House Rules
Video
Transcript
1 document
Bills discussed (7)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
HB1455
Act 500
· 3 mentions in transcript, agenda, chapter
Matched: “…d up to speak against a couple of bills. We are not hearing House Bill 1455 or 1476. So if”
|
TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN PRIVATE CLUBS TO PURCHASE CERTAIN PRODUCTS DIRECTLY FROM A SMALL BREWERY PERMIT … | Pilkington | Notification that HB1455 is now Act 500 |
|
SB98
Act 157
· 3 mentions in transcript, agenda, chapter
Matched: “other bill we're going to hear is SB 98. Representative Maddox. If you'll come to the table, identi…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; TO AUTHORIZE THE THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES … | B. Davis | Notification that SB98 is now Act 157 |
|
HB1044
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1044 Hawk TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS SPORTS RAFFLE ACT; AND TO DE…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS SPORTS RAFFLE ACT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. | Hawk | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1143
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “…FOR OTHER PURPOSES. DEFERRED BILLS Number Sponsor Subtitle HB1143 Wooten TO AMEND THE CHARITABLE BINGO AND RAFFLES ENABLING A…”
|
TO AMEND THE CHARITABLE BINGO AND RAFFLES ENABLING ACT; AND TO PROHIBIT RAFFLES TO PROVIDE … | Wooten | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1476
Act 675
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “HB1476 B. McKenzie TO AMEND THE DIRECT SHIPMENT OF VINOUS LIQUOR A…”
|
TO AMEND THE DIRECT SHIPMENT OF VINOUS LIQUOR ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH A WINE DIRECT … | B. McKenzie | Notification that HB1476 is now Act 675 |
|
HB1491
Act 874
· 2 mentions in agenda, chapter
Matched: “AGENDA (Revised 2/17/2025 @ 6:50 PM) Added HB1491 House Select Committee on Rules Wednesday, February 19, 202…”
|
CONCERNING THE EXCISE TAX ON CERTAIN BEER AND SAKE; TO CREATE AN EXCISE TAX CREDIT … | Wardlaw | Notification that HB1491 is now Act 874 |
|
HB1192
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1192 Pilkington TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OF TOBACCO, TOBACCO P…”
|
TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OF TOBACCO, TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND E-CIGARETTES BY STUDENTS; AND TO REQUIRE … | Pilkington | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
Machine transcript
May contain errors. Verify important quotations against the official video.
About transcript accuracy
- Source
- SliQ live captions
- Model
- SliQ live ASR
- Processing date
- October 2, 2026
All right, members, we're going to, uh, without objection begin with house uh Bill 1491 representative word law.
come to the table, identify yourself, you recognize and present your bill. Thank
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
0:57
you, Mr. Chair. think committee, Representative Jeff Wardlaw District 94. I kind of want to start with a little I guess explanation. Our disclosure, whatever you
wanna call it, but I do work for Delta Waterfowl as a regional policy guy. I think it's important that you guys know who I work for, what, where my money comes from. Uh, we do care about duck habitat. I want to make that very clear. We have no tie to US rice. We have no tie to any beer manufacturers, so I'll make that clear. So what this bill does is It prioritizes Arkansas rice. Uh, from a point that the legislature sees the importance of the rice farmers in Arkansas.
Arkansas ice has a whole lot more importance than just being a farm commodity. It provides a lot of habitat for wintering waterfowl in our state, which also brings in a lot of revenue to our state, um. So it being our number one commodity and it's number one customer being the beer industry. Which, uh, the number I was quoted was 80% of Arkansas rice goes to the beer industry. I wanted to make sure that we could do all we can to ensure that that stays in place. So with that, if their
ingredient mix is more than 20%, they will get, um, 20% off of their excise tax. We also included sake because the sake industry down in Hot Springs is very important as well, and it uses Arkansas rice as an ingredient. And under full disclosure, it's my understanding they use 100% Arkansas rice in their ingredients. So they will get almost 100% tax credit because of that, um. The physical impact from the industry has come in at like
$2.5 million. Sake physical impact is less than 100,000 is where we're at right now in that figure. So with that, Mr. Chair, I'd be happy to take any questions from the committee.
Speaker 14
3:01
Well, I don't see any questions. So, uh, and Farm Bureau finally decided to show
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
3:05
up, so. Can you identify yourself for the record? Mark
Speaker 18
3:13
Lambert with Arkansas Farm Bureau. Is there anything you'd
like to add? I'm here for moral support for
representative Ward Law. Represent Mackinnon, you're recognized for
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
3:29
a question. Thank you, Chairman. Uh, just a quick question, are you aware of any other industries like soybeans or corn that are also interested in having this type of
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
3:40
a credit. No, Representative McAlenon, I'm not, to my points to you earlier, um, I would be very open to helping
them if they do have a single industry that uses a majority of their product. The problem is their product mix to my knowledge, is very diverse. So it'd be very difficult to identify a tax credit that would help for the use of that. There's also a bill in US Congress or was in the last General Assembly, I suspected to come back that incentivizes the use of our, of American grains as ingredients. Theirs is a more holistic approach. I used and picked this one because it was our largest commodity and they do have a single large customer,
so just making that very clear. But thank you for that question. Thank you. Seeing no other questions, represented Wardlaw, would you like
to close for your bill? We don't have anybody on our sheet signed up to speak for or against this bill. Is there anyone in the audience? That is
Interested in speaking for or against. This bill Representative Boardlaw, you
recognize the clothes for your bill. I would just
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
5:02
like to mention that Arkansas ice iceland Farm Bureau, Ducks
Unlimited have all, uh, expressed very much a lot of support for this bill. I think it's very important that we take care of our Arkansas farmers and I do see this as a method to move in that direction. And with that, I would make a motion do pass. All right, members, we
have a motion to pass on this bill. Is there any discussion on the motion?
Seeing none all in favor, say I oppose nay. Congratulations, Representative Wardlaw. Your bill's passed. Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee.
This is for the folks that have signed up to speak against a couple of bills. We are not hearing House Bill 1455 or 1476. So if
you're here to, uh, uh, speak on those bills. We're not hearing those today. The only
other bill we're going to hear is SB 98. Representative Maddox. If you'll come to the table, identify yourself for
the record, you'll be recognized to present the bill.
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
6:31
Thank you, Mr. Chairman John Maddox, District 886. Mr. Chairman, can I bring someone up to join me at the table?
Certainly. They'll identify themselves for the record? Mary Robin
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
6:50
Castile. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So I have a lot of information.
I know this has, um, there is some, um, information out there about this. So what I want to talk about is what the bill does
and what the bill does not do, and I want to be real clear about that. So, um, this bill does not expand alcohol sales in the state of Arkansas. This bill does not create any new retail permits. This bill prohibits delivery to a consumer in a dry county. Um, this bill creates a secure mechanism for consumers who are 21 years and older to receive delivery of alcoholic beverages from an ABC
licensed realtor retailer, and an ABC licensed delivery company. Um, those, they both must have licenses. Um, I first want to point out that This legislation is modeled directly after Texas. Delivery legislation which was passed in 2021. And we, as most of you know, because I think I've talked to almost all of you at this stage. Um, we allowed delivery, um, in 2021 in the state of Arkansas for a liquor stores and wineries. So this is just allowing grocery stores and
convenience stores to do the same thing. If anyone is delivering now, say a liquor store, they certainly do not have to use the third-party permit. They don't have to use a third party, that can continue to operate in the very same way that they have been. The third party delivery restrictions are actually stricter than what's in place now. So I want to give you a couple examples of that. Um, third-party delivery permit holders will be required to
train their delivery drivers at least once a year. So at least once a year, they're gonna have to have training. That is not in the law now, so it's actually stricter. Delivery recipients will be required to show valid identification for age verification. And delivering employees will be required to check the identification for age verification. Current law does not require the presentation of identification. Or the checking of identification for in-store sales of alcoholic beverages. So again, more strict than the law is now.
Third party delivery permit holders will have liability for their employees and for their drivers. If a delivery driver or other employee or third party delivery permit holder. commits a violation of ABC rules, they can lose that permit, um, and clearly they want this permit and they're gonna do everything they can to make certain that it's done in a safe way so that they do not lose this permit. In addition to ABC sanctions, Arkansas law already provides for criminal and civil
penalties. For providing alcoholic beverages to a minor or an intoxicated person. So I want to touch on that very briefly. Um, because I've had some questions from members about coming up with these facts scenarios. Well, in Arkansas, if you knowingly sell alcohol to a minor, you've committed a felony. So let me say that again. That's not in this bill, but that's not changing the law. That's still the law. So if you knowingly, knowingly sell to a minor. You've committed a felony. Um,
so there's a lot of other protections that are already out there in existing law and existing ABC regulations that are going to be applicable. Couple of things I want to touch on and then I'll allow my, my, um, guest to speak. Every, every single state that touches us, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, they all allow grocery stores and convenience stores to deliver. Every single one. So,
This is not that. Massive of a change. This is happening everywhere. I have a map that I can, I didn't pass it out, but I have a map. The vast majority of every state in the country is allowing this. And again, but what I always look to is
our surrounding states, all allowing this. Um, Couple other things I wanted to point out. And then I'm gonna allow my, my guest to speak. Um So, from a policy perspective,
Why are we running this legislation and there's a real clear reason why it's because our Constituents, the customers want it. Everything is moving to delivery for what I would call a commodity item. Some people made fun of me for where I live, but even where I live in a small rural community, we and many people I know are only doing delivery. So grocery delivery only. So all this is really doing is allowing someone
to have beer or wine, not liquor, of course, delivered by their grocery store. Now, the one change is that if that does occur, there must be a licensed, presented, and scanned at the time, if there's alcohol in the, in the delivery, so that's all it's doing. The consumers are wanting it. There's statistics on how popular delivery is, it's moving to that. People love delivery, they don't want to leave their house. It comes, but right now there's this, um, you know,
problem we've created where we can't ship the one thing. So that's all it does in a nuts. She, um, All this is really doing is allowing our grocery stores to, to compete, frankly, and to kind of level the playing field that we set in 2021 when we picked kind of a winner and a loser. And this is just leveling the playing field, so I'd like to let my guest speak for a moment.
Katie Hall
Unverified
12:38
Thank you, Mary Robin Castile, and I'm here today on behalf of a group called the Adult Beverage Alliance, um, former
director of the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control, and there are just a couple of things that I want to point out that are not in this bill, but that are currently in code that Representative Maddox touched
Speaker 49
12:56
on, but I'd like to go a little bit deeper on it. Um, the age verification that is required for these third-party delivery, uh, Hermites and
Katie Hall
Unverified
13:05
the drivers is more strict than what happens in store with the purchase and it's more strict because when you go in store, there is no
requirement in rule or law. That anyone show an ID. To purchase an alcoholic beverage. There's no requirement that the clerk asks for it. Here you've got a situation where not only will the driver ask for it, the person will have to show it before the delivery is turned over. I've also heard some things about. People that the delivery drivers that come to people's houses right now. I think the difference with this bill will be the company that these people work for is now submitting to the jurisdiction of the ABC. So
that means that they're going to be under every requirement of the ABC and held to a higher duty of care and standard of care, just like every other ABC permit holder. Included in that is record retention. So there's going to be a record that's readily available at the ABC of who the driver was, what the route was, where the purchase was made. If
Speaker 49
14:06
anything should go wrong or if anyone's just curious, that will be available to ABC at any time. Um
Finally, on the, on the retail liquor store component and the folks that are already delivering, this does not change anything for them. They can still operate the way they are, um, and in fact the retail liquor stores specifically will still maintain the ability to be the sole business that can deliver spirits. Um, this bill only applies to beer
Katie Hall
Unverified
14:36
and wine, so they will still have that monopoly over delivery of hard
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
14:45
liquor, so I take any questions also if anybody has any questions. Representative Wardlaw, you're recognized for a question. I'm just concerned about the folks in my district that are mostly dry. Do you
think there will ever be a mechanism or an effort to make sure that we can ship to those folks as well. Um, I'll start, is your question to make sure that
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
15:17
We can ship in a dry or that they can receive, um, I don't know that
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
15:25
there would ever be or not, um, this bill does not allow that. Um, through testimony from Representative Tosh in the past about all the
DWIs and mechanisms to get that and you think through the dry counties of the state and how far they have to drive to get it. And if we think for one second, they're turning around at that liquor store and driving back without opening that bottle or that can, we're crazy. And if we can ship it to their doorstep, we eliminate that drive.
So I just think it's important that at some point in the matter,
Katie Hall
Unverified
15:57
we, we do move down this road. Representative Wardlaw, I would just offer that that's gonna take the wet dry vote in those counties to be able to do that because currently it would be against the law for these delivery drivers to, to do that, and it would require a vote of the people to change
that. Thank you. Represented Maclin and you're recognized for a
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
16:15
question. Thank you, Chairman. Representative, you said that, um, I think in the bill, I don't know that you
said it, but the driver has to be 21 or older, correct? And when they get there, they're gonna check the ID you said two different things. You said
that they're going to check the ID and the other time you said they're going to scan the ID. Can you just clarify
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
16:32
what happens when they present the ID? I think that's one and the same. They're, they're gonna check it, they're gonna make sure it's in the bill that, um, that they're going to identify that it's truly Mindy McAlinden, um, not you, but right, um, who It's you, it looks like you, it is you. They're gonna do that. So they're gonna check it and then they're gonna scan it. And so there's always a record.
There's actually, so they're gonna do both, and I just kind of said, but again, and uh, Miss Castile touched on this, um, you know, obviously, we hope nothing ever goes bad anywhere, but in this case, there's a transaction. Who delivered, where it was delivered, what was scanned, and what happened. Um, so it's actually, uh, more strict. So thank you for the question. You. Thank
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
17:12
you, Ms. Castile. Could you just clarify if I order, let's say I order groceries from Walmart and I ordered liquor at the same time. Are they two different deliveries?
Speaker 55
17:24
Or would they be the same delivery? So my understanding is that's, that's the purpose of the bill. It's one delivery the convenience factor of the
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
17:35
third party delivery. Just confirming. Thank you. The only follow up on that, it's not
liquor. Beer and wine. Yeah, yeah. Representative Hawk, you're recognized
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
17:45
for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um. OK, so I've got a, a liquor store in my district that they are currently going through what you're talking about by delivering and everything. We
had an incident just about a month or so ago where, um, they, they didn't check the ID. The parents found out, right? And they immediately called the liquor store owner and there was an accountability factor, and he fired the employee on the spot. They notified ABC the whole nine yards. You've got a company like, and I'm just gonna throw it out there because I use them, DoorDash, right? Who would do this? Where's the accountability factor other than just going to ABC because right now in our districts, we are calling the
local venue that, whether it be the liquor store or things like that. Who are we calling it
Katie Hall
Unverified
18:33
DoorDash because they're a national company. Representative Hawk, thank you for the question. I think that's, that is the, the purpose of this bill is to put those third-party delivery folks under the jurisdiction of ABC. So anybody that has a permit at ABC has either
Speaker 49
18:45
what they call a manager or an operator. There is a contact on record at the agency that can be called. For any incident that should
occur, um, in addition to that again, and you'll be able to determine who the driver was, what the transaction was, when it occurred. So I, I think it's, it's apples to apples in terms of accountability for this. The company may be headquartered somewhere else, but If they don't respond or they're not responsive to the ABC, the The solution is they could revoke the permit and they won't be delivering alcohol anymore in the state of Arkansas. In addition to the criminal and civil penalties that exist within the law for any delivery driver that should do that.
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
19:29
Thank you. Representative Tosh, you recognized for her question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Representative, you testified earlier that uh But training for the, I guess those making the delivery, is that correct? You said that would be done on a, on a yearly basis,
but What type of training, who will conduct that training and what type of training would that consist of? Representative Tosh, the bill
Katie Hall
Unverified
20:01
itself calls for the ABC to approve a training program for these delivery drivers and the bill sets out certain things that will have to be in it. What, how to spot a fake ID, how to determine if somebody's intoxicated, and I would imagine there'll be a whole host of things that would go into that training program, but ultimately, ABC will have to sign off
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
20:23
on it for this bill. OK. And How does ABC, how do they actually have the capability of
enforcing this law and I guess all I'm asking that question, I think you testified that every transaction would be recorded and submitted to
ABC. Is that correct? No, sir, not necessarily
Speaker 55
20:46
submitted, but all of these transactions occur digitally, essentially, because you're ordering from apps and things like that. So there
Katie Hall
Unverified
20:52
will be records of it. Part of being a permit holder at ABC is you have to maintain your records. And so there would be a record
Speaker 49
21:04
of that at ABC, um, in terms of enforcement. No Director Bornson is here and could probably speak to that it is appropriate to speak to that in terms of how they currently enforce, but You know, it's the same way essentially as they enforce sales to minors in liquor stores or retail outlets now. Usually the enforcement agent goes in. And ABC does have the
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
21:24
manpower to be able to take care of this, is that correct? I, I can't speak to currently,
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
21:34
should have said it in my, um, opening address, but ABC of course, they have to be neutral, but they've been very involved through the drafting of this and working through them. We some sometimes, if you would like, we can call the director up here to speak to that, if you would like if
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
21:46
you say they're neutral, uh, you know. Yes, and they, they are here, yes sir you know unless they're willing to speak. You know, I, I, I don't think it's necessary to bring them to the table. So I think if they had an issue with it, they would have they would be at the table. Yes, sir. OK. All right, Representative
Maddox, I don't have any other questions up here on the board. Uh, is there anything else you'd like to add before we uh move
to those that are here to speak for and against. I'll just wait and close for
my bill. OK. We have, I believe we have one person signed up to speak against, if I'm reading this sheet right, but there is Mr. Kelly. You're signed up to speak against you. You put SB 97, but I assume
you've met this bill 98. OK. If you'll come to the table and identify yourself, you'll be recognized to speak
John Kelly
Unverified
22:56
against the bill. I know I've spoken before. My name is John Kelly. I am, uh, on a liquor store in Saline County. I'm a trained as a certified financial planner, so I have a financial planning background
Speaker 82
23:08
and I'm here to speak in opposition to this bill, and I, I think I want to first I've made some notes and I've listened to quite a bit of
Speaker 84
23:15
testimony from from the other hearings, but I want to comment for just
Speaker 82
23:21
a minute. About a couple of things that I just heard, um. The, there's been several instances where the state of Texas is brought up. And, you know, the, you would assume that, that, that makes some sense, but I'll, I'll, I'll give you a couple of things that, uh, I heard.
John Kelly
Unverified
23:40
And I've learned that really makes me wonder why, why are we looking at Texas to make
Speaker 82
23:49
decisions about what happens in Arkansas. Um Texas, as was spoken, I think in the earlier, one of the earlier hearings in uh City County Local. Allows for 250 permits per person. So we're moving from 1 to 3. We're nowhere near Texas. I don't, Texas is set up differently. They have
franchises, it's just different. Uh, the other thing that I thought was interesting was when it comes to this delivery bill, is that the state of Texas, the delivery bill, their delivery bill, from what I've read, Only allows him to go 2 miles away from the the store that's selling the, the, the product. This bill allows Them to go to the next county and so how many miles is that? So I, I just want to point that
out. Um, a couple of things that, that have come up and, and, you know, the rubber meets the road right where the delivery happens that's where everybody's concerned about are the people that are trained going to be diligent enough to make sure and, and I, I guess I, I have some questions or some, some clarification because there's been conversation about, and I've tried to read some of what we assume that the, the, the ABC is going to draft and they. requirements, but there's some confusing parts to it. If I order. The bill or the, the beverage.
It would be, do I show a license when I order it? Do I show and, and I'm presuming that there would have to be some way to check that. In other words, you couldn't just have a DoorDash account, order the DoorDash account without showing your license on the front end. I mean, I, I don't, I don't know. Perhaps we can get an explanation of that. The other part of it is, is there's been some confusion about what happens when the delivery person comes up to the door and as the example that Senator Davis gave in some of
her testimony was, if, if I'm there. But I'm playing with my kids. And my husband answers the door. Can he take Take command of the situation and sign off on it and put his driver's license there. And, and I, I presume that that's correct, and I, I, I guess I'm looking at some dynamics to this that really kind of Make me think wow, this is, this could be complicated. I don't want to go through all the hypotheticals about one person ordering another person picking
up and how that might work. The other part of it that um that comes to mind with that, I'm just gonna bring it up now because it's in my other notes, but, you know, we talk about them not being able to deliver to, uh, to dry counties, correct? So what about The places within a wet county where alcohol is prohibited. Are we gonna allow DoorDash to take. Alcohol and deliver it to somebody that's got an address at a park.
Speaker 83
26:48
There's a lot of things that I think really need
Speaker 86
26:52
to be. Feathered out with all this. Um, you know, I just don't know, you know, whether they've, I, I don't have the confidence they've been completely vetted, if you will. Um,
Speaker 82
27:01
Um, so let me move on. So that, there's been a lot of conversation about liability, Um, obviously, so, uh, but before I say that, I, I would like to say, just be real clear here, uh, there's been some confusion and I think some of you all know why, but there's been some confusion about where retail stores land on this.
I'm not asking for it. The retail stores around me are are not asking for it. And I just want, I hope you all keep
Speaker 86
27:28
that in mind. Um, so, so let's talk about this and, and, um. I listened to uh. I'm sorry, uh. Walmart spokesperson,
Speaker 82
27:35
I can't think of his name off the top. I've been around him a couple of times, but, but I listened to the conversation about this very subject. Uh, in the, uh, in the uh City
County Local. And he, he mentioned about they have a they have a, uh, platform. It's the term was used platform. So the platform is called Spark.
Speaker 86
28:00
In, in my, my, my question about all that is, is that in that testimony, it
Speaker 82
28:06
said that, that once the money once the product goes out of A Walmart liquor store, the liability then becomes sparks or I think it was described as the platform. I don't really understand that. Now there was some conversation,
perhaps there's better clarification of this, but it did say that, um, the third party people will have liability for cut for drivers. You know, I wanna, I wanna touch on this a little bit and, and again, maybe I don't make sense to some of you, it certainly made sense to me when I was thinking through all this. I looked up. The definition of independent contractor because it was said that Sparks drivers were independent contractors. So, what that means to me and
what I looked up was what the definition under the IRS tables about the rules about that. You are not an independent contractor if you perform services that can be controlled by an employer. What will be done and how it will be done. So, what I see here, Is it we've taken. Walmart's basically getting the best of both worlds. They don't have to employ them. They can use people that are already in their system. And, and then those people don't
have to, uh, they, they can push that liability to someone else. But, but are these people working for a company that hires them or they like it is with Sparks, independent contractors. So Is every independent contractor and is part of the job of the ABC is to make sure that every independent contractor that may contract with anybody of these organizations like that. Having have liability?
I do think it, it, it speaks to, to the leverage that's being used here and, um, the other thing that I wanna kind of move on to is the, the thing that hits me is, is that the practicality of all this. I mean I don't, I don't do a lot of online ordering. I like to go to the grocery store. It's close by so I can buy my groceries there, so I don't have to do that. But The demographics of what I've seen from delivery drivers. They're young. They're young. And uh I think that's putting a
lot of pressure on them. To do the right thing. In an environment where there's nobody watching. And, you know, the other thing that came up with that that I that was brought up before that I just again, it's considerations of what I'm hearing. You know, I, believe me, I suffer from the digital world. I'm not quite that generation, but the fact of the matter is, is that it's often. Where technology fails. We lose the data. So I think that's also something to keep in mind that adds to the
complexity of trying to enforce these, enforce these, these laws. I mean, yes, you've got a you've got a, a, a digital track. But those are not bulletproof. Um, You know, I, I, I think there's There's some There's some things that were changed and amended that make some sense, right? They, they, they, they made some sense. Um, so I'm not, uh, one of the things that I thought was kind of strange, was really the, and perhaps someone here can tell me
the exact terminology, but they, there was an amendment to about the liability or presumed, presumed assumption that they were innocent. I think the way uh, Senator Davis put it, they were assumed innocent until proven guilty. I'm really curious as to why that was on there in the first place and why and how it got removed now. That only makes sense to me that there was a reason for that. To be on there and then it, it went away. And I, I don't, I don't, I can't, I can't ask the
John Kelly
Unverified
32:01
people that made that decision, why they made it, but I think it's also something to think
Speaker 84
32:14
about. Um, you know, just some other comments that I wrote down here, you know, I, I listened to the testimony. I listened to Senator
Speaker 82
32:21
Davis talk about this, and, you know, the reality of it is, this is allowing alcohol and liquor to be. Put anywhere, any place, anytime, almost. I mean, yeah, you can't have to
be open, but almost anytime, any place, and I, I just don't, I don't think, number one, the, the people of the state really want that. I mean, at some point in time, I, it's my personal belief. Now you might think I'm being disingenuous or not, you know, I'm speaking just for, for my own financial benefit, but I don't think the spread of intoxicants. The easier access to intoxicants. It's a good idea. Um
Speaker 82
33:12
don't I don't want to be Making statements that even sound like I'm saying that somebody's not doing their job or not. Not a good person, not, I'm not saying that, but I do believe very strongly. That These liquor laws and rules. It's like the wild wild west and who wins in the wild wild west? I love westerns, so who wins in
the wild wild west? The people with the most money and the
Speaker 86
33:41
most power. And, you know, let me, so I, I'm not just pulling this out of nothing.
Speaker 84
33:45
I've been in this business for a long time now. The Federal Trade Commission case, which many of you have heard because I've been
Speaker 82
33:55
chirping, been. Talking about that for a while is an example. Of what I believe. is going on and until I know that it's not going on and I beg
you until you know that these things are not going on. Don't move forward with the liquor legislation. The Federal Trade Commission pointed out, as many of you are aware that glaziers, the distributor. Was giving unfair advantage. Two franchises. Sir, I don't think that's speaking to this bill.
Oh, well, it, it speaks to, it speaks to
Speaker 82
34:27
enforcement, sir. It speaks to enforce. That's where I'm headed with this. It's so, so let me give you some other examples and uh.
The other day, or when I, when I relistened to uh the director's comments after the, um, the hearing, she indicated about a Annual mandatory. Audit For every retail store. Well That was news to me. I've been in the business 8 years. They've never come and looked at my invoices. They have come to check about underage, but I've never had my invoices looked at.
And some of these things that are entwined in all this is their ability and again I'm not trying to be. Let me give you an example. The other day, I found out that DoorDash was like from another store. The guy called me and said, John, look at this, sent me a picture. In its DoorDash advertising. To deliver alcohol. Now, is that all yet? I called the ABC. I hadn't heard back.
The only, the only way, uh, how do we stop people from speeding? We stop them from speeding, not because we put signs up, not because we, there's, it's a, it's a rule. It's because we enforce that rule. And I, I, I think all this really does need to be considered. We're, we're not gonna get there. The ABC's dealing with, we're not gonna get rules followed unless there are investigations. And there are enforcement.
And there are penalties and and frankly I've been in this business long enough I've heard many as I could go on for hours about stories. And I, I don't know how to, I don't know how to address this in this format. I don't, I really don't. I don't know how to address in this format. Um, I will say, you know, the, the two people that have come asking for this or Walmart and Amazon. And, and, you know, I appreciate. Senator Rice asked in his statement about when are we gonna stop?
How far and why do we need to spread alcohol? You know The other thing I want to mention is Senator Petty. He, he asked Mr. Langley. About this 10 year deal. It really wasn't. Described it Mr. Langley described it as well, Walmart just thinks that everything will be the same for 10 years, so we're not looking to come back. Well, I think there's a little bit more to that. I think many of you already know about that.
Speaker 100
37:31
There's probably more in there, but I think that's enough. I appreciate y'all's time and I'd
be glad to answer any questions. Saying no questions, thank you for your testimony. Is there anyone else in the audience that wants to speak for or
against this bill. Seeing none representative Maddox, you recognize the clothes for
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
37:55
your bill. Sorry. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you committee, for your patience. I'll be very brief. I think we've exhausted this issue
before. The one thing I want to continue to touch on is no, We don't do everything that Texas does by any stretch, but I do think looking at what every surrounding state does is a good model for has there been a problem, which obviously there have not. I'm looking at almost every state in the country allows this. No, we don't do what every state in the country does, but I think it's a good model for have there been any problems and the answer is no, there have not. The Texas is in the legislature right now. They're not trying to change this, this law. There's, there's no problems. The verification
requirements. are actually more strict under this than they are under current law. There is no training right now. Um. There is absolutely no training for the delivery drivers right now. This makes it more strict. Um, and I want to just close by a couple of things, you know, sometimes free market capitalism's hard. I mean, sometimes it really is. It's hard. But when we as a government have picked winners and losers, and we have the opportunity to write to that and
promote competition, who wins when we promote competition, every time the consumer, every single time, that's how our, that's why we're the greatest. country in the world, that's why we always have been, because of free markets, capitalism, and competition. And I thank you for your time and I'm closed for my bill. Me What's the will of the
committee? Have a motion due pass any
discussion on the motion. Seeing none all in favor, say I.
Oppose nay. Congratulations, Representative Maddox. You passed your bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you
committee. Seeing no other business for this committee, we are adjourned.
Agenda
HB1455 Pilkington TO AUTHORIZE A PRIVATE CLUB TO PURCHASE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
FROM WHOLESALERS; AND TO AUTHORIZE A PRIVATE CLUB TO ENTER INTO AN OPERATING AGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER PERMIT HOLDER FOR THE
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE PRIVATE CLUB.
SB98 B. Davis TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; TO AUTHORIZE THE THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FROM CERTAIN RETAILERS; AND TO CREATE A THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY PERMIT.
HB1044 Hawk TO ESTABLISH THE ARKANSAS SPORTS RAFFLE ACT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
HB1476 B. McKenzie TO AMEND THE DIRECT SHIPMENT OF VINOUS LIQUOR ACT; AND TO ESTABLISH A WINE DIRECT SHIPPER LICENSE.
HB1491 Wardlaw CONCERNING THE EXCISE TAX ON CERTAIN BEER AND SAKE; TO CREATE AN EXCISE TAX CREDIT FOR CERTAIN BEER AND SAKE PRODUCED USING ARKANSAS RICE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
DEFERRED BILLS
Number Sponsor Subtitle
HB1143 Wooten TO AMEND THE CHARITABLE BINGO AND RAFFLES ENABLING ACT; AND TO PROHIBIT RAFFLES TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A STUDENT-ATHLETE UNDER THE ARKANSAS STUDENT-ATHLETE PUBLICITY RIGHTS ACT.
HB1192 Pilkington TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OF TOBACCO, TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND E- CIGARETTES AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AND TO REQUIRE THE PARENT OF A STUDENT WHO IS FOUND USING, POSSESSING, OR SMOKING TOBACCO, TOBACCO PRODUCTS, OR E-CIGARETTES TO PAY A FINE.
Notice: Silence your cell phones. Keep your personal conversations to a minimum. Observe restrictions designating areas as 'Members and Staff Only'.
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — HOUSE RULES, Feb 19, 2025 | Agenda | 1 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Representative Jon S. Eubanks Chair
Unverified
Representative Jeff Wardlaw
Unverified
Speaker 14
Speaker 18
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
Representative John Maddox
Unverified
Katie Hall
Unverified
Speaker 49
Speaker 55
Representative RJ Hawk
Unverified
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
Speaker 50
John Kelly
Unverified
Speaker 82
Speaker 84
Speaker 83
Speaker 86
Speaker 100