46:55
Thank you, Senator Crow. All those in favor of Senate Resolution 23 to recognize February 15th through 22, 2025 as National FFA Week, please signify by saying I. And he opposed I have it, Senate Resolution 23 is adopted. We will now Take up Senate Bill 135. about 135 by Cen Board to amend election requirements in the case of an unchanged rate of an annual ad property tax levied by public school district board of directors. Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President.
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified 47:49
Senate Bill 135, in 2023, Fort Smith Public Schools and other school districts are in our great state had to conduct an election on an unchanged village. This was the only thing on the ballot and regardless of the vote, nothing would change because of the vote. This bill will will this bill took input from Senators Dodson and Desma, and amendments were made to address their concerns when I previously presented it. This bill creates an avenue for an alternative process and odd numbered years only. To keep from having an unchanged village election. If it changes and proposed a full election would still have to occur. This bill will keep local school districts from expending precious fiscal resources and counties from expending human resources to what amounts to nothing more than a poorly developed public opinion poll. Any questions for
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Chair Unverified 48:41
Senator Boyd. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator is recognized to close. I'd
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Speaker 79 48:49
appreciate a good vote. Thank you, Senator has closed.
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Chair Unverified 48:52
Any objection to rolling the boat? Saying no objection, Madam Secretary, please call the roll,
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Speaker 5 49:00
I mean, rather, please roll the boat. Boy, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des Desmaine Datsun English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, stone, Steberfield Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his
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Chair Unverified 49:25
her vote, Senator King, not voting. Any other senator seeing no other please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 34 yeah, 0, nay, 1 not voting, Senate Bill 135 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 223. Sitel
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Speaker 62 49:44
223 by Central Mark Johnson to create the religious rights that public schools Act of 2025. Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized.
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 50:04
Thank you, Madam President. Um, let me start in explaining Senate Bill 223 of telling you what it is not. It is not a bill that adds any uh specific uh enumerated rights to those that students, the teachers administrators, and parents have in our schools. What it does, it, it, it collects and codifies these rights. Now, there's a Supreme Court case that called Tinker v. Des Moines, that neither students nor teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate. And again, the First Amendment guarantees your right to freedom of religion just like it does freedom of speech. Uh, now, I just want to again emphasize that this act serves only to as a guide to clarify her religious rights at public schools rather than an exhaustive list of of of religious rights in public schools. Now, in committee, there were some excellent discussion and I want to thank uh uh both Senator Davis and uh uh Doctor Hernandez for helping me smooth this little bump out. His question was, how are you notified? buying the students and so we added an amendment. It's basically on page 2 line 24, 25, and 26 that that the copy of this act by electronic means or by placement in a handbook policy manual or other resource designed to inform students, employees, or parents about policies, procedures, and rights. And we also clarified, uh, uh, a section about legal religious activity. Someone mentioned that there might be a religion, a religion that's protected under the First Amendment, but the activities that they might do might not be appropriate or even legal on uh in a school environment and so on page 3 line 45 and 6, we added two words. It promote legal religious activities on the property of the school district or open enrollment, public charter school in the same manner that other activities are promoted. Uh, that is, uh, basically What the bill does, it does refer to other things that are in the code, including a bill that was passed, I believe, in 2013, which uh allows the school district or open enrollment charter school to offer an academic study of the Bible and of course provided by, and that's in Title 6, chapter 16, 145. Um, that came up for discussion, but that doesn't change or or modify at all uh provision of the code, it just simply acknowledges that it is there, as is most of what this, this bill does. It's simply a codification of rights that everyone has to freedom of religion and as the Supreme Court stated in the Tinker decision, you don't shed any of those rights when you're at a schoolhouse door, a couple of sessions ago, I sponsored a bill that guaranteed similar rights for journalists in higher education. Again, they don't shed their First Amendment rights. At that the door of the college or university. I'll be happy to answer any questions. Question.
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Chair Unverified 53:31
Questions for Senator Mark Johnson, Senator Flowers, you're recognized. So.
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified 53:45
Senator Johnson, uh, on page 3, My first question is, What is considered According to you and and the content of this bill. As Line 35 and 36. Read rediscuss and post documents of historical significance that are of a religious nature are contained religious quotes or references. What historical Significant documents could that be? Well, I'll try to get one
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 54:28
example, uh, we, we look up over the door of our chamber and we see the words In God We Trust, and that's the motto of the United States and also the state of Arkansas. So that could be a religious document could also, if you uh visit the US House of Representatives chamber in the Capitol in Washington. They have uh uh a relief of portraits of the great lawgivers of history all across the room. And the one in the center in the back of the room, equivalent to where our seal is above the door. They have that of Moses, who was the lawgiver who brought the 10 Commandments down from outside so that might be examples of, of things in history that would have religious nature or or significance. Again, the bill makes it very clear that it, it is, it, as I said on page 2 lines 9, 10 and 11 that this act serves only as a guide to clarify the rights rather than an exhaustive list of religious rights at public schools. So I could go on, Senator, but I think your point was a good one, and I, I hope I gave enough examples to illustrate
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified 55:42
that in fact, you mentioned the United States motto In God We Trust, you have that in the bill. Uh, as something that should be discussed here. It's right in front of what I was referring to line 33 and 34 display and discuss the motto of the United States at the students' public school district are open enrollment public charter schools. So, and then you go into this um Uh, recitation of historical sign significant documents, could that be essays, could that be magazines of a religious nature, um. You have that several times here, uh. Have on page 4, have Bibles, that's line 34 and other religious texts. In public school libraries, classrooms, and other places where books are text. are available to public school district are open enrollment, public charter school students at individuals. Employed by the public school district are open enrollment public charter school. So could it be magazines. Essays. Theoretically could, that would be up to the
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 57:12
district and the guidelines that are promulgated by the State Department of Education and, and sooner you you.
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified 57:23
If you say it's up to the district. But Your bill You have On page 3 line 7. Display, print, recite, or discuss religious figures, religious texts and religious beliefs. In the students' public school district are open enrollment, public charter school assignments in which there is student discretion. In choosing topics are People of interest. So it's you and your bill you allow for the students to choose what topics of Biblical, uh, religious text or figures or beliefs. Isn't that true? Yes, ma'am, and I think it would be within the context
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 58:17
of what the teacher would approve like any essay or other study that a student would say, uh, teacher, I would like to do this. How's that? Will that meet the requirement of the assignment and that teacher, he or she could say yes or no or or counsel the student away to more carefully uh pull that together. So. Senator letting, you're recognized for a question, then
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Chair Unverified 58:45
Senator Clark. Thank you, uh, Senator Johnson, I wasn't able
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Senator Greg Leding Unverified 58:48
to be in committee yesterday, but I did listen to the presentation on the drive down, and I was left a little bit confused. There was discussion, I believe, by both committee members and some people who testified that teachers themselves won't be required to teach this, but I don't remember there being a clear answer about if teachers aren't the ones teaching this, who will be? Will the schools be bringing
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 59:09
in clergy members or no, it means that the administration wouldn't assign a teacher and say whether you like it or not, you're gonna teach PE and a Bible course. They, this is a, a teacher would have the right to say, I don't feel like I'm either suited to or qualified to do that. It just meant that you can't be forced to teach the course.
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified 59:40
OK. Thank you. Senator Clark, you're recognized for a question. Senator Johnson, uh, when it talked about documents, etc. that used the word historical, does it not in the bill? Are you talking about at the
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Speaker 196 59:58
bottom of page 3, Senator? I'm not, I, I've read through
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:00:03
it, but I can't tell you where it was on the bottom of page 3 lines 35, 36. It says read, discuss, and post documents of historical significance. There are of a religious nature or contain religious quotes or
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified 1:00:17
references. Would that be the one you instead of historical significance on that and so something like a letter from President Adams to his wife. that talks about the importance of religion for a free society that would be the top of that would be an excellent example, yes, sir. You're talking about, which in some cases has not been allowed. Are you aware, you know, I could have brought a list of mile long, but are you aware that there was a student in Florida, elementary school student who was picked to decorate their door of their classroom for Christmas, and she put a nativity scene on it and ended up being suspended from school for Their interpretation of violating the First Amendment.
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:00:59
I'm not aware of that, but it doesn't surprise me. Sadly, as you know, Senator Clark, a lot of people have a mistaken uh knowledge of what they call separation of church and state, which is nowhere in the Constitution. The Constitution prohibits recognition of a particular establishment of religion, much as what the Church of England was during the time that our nation was 13 separate colonies under the King of England. So, and you know, we
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified 1:01:30
had the question on allow students and I think that's the biggest part. This bill, having read through it, seems to be about students and about the fact that what this bill says it's and it gets specific that their rights, First Amendment rights to free expression and to religion are, as you said, help when they're at school, uh, and that's what the bill does, right? Yes sir. That's exactly what it
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Speaker 196 1:01:56
does, and I might add, Senator
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:02:02
Clark, that uh the, the, not just the First Amendment, but the entire bill of rights is about protecting individual liberties from government, not protecting the government from individuals, and we have had administrations across the school
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified 1:02:14
administrations across the country and even in this state who have violated that. I would
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Speaker 196 1:02:20
agree, yes, sir. Thank you, Senator Johnson. Thank you for bringing the bill. Thank you, Senator Clark. Senator
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Chair Unverified 1:02:26
Tucker, you're recognized her question. Thank you, Senator
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 1:02:30
Johnson. I really want to follow up exactly where you just left off with Senator Clark in subsection C of the bill, that's what addresses the student's ability to have free exercise of religion. Correct? Yes, sir. And I tend to agree with Senator Clark, um, that students ought to be able to pray in a moment of silence or everything that you have in that list there. I, I start to get concerned, there's more to the bill than just that. However, there's subsections D and E as well. And I, I start to get concerned with those subsections where we're empowering adults in classrooms. To do certain things. And this is the same language that Senator Flowers is asking you about in subsection C, but it's also in subsection D, where a teacher, for example, Could post documents of historical significance that are of a religious nature. I assume that includes in their, on their classroom walls. Could it, could it not?
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:03:34
I'm not quite sure I would agree with that, Senator Tucker, but I will, I will stipulate that that's a
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 1:03:40
possibility. How about that? That's the way I read posts. Uh, do you have a different thought on the Wel post host
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:03:47
could be make available, uh, when you go with a 66 cents stamp on a letter and drop it in the mail, that's considered posting it, but I don't think that uh I just have a concern with could be discussed and I think if you put post in the context of reading and discuss, then you say that it's this is a civil discussion, uh, by, uh, students or dialogue with the students and the teacher. I just, I have a,
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified 1:04:15
you know, I have no problem with the teacher praying silently during a moment of silence, which is subdivision D1, you know, that I just, I, I have a concern if we're going to authorize teachers to post religious documents, even if they are of a historical significance, I think that's pretty broad language of posting religious documents on their classroom walls, and so that's that's what
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:04:41
my concern is. Well, thank you for that. I, I will just say it says historical significance that are of a religious nature, uh, especially our, our founding fathers in many, many cases, and you don't have to look that far to find them where uh they appealed to the higher power, uh, I, I know that uh our friend Senator Roper's not here now, but he always loved to wear a pin that was at an appeal to heaven. had a pun uh tree on it. And that was because of the fact that the 13 colonies challenging the power of Great Britain were appealing to heaven for divine help in earning our independence, so I think that's important to discuss because many, many of the Europeans who migrated to the United what became the United States came to seek religious freedom or even know certain colonies were. Maryland was a place where Catholics came to seek religious freedom. Pennsylvania was where the Quakers came to seek religious freedom and of course we all know that the Mayflower and the Plymouth Colony were, were people who were not able to practice their faith the way they wanted to in England and they came on the Mayflower and landed at Plymouth Rock. So these kinds of of uh anecdotal stories of why people came to America and the founding of our nation. I think our other examples of exactly how a significance of religious historical significance of a religious nature could and should be discussed in our school. And Senator Hickey, you're
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Chair Unverified 1:06:31
recognized for a question. Thank you,
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 1:06:38
Madam President. Senator Johnson, my question is on page 3. I guess I'm gonna focus on first on 21. Through 25, is that, I mean that that says that that they're that they can invite and host members of the clergy or other religious leaders to the students' public school district or open enrollment public charter school. Who defines what a religious
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:07:09
leader is that any and everything I think it would be specific to include a religious reader, not to exclude anyone. I think that obviously someone who is a ordained minister in some faith, I would fall in that category, but it would not it would, that's an inclusive statement, not an exclusive statement in my opinion. So any and all is the way we possibly. Yes, sir. Although, again, there's uh To make it very clear, this, this is not an endorsement of any particular religious viewpoint. It's to allow open discussion of different viewpoints. Thank you, sir. Thank you,
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Chair Unverified 1:07:54
Senator. Any other questions for Senator Mark Johnson. Seeing no other questions. Anyone Senator Ervin, did you have a question? And then Senator, you have another
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Speaker 214 1:08:06
question? Oh, you want to speak, OK. Senator Urban.
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 1:08:12
Thank you, Madam President. Just a quick question on the Bible. have a Bible, read a Bible. Um, I, I mean, I'm assuming that, I mean, there's, there's the Catholic Bible, there's, you know, all the different versions of the
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:08:28
Bible. This is You make a good point, Senator, and let me say this. Uh, I tended the late Governor Tucker's funeral yesterday, and we, uh, we, the, the quote that the pastor used was MIA 68. And in one version, uh, in my 68, the word. To the word kindness is used and the King James Version, the word uh I remember exactly what, uh, mercy and I see that there's those words may be compatible, but they're not the same word. And I've always been interested in that. Now that might be a good example of how uh someone in a classroom situation might discuss, OK, this one says uh kindness, and another one. says mercy. Let's talk about that. And I think that kind of academic discussion is exactly what the the existing law, which is the 166145 would anticipate. And yes, they're all of those could be used, including even non-Christian texts, the Torah and even Quran, but they, this is an academic discussion, and that's why the very last sentence
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Speaker 218 1:09:46
in the says offer an academic study. OK. Thank
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Chair Unverified 1:09:51
you. Any other questions, Senator Payton, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Madam
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Senator John Payton Unverified 1:09:57
Chair. I'm just curious, are any of these activities currently Spelled out as being prohibited in our
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:10:03
as a matter of fact, Senator, as I said in my opening statement, nothing in this bill adds or deletes anything that either by statute or by case law is not already available to Arkansas students. The only thing it really adds it codifies it to some extent and is stated on page 2 lines 24 through 26, it shows how these rights will be communicated by electronic means or by placement in a handbook policy manual or other resource designed to inform students, employees, or parents about policies, procedures, or rights. OK, so we're talking about is currently everything we talk about either through statutory action, federal or state or case law, like the Tinker decision that I mentioned. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Senator
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Speaker 42 1:10:55
dismaying you're recognized for a question, and Senator Hill, yeah, and it's
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:10:59
back on that 8. 21 through 25 on page 3. I'm just trying to, so that's already in code. Yes, sir. Nothing
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:11:08
was added that wasn't already in there. And again, it's the free speech rights of your guests. Now, yeah, walk me through what do
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:11:15
you, what are you expecting to happen and how would that work? What do you, what, what should we anticipate that this will
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:11:26
allow To happen. Well, let's let's turn that inside out, Senator. It would keep the anyone from being excluded because of their religious beliefs. It's not that there's, it just says you can invite and host members of the clergy or other religious leaders and that, but to what extent
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:11:42
to give them what, but then it's underneath the section that talks about giving the students right. The students' rights, but then they were giving, you're giving them the rights to invite someone. I mean, I don't know that, you know, anyone's been precluded from going to school that's a preacher to sit at the table with their, you know, kid to have lunch, but I don't think that's the intent here. So what, what are we expecting to be the outcome of that section. What is
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:12:11
it going so loud, excuse me, it says in the same manner that other persons who are not enrolled are allowed to be present, so It, it would mean you couldn't specifically exclude someone because they were a member of the clergy or it doesn't mean that they have unimpeded right to automatically walk into the school as it says in the same manner that that other persons who are not enrolled in the public school district or open enrollment public charter school are allowed to be present. I but
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:12:40
that's what I don't understand because it's invite and host members of the clergy or other religious leaders to the school's public district or, you know, whatever. Other persons who are not enrolled in public, well, I mean that everyone that is not a student is not enrolled in a
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:12:56
public school. They would be a guest. Just, and that's why it says
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:13:00
invite and host. I don't, again, I don't understand the what we're getting at or trying to accomplish with that. I mean, is there something that prohibits them from attending a school now?
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:13:11
Well, in the case of what Senator Clark had mentioned in the in the situation in Florida. They were here was a student who said, well, I'm going to decorate, so I'm going to put a nativity scene up and the student was sanctioned for that. Uh, this is you can invite people, obviously they must uh uh conduct themselves accordingly with the decorum, they can participate in discussions just like someone that's not a clergy. remember, but this is a prospective talking about they have the right to invite host and host members of clergy or other religious leaders, but what I don't understand is to
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Speaker 228 1:13:47
what end. That's I'll stop, but because it's one
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:13:51
thing to prohibit someone from setting up a nativity scene in their locker or whatever it may be. It's a whole another, but that, so I don't really understand the analogy. That you just made. What what does that have to do with inviting someone I may have missed it. I'm sorry, Senator, you have to have
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:14:10
to do with inviting or hosting someone. Well, it just, it's permissive. It allows them to be invited and and as it says in the uh very on page one. Line 32 and 33, and I guess to really to the end of this page, it says religious worldviews hold an important place in overall human thought and philosophy and religious freedom provides an environment and opportunity for students to be exposed to worldviews that form the basis for civilization and thought. So that's pretty inclusive. And I think that the, the, the, the thing you've mentioned on page 3 it just drills down a little further and says, and you can actually invite them to come without being in violation of any. OK. Like Senator Hill, you're recognized for a question, um.
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified 1:15:02
I guess my question is Senator Payton's, if it's not changing anything in statute, not adding anything to it. What's the purpose of it if we're not, if
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:15:12
it does not do anything. The purpose is to make clear all these things that are already in the statute and to provide the fact that students, teachers, parents will be notified that they have these rights. I mean, I, I drew an analogy there. Should it not from what you said
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified 1:15:26
that right should already be there because this does not do any of that. It does not change that's not there or
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:15:34
not, but what it does, it says that we're going to let you know in the handbook that you have this right. You know, when the and I've drawn an analogy to the Miranda decision. The Miranda decision didn't add any rights that accused people accused of a crime would have when they're arrested. Those rights were already there. But it codified it and said, you know, this is the way you, you, you have to inform them of that, and this is making sure that you don't have the kind of misunderstandings that Senator Clark spoke of, or as I heard of a situation in Arkansas where a, a, a Personnel person who was personnel in the school district, uh, told a patron that they couldn't have a Bible in the school, which is patently wrong. So this is why we're going to let them all know that according, you know, you're going to be notified at the beginning of the school year through the handbook policy manual or other resource that you have these rights. So as that happened in Arkansas before?
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Speaker 218 1:16:39
It happened recently. I don't want to point any fingers, but yes, this is one of the impetus why I'm carrying the bill. OK. Do you not feel like this
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified 1:16:47
opens it up for other religions that you may not agree with. It does we don't keep them in, let them in the schools that we have rights too, Senator Hill. They have a, if you do
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:17:01
it for one, that's exactly right. It would pretty well could and, and, and that's what America is all about is, is to allow people to to say and believe what they want to, whether you
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Chair Unverified 1:17:15
and I agree with them or not. Senator
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Senator Jim Petty Unverified 1:17:20
Petty, you're recognized for a question. Think about the president, Senator, I, I hear all the conversation around what you're attempting to do and the fact that it is or isn't in statute, and there was some, you know, I didn't realize that that was already in statute or I forgot it was in statute. I personally believe that and I want one clarification, but I personally believe that there is more out there that believe that you cannot do a lot of these things that you're talking about that are already in statute, then there are that that knows the, you know, the do's and the don'ts, and so by just providing this, and this is the question that I had, are you saying currently that there's a policy in statute that requires that they give those rights, those religious rights to him at the first of the year like your bill is saying or not. There's no instruction to do so, and that's the purpose of the bill, but it doesn't have any rights they don't already have and that's the way I took it, but I, and I may be wrong, but I think there are out there than not that feel like they don't have religious rights in those settings, and this will give them no new rights, but it'll clarify the rights that they do have. You are seeing it perfectly, Senator Petty.
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Chair Unverified 1:18:35
Thank you. Any more questions for Senator Mark Johnson. If not Those recognized speak against. I see Senator Flowers to speak against. Senator Stubblefield to speak for. Thank you, Governor.
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified 1:19:04
I'm in the world right now to offer my perspective. On this bill. I think it's a bill that lends itself to indoctrinating children, young. Vulnerable children. Impressionable. I also think it's not appropriate. For public schools. Senator Johnson, states in his Finding on the first page. That section, that article of the Arkansas Constitution Article 14, Section 1 that provides the state shall ever maintain a general suitable An efficient system of free public schools. And she'll adopt all suitable means to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education. That was uh Amendment 53. That was approved in 1966. And I don't know if you all realize are aware of the history. of the educational system in Arkansas. As I am. And I don't know at all. That's for sure. But this is troubling to me. Because I respect First Amendment right. Freedoms Of speech. Religious assembly. But we're talking about public education. Our children's schools. Whether that be public education. No schools are the open enrollment charter schools. What we look for In terms of educational rights. It's something that's adequate and equitable. And as Amendment 53 says, ever maintain a general suitable. And efficient system. free public school. Going further, when you think about disabled children. Under the individuals with disability education Act. A federal law that protects our children that have special needs. They're entitled to a free and fair education. Appropriate. I don't think what this bill offers Is a appropriate for our public school children. Whether public school are open enrollment charter schools. I think it emboldens us to have religious rights. Outweigh And overpower. Our educational rights for our children. Now When I talk about the possibility of indoctrination. I'm concerned. When we talk about in the bill, these Religious, these documents of historical significance. Several times that phrase is mentioned. Documents of historical significance that are of a religious nature. are contained religious quotes. Our references.
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Speaker 199 1:23:37
And then going further. To discuss
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified 1:23:43
Beliefs Religious beliefs. My religious belief Even as I studied the Bible. May not be. As someone else's. And I want to give an example. I think A document Dated June 1956. is historical by the time, the date. More than 70 some years. I think anybody would consider that historical. In terms of time period. But I'm referencing a document. A publication. Called Arkansas Faith. I don't know if you've heard of that. But I've read this one. Arkansas faith. June 1956. It was published by the White Citizens Council of Arkansas. I don't know if many of you have heard of that. But I imagine some of you have. And I just want to Read an excerpt. From this magazine. That at the end of it, Offers people to subscribe and contribute money for subscription. So the application is here at the back. And it says, I am a white citizen of the United States of America. I believe that God In his infinite wisdom. would have created only one race. Had he wanted only one race in his world. I believe that the final authority should be vested in the people of Arkansas as to whether or not we integrate the races. In the Arkansas schools. Or any other segment of Arkansas society. I do not subscribe to the communist theory of in quote, one world, one race. I do not wish my child. to marry a negro. I hereby express my desire to associate myself with my white neighbors in the white citizens council. To opposed by any or all legal and Christian methods. The invasion of my inherent rights. As a white citizen of the state of Arkansas. I desire to be kept informed of the progress being made by my white neighbors. Of the Southland. In their efforts to maintain our traditional way of life. And I hereby subscribe for our paper, The Arkansas faith for that purpose. Now I contrast that. With my belief in my Bible. The African heritage original Bible. Saint James Version. But it gives me Anecdotal information footnotes about how African edenic people were involved and what their place was in the Bible. Point of order Senator Johnson, you're recognized. This is, it
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:28:16
has nothing to do for the last 5 minutes on the bill. I would appreciate you sticking with the bill.
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Chair Unverified 1:28:25
Senator Johnson, your point is made, I would ask Senator Flowers.
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Speaker 2 1:28:32
May I? Well, I'm gonna allow you to continue send flowers. I think
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified 1:28:36
I'm speaking to the bill, as I was saying. My teaching has been But there's only one race. The human race. The matter of color. Black race, white race, Indian race, or whatever other kind of race you wanna. Call. That was centuries after. The writing Of the Bible. That was something that was Established point of order. Senator Johnson. You're recognized This, this discussion needs to
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Speaker 8 1:29:35
stay on the bill, Senator Johnson, according to the rules of the Senate, each person speaking for or against has one hour in house and the flowers uses her one hour and The basic content is certainly on the bill and relates to the bill and the discussion, so I'm going to allow her to continue on. Thank you, Governor.
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified 1:30:05
As I was saying, the creation of racist. And whether you are a Negro or white or whatever. That came about. In the 18th century. That was created at the Guttenheim. College of History in Germany around 1785. They started classifying racist and distinguishing people by their color. That was long after the Bible, but that's a text. That's a text. The white citizens Council, Arkansas faith from 1956. This is a text. A historical text, historical significance when you start talking about religious beliefs. As my Bible says from Acts 17:24. King James Version, I imagine yours does too. But maybe not. I don't know what Bible you're reading. Acts 17:26. So it in half made of one blood. All nations of men. For to dwell on all the face of the earth. And half determined the times before appointed. And the bounds of their habitation. And the and the footnote from that particular scriptures, Acts 17:26. From my Bible, Reeks. From one Every nation is derived. At the intellectual capital of the ancient world, Athens, Paul delivers his celebrated Aarpaga speech. Significantly, he calls attention to the consistent biblical theme that in the beginning, There was one race. The human race. And in the beginning, There was one family. The human family. Black people did not develop. The modern theories of racial superiority and inferiority. Nor have they ever systematically enslaved or oppressed in mass. Other people on the basis of race. In this great chapter, so dubbed by the German form. Critic Martin Debelius. Paul speaks across the centuries. To remind us of the continuing tragedy. of race, politics, and white racism. I'm voting no. I asked you to vote no. If you can't see where this is something that will disrupt. Our public schools and take us away from the charge that we have for our constitution. Which is To ever maintain a general suitable and efficient system. a free public schools. There are other concerns that I have, but I'm gonna stop right there because that should be something that you should think about. Before you vote and I'm voting
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Speaker 246 1:34:21
no and I hope you vote with me. Thank you. Senator
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Chair Unverified 1:34:33
Stofield, are you still wishing to
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Senator Gary Stubblefield Unverified 1:34:35
speak for? Senator Stubblefield, you're recognized. I, I wasn't intending to, but I thank you, um, Madam President, you know, this whole, this bill, this whole situation shows, shows me how far we've drifted from the original boings that our country was once connected to, uh, I'll never forget reading about Montesquieu, the great philosopher from France when he came to the United States and he, he, he wanted to see what it was that made this the greatest nation on the face of the earth. He went all over the United States looking at the fields and the people and all the industry and everything that was going on. And you know when it came to his his conclusion what he came to. He said it's the churches and the people and this the Bible, this, this preached in those churches, the Christian Bible is preached in those churches. That's what made America great. And later on, the founders, many of the founders, opened schools, uh, Ivy League schools, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, those were missionary schools that turned out missionaries at first. And and this, I like this whole conversation just shows me how far we have drifted away from what we were as a country, 20,050 years ago, we're, we've changed so much and we forgot what made this the greatest nation on the face of the earth. And I think we need to remember that. By the way, I was substitute teaching one day in a small school there where I live. And I'd given the kids a test. And one of the seniors came up to me and while I had given them the test, I was reading the New Testament. And one of the seniors came up to me and said, you cannot do that in public school. And I said, really? I said, can you show me that law? He said, well, I can't show it to you, but I know there's a law you can. I said, really? And a lot of these things and it's been mentioned before, a lot of these schools have, these kids have got the idea that you can't have a Bible study, you can't have a You can't have any kind of, that's not true. There's no law. If a group of Baptist kids want to be over here and have a Bible study, a group of Presbyterians, a group of Me that's, that's totally when that's freedom of religion. Part of what made us the great nation we are. But
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Chair Unverified 1:37:10
Anyone wish to speak against Senator Ervin, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. It's difficult
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 1:37:19
to come up here and speak against a bill when I'm a very Christian person. I believe in the Bible, but let me tell you something. It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to go to heaven. When I was in 5th grade, I had a kid in my class after we read that verse said, ha ha ha, well, Missy's parents aren't going to heaven because they're rich. I had a nun for a teacher in 5th grade, and that nun sat back, because I was incredibly offended that this little boy just basically told me that my parents weren't going to heaven, and they were going to hell because they were rich, because it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to go to heaven. And that greatly offended me. I was in a religious Catholic school. With a nun as a teacher. Growing up Catholic, You know how many times I was told I was going to hell because we were baptized as babies. From people that were in Baptist churches. That was told to me time and time again. I'm sorry, but I just don't think that you bring people to Christ by beating them over the head with a Bible. I have seen people say, you're gonna get slayed by the Holy Spirit and shake bubbles at people. I don't think that's right. My problems and my issues with this bill is number one, you can do this already. I have had 4 kids go through public schools in the state of Arkansas and they have prayed, they have read their Bible during their reading time, they have prayed out loud, they have prayed privately, they have prayed at the flagpole every single year, they pray at basketball games in the center of the basketball court at football games in the middle of the football field. They pray all the time. They carry gobbles in their backpacks. They carry baubles in their locker rooms. This is not a problem and it should not be in this law. This law is written incorrectly, sections D and E are not even necessary because they're covered in in section C, but my final point, why I'm so against this bill. It's because of the very last sentence that says, offer an academic study of the Bible course. Folks, the Bible is not academic. Academic. Academics and academia is from the Greeks. I have a degree in political science. I know this. I've taken courses in political philosophy, but it was the academics in Greece that actually took and eroded the spiritualness of the Bible. Why would you want to have an academic study of the Bible. It is not academia. Academia is math and science and grammar. The Bible is not and should never be equated to an academic study. The Bible is personal. It's personal for me. It's it should be personal for each and every one of us because it's the manifested word of God. That is not academic and it should never be equated to academia. I am opposed to this bill because of that right there. I do not believe that the Bible should be studied in academia. You want to lessen the word of God. That's your prerogative. I'm not voting for this bill because I do not believe that the Bible should be relegated to an academia subject and that is not appropriate with people who may or may not say these things to my kids. Because of their beliefs, what if that kid has a Catholic Bible. What if that kid has a King James Version Bible. What if it's a new traditional Bible. Who's to say is going to be instructing those kids in an academic study of the Bible. No, I want somebody who has gone to a theological seminary to instruct my children on a Bible, not somebody that's just a coach. Sorry. But that's the way I feel about this, and I think this is a very, very dangerous, dangerous precedents to go down. And my final, the reason I'm voting no on this bill is because again, the Bible is not an academic book. It is the manifested word of God. I would appreciate a no vote.
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Chair Unverified 1:42:06
Speak for Senator Davis to speak for also have Senator Clark who wants to
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified 1:42:11
speak for. Thank you, Madam President, I just want to bring this back very simply to what this bill is doing. It is not allowing anything new in law. It is simply solidifying all of the things we have in law that deal with religious freedoms and liberties, and it puts it in one place. That's all that it does. This is good because every single year throughout the year, students, parents, and staff of school districts want to know what their religious freedoms are. There are situations that happen every single year. There are real life instances where teachers are fired, students get in trouble, and it's because people do not know where all of these things are in law, they, so they're firing teachers because they prayed in the locker room, which they are by law. allowed to do, they're getting fired and nobody knows what their rights are. So all this does is take everything that is already legal in Arkansas and it puts it in one place so that when teachers, parents or students have a question about what they're allowed to do throughout the school day, Superintendents can reference this and let them know exactly what their rights are. That's it. It's actually very simple. They'll be able to find it online in the See my handbook, policy online, the website, they'll be able to access it easily where everything is in one place. It's very simple. So we've gone on a lot of paths today and, and that's great, debate is good, but it's simply the bill just says this is what's already legal. This is where you can find it and it's one place in law. Superintendents are great with it. They have problems with it every single year. I think this is something that is good to support. Thank you. Anyone wish
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Chair Unverified 1:44:05
to speak against Senator Clark, you're recognized to speak for.
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified 1:44:18
Thank you, Governor. Appreciate Senator Davis bringing us back to the bill. I'm going to speak on the bill before I do. I agree with Cen flowers. what the Bible says about one race. I appreciate her talking about Paul's speech on Mars Hill. Which many people think can't as Senator Irvin just brought out, don't think could or should be discussed in a public school. We can, we can discuss the Quran. We can, we can discuss any other philosopher of of any type and what they had to say. But, but many people believe incorrectly. But if they're running the schools, then it's being run incorrectly, and they are. That you can't bring. Bible passages up. And they most certainly can be academic. The many, well, I agree with Senator Irvin, uh, it is the, in my opinion, the word of God. And uh spiritually, I think it speaks greatly, but beyond that, there's a lot of academics there. I knew of a teacher at Hot Springs High back when I was a kid that uh that taught on poetry and other things and always went to the Psalms, didn't go primarily to the Psalms, not only to the Psalms. But went to the Psalms to to to talk about poetry and but that's this bill. Brings us back to the fact that the First Amendment is messy. We're a messy country. We're not Europe. We're not even Canada. We believe that Central Flowers has the right to say, What she believes. Senator Irvin has the right to say what she believes Senator Johnson has the right to say what he believes. And sometimes we don't just disagree, we really disagree. I like that about our country. Whenever a bill like this comes out, let me come back. For just a second. A few years ago I was at dinner at a restaurant with several friends. There's about 10 of us at the table, and there was an unruly child, uh, and the restaurant and one of my friends said something about what they ought to do with that child. Oh And someone else spoke up and said, Senator Clark, you know, tell him you can't spank children. It's the law. Mature 50 something years old and I said, no, ma'am, you're wrong. There, the law doesn't say you can't spank kids, but there's a whole lot of people out there that believe that's a whole lot of people that believe that kids can't ride their bicycle down to the park that they can't play out in the backyard if if you're not standing there. They're wrong, but that's what they believe. And lots and lots of people have wrong beliefs, including administrators. About what can be done and what can't be done at school. And so the first amendment is all important, but having said that, when I see a bill like this, I'm immediately skeptical. Because I am very much against the establishment of religion. I liked the First Amendment as it's written. And I remember back in the 80s, there was this big movement and and they had a congressional bill. And there were some famous celebrities that supported this bill and to put they want to put school back, put prayer back in school, and to do that they had a prayer. They had a national prayer that was to be recited every day, and I said, no, no, no. That is establishment of religion. Saying you can pray, saying this is what you will pray are two very different things. But I have searched this bill over and over and over and looked at this applies to the student. This applies to the employee. This applies to the school, and I've looked for that. I've looked for something that says something that would establish religion, something that's out of bounds, and it doesn't. The main thing it does is it says whether it's in the handbook, whether you do it via. A tablet or whether you you hand it to People every year they'll get a copy of this that they know what their rights and therefore the administration will know what the rights are too. I didn't find one thing here that's incorrect. I appreciate Senator Johnson bringing the bill, and I'd appreciate a good vote.
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Chair Unverified 1:49:13
Any senator wished to speak against or for. And you have cinder saying no to the senator. Senator Mark Johnson. You're a recognized clothes. Thank you, Madam President. Uh
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified 1:49:34
colleagues, I appreciate a spirited debate. And I want, I want both associate myself with and slightly disagree with Senator Flowers. I agree with her. There's one race, it's the human race. But where I disagree with, with her is saying that We in the Arkansas Senate, our General Assembly. Can't maintain a general suitable and efficient system of free public schools. And adopt all suitable means to secure the people the advantages and opportunities of education. And at the same time protect. Their rights, not just the ones in the First Amendment, but the ones in the other 9 in the Bill of Rights as well. Uh, I especially appreciate what uh uh Senator Davis, who's a former school board member and kind of sees things from a different perspective than I do because, you know, when people have had to grapple with these issues, they, they, they understand, hey, we, what we have here is a failure to communicate and it's good to codify that and to have it down where people of all levels, parents, kids, and certainly the teachers that are on the front lines, and I hope that this is empowering everyone to know what their rights are. But let me just reiterate this bill simply affirms existing religious rights at school, which exist everywhere. It doesn't create any new law. It simply lets them know what their current rights are. Uh, the school administrators are OK with it. As a matter of fact, the clarifying language that lets us put it in the handbook and on on the website of the school district. I was suggested by uh uh Doctor Hernandez. Uh, so I asked for a good vote on this bill. It's not attacking anyone's beliefs. It's not establishing any particular establishment of religion and Senator Clark said, it says you can pray, it doesn't say what you have to pray. And that's what America is all about. So with that, Madam President, I'm closed and I would appreciate a yes vote on Senate Bill 223. Thank you. Senator Mark
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Chair Unverified 1:52:00
Johnson has closed, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. But Brant. Caldwell
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Speaker 166 1:52:09
Caldwell Clark, Crowell. Crawl. Davis, these.
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Speaker 5 1:52:17
This man Dema. Dotson
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Speaker 98 1:52:23
English. English. Flip. Flowers, Gilmore.
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Speaker 5 1:52:41
Hammer, Hester Hicky Hill. Hill Irvin. Like Johnson Mark Johnson. King. Letting. Love. McKee. Murdoch. Murdoch. Peyton. Hanzo.
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Speaker 98 1:53:12
Patty rice. Scott. Stone Stab a fail. Sullivan. Tucker? Wallace. A senator who
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Chair Unverified 1:53:32
did not vote, who wishes to vote, Senator Crow, yes. Senator Murdoch, no. Any cinder on this side, send her Hill, yes. Any other Senator English, yes. Any other senator who did not vote? Who wishes to vote. And you have sender, please check the board, saying no, the senator, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 25 yeah, 8 nay, 2 not voting, Senate Bill 223 passes. Please transmit to the house. will now take up Senate Bill 253.
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Speaker 56 1:54:12
Senate Bill 253 by Senator Hill to amend the definition of
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified 1:54:15
a manufactured home unit. Senator Hill, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. Hopefully this bill is not quite as long and doesn't take as long because all this is is a deregulation bill. We are taking a manufactured mobile home unit, which means a structure constructed for use as a dwelling and we're striking office or classroom out of it where it can be moved from a from a work site to another site a lot faster as we deregulating that where they might fall fall underneath all the same rules and regulations as as a new one being moved. Now if you still have the same insurance, you still have all everything's the same. We're just kind of doing a deregulation of those two, and there's no known opposition to this bill. Any questions for Senator Hill? Anyone
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Chair Unverified 1:55:09
wish to speak against or for? Senator Hill, you're recognized clothes. I'd appreciate a good vote. Senator has closed any objection to rolling
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Speaker 5 1:55:24
the vote? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, dismay Dotson English Flippo flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone,
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Chair Unverified 1:55:49
Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. See no one please cast up the ballot. By votes of 35 0 nay Senate Bill 253 passes, please transmit to
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Speaker 302 1:56:05
the house. Senate bill 261. Senate Bill 261
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Chair Unverified 1:56:08
by Senator Clark to amend the law concerning the operation of an all-terrain vehicle on certain roads and to amend the law concerning the access of all touring vehicles to unpaved roads. Senator Clark, you're
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified 1:56:22
recognized Madam Governor, I'm going to pass on the bill today, uh, I don't think it's going to be a long discussion, but just in case for some reason it was we're tired and I'd like to put it
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Speaker 95 1:56:34
on Lamar's calendar. That is wonderful. Thank you so much, Senator Clark. OK Senator
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Chair Unverified 1:56:41
Dodson, you are recognized. For emotion. Members, uh, like to make a
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 1:56:53
motion to suspend the rules to withdraw Senate Bill 183 from committee for purpose of amendment. From education committee for purposes of amendment. Well, you all
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Speaker 147 1:57:03
heard the motion. Question Senator Hickey for Senator Dodson
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Speaker 310 1:57:09
on the motion. Is it your bill? It's my bill,
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Chair Unverified 1:57:13
my amendment, yeah. Any other questions on the motion. All those in favor of the motion to suspend the rules to withdraw Senate Bill 183 from education for purposes of amendment,
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Speaker 285 1:57:24
please signify by saying aye, any opposed? I have it, ocean carries. Amendment 3 to
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 1:57:36
Senate Bill 183. Senator Dodson, you're recognized. It's my bill, my amendment. Just appreciate a good vote and motion to to adopt the amendment and send it back to the committee. You all
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Chair Unverified 1:57:46
have heard the motion, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed? As habit amendment is adopted, sent to engrossing. We will now move to House bills. House Bill 1384. How spell 1384
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Speaker 56 1:58:05
by Representative Johnson and Senator Desmay to amend the law concerning the graduate medical education
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Chair Unverified 1:58:10
residency expansion board and declare an emergency. Senator dismaying, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Members, this is a cleanup on the GME
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 1:58:17
residency board program that we'd set up in the, I think actually 2 sessions ago. The first session didn't have funding, second session it did, and they became very aware of the board got going that our law needed to be straightened up, the predominant thing that it does is clarify. That the startup cost is what the state would be willing to cover or the board could actually allocate to cover
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Chair Unverified 1:58:43
by the state. Any questions for Senator Dismay. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat. Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat.
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Speaker 5 1:58:59
Boen, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Dismay Dotson English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, stone, Stubberfield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her
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Chair Unverified 1:59:23
vote. Seeing no one, please cast up
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Speaker 160 1:59:32
the ballot vote of 35 e, zero nay, House Bill 1384 passes,
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Chair Unverified 1:59:36
please, and the corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please return to the house. Senator Clark, you're recognized for a motion. Thank you,
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified 1:59:44
Governor. Y'all may have to help me with this, uh, Senate Bill 261, which I just passed on, uh, I'd agreed to do an amendment in the House just to clarify that it's only unpaved roads. Center Hill has asked me to send it back to committee and go ahead and do it on this end. And so I want to re-refer. I'd like to refer Senate Bill 261 back to the Transportation Committee. You all have
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Chair Unverified 2:00:11
heard the motion, although those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed? I have it, motion passes. Motion carries. We'll now take a House Bill 1475. House Bill 1475
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Speaker 56 2:00:24
by Representative Carr and Senator Crowell to authorize the use of green lights to
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Chair Unverified 2:00:29
amend the restrictions on lamp colors to amend the colors of lights that may be used by emergency vehicles and to define a roadway construction or maintenance vehicle. Senator Kroll, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor.
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Senator Steve Crowell Unverified 2:00:43
Purpose of this bill is to change the law in 2020, the Department of uh or the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management approved green lights for RA and all their vehicles for the use of weather, uh, winter weather and fog. Uh, since then it's come to their attention that they probably didn't need to do that because they didn't have the authority, so this is just a cleanup. They've been doing this since uh 2020 and many other states are starting to do. this Any questions
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Chair Unverified 2:01:15
for Senator Kroll. Seeing no questions anyone a question from Senator Clark. That seemed real simple, Central
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified 2:01:25
code, what are we doing again? We are putting this into law
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Senator Steve Crowell Unverified 2:01:33
because the, the division of emergency managements approved this for RA and all the vehicles in 2020, and then they've come to the realization that they didn't have the authority to do that, so we're making it so it's legal to do now. So
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified 2:01:45
we're making it's legal that we not only have blue and red, we now have
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Speaker 318 2:01:51
green. We have green, yes, for this high vis visibility. Thank you, Senator. Any
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Chair Unverified 2:01:56
other questions, Senator Payton, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Madam President.
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Senator John Payton Unverified 2:02:03
Sorry, I was out of the chamber for a minute. You may have covered this, but so these vehicles with the green lights, so we're gonna have the same rules about slowing down 10 mile an hour, moving to a further lane over and all that how are the citizens supposed to know what color means what. This is more of
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Senator Steve Crowell Unverified 2:02:20
a safety thing. It's when they're off the road and on the side of the road working and obviously when you see a light you slow down. I mean, it's just human nature, and they'll have signage and stuff, so
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Senator John Payton Unverified 2:02:30
is it considered an emergency vehicle or not. It is their maintenance vehicles. OK, so it would not be considered an emergency vehicle that we'd
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Speaker 321 2:02:40
need to follow those rules on. No, and then state police are behind this. I have
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Chair Unverified 2:02:47
no problem with this. OK, thank you. Any other questions for Senator Crow. Seeing no questions. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator You're recognized to close. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat. Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat.
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Speaker 5 2:03:06
Forward, front, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice scotstone, Stuber Phil Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her
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Chair Unverified 2:03:29
vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. I vote to 35 e, zero nay, House Bill 1475 passes, please return to the house. We will now take up House Bill 486. House Bill 1486 by Representative Berks and Senator Des to amend the law concerning the market value of certain surplus property acquired by the state highway commission. Senator Dees, you're recognized. Thank you,
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Senator Tyler Dees Unverified 2:04:00
Madam Governor. Members, this is a House bill to improve and standardize the market value determination for surplus property held by Rdot. So there's, there's two types of surplus properties that AA holds. There's the capital assets and then there's the right of way properties on the capital assets in in 2021, we changed the law to where they only have to have two appraisals versus previously 3, and so what this does is, is take the other type of property, the right of way property, and does the same thing. Currently, they have to have 3 appraisals. Um, we, we feel like it's, it's cleaner to have those to be the same, just to have two appraisals. about it. I appreciate a good vote or help with any questions. Any
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Chair Unverified 2:04:44
questions for Senator Das. Saying no question from Senator Hill. You're recognized for a question. She needs, how do they come up with the value on this property?
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified 2:04:56
Well, they have an appraisal process in-house and externally that they use. Which one I can use both. Thank you.
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Chair Unverified 2:05:07
Any other questions for Senator Ds? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote. Seeing no
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Speaker 5 2:05:24
objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Ds, dismay dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubbervi, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote.
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Chair Unverified 2:05:46
Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yeah, zero nay, House Bill 1486 passes, please return to the house. We will now take up Senate Bill 209 and then Senate Bill 210, and we are only taking up the emergency clauses on these two bills.
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Speaker 56 2:06:17
Symbol to central hammer and representative Underwood to disqualify
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Speaker 62 2:06:19
signatures obtained by canvasser under certain circumstances and declare an emergency. Your hammer, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Appreciate a good vote. This is
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Senator Kim Hammer Unverified 2:06:30
for the emergency call on Senate Bill 209. It would help the Secretary of State get about their business in case somebody decides to run about initiative between now and the time it had
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Chair Unverified 2:06:43
become law otherwise, so I appreciate a good vote. No questions. Anyone wish to speak against or for Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote. Seeing no objection. Objection noted by Senator Flowers, Madam Secretary, please call
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Speaker 166 2:07:05
the roll. Boyd Bront Caldwell. Caldwell, Clark. Clark. Crow.
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Speaker 5 2:07:16
Davis Das Dema Dotson English flippo. Flip out flowers. Gilmore Hammer Hester. Hester. Hake. Hill? Yes. Irvin. Like Johnson Like Johnson, Mark Johnson, King. Fighting. Love. McKee Murdoch Murdoch. Peyton Penzo Patty. rice. Scott Yeah down.
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Speaker 98 2:08:07
Stab afield. Sullivan
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Chair Unverified 2:08:19
Tucker. Wallace. Any senator wished to vote who did not vote, Senator King not voting. Sender Flippo, yes, Senator Blake Johnson, yes. Senator Murdoch, no. And you have a senator. Seeing no other senator, please cast up the ballot by vote of 24, yeah, 9 nay to not voting. Senate bill, the emergency
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Speaker 147 2:08:53
clause of Senate Bill 209 is adopted. Right So I Right. I see Senator Scott, Senator Love, Senator Leding, Senator Flowers, Senator Tucker.
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Speaker 5 2:09:41
Madam Secretary, please sign the ballot. Bo Yes They have to be in their seat. Brant? Yes. Clark, yes. Crawl, yes. Davis, yes. Theses, yes. This mine, yes. Dotson, yes. English, yes. Flippo, yes. Gilmore, yes. Hammer, yes. Hester, yes. Hill, yes. Irvin, yes. Blake Johnson, yes. Mark Johnson, yes. McKee, yes. Peyton, yes. Patty, yes. Rice? Yes. Stone, yes. Sullivan, yes. Wallace, yes. He's not. Emergency clause of Senate Bill 209 is
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Chair Unverified 2:11:03
adopted. We will now take up Senate. Transmit Senate Bill 209 with adoption of the emergency clause to the house as adopted. We will now take up the emergency clause of Senate bill 210. Senate Bill 210 by Senator Hammer Representative Underwood to require the signer to read the ballot title of the petition in the presence of a canvasser and declare an emergency. Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. Thank you for the vote before I
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Senator Kim Hammer Unverified 2:11:41
ask you for the same vote this time. Thank you.
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Chair Unverified 2:11:49
Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed. Objection to rolling the vote, noted, Madam Secretary, please call
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Speaker 166 2:12:02
the roll. Go. Bowen Front Caldwell. Caldwell.
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Speaker 5 2:12:09
Clark Park raw. Davis Days. This man. Dotson English flippo flowers. Um Gilmore hammer, Hester, Gilmore hammer, Hestery. Hi Irvin. Like Johnson Mark Johnson, King. King. Lighting, love. McKee Murdoch. He, he said no. Penzo. Patty. Rice.
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Speaker 98 2:12:59
Scott. Stone. Stuberfield. Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace. Any senator wished to vote, who
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Chair Unverified 2:13:25
did not vote or to change his or her vote, seeing no one. Please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 24 9 nay to not voting, the emergency clause, Senate Bill 210 is adopted. Please transmit to the house As passed and the emergency clause adopted. We will now take up the budget calendar. Send 75 by joint budget, an act for the Department of Education, Arkansas School for the Blind and Arkansas School for the Deaf Appropriation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year. And are dismaying you're recognized. Thank you. Members I'd be happy to take
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Speaker 357 2:14:17
any questions. Questions for Senator Dimaying. Senator Hickey, you're
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Chair Unverified 2:14:21
recognized for a question. Yes sir, what, what are we doing here? It
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 2:14:28
was 250 and I remember in the ALC we had done a large amount of money. The 250 that
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 2:14:34
may have fundraisers or something else 7 appropriations so they can collect that and use it for construction fund if that were to occur. That's what the 250 was. That was an amendment yesterday. I've seen that
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified 2:14:44
yesterday and I got to thinking about that later. So is this, this is not an additional 250 per cost overruns from the money that we approved back in ALC or anything. No, no, this was just
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified 2:14:53
allow them to have. vehicle to put money in if they happen to have a fundraiser. Thank you, sir. That was anyway. Any other questions for Senator Dismay.
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Chair Unverified 2:15:08
Say no questions. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator, you're pretty close. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the
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Speaker 5 2:15:22
vote. Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boron Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, these, this dots and English flippo flowerilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or
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Chair Unverified 2:15:50
her vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 35, 0 nay, Senate bill. 75 passes and the corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please transmit to the house.
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Speaker 349 2:16:09
OK Are there items at the
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Speaker 56 2:16:17
desk? What your committee on gross bills who was referred Senate Bill 183 by Senator Dotson compared the
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Chair Unverified 2:16:24
gross copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed Education. Notice of passage of Senate Bill 208 by the House as amended state agencies. State agencies. Now
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Speaker 67 2:16:35
it's a passage of Senate Bill 211 by the House as amended. State agencies. Senate resolution 30 by
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Speaker 5 2:16:45
Senator Irving to celebrate 35 years of family owned and
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Chair Unverified 2:16:50
Arkansas-based GC Roxanne LLC, and it's crystal. Guys are alpine spring water. Senate Resolution 30. Calendar, Senate Bill 300 by Senator Gilmore to create the criminal offense of organized retail theft, Senate Bill 300, Judiciary symbol 301 by Central Gilmore to amend the law concerning theft of property to create an enhanced penalty
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Speaker 62 2:17:17
for theft of cargo and declare an emergency send Bill 301. Judiciary
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Chair Unverified 2:17:23
in 302 by Centra Gilmore to create the criminal offense of gift card fraud and declare an emergency, sending 302 Judiciary. 303 by Centra Ds to allow a resident school district to a private school student to participate in an interscholastic uh activity at the resident school district under certain circumstances and Bill 303, Education 304 by Senator McKee to allow a class of registered voters that have changed their county of residence to cast a ballot ballot, and to provide to amend provisions of Arkansas Constitution Amendment. 51 Senate Bill 304, state agency 305 by Central Penzo to require certain testing of processed marijuana products sold as medical marijuana Senate Bill 305. OK agriculture sym 306 by Central Pennzo to require the Department of Human Services to apply for a home and community-based services waiver for the aging and elderly population in the states symbol 306 public health has for 1449 by Representative Collinsen Hammer to amend the law concerning reports of contributions for a candidate for state or district office to extend the deadline for final reports and to mend portions of law resulting from an I did act of 1990. House Bill 1449, state agencies 1474 Representative Carr and Senator Wallace concerning the prevention of human trafficking and to require the display of information about the national human trafficking hotline has for 1474. Judiciary, House Bill 1507 by Representative Ladyman and Senator Sullivan to amend the law concerning environmental, social justice on governance scores and to clarify the exemption. from divestment for certain investments. House Bill 1507. State agencies 1514 by Representative Painter and Senator Crowell to amend the uniform attendance and leave leave Policy Act and to amend the definition of a critical need employee has 1514. State agencies and current resolution 1006 by Representative Evans and Senator Hester to provide for an extension of the regular session of the ninety-fifth General Assembly and to to provide for a recess of Assembly House concurrent resolution 1006. Calendar. Other announcements. Senator Ervin, you're recognized. Thanks
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified 2:19:57
members on your desk, um, Phillip Treat has put together like a little one-pager front and back, um, just on our Senate ethics rules, that's just a helpful tool for you. So just put it in your drawer. And then he also emailed it to us. Thank you. Um, and then public health tomorrow is going to meet at 10 a.m. and we're going to meet upon adjournment after we're done tomorrow. So if you have a bill on the regular agenda for public health, uh, let me know when you can come and run it either in the morning or the afternoon or just, you know, You're going to try
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Chair Unverified 2:20:30
to put in a long, hard day for public health. So, thank you. Thanks, Sander Urban, Senator Dodson, you're
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified 2:20:38
recognized. Thank you, madam. President, uh, joint retirement will meet upon adjournment in Mac A. We have two bills to run and the House has been waiting, so we need a quorum if you can, if you're on joint retirement, please come immediately upon
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Speaker 374 2:20:54
adjournment. Any other announcements? Senator Hammer, you're
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Speaker 176 2:20:58
recognized for an announcement. Or they appear in the morning, 8 o'clock in
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Senator Kim Hammer Unverified 2:21:04
the morning, 8 o'clock. We got pretty full agenda and also prayer caucus at 7 o'clock in the morning, the old Supreme Courtroom. Any other announcements? Seeing no others.
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Chair Unverified 2:21:18
The Senate will stand an adjournment subject to the clearing of the desk until 1:30 p.m. on February 26, 2025.
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Agenda

Call to Order

3:29
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Roll Call

3:41
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Prayer

4:25
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Pledge of Allegiance

7:47
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Introductions of Senate Pages

9:57
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Announcements

9:11
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Doctor of the Day

42:12
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Items to be Read Across the Desk

13:19
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SENATE MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS FOR THIRD READING AND ADOPTION

18:59
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SMR2 C. Tucker IN RESPECTFUL MEMORY OF FORMER ARKANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN, AND FORTY-THIRD GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS JAMES "JIM" GUY TUCKER FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE NATION AND TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.

19:02
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RESOLUTIONS FOR THIRD READING AND ADOPTION

28:34
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SR22 J. Scott TO COMMEND ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED®, FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO DESIGNATE FEBRUARY 25, 2025, AS ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

28:30
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SR23 Crowell TO RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY 15-22, 2025, AS NATIONAL FFA WEEK.

46:26
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SR24 J. English TO RECOGNIZE THE ARKANSAS COUNCIL FOR MILITARY CHILDREN FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO AND SUCCESSES IN SERVING MILITARY FAMILIES IN ARKANSAS.

35:47
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Motion to take up SR27 and add to the calendar.

42:56
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SENATE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE

47:30
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SB135 J. Boyd TO AMEND ELECTION REQUIREMENTS IN THE CASE OF AN UNCHANGED RATE OF AN ANNUAL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX LEVIED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

47:32
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SB223 M. Johnson TO CREATE THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT OF 2025.

49:45
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SB253 Hill TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF A MANUFACTURED HOME UNIT.

1:54:22
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SB261 A. Clark TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF AN ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE ON CERTAIN ROADS; AND TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE ACCESS OF ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES TO UNPAVED ROADS.

1:56:09
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Withdrawal SB183 from Education Committee for purpose of amendment.

1:56:50
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HOUSE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE

1:56:37
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HB1384 L. Johnson Dismang TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION RESIDENCY EXPANSION BOARD; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

1:58:02
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Re-refer SB261 to back to Public Transportation Committee

1:59:44
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HB1475 Joey Carr Crowell TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF GREEN LIGHTS; TO AMEND THE RESTRICTIONS ON LAMP COLORS; TO AMEND THE COLORS OF LIGHTS THAT MAY BE USED BY EMERGENCY VEHICLES; AND TO DEFINE A ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION OR MAINTENANCE VEHICLE.

2:00:44
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HB1486 R. Burkes Dees TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE MARKET VALUE OF CERTAIN SURPLUS PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY THE STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION.

2:03:49
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SENATE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE II

2:06:13
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SB209 K. Hammer TO DISQUALIFY SIGNATURES OBTAINED BY A CANVASSER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

2:06:14
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Sound the Ballot on SB209

2:10:42
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SB210 K. Hammer TO REQUIRE THE SIGNER TO READ THE BALLOT TITLE OF THE PETITION IN THE PRESENCE OF A CANVASSER; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

2:11:04
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Budget Bills and their Emergency Clauses to be considered which have been introduced by Joint Budget Committee

2:13:56
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SB75 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

2:14:03
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Items to be read across the desk

2:16:14
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Announcements

2:19:56
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Adjourn

2:21:19
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Documents

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Chair Unverified
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Senator Steve Crowell Unverified
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Senator Jim Petty Unverified
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Senator Ronald Caldwell Unverified
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Senator Gary Stubblefield Unverified
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Senator Alan Clark Unverified
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Senator Clarke Tucker Unverified
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Senator Jamie Scott Unverified
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Senator Jane English Unverified
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Senator Justin Boyd Unverified
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Senator Mark Johnson Unverified
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Senator Stephanie Flowers Unverified
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Senator Greg Leding Unverified
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Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr Unverified
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Senator Missy Irvin Unverified
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Senator John Payton Unverified
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Senator Jonathan Dismang Unverified
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Senator Ricky Hill Unverified
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Senator Breanne Davis Unverified
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Senator Jim Dotson Unverified
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Senator Tyler Dees Unverified
3 segments
Senator Kim Hammer Unverified
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