Senate Convenes

I Yeah, yeah. Members of the Senate will be called to order. Are there any requests? Are there any requests for leave at this time. Send the doctor you recognize, leave for Senator Tucker and Senator Mark Johnson. Leave for Senator Tucker and Centen Urban. Anyone else? Anyone else? All alone. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Bo Brant Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, dismay dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Lee, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Lee Wallace. Everyone in the chamber in the galleries, please rise and remain standing for the Pledge of allegiance. Afterward, the Senate will be led in prayer by Senator Dodson. prayer first. All right, please join me in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this wonderful day. We thank you that uh for the, the warmer weather and safe travels for all the members here. Please keep everyone in good health as we conduct people's business and give us all wisdom, guidance and direction as we make decisions that affect the people of Arkansas over the next several weeks. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. I United States of America and to the Republic for which stands. under God indivisible with liberty. Ma not ask for it. If you will Please, we like to have a moment of silence to recognize in the memory of former governor Jim Guy Tucker. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen in the galleries, welcome to the Arkansas Senate. It is our expectation, 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. Senator Stubblefield, you're recognized to introduce our Senate pages for the day. All right. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, we have 4 pages here with us today. It's my honor to, to recognize them. Uh, the first one is Piper Peter, a homeschool student, uh, I've come from Senator Ledings. And Senator Davis' district. And we also have, we have Lucy Beaumont from Little Rock Central High School, Senator Tucker's district. And I don't think that Clark, Senator Tucker's here today, so if anybody else that's close in that area that would like to come down and represent these students, feel free to do so. Also William Lewis Pulaski Heights Middle School. Senator Tucker. And Mark Kadua Pulaski Heights Middle, Senator Tucker. If you would join me and give them a round. What Thank you for coming and keeping this rowdy bunch in order. Senator Love, you recognize. Good afternoon, colleagues. This is a personal point of privilege. I wanted to recognize a special group with me, um, that's here at the Arkansas Black Nurses Association, if you all could please stand. But you all welcome them to the Senate. No Now, now I would like to give a special shout out to Sheryl. It's Sheryl Scott. Is she still here? Now she was my neighbor and she just complained that the Arkansas black nurses. So you tell her that I recognized her from the floor. All right, thank you all. Are there any other announcements? Or introductions at this time. Ma Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? Damaged President, this is to inform you that on February 20, 2025, I reviewed and proved the following measures for the regular session to the 95th General Assembly, Senate Bill 142 Act 122, Senate Bill 59 Act 123. Sincerely, Sarah Sanders, Governor. File it When your committee on a gross bills to was referred Senate Bill 131 by Senator Bryant compared the engross copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Rea, were you on gross bills who was first sent 189 by Centra Clark compared the rossed copy of the ritual and find the same correctly engrossed public health Committee on aross who was referred House Bill 1279 by Representative Lynch and Cen Caldwell compared the engrossed copy with the ritual and find the same correctly engrossed. Were your committee on education was first sent by 135 by Senator Boyd recommended new pass calendar Committee on Education and was very simple 223 by Senator Mark Johnson recommend to pass calendar Committee on Education and was for House 1384 by Representative Johnson recommend due pass calendar. Senate Bill 269 by Senator Penzo. public health to amend the requirements regarding locations for and geographic areas of a hospice agency, Senate Bill 269 public health symbol 270 by Senator Crowell to amend the law concerning the filing periods of certain nonpartisan school board and municipal candidates sym 270. calendar County, sorry 271 by Central Crow to amend the law concerning a county clerk's certification of school board candidates to the county board of Election commissioners sent 271. City County, local Senate Bill 272 by Senator Crowe, an act to amend the law concerning voter registration to prohibit prefiled fields on a voter registration form and to amend provisions of Arkansas Constitution Amendment. 51, Section 6, symbol 272. State agencies symbol 273 by Central Wallace to require dialysis center centers to have a backup generator on site and 273 symbol 274 by Central Wallace to create a sales and use exemption for certain items related to human burial and to exempt a portion of the purchase price of a casket burial vault or monument from sales and use tax and 274. Reverend. know that. Symbol 275 I sent Irving. To amend the law concerning the regulation of liquefied petroleum gasses and 275. Symbol 276 by Senator Blake Johnson, to amend the law concerning surplus lines insurance and to clarify that surplus lines insurance is acceptable coverage for financial responsibility of motor vehicle insurance coverages. Senate Bill 276. Insurance and commerce symbol 277 by Senator Bryant to amend the comprehensive Criminal recording Act of 2013 and permit the filing of a new uniform. petition to sell a misdemeanor violation of theft of property after 10 years have elapsed since the theft Senate Bill 277 78 by central English to repeal the statutes concerning the occupational authorization and Laener of certain employment offices and agencies and to repeal the Arkansas private employment Agency Act of 1975. Senate Bill 2708. public health. Is there any further business coming for the body in the morning hour. If not, the morning hour has expired. We will now start the business agenda. Madam Secretary, please read Senate bills and house bills. Senate resolution 28rallo to recognize and honor Phi Beta sorority incorporated for its contributions to its communities, the state of Arkansas, the nation, and the world. Senator Love, you recognize. Thank you, uh, Mr. Chair, I have some guests that are in the In the uh And if I could, if I could get leave, leave. There's I can't do that. Thank you. And making a grant interest. You all come on up. Come on, doc. Come on down. If I could have the the ladies and say the Phi Beta stand over here in the men of Phi Beta sickness stand to my left. All right. We're gonna take these resolutions, even though I did not plan on this. We can just take them together. All right, so, um, Senate resolution 28 to recognize and honor eta Phi Beta sorority Incorporated for its contributions to its communities. The state of Arkansas and the nation in the world. You are, I would like to just read a portion of This resolution. I, I'm gonna tell you this. This is just an ad lib, all right, now I, I started my journey with Zeta Phi Beta when I came to the legislature. You know, We really worked on maternal health years ago. They have a program called the Stork's Nest, and back in the day when we used to get general improvement funds. This was one of the projects that I actually funded with my general improvement. Now I know that you are hereby general Improvement funds now and you think, oh my gosh, that's bad, but these are some of the organizations that I actually sponsored with my general improvement funds, and we were working on maternal mortality back then. And so I would just like to recognize um zeta Phi Beta, and I'll read a portion of their resolution. Whereas Zeta Phi Beta sorority Incorporated was founded in January 16, 1920 at Howard University in Washington DC during a time of often violent racial turmoil in the nation, but also the Harlem Renaissance, one of the first important domestic movements of black artists and writers in the United States and whereas eta Phi Beta sorority Incorporated serves as an advocates and advocates for social, health, economic justice. Both domestically and globally and remains poised for the for their perpetual service to mankind and to its 2nd century of existence and beyond. And whereas members of Zeta Phi Beta sorority Incorporated have included Arthur, Zora Neale Hurston, honorary members and singer, singer's Dionne Warwick and Chaka Khan. Honorary members and actresses Vivica Fox and Tatiana Ali, an honorary member and attorney Anita Hill. Now therefore be it resolved by the Senate of the ninety-fifth General Assembly of the state of Arkansas, that the state recognizes and honors eta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated for its contributions to its communities, the state of Arkansas, and the nation and the world, be it further resolved that upon this adoption, a copy of this resolution be provided to the leaders of Zeta Phi Beta Incorporated by the Secretary of the Senate, you all, I would just ask for a good vote for this resolution and recognized the ladies and say the Phi Beta. Are there any questions? All in favor of Senate resolution 28 and 29 honoring 28, excuse me, honoring Zeta Phi Beta sorority Incorporated. Signify by saying I. Those oppose the same sign. Resolution adopted. Senate resolution 29. All right, Senate Resolution 29 by Senator Love, Scott Murdoch to recognize and honor Phi Beta Sigma fraternity Incorporated and its contributions to its communities, state of Arkansas, the nation and the world. All right, colleagues, I'll bring you now honoring the men of Phi Beta Sigma, um, now this group, I'm, I'm, I actually go back further with this group because some of these guys I was in high school with, or not in high school with, but actually me and Michael Murray, we actually went to governor school together and then uh Warren, he's married to one of my, my high school classmates, yeah, I ain't gonna say sweetheart now. I say classmate now. Now see, Warren want to fight and we don't even have. Doctor of the day. No, but you know what, um, When when I stress maternal mortality. With the eta Phi Beta? 5 baby sigma especially my friend Jason Williams has a story that you all really need to hear in regards to how he advocated for his wife, and one of the things that I said when When we were talking about and me and Dan Sullivan said this when we had the press conference over at UMS on maternal health. He said, Well, what about the step for men because men really need to have the same knowledge that women have so they can we can advocate for our wives. For our loved ones and so with that, I want to say thank you all for the work that you do. I wanna read a part, a portion of this, of this resolution as well. To recognize and honor Phi Beta Sigma fraternity Incorporated for its contributions to its community, the state of Arkansas, the nation and the world, whereas Phi Beta Sigma fraternity Incorporated has been empowering generations of men since its founding at Howard University in Washington DC on January 9th, 1914. And whereas the founding of excuse me, where, whereas the founding of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity Incorporated was based on a desire to judge each potential member on his own merits rather than his appearance or family connections and also a desire for the fraternity to serve as a mechanism to deliver services to the general community, there thereby returning members newly acquired skills to the communities for which they have they have. Come, they had come. And whereas members of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity Incorporated have included scientist George Washington Carver, writers James Weldon Johnson and Doctor Elaine, uh, Allen LeRoy Locke, United States Congressman John Lewis, religious and political leader Al Sharpton, honorary members and actors Harry Belafonte, Blair Underwood, and Terrence Howard, an honorary members whether anchor Al Roker, football star and television host Emmitt Smith, Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner and honorary member and former governor of the state of Arkansas. And former President of the United States, William Jefferson Bill Klein. Now therefore be it resolved, the state of the excuse me, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate of the ninety-fifth General Assembly of the Arkansas of the state of Arkansas that the the Senate recognized and honored Phi Beta Sigma fraternity Incorporated for its contributions to its communities. The state, the nation, and the world. Now therefore be it further resolved that the That upon adoption, A copy of this resolution be provided to the leaders of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity by the Secretary of the Senate. You are, as I've stated before, these gentlemen do yeoman's work in their communities, and I would just like to recognize them today. I appreciate a good vote on this resolution. Are there any questions? All those in favor or send a resolution 29 signified by saying I, I, those proposed. Senate Resolution 29 is passed. Thank you. So OK. Senate bill 9494 by Senator Johnson to amend the requirement for all, for new all terrain vehicle dealers and new low speed vehicle dealers to maintain service in parts, storage areas. Senator Dodson, you recognize. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members, this is a consumer choice bill. It allows for individuals to purchase an ATV or a low speed vehicle at a retail store without that store having an on-site service center. Currently we are only one of two states in the nation to have a law prohibiting the sale of UTVs without a service center at the same location. When this bill was first ran in committee, there was over an hour of testimony. We worked with the only voiced opposition to this bill and added an amendment requiring service centers to be within 40 miles of the sale location and that satisfied those that were opposed. Um, this bill allows the free market to offer consumers more choices in their purchases. More than happy to answer any questions. Senator Payton, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, Actually, it removes the requirement for the dealer to have a service center at all. It can be a, there has to be a service center within 40 miles, but it does not have to be part of the selling dealer. Business wise correct. It's the service, the service center, um, They can coordinate with another service center that's not owned by the dealership and themselves, so just to make sure I'm, I understand this correctly. Currently, they have to have a service. Center they have to have a place to do the service and warranty work within their own business. In other words, Inside the building that they're selling them out of property it's part of their business that they own it. And this would make it to where it's a third party. It can be an agreement with a third party, yes, within 40 miles of the of the uh retail dealer that's selling the, the ATV or the low speed vehicle. OK. Well, I appreciate that. I think you knew that I opposed it in its original form. I'm still going to pose it in this form. Thank you. All right. San love you recognize. you, Mr. Chair. Now I'm not familiar. What, what is a UTV? Can you give me an example of a UTV? I'm just not familiar with that term like a four-wheeler, um, side by side, those types of of vehicles that's all terrain. I mean, I was just not when somebody said UTV, I'm like, what is a UTV? I think I'm familiar with the utility vehicle like a side by side going around the farm on like a m. Yeah, OK. All right. Talk to me in layman's terms because I'm not understanding that. All right, thank you. Thank you. Appreciate a good vote. Are there Senator Dodson left the well with any center like speak against the bill or for the bill. Senator Payton, you recognize to speak against the bill. Thank you again, Mr. President. Uh, colleagues, I've been automobile business. I think everybody knows that. I had franchise dealerships where, you know, the franchise puts a warranty on it. We serviced and took care of our customers at the dealership. It was part of our business, and those customers get better care under that relationship than if it's farmed off to a third party. Uh, currently, these ATV UTV dealers are licensed like automobile dealers and They have manufactured warranties and, and when a customer buys it, they know where the service facility is, it's, it's there, part of the same business. They're, they have the freedom of going to a different Service center if they want to, a different dealer if they want to, to get their service and their warranty work done. But The bottom line is I remember when my dad bought a Craftsman lawnmower back 2025 years ago at Sears. And It broke down and yeah, they've got authorized service center, you know, 1520 miles down the road and it's about a 6 month wait and that guy running that service center, he doesn't, he, you're not already his customer. He doesn't have that. Dealer customer relationship and, and when we do things like this, and, and we break that dealer customer relationship. We are depriving the citizens of Arkansas of the best type of service that they can get. One, when a manufacturer sells their product in Arkansas, and franchises locations to sell that product, we have always maintained that that those manufacturers and those sale, those dealers have the ability to service the warranty. And um I don't like a bill like this that would put it in the hands of a third party where the customer doesn't already have that relationship. I'll be appetite question, Senator Love, you're recognized for a question. So Senator Payton, I guess I'm trying to figure out, do you have an opposition to the fact that they don't have a service center on site. Is that, is that your opposition? No, I mean, I think we have it, it depends on what your definition of on site would be, but no, that's not my problem at all. It could be across the street. It could be on the other side of town, the problem is it's not part of that business entity. And so you don't have that relationship when it's not part of that business entity. This bill does much more than just say that it's it no longer has to be on site. It no longer has to be part of that business entity at all, OK, all right. Thank you. But. Senator Stubblefield, you recognized. Thank you. Mr. President, Senator Payton, you know, one of the most aggravating things for uh not just anyone but farmers especially, is when we buy a piece of equipment that's made in another country, for example, Germany, our Mexico or South Korea. It's, you can get it worked on by a lot of times by the place that that you buy it from. But the problem is parts. Because I have I've seen one farmer wait a year on parts because he could not get parts for his tractor. So this would also interfere with that as far as keeping all the parts necessary to fix that a four-wheeler or whatever. I'll just say because I've been the customer, I've been the dealer. I, I know both sides of this relationship. It helps when you have that relationship with the dealer, and that's where you bought the product. They are a little more motivated to go the extra mile to chase down that part or to get you scheduled in a way that you're not inconvenienced. Farmers with, with crops in the field or needing to till or whatever. There are, there are times when you need to have that relationship. With the dealer and the dealer needs to have that obligation to their customers. And what we're doing is we're, we're allowing box stores, retail chains to enjoy the sales side of it without the responsibility of maintaining the service side of it, and I, I think it's an important responsibility that we should not relieve them of. Well, I, when you agree that the vast majority of people who buy a, a product from someone and it breaks down. Before the warranty's out or even after. They expect for that dealership that they bought it from to be able to fix it. Yes, I think it's a reasonable expectation. Yes, sir. And uh I think it, I get very upset every time I open a box and start putting together some object that I bought at a retail chain, and it says if it's missing any parts don't call us. Call the manufacturer. Thank you. Senator Payton has left well. He said it depends on you recognize to speak for the bill. Thank you, Mr. President. So housing committee when this bill was first ran and I had the, the same concerns about the consumer protection uh aspect of it, um, a lot of the dealerships, uh, ATV TV dealerships came and spoke against the bill, and, you know, they brought up the concerns of sure there might be a warranty, but where are people going to get it fixed. So I wanted that to be clarified or some some sort of uh um You know, understanding that they may not have a close proximity dealership. Well, the dealerships and the, the box stores that were behind this legislation came together and came up with this compromise. Initially, they asked for a 30 mile radius, then it was bumped up to a 440 mile radius because there might not be availability in rural Arkansas to have a third party place to to fix the bills. So I, I think it was a good compromise brought forth by both parties. Both parties are happy. I think this is a balance between a free market and and uh consumer protection. I know that uh Senator Peyton brought up some points that were my concern on the front end. I just know that that a lot of the parties involved came together to bring forth a compromise bill. Senator Payton, you recognize my question. Thank you, Mr. President. So you, you mentioned both parties being the dealers and the manufacturers or the retail chains, but what about the consumers? Is anybody represented them in those negotiations? Well, a lot of people would argue it looked like protectionism on the front end, but I really do believe that the dealerships were looking at the consumer protection because when you added in the, the that they had to have a contract with a repair shop within a 40 mile radius of the box store it was sold at, they were happy with it, so it didn't really feel like a prediction. aspect, um, you know, you could argue some people said as long as there was an informed consent that, you know, it's a Not, not a dealership available that that would work too. So I mean, I I think this does protect the public. And, and you may mention there of a contract between the the selling dealership and the repair shop. I'm saying they have to have a place for the repairs to be made. Well, all I see in the bill is a recommendation as to where you can take it. No contract between the selling dealer and the service repair shop. OK, well then the agreement's not uh I think the contract will be between the manufacturer and the repair shop, servicing the warranty. That, that's how it is with, uh, because my understanding is today that the the manufacturers, I, I hadn't planned on coming down to speak for or against this today. I just wanted to give some history on kind of, I was kind of part of why this was hung up in committee, uh, because I wanted to, the people to be protected and so in that or I'd have been with you, but thanks. Appreciate it. Thank you. Senator Hammer, you recognize. Thank you. Just a couple points regardless of wherever I buy it with this bill, if it goes into law, regardless of where I buy it. If I, if I buy a green product at Home Depot, I buy a green car at a dealership. Will I still be able to have a choice as to where I get it worked on. Yeah, but if uh if you buy it from the dealership, they're probably gonna want it to be fixed at the dealership. I mean, I'm sure you could take it. I mean, the warranty will probably be with Dotson can clarify this a little bit better, but my understanding is if the the contracts between the manufacturer and the dealership, then if it's under warranty, the manufacturer's going to want it fixed at the dealership, and that'd be my second question if this bill passes and say I buy a product. At a dealership, a green product at a dealership, but it breaks. I can't get it in for 6 months, but I can go down the road to X Y Z and get it fixed, and I get it fixed there instead is my warranty going to be voided? I don't know what the warranty says. I mean, more people have language in it that may say something like that, but that's, that's today. Without this legislation, um, this doesn't change anything with the dealerships. Right, so if you bought it today without this bill passing that those that situation. Whatever's in that agreement. I mean, this doesn't change with the dealerships. I mean, this has to do with box stores, right, which I guess that's probably where I'm getting to where I'm trying to get past is if a dealership that sells grain sells it at their location, but 5 mile down the road they sell the same thing at a box or down the road, then why should there be a problem, because otherwise why would they allow it to be sold at the box store and not just keep it sold at their location. That's why I'm how is this Does this bill affect any of that or does it? That's that's a good question. I don't know the answer to that. I know that they probably won't be selling the same products, um, you dotson when he closes, hopefully we'll address that for us. Good enough. Thank you, Senator Reich, you recognize. Thank you, I did watch the committee and, and saw your questioning was a good questioning. I, I think testimony and I'm just offering some real world stuff here in Central Datson making music. In his closing. But I think testimony committee said they pulled up a map and it shows all these places in Arkansas. As someone who used to handle lawn and garden equipment, some high dollar lawn and garden equipment. And, and appliances and things that have warranties, there are specified things that manufacturers require you to do. So, What many allow us to do 75 year family business is say, I'm going to service what I sell. Some of them, that's all right. A few of them says, you're not gonna have our product, you'll service everything. And over the years we did say, OK, we'll service everything, but here's the real world. The real world is Senator Payton mentioned it, I might get to it 6 months later when I get caught up. I might not be able to get your part in when you want to get it. I'm taking care of my customers even though I'm an authorized service center. In the real world, I've got a lot of leeway. So I don't know where those sites are actually servicing dealers that want to service it or they're required to With whatever definition they want to put in there when they get around to it, so I'm, I'm not saying that in a negative way, that's just a real whirlwi center dotson maybe. I appreciate your questioning in committee and, and that would be a concern to you if they couldn't get service, would it not? Yeah, that was my concern in committee was, you know, but, but the argument was this is arguably going to be a a cheaper product, um, you know, that, uh, uh, people understand. that they're buying a cheaper product and but I I wasn't 100% comfortable with that, so I wanted some kind of assurance that there was a repair shop in the area that, you know, was available for people, you know, I think I said I don't want them to have to leave the state of Arkansas to go get their UTV repaired. I want it done within the state, and I would have liked to have seen more of a contractual agreement than just a recommendation, uh, but as long as, as long as people understand that, you know, it's Not, not going to be taken care of within the, the, the dealership, you know, they're buying it from a box store and there's an expectation there, you know, like I said, I wasn't 100% comfortable with that, but this was better and it alleviated a lot of the opposition's uh Concerns and so therefore relieved a lot of my concerns. Thank you for those concerns. Thank you. You see, anyone else would like to send it like to be for the bill or against the bill. Senator Stubblefield, you. Thanks. Wouldn't it be that we're putting on our citizens to have them have to drive 40 miles one way, 40 miles back home. That's an 80 mile round trip. You pretty much wiped out the whole day. To get a, a, a foreign piece of lesser quality uh equipment and you know what we're talking about. Fixed. So there's no way, would you agree this is not putting a burden, a burden on our citizens. I would, I would, uh, like I said, this is the balance between consumer protection and a free market. Um, I, I agree with you that it does put a more of a burden on them than having to just go to the dealership if it was, you know, within the community they live. lived in, um, on the top said that though they're going to be getting a cheaper price, so people might be able to buy a UTV or ATV that they couldn't afford at a dealership. So, you know, it's, it's opening the market to some people. Like I said, it was a balance, um, I'm, I'm glad y'all gave me more questions than you did the bill sponsor, um, you know, but at least this gives him an opportunity in his closing to to address those questions. So, it just, it just seems like the amount of money that uh A person would spend on gas alone, let alone maybe have to stay there and eat or something in another town to get this piece of equipment could cost more than getting the, the equipment fixed to start with that, that alone is a burden, you know, Senator Stubblefield, I, I agree with you, but like I said, this is a compromised piece of legislation, and it's not perfect, so thank you. Are any others who want to speak for the bill? Oh, excuse me, we have one more. Sandra McKee, you're recognized for a for a discussion. Would you say that the people that you represent in your district are above average intelligence. I, I would say they are. OK, I appreciate that statement. Uh, would you say that they probably have the intelligence of where they can buy something, where they shouldn't buy something, whether or not it can be fixed at a local dealership or they have to drive 40 miles. I would agree with that too. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. OK. Is there any other senator I can speak for the bill against the bill. Senator Do you like clothes for you, Bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members, appreciate the lively debate on this, um, just to address a couple of things, like I said in my opening, this is a free market bill, um, currently, Arkansas is only one of two states in the country that prohibits dealers from having service centers offside off of their current location and premises. And so this bill and part of the compromise, if you look on page 2 of the bill, the new All trained vehicle dealer or new low speed vehicle dealer. shall provide service of altering. Vehicles or low speed vehicles sold by the new Altering vehicle dealer or Provide to the purchaser, let's see here. If you look down at C, coordinate with a warranty service provider within 40 miles of the new all trained vehicle dealer or or new low speed vehicle dealer to service the warranty or manufacturer's warranty provided under the subsection. um So, so basically what we're looking at is providing consumers with more choices. Now, you may live 50 miles from a dealer. right now. You go, you purchase it and then you got to go and take your all train vehicle back to that dealer 50 miles away. There's no local service provider for it because that warranty is only serviced by a dealer that's further away from you today. This bill would require, as it's currently been amended that there be at least some parts and services warranty within 40 miles of wherever you purchase, purchased it. So if you live You know, within 30 or 40 miles of a dealer, you're gonna have a service center possibly closer to you than, than what you would before. Basically, I can't begin to think or, or, or give you all the uh ramifications of how many service centers might start to pop up if we open up the market to be free, but I do know it works pretty well in all but 2 states, Arkansas being one of the states that does this, I actually have a uh uh A letter here from one of the service or one of the uh manufacturers that says it is a responsibility of the manufacturers to handle warranty and service obligations in other states, and it works well. So in other states, it's working, it's working well. They have the free market capabilities, uh, people of the state are smart, smart enough to know where they want to purchase something and this provides consumer protection by requiring the dealer if they're not the service center. on their premises to provide them with a service center location within 40 miles and say, here you go, here's where you can get parts and warranty and service on this vehicle, we don't necessarily service it right here. It's no different than if you go buy a lawnmower from Walmart or Home Depot or Lowe's or someplace else, and they don't provide the warranty work in the store. They say, OK, you can go to this place, this place, this place or this place and get uh service on it. So this is a free market. Free market tends to, to work fairly well in providing consumers with more choices, better quality, at lower prices, and I think this will spur more service centers around the state to be able to compete and work on, on things that might Provide some some options for people. This doesn't prohibit it other dealers from going and working on something that was purchased at a different dealership, so, uh, I think this will have an increase in the marketplace, increase in consumer options, and I would appreciate a good vote. The senator has closed. Is there any objection to rolling the vote? Objection noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Bront Caldwell, Clark. Clark Crawl President Davis. Days, this man. This man Dotson English Flippo. Flipper Flowers, Flowers Gilmore hammer. Hester, Hickey Hill. Irvin Lee, Blake Johnson. I'm sorry, Blake John. OK, Mark Johnson's lead. King Lading. Laing, love. Love McKee Murdoch. Murdoch Titan Penzo Patty rice. Rice Scott Stone Stab afield. Sullivan Tucker, Lee Wallace. Uh Is there any senators like to change the vote or vote. Um, start on this side, letting is no send the flowers, yes. Senator Clark, no. Senator Crow, no. Senator Rice, no. Senator Flippo, no. Senator Love present, Senator Murdoch present. Are senators would like to change. The vote. Check the board for the vote of 28, 9 and 1 not 2 present and one non-voting. Senate Bill 94 passes. Transmit to the house. Senate bill 209. 209 by Central Hammer to disqualify signatures obtained by a canvasser under certain circumstances and declare an emergency. Senator Hammer, you recognize Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to move this to tomorrow's calendar, put it at the bottom of the calendar, and members, I promise you, no matter who's in the room or who's not in the room, we'll vote it and see what happens, and we'll be done with it tomorrow. So if you'd grant me that to move it to tomorrow, put it at the bottom of the calendar, and then it'll be out of here tomorrow, no matter what. That's on 209. Senate bill. 2:10 symbol 210 by central Hammer to require the signer to read the ballot title of the petition in the presence of a canvasser and declare an emergency. Do we need to vote on 209. Motion Just, just, just ski over. All right, thank you. I'd like to move tomorrow, 2:10 to tomorrow's calendar, put it at the bottom at the bottom of the calendar, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Without objection, it'll be on tomorrow's calendar. Senate bill 236. Senate Bill 236 by Senator Board to amend the insurance Holding Company regulatory Act. Senator Boyd, you recognize. Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 236, this bill will update regulations on insurance holding companies. It only affects holding companies which include an insurance company, a holding company is simply an umbrella company for multiple companies, of which one or more could be an insurance company. Blue Cross Blue Shield is an example of a holding company which has insurance companies under its umbrella. This bill affects domestic insurance companies, which are insurance companies which are licensed and operate in the state where it is chartered as opposed to a foreign or alien insurance company. This bill is based on model language from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or NAIC. This bill in essence implements a self-assessment, self-assessment for domestic holding companies and provides for guidance to our insurance commissioner. There is no known opposition to this bill. Senator Boy has explained this bill. Are there any questions? Saying no questions, is there anyone would like to speak for or against the bill. Senator Borgia recognized the clothes for your bill. Thank you. I'd appreciate a good vote. the objections of rolling the vote. Saying none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Boy, Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, Dima dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson Lee, King lightdingov McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice scotstone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Lee Wallace. And sends like to change the vote. Sing none. Check the board. Cast up the ballot. would vote of 3, 32 years. 090 present, 3 on leave, Senate bill 236 passes. Please transmit to the house. Before we do Senate bill, 240, I would like to Senator King, you recognized to. Present our doctors of the day. Thank you, Governor. Uh, to introduce our doctor today, Senator Tucker, I think is at the funeral of former Governor Jim Go Tucker. So I want to introduce our doctor today in the back, Doctor Sarah Palmer. And our nurse of the day is Leah Fazio. Thank you, Sandy King. Senate Bill 240. 240 by Senator Hill to me the credit reporting Disclosure Act of 1989, and to clarify the content required for a notice of adverse action. Senator Hill, you recognize. Colleagues, all this bill is is a simple reporting form that is sent on adverse re adverse action to the consumer who has uh applied for a loan or some other banking services that they may have to where you don't have to send out the notice to them with our Social Security number on it. It's already taking place. We're just trying to make it legal because we're not allowed to send those Social Security numbers out. So we're just trying to make it work every financial institution is not doing something that's illegal in the state of Arkansas. With that, I'll take any questions. Senator Hill has explained this bill. Anyone have any questions? Seeing no questions, we didn't want like to speak for the bill or against the bill? Saying no Senator close for your bill. Senators closed. Any objections to rolling the vote. Roll the vote please, Madam Secretary Bryant Caldwell, Clark K Crowell, Davis, Des, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Lee, King letting love McKee Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice Scott Stone Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker Lee Wallace. Any senator like to change the vote. Seeing non cast up the ballot. With a vote of 32 yeah zero nay. You were present, 3 on leave. Senate Bill 240 is passed. Please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 242. Mr. Chair, I would like to send Senate Bill 242 back to committee for an amendment. Insurance and commerce. You heard the motion. All the favorites say ah. those polls. Motion passes. We now turn to the House calendar. Hospital 1007. Senator Rice. Symbol 1007 by Senator Rice and Representative Peer to regulate liability for shooting sports events and to provide immunity to certain individuals with respect to shooting sports events. Senator Rice, you'll recognize. Thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate Representative Per you're bringing this bill, uh, this has to do with uh helping our youth in their shooting sports events. And uh one of the questions in, in Senate committee was uh mentioned that wish it was broader for more uh things than what it says in here that it will be an event sponsored by the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Gaming Fish Foundation are Arkansas 4H Foundation. This bill is modeled after the equine liability event protection, uh, that's been in effect for a long time and it was broader before it came to House Judiciary, and they wanted it tightened up. So Representative Perrier did their request and that's the reason it's just for this, and that's basically is for uh all youth activities and I would be glad to answer any questions. Senator Rice has explained this bill. Are there any questions? Would any member like to speak for or against. Senator Rice, good. Thank you. Are there any objections to rolling the vote? Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, dismay dots and English flippo Flowers Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson Lee, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, scot, stone, Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker Lee Wallace. And remember I'd like to change the vote. Send the flowers present. Any others, seeing none, cast up the ballot. With a vote of 32 ya, zero nay, 1 present, 3 on leave. House Bill 1007 passes, please return as amended to the house. House Bill 1049, Senator Caldwell. Symbol 10:49 by Representative Tosh and Centra Caldwell to amend Arkansas law concerning criminal offenses and to criminalize unlawful squatting. You recognize. Thank you, Mr. President, members, this is a pretty simple bill. It just distinguishes between a tenant and a squatter, defines a squatter, someone who comes onto your land illegally, does not have a right to be there. Uh, you can use that to report that to your law enforcement. agency, uh, whereas if you have a tenant, uh, you have to go through a civil action to remove them. Senator Caldwell has explained this bill. Any questions? Anyone like to speak for or against. Seeing nons and the car was closed for the bill and the opposition to rolling the vote. Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Well Bryant Caldwell, Clark Crowell, Davis, Ds, dismay dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore Hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvinley, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson Lee, King letting love, McKee Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott stone, Stubville Sullivan, Tucker Lee Wallace. Any member like to change the vote. Seeing none cast up the ballot. When a vote of 32, 0 nay, 3. On leave, House Bill 1049 passes. Please return as amended with Amendment 1 and 2 to the house. House Bill 1154 Senator Hammer. Hospital 1154 by Representative warning for hammer to enact the Arkansas Teacher retirement Systems general ominous and to declare an emergency. But Senator Hammer, you recognize. Thank you, members, if you look on your desk, you should have a copy that explains not only this bill but also 1156 when it comes 1154 is a bill that is correcting technical corrections and a cleanup bill for the teacher retirement status. The bill includes 4 things correct typos and errors in the current law remove references to laws that have already been repealed and removing redundant and outdated language and provisions in making application timeline timelines consistent in their language. The system's actuary have found that this bill will have no cost to ATRS and the bill came out of the joint retirement without any opposition. I'll be glad to answer any questions. Senator Hammer has explained this bill. Are there any questions? With anyone like would anyone like to speak for or against the bill? Seeing nonin hammer clothes for you, Bill. Close. Appreciate a good vote. And how much clothes for the bills or any opposition to rolling the vote. Saying no opposition, Madam Clerk, please roll the vote. Bowen, Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis, Des, Dima dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson Lee, King letting love, McKee Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott stone, Stubber Phil Sullivan, Tucker, Lee. Are there any senators who would like to change the vote? Seeing none cast up the ballot. With a vote of 32 yeah 0 nay, 3 on leave. House Bill 1154 passes. Please return this past. Emergency clause adopted, please return this pass. To the house. House Bill 1155. 1155 representative Warren and Senator Dodson to create a rebuttable presumption of qualification for disability retirement benefits under the Arkansas Teacher retirement System and declare an emergency. Senator Dodson, you recognize. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members, this bill allows ATRS to accept 100% service connected disability rating from the US Department of Veteran Affairs as creating a rebuttable presumption of qualifications for disability retirement benefits. Current law provides the same for 100% disability findings from the Social Security Administration, so this bill would provide equal treatment to VA disability ratings for veterans. The system's actuaries have found that any cost of this bill would be small and would not have a material impact on ATRS. I'd be more than happy to try to answer any questions. Senator Dodson has explained this bill. Are there any questions? Is there anyone like to speak for or against the bill? Seeing noninson closed for. He's close in the opposition to rolling the vote. Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Demaine Dotson English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey, Hill, Irvin Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson Lee, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice Scott stone, Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker, Lee Wallace. With any member like to change the vote? Say no, please cast up the ballot with a vote of 32 yeah, 0, nay, 3 on leave. House Bill 1155 passes with the emergency clause. Please return this pass to the house. House Bill 1156, Senator. Hammer. Has 1156 by Representative Warren and Senator Hammer to amend the law concerning the eligibility of a surviving spouse for survivor annuity benefits under the Arkansas Teacher retirement System and declare an emergency. Thank you. 11:56, some of the key points again, you've got a handout on your desk. The bill shortens the waiting period for when a new spouse can become eligible for survivor benefits from 2 years preceding the member's death down to one. This change will mirror the one-year waiting period in current law for ushers and Laffe Apers as a waiting period of 6 months when ATRS brought rule revisions to a joint public retirement Committee last year. Several legislators in the committee raised the issue and asked that. to consider legislation to reduce the waiting period to align with the others, and the system's actuary have found that any cost of this bill will be very small. It would not have a material impact on the ATRS system. I'll be glad to answer any questions. Senator Hammer has explained this bill. Are there any questions? Anyone like to speak for or against the bill. Saints in the hammer your clothes for your bill, clothes for the bill. Appreciate a good vote. Any opposition to rolling the vote? Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bryant Caldwell, Clark Krow, Davis, Des, dismaying dots and English flippo Flowers Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson Lee, King lighting the love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice Scott Stone Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker Lee Wallace. Any member would like to change the vote. See no cast up the ballot. With a vote of 32 yeah 0 nay, 3 on leave. House Bill 1156 and it's emergency clause passes, please return as passed to the house. House bill 1157. Has 1157 by Representative Perry and Senator Board to amend the law concerning survivor annuity benefits for dependent children under the Arkansas Teacher retirement system and declare an emergency. Send the board you recognize. Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1157, this is an Arkansas teacher retirement system bill, which makes two changes to benefits for surviving children. Number one, it allows the surviving child to receive benefits through age 22 years regardless of college attendance, military service, apprenticeship, or work. And at number 2, it allows survivor benefits for eligible children of deceased members who were on disability retirement. These changes are expected to have a nonmaterial impact on the Arkansas teacher retirement. system. Senator Boyd has explained this bill. Any questions? Seeing none. Send the boy. I mean anyone speak for or against the bill. Send aboard you Clothes for you, Bill. I'd appreciate a good vote. Any opposition to rolling the vote. Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kra Davis, D's dismay dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson Lee, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice scot, stone, Stubblefield Sullivan, Tucker, Lee Wallace. Any member would like to change the vote? Singan, please cast up the ballot. With a vote of 32 yeah 0 nay, and 3 on leave. House Bill 1157 and it's emergency clause passes. Please return this pass to the house. House Bill 1158. House Bill 1158 by Representative Perry in Central Love to amend the law concerning the election of a distribution option under the teacher Deferred retirement Option plan and declare an emergency. Senator Love, you recognize. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Colleagues, this is another teacher retirement bill. Uh, this bill allows for members to cancel a tee-ro distribution election before the end of the 2nd full calendar month following the retirement. Current law allows for members, allows members to cancel an election to go into the tee drop, but it does not allow them to cancel or change the distribution election when leaving Trop. This would equalize those opportunities to cancel. You know sometimes members rethink their distribution decisions and doing so can help them prevent unnecessary tax penalties. The system's actuaries have found that any cost of this bill would be Very little, if any, and would have no material impact on ATRS. But that I stand open for questions. Senator Love explained the bill. Are there any questions? Saying no, is there anyone who would like to speak for the bill? Against the bill, send the love that clothes for you, Bill. I appreciate a good vote. Is there any opposition? To rolling the vote, saying no opposition, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Ds, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson Lee, King letting love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scotstone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker Lee Wallace. Any member like to change the vote? Seeing no please cast up the ballot. With a vote of 32, yeah, 0, nay, 3 on leave. House Bill 1158 and the emergency clause passes. Please return to the house as passed. House Bill 1160 110 by Representative Moore and Central Dotson to amend the law concerning permissive service credit for gap year service under the Arkansas Teacher retirement System and declare an emergency. Senator Dodson, you recognize. Thank you, Mr. Governor. Uh, members, this bill allows ATRS members who are classroom teachers to purchase. Partial years of gap year service credit, uh, current law only allows for the purchase of full years of gap service credit. Members who earn a partial year of credit cannot Purchase the remaining service credit for that year. For example, if a member misses one semester due to a pregnancy, they earn only partial credit for the year. This bill would allow them to purchase back the remaining service credit to make a full year's credit. Current law does not allow this. Allowing classroom teachers to purchase partial years will serve as an incentive for them to return to the public school employment. Uh, the system's actuaries have found this bill would be cost neutral for ATRS. I'd be happy to answer any questions. Senator Dawson has explained this bill. Are there any questions? Anyone likes to speak for the bill. Against the bill Saying no to the dots in his clothes for his bill. In the opposition to rolling the vote. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bo Bryant Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis Des, Dima. That's an English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson Lee, King letting love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, scotstone, Stuberfield Sullivan, Tucker Lee Wallace. Any member like to change his vote? Saying none, anyone. Please cast up the ballot. With a vote of 32 0 nay, and 3 on leave, house bill 1160 and it's emergency clause has passed. Please return to the house as passed. House Bill 1161. 1161 by Representative Moore and Senator Bowen, to clarify the law concerning an election to change annuity options within one year of retirement under the Arkansas Teacher retirement system and declare an emergency. Senator Boyd, you recognize? Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1161, this bill clarifies current law which allows in Arkansas teacher retirement system member to change his or her annuity option within a year of retirement. The two things it does is one, it clarifies the change takes effect when the change takes effect and that it only takes effect after any cost difference owed is paid, and then second, it removes some outdated language. Senator Boyd has explained this bill. Are there any questions? Anyone like to speak for the bill, against the bill. Senator Boyd, you clothes for your bill. I'd appreciate a good vote. Is there any opposition to rolling the vote? Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Ds, just name dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey, Hill, Irvin Lee, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, Lee, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scotstone, Stubber Phil Sullivan, Tucker Lee Wallace. Any member like to change his vote. Seeing no cast up the ballot. With a vote of 32, 0 nay, and 3 a leave. House Bill 1161 and it's emergency clause is passed. Please return to the house as passed. We'll skip over. House Bill 1193 and we'll go to the budget calendar. Senator Senate bill 75. Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 75 allows 2 of you thank you $250,000 through funds raised for School for the Deaf and Blind to be able to use for construction. business Are there any questions on? Are there any questions on the amendment? And then. See none all the favorite amendments say I, those opposes amendment passes. Amendment adopted to engrossing. OK OK. The items. Any items at the desk. Right out of script sheets. Set the car where you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. remind our members that Farm Bureau is having a farmer's recognition Day tomorrow. They Farm Bureau is holding a reception this afternoon from 4 to 6 at next levels. Senator Hill, you'll recognize for announcement. Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, transportation is meeting 15 minutes upon adjournment. Are there any other announcements? The hammer. Other items at the desk. 279 by Senator Irving to assist the division of labor with enforcing the fair and prompt payment of wages to Arkansas citizens and to clarify the manner in which wage and and our complaints are investigated. Senate Bill 279 public health. Simb to 80 by Senator Irving to designate the oil and gas commission as a custodian of all property and the dispersing agent of all funds of the Office of State Geologists, Senate Bill 280. A sent memorial resolution to by Senator Tucker at A 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 the state of Arkansas. Senate Memorial resolution 2. Calendar Senator 281 by Senator Gilmore to amend the law regarding agriculture to establish the pro the producer bill of rights for commodity uh checkoff Programs Act and to require certain actions related to commodity checkoff programs sent 281. Has 1117 representatives Scott and Senator Bryant concerning the administration of instruction on firearm safety in public school districts and in open enrollment public charter schools, house 1117. OK, let me thanks. Uh-huh. Can you please keep it down, members. 1369 by Representative right concerning the establishment of the maximum campaign contribution limit of the Arkansas Ethics Commission, amending portions of law resulting from initiated acts and declare an emergency house 1369. State agencies 1379 by Representative Betty in Central Hil to amend the law concerning the special authorization for reimbursement for meals and lodging while traveling on official business of the state. House Bill 1379. Senate Bill 207, uh, returned to the house as passed as amended. Refer to I referred to, uh. State agencies refer to state agencies. It Right Is there anything else to come before the body? In the announcements, we have an announcement. Senator recognize. Members, next week is the basketball game. The uh the fundraiser event, please get your money to Ms. Sabrina. She will be taking a baseball bat around to your offices if you do not pay up, I believe. Please get your money to her for your jerseys. Thank you. Any more announcements? Senator Scott, you recognize? Thank you, Governor. Tomorrow is AKA day at the Capitol. If you have pink and green, please wear pink and green tie, gentlemen, colleagues, I'm kindly requesting. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any other announcements? If there are no other announcements. The Senate will stand an adjournment, subject to the clearing of the desk until 1:30 February 25th, 2025. OK. turn off the lights.