Senate Convenes

I. The Senate will be called to order. Are there any requests for leave at this time, Senator Scott, you're recognized. Do I? OK. Lee for Senator Payton and Senator King. Leave Any others? Senator Flowers, you're recognized. I'm here right now, but I ask for leave in about. 20 minutes in minutes. OK, when you leave at that time, we will. OK, thank you. Any others? Like Oh, leave for Senator Bryant. OK. We've got that. Any other leaves at this time? Madam Secretary, please call the roll. No way Like all Crowel Davis, Dees Dima Datsun English flippo flowers, Gilmore Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Le letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Payton, Lee, Benzo, petty rice, Scott, stone, Stubbervi, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. I is here. Senator King is here. He's here. We, we feel good about attendance. OK. All right, everyone in the chamber and in the galleries, please rise and remain standing, uh, for our prayer, Senator Love will be introduced now to introduce our pastor. Good morning colleagues. Good morning colleagues. Right. I have the distinct pleasure of of bringing one of my dear friends, one of my pastors from uh my district, ah, the Reverend Doctor Dwight Townsend, uh. He's somebody that is dynamic. He's always there praying. He prays for me. Of course he prays for Jamie, but I'm pretty sure that he prays for all our leadership, and so without any further ado, the next voice you'll hear is Pastor Dwight Townsend. Good morning. And we all bow our heads to receive this prayer. Heavenly Father, we come before you with humble hearts. Asking for your divine guidance and wisdom for our lawmakers today. We pray that you will. grant them the strength to rise above whatever our divisions are and we're towards unity. May they seek peace. Understanding and compassion in their decisions always placing the greater good above personal interest. God we ask that you soften hearts and Open minds to the possibility of working together in unity despite differences. May their actions reflect justice. Respect. And love for all people. Creating laws that bring equity and peace for every community. We also, God today lift up all nations, all communities. And all individuals around the world. May we all come to know the power of unity. The strength of empathy. And the grace that you have extended to all of us. We ask these things in your name and may we have a great day together. Amen. I of the United States of America and the republic for which it stands, one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Ladies and gentlemen in the galleries, welcome to the Arkansas Senate. It's 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 reading of the journal. The morning hour has now begun. Are there any announcements? Or At this time, do we And OK Are there any announcements at this time? Members, uh, I think the question of the day is what are our expectations for session for the rest of the week. I certainly recognize there is significant weather pending coming down, it's, it's different in all parts of the state. It's very significant and what I would say to that is, If, if you are compelled to be in district for what's gonna happen in your district, for your home, for your business, then I would say absolutely do that, but we, we plan to be in session tomorrow. We plan to be in session Thursday. If, if you cannot be here for whatever the reason, if you'd please just let me know if it turns out 15 members have to be home for compelling reasons, then we might adjust that decision. If we have to adjust, then I would ask us to be here Thursday and Friday. Friday. So, um, We have a lot of work to do, um, I just asked that, you know, the plan is for us to be here tomorrow and to be here Thursday under normal schedules. Uh, if you can't be here, then, then don't be here, right? The, the, the weather is real, it's significant as we see, we already have 3 or 4 members that because of significant uh weather going to be in their home, they they already went home this morning. During that time, I, I, I would tell you. If you cannot be here, the rest of the body will treat you, your legislation, your concern with what we, what I would refer to as senatorial courtesy. Uh, we're not going to ram anything, uh, you know, that that you're particularly opposed to or do something, I would say is, uh, you know, I won't speak too much other than to say that we will treat members with senatorial courtesy that cannot be here due to weather. Does that work? Uh, but if you cannot be here, please, uh please come see me. Senator Flowers, you're recognized. So that senatorial courtesy. Does that extend not only in session in the chamber, but also in our committees. Because, um, Uh, you know, we, I'm cognizant and I think we all should be cognizant of the fact that The governor has declared a state of emergency. I don't know if some offices have been closed for state agencies, but in terms of the citizens of Arkansas that are concerned about the business before us in the committees, they may have A lot of difficulty coming to our meetings. And I would ask that Not only we have senatorial courtesy. But Citizenry courtesy as well. Thank you. Senator Love you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So let me, let me ask you on the matter of the senatorial courtesy, is that there's no um the bills that will be presented. Well then noncontroversial bills will only be presented. I mean, like, what are, what are we seeing in regards to, you know, cause I mean, even today there are some bills that I would oppose, but what I'm just asking is, is it noncontroversial bills that will, that will be run only or is it? What, what is my intent is to proceed as business as usual, but to know that we will treat absent members with courtesy, and I can't explain that further until there's an actual situation in front of me. Um, you know, I, I don't know how to define that any further than we don't know, we don't know what it is until we're in that moment, but I, how can we say what is controversial to one member might not be controversial to 34 others. So we, I intend to continue as business as normal, when becomes a situation, as we all know, we tend to treat each other. We hope in this body with with courtesy and respect. I would not want to see a member get overrun because they could not be here because there was a disaster at home. OK, all right, thank you. OK, any other members and and and last thing before we move on, if you can't be here, just please let us know. We'll make sure and ask for leave, and it helps us make further decisions. Um, Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? What your committee on gross bills team was first Senate Bill 117 by Senator Penzo compared the engrossed copy with the original sign correctly engrossed. Like. Public health. Were your committee on engrossed bills to him was referred to 144 by Senator King compared the grass copied the original and Feinstein correctly engrossed. Judiciary Committee on gross bills to who was referred to 23 by Cen Mark Johnson compared the gross copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed Education Committee on gross Burston was 3rd houseboat 1180 bycent Penzo compared the engrossed copy of the ritual and by the same correctly engrossed education. reports. Were Committee on Agrat who was 224 by Senator Stone, Recommend due pass. Committee on Agra, to whom was referred Senate bill. I'm I'm referred House Bill 1279 by Representative Lynch recommended pass calendar can be on agri who first house for 1383 by representative Lightman recommended pass calendar Committee on who referred House Bill 1411 or of Shepherd recommended pass on City County Local to whom was the first Senate bill 87 by Senator Mark Johnson recommended to pass as amended number 2. Maybe on City County Local to whom was referred to Senate Bill 181 by Senator Sullivan recommend new pass calendar Committee on County who was for House Bill 1196 by Representative Maddox's recommended to pass. Calendar Committee on City County Low who was 3 House Bill 1418 by Representative Carr recommend Du Pascalendar Committee on on Insurance and commerce, who has heard House Bill 1353 by a few banks recommend to pass calendar. Senate Bill 247 by Senator Tucker, State agencies to create the Arkansas absentee voter integrity Act of 2025 to amend the law concerning counting absentee ballots to amend the law concerning elections and to amend the law concerning the duties of the Secretary of State Senate Bill 247. State agencies Citadel 248 by Senator Tucker to amend the Freedom of Information Act of 1967 and to amend the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act of 1967 concerning personnel records Senate Bill 24849 by Senator Stone to amend the law concerning violations and penalties related to forestry and to amend the powers of the Arkansas For Forestry Commission sent 249. Si 250 by Senator Stone. To amend the first control law and to reassign certain duties of the state plant boards and 250, 251 by Centralstone to amend the law concerning the executive secretary of, of the Arkansas Trails Council and to amend the law concerning the participation of the Department of Parks Heritage and tourism of the Arkansas Trails Council Senate Bill 251. Are there any further business to come before the body in the morning hour. If not, the morning hour has expired. We will now start with a business agenda. Are there any announcements at this time? Senator Dees, you are recognized. Uh For, uh, amendment for Senate Bill 142, and members will add the concur the amendment, then we'll have to revote on the bill. First. It should be on the. It's not. It was. I don't have it That's house. It's one, and y'all are saying OK. OK. Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 142. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, members. This is a concurring on the amendment quickly on that there's 3 quick changes on Senate Bill 142. The first was clarity for the definition to make sure that any device given by the school district to a student is not considered a personal device. The second is related to special events, school districts have the ability to, they may exempt the rule for special events that they have to get clarity from the Department of Education on what a special event is. And then finally, um, through working through this bill, there was a need for an exemption for concurrent classes. So when students take concurrent college classes on high school campuses or in school campuses during the day that they have to have two-way authentication to um to make sure they can clarify who that they are the right person, taking the right courses and so we added that those three exemptions for concurrence coming out of that coming out of the house. Are there any questions on the amendment? Would anyone like to speak for or against the amendment. No. Senator, you should close on the. All those in favor of the amendment signify by saying I opposed, say no. Amendment is added. Amendment is concurred. Madam Secretary, Senate Bill 142 Senate Bill 142 by Senator Des to create the bow to bell to sell to no sell act and to amend the requirements for public school discipline policies with regard to student use of personal electronic devices you recognized. Thank you, members. We would appreciate a good vote without any questions. I'm closed for the bill. Remember if you've heard the explanation of the bill, would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill. Senator Dees is closed on the bill. Any objection to rolling the vote, seeing, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Boe Grant leaf, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton Leave, Penzo Petty, rico stone, Stubenfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Would you ever like to vote that has not or change your vote, Senator Hickey, no. Senator Penzo present, Senator Tucker present. Senator Leting. Present. I just don't want to vote. Right No vote Senator King, not voting. Anyone else? Love present. Anyone else? Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot. I voted 27 ya, 1 nay, one non-voting, 4 present. The bill passes, please. And roll it. Moving on to House bills with Senate amendments. House Bill 1049. Amendment 2 to House Bill 1049. Senator Caldwell, you're recognized to present the amendment? Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, all this does is correct the sponsors and co-sponsors, our staff made a mistake last time we had this amendment, so we've had to bring it back in. I appreciate a good vote. Members, you've heard an explanation. The amendment would anyone like to speak against the amendment? For the amendment, Senator Caldwell is closed for the amendment. All those in favor of adoption of the amendment signified by saying I oppose, say no. Amendment is adopted to engrossing. Moving on to Senate bills for the 3rd reading of passage, Senate Bill 12, Senator King, you're recognized by Senator King to amend the Freedom of Information Act of 1967 and to Aend Arkansas law concerning communications regarding districting by the board of apportionment. Senator King, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. So I've been passing over this bill after he came out of committee, the Attorney General ought to have heard it had some questions about it, so I'm supposed to meet with him and his staff Thurs. with that one and a mirror to bills even though they've texted me, they've they've said they don't have a problem with it, but I just want to pass and make a motion to pass this over to keep it off the calendar, make a motion to bring it up next week. That's it. So I make a motion to bring it up next week. Keep it off the calendar and bring it up Monday next week. So Senator King's asking to pull the bill down until he's ready to put it back on the calendar without objection. Thank you, Senator King. Uh, Senate Bill 139. I think about 139 by Senator Boyd to clarify that a covenant not to compete agreement is enforceable for certain licensed medical professionals. Senator Boyd, you recognize? Thank you, Mr. President. Every area of Arkansas is in need of physicians. This bill will make it easier for communities to keep physicians practicing in a community that are practicing in a community. Arkansas courts have found time after time that covenants not to compete with physicians are not enforceable in our state due to ensuring competition and patient access. This bill reflects that determination in statutory law. Are there any questions? Senator Stone, you're recognized for question. On a covenant not to compete. It's been my experience in my business that, you know, if you extend it out too long, they'll find it unconstitutional, but if someone's buying a business out, you know, they, they honor that for like, like a 2 or 3 year period is just going to um take away from other businesses to have a a covenant not to compete if they sell their business. If you look at H1, you know, anytime we get these bills, they only draft a certain part, but you can actually see an H1 above where it actually makes a change to the language that this does not apply to a covenant not to compete agreement that is ancillary to other contractual relationships. OK, thank you. OK. Any other questions? Seeing them, would anyone like to speak against the bill. Speak for the bill. Senator Boyd, you recognized he is closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Objection, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boyd. Bryant Lee Caldwell. Clark, Clark. Crawl, Davis. These This man This mind Dotson. English Flippo flowers. Flowers Gilmore Gilmore, Hammer. Hester Hickey. Hickey Hill. Irvin, Blake Johnson. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson. King, King Lading. Love. McKee Murdoch. Murdoch Pay and leave Penzo. Penzo. Patty. Brice. Scott? Stan. Stab afield Sullivan. Tucker. Wallace. Would any member like to change their vote that has not or changed their vote. Senator Clark, I. Senator Blake Johnson, I Senator Murdoch, I Senator Penzo, no. Anyone else? Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot. by a vote of 22 or 28 ye, 2 nays, 3 non-voting. The bill has passed, transmit to the house. Uh, members at this time, I'd like to ask leave for Senator Flowers. Senate Bill 202. Send Bill 202 by Senator Hickey to amend the law concerning statutory bonding requirements for construction projects of the state highway commission. Senator Hickey, you recognized? Thank you, Senator Hester. Uh, members, what this does is get rid of some archaic language that we had in our code, uh, and it also what this does is it makes sure that the uh highway department, uh, is fully covering whatever the uh exposure is to the state with the bonds. So there was some old language, as you see that said 25%, their process has been that they've been covering 100%, uh, anyway, so we're just uh getting this in line with the current policy. I'll try to answer any questions. Are there any questions for Senator Hickey? Seeing none, would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill. Senator Hickey is closed on the bill. Any objection to rolling the boat. Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bowen, Brightleaf Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Dima Datsun, English, Flippo, flowers leave, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Bike Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton Leave, Pennzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Would any member like to vote that has not or changed their vote. Senator Love present. Any others seeing none, Madam Secretary, cast up the ballot by a vote of 31 ye, zero nays, the bill passes transmit to the house. Now we're going to move on to Senate Bill 209 for the emergency clause only. Senate Bill 209, emergency clause. Senate Bill 209 by Central Hammer to disqualify signatures obtained by a canvasser under certain circumstances and declare an emergency. Senator Hammer, you recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to make a motion to move 209 to 210 to Monday's calendar in lieu of the fact that some members are not here today, and these are controversial bills want to honor your intent and I'll move these to Monday. Members without objection will move Senate Bill 209 and 210 to Monday's calendar. Senate Bill 226. She So Senate Bill 226 by Senator Leding. To amend the sudden cardiac arrest Prevention Act and to modify the requirements for professional development in school districts related to sudden cardiac arrest, Senator Ludding, you recognize? Thank you, uh, colleagues, back in 2017, we passed a sudden cardiac arrest Prevention Act. Senator Clark might be interested in knowing that between the House and the Senate there was only one no vote on that bill that sought to protect student athletes long to schools have long had requirements to have policies in place to handle certain procedures during sporting events. The student suffers a concussion or they suffer from dehydration, all we did in 2017 was add sudden cardiac arrest to that list, and thanks to that bill and other bills over the last few years, Arkansas for a time ranked in the top. 5 in terms of the policies that had to protect student athletes. Unfortunately, as we heard in the Senate Education Committee yesterday, we have slipped down to 23, so the Arkansas Athletic Association believes that a key to restoring our top 5 status is to add basic certification for CPR to the sudden Cardiac Prevention Act. So that's what we're doing with this particular bill. There was no audible dissent in Senate education yesterday. I don't see Senator Dodson here. Happy to take questions. Department of Education, Department of Health, the athletic trainers, they're all on board. Oh, there it is. Any questions for Senator Lenny? Any questions? Singing them, would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill, Senator Leting is closed. Any objection to rolling the vote, seeing them, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Boyd Bright Lef Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, Dima Dotson English flippo flowers leave Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton Lee, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, stone. Steenfield, Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Would a member like to vote that has not or change their vote, Senator Dodson, I don't know what that means, not voting. OK. Anyone else? Who else, seeing them, Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot by 31 ya, zero nays, the bill is passed, transmit to the House. Senate Bill 228. 28 by Central Hammer concerning a waiver for a renewed background check granted by a board of directors of an educational entity to an applicant for a non-licensed staff position. Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. Currently, if the licensed employee has disqualing offense, they must seek a waiver before the state Board of Education if a, if it is granted, it is good forever. Currently non-licensed employees that have a disal offense must go before the local school boards to seek a waiver. The current law requires that they must go before the school board every 5 years. The this legislation would allow for individuals that are not licensed to be able to granted the same equality as those that are licensed, that if they have an event on their background checks that they have to go before the board in order to be hired. They would be treated equally to those that are. and the personal story on this and why I'm bringing it before you is there's an employee that's in a school district that I serve that about 20 something years ago when she was hired on at the school board had a disqualifying event that showed up on our background checks, so she goes before the school board and they hire her and every 5 years she's got to come before the school board, and they have to drag all of that back up again. And so all we're asking is for the equality for one to be treated the other. Now what the bill does also say is that if they break employment from that district and then they're rehired later. They have to have that background check again and also if they have another event that they have to go back before the board again, and that's the simplicity of the bill, and I'll be glad to answer any questions. Are there any questions for Senator Hammer? Seeing them would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill, seeing in a hammer. Would you like to close on the bill? Close. Appreciate a good vote. Are there objections to rolling the vote, seeing them, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bright Le Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Ds, dismaying dots in English flippo flowers leave Gilmore Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee Murdoch, Peyton Leaf, Penzo Petty, rice Scott Stone Stubberfield, Sullivan. tougher Wallace. Would any member like to vote that has not or change their vote. Senator Scott present. And the others seeing none, Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 31 ye and zero nays. The bill is passed. Transmit to the house. We on the House bills for the 3rd reading in passage. House Bill 1060. 1060 by Representative Scott and Senator Dodson to revise the instruction provided or on the failure of communist and uh Autocratic systems and to reinforce and required instruction, the resilience of the constitutional republic system adopted by the United States of America, Senator Dodson, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members, this bill is my great pleasure to bring to you to do a very simple thing is to ensure that our state standards of education train students in the state of Arkansas. To know the differences between communism, autocratic governments, and our constitutional republican form of government that we have in the United States and ensure that they know, have the knowledge and the tools to understand the differences in the free market system, the economy that we have versus the alternatives throughout the world, um, and the failures of those other systems of governments throughout, throughout history and how they tend to Rain down on people's rights and livelihoods weren't happy to try to answer any questions. Are there any questions for Senator Dotson? Senator Tucker, you recognized for question. Thank you, Mr. President. Senator, are you concerned about the governor vetoing this bill? I, I'm not, no. I'm just, I've heard her say pretty clearly that she's going to veto any bill that indoctrinates school kids, so I just was wondering if that's something you had considered. Well, this is educating kids. All right, thank you, sir. All right. Thank you. Appreciate a good vote. Would anyone like to speak against this bill. For this bill, Senator Dodson has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. There's a pair at the desk. Center, uh, hammer, yes, center flowers, no. Boy. Brian I'm going to leave Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Desma, Dotson, English, Flippo, flowers, no. Gilmore, hammer, yes, Hester, Hickey Hill Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton Lee, Penzo, Petty, rice, scotch, stone. Stabberfield Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Well a member like to vote that has not or changed their vote. Senator Murdock, no Senator Scott, no Senator Love, no. Senator, letting know. the Anyone else Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 27 ya and 6 nays, the bill has passed. Returned to the house. House Bill 1118. House Bill 1118 by Representative Warren and Senator Hammer to mend the laws concerning the management of premium taxes under the Arkansas Fire and Police Pension Review Board and declare an emergency. Senator Hammer, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. This bill is a simple bill. There's a portion of fire and hazard insurance premiums that is collected and set aside to help fund the retirement plans for our firefighters and police. Laffey has taken over the majority of the local retirement plans for firefighters. There are only 31 local plans being managed locally from falling under the scrutiny of the pension Review Board. Both the pension review board and DFA have agreed to shift the administration of the allocations of the tax receipt from the pension Review Board to DFA. There's no official fiscal impact and no opposition to this bill, and I'll be glad to take any questions. Are there any questions for Senator Hammer? Seeing none, would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill, Senator Hammer, you recognize a close. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Appreciate a good vote. Senator Hammer is closed. Any objection to rolling the vote, seeing that Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Boyd Bryant believe Caldwell Clark K Crowell, Davis, Des, dismayachts and English flippo flowers leave Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love the key Murdoch, Peyton Lee, Pennzo Petty, rice, s stone steer Phil Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Members, this is the passage of House Bill 1118 and the emergency clause, would any member like to vote that has not or changed their vote. Seeing none, Madam Secretary, cast up the ballot. By a vote of 32 ye and zero nays, uh, the bill and the emergency clause passes. House transmit to the house, house bill or return to the house. House Bill 1119. Has 11:19 by Representative Warren Central Hammer to amend the provisions regarding delinquent payments of a by political subdivision under the Arkansas Local Police and fire retirement system and declare an emergency. Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you. This bill is adjusting the time when payments and reports from the employers in the system are considered delinquent instead of the 10 day grace period, employees will have 5 days' grace period after due date in order to make payments to the law fee. And submit their reports. The longer grace period in the statute was due to the reports all being through regular mail employees now have access to the Lafay employees reporting portal, and this will allow for the prompt action from the board for their regular scheduled board meetings. There was no opposition to the bill, so I would appreciate a good vote. Are there any questions for Senator Hammer? Seeing them would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill, Senator Hammer, you're recognized to close. Thank you. Close. Appreciate a good vote. Senator Hammer is closed. Are there any objections to rolling the vote? Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Boy, Bright Le Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, dismayachts and English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King lighting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton Leave, Pennzo Petty rice scot, stone Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Would any member like to vote that not or change their vote. Seeing none, Madam Secretary, cast up the ballot. By a vote of 32 yes and zero nays, the bill and the emergency clause passes, return to the house, House Bill 1181. 191 by Representative Bentley and Senator Penzo to amend the full practice authority of a certified nurse midwife to allow admitting privileges, Senator Penzo, you recognize, Mr. President. House Bill 1181 is a, is a follow up to uh the full practice authority legislation we passed two years ago that Mary Bentley ran, Representative Bentley. Uh, this allows for discharging and admitting privileges at a hospital, it's permissible language. Uh, this will improve maternal health, uh, in Arkansas and I don't have any questions, I'd ask for a good vote. Are there any questions for Senator Penzo? Senator Irvin, you're recognized for question. Do you know, is, is, is there, I can't remember if there's a provision in the bill or not that if the nurse midwife has an agreement with a physician, OBGYN, any type of a collaborative agreement with a physician. In order to have admitting privileges to the hospital. I don't know that they have to have one. I mean, they've got full practice authority, so I don't imagine they have to have a agreement all right, thank you. Hickey, you're for question. Just, just a question, I guess, kind of thinking this through. So if a midwife is allowed to admit a patient into a hospital who does not have an OBGYN. Is that who's that liability on at that point if there's a complication? Is that on the uh Hospital at that point, or do we know? I'm, I'm assuming it'll be on the nurse midwife. OK, thank you, sir. Thank you. Any other questions? Seeing none. Senator Pinzo, you recognize the clothes for your bill. I'm closed closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Boeing Bryant Lee Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Dismay dots and English flippo flowers, leaf, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee Murdoch, Peyton Lee, Penzo Petty, rice, Scott stone Stubpophil Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Would any member like to vote that has not or changed their vote? Senator Hickey, no, Senator Irvin, no, Senator Scott. No Anyone else Seeing them, Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 29 e, 3 nays. The bill has passed, returned to the house. Members, I would just like to say I appreciate that like you can still vote no and allow the vote to be rolled. It's very efficient on our time, especially on days like this. Thank you. House Bill 1183. Haville 1183 by Bentley and Senator Penzo to create the registered dialysis patient care technician Act. Senator Penzo, you recognize? Thank you, Mr. President. You can also roll the vote and not vote no. Um, House Bill 1183, uh, improves dialysis, patient care, and expedites the dialysis visit for the patient. Um, this, this bill has been amended 7 times, um, lot, lots of feedback on it, so, uh, as it came out of committee, this one, should have no objections at this point. Um, this bill does two things. It um allows patient care technicians to administer heparin, and it also sets up a registry uh to keep track of the PCTs in Arkansas, Um, currently this is allowed in 38 states. The nursing board, asked us to set up the registry for the PCTs and the medical society asks us to carve them out because they were already doing things a certain way and they wanted to keep doing things the way they were doing things. Uh, right now we have 12 patients to 1 RN, and there's usually 4 patients per PCT. Heparin has to be administered to keep the dialysis machine working, uh, so it slows down the process when you've got one nurse that has to come around every station, this allows the PCTs to take care of the patients more efficiently. Uh, if there's any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. If not, I'd appreciate a good vote. Are there any questions for Senator Pinzo? Singan. Would anyone like to speak against the bill for the bill. Senator Penzo has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? OK, Madam Secretary. Please roll the vote. Brantley Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, dismaying Datsun English flippo flowers leave Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love McKee Murdoch, Peyton Lee, Pennzo Petty, rice, Scott, Stone Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Would you ever like to vote that has not or changed? vote Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 32 y yes and zero nays, the bill is passed. Please return to the house as amended. House Bill 1189. 1189 by Representative Bolton, Senator Leding. To, to an act to amend novice teacher mentoring uh requirements under the teacher excellence and support system. Senator letting you're recognized. Thank you, colleagues, Representative Watt asked me to present this bill on the Senate floor for her right now there's a requirement in Arkansas that novice teachers spend time in the mentoring program with more experienced teachers. All we're doing with this in the interest of keeping teachers in the classroom and eliminating kind of redundancy is that if a novice teacher shows up having completed a yearlong department approved residency. They do not have to participate in the mentoring program. Happy to try to take any questions. Are there any questions for Senator Leding? I already did. You missed it. would like to speak against the bill, for the bill, seeing none, Senator Leting has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote, seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bo Bryant leave Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dima Dotson English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill Irvin like Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton Leaf, Penzo Petty, Rice Scotstone, Stubberfield, Sullivan Tucker, Wallace. Would any member like to vote that has not or changed their vote, Senator McCain or McKee present. Any others? By a vote of 31 ye, zero nays. The bill has passed, returned to the house. House Bill 1221. Has 1221 by Representative Ra and Centra Hammer. She went in Arkansas law concerning initiatives, referendum, and constitutional amendments and declaring emergency. Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Sheriff. This bill is preventive medicine. If you look at the first paragraph, it pretty well explains the context of the bill, signature on initiative referendum petition is not valid, shall not be counted for any purpose that the signature was obtained after the date of the next general election following the certification certification of the ballot tile and popular name. And so this is just to prevent any signatures from being carried forward should they have been gathered up prior to the process. Just starting. I'll be glad to answer any questions. Are there any questions for Senator Hammer? Seeing no would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill, Senator Hammer, you're recognized to close on the bill. Thank you. Close. Appreciate a good vote. Is there any objection to rolling the vote, seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. We have a pair at the desk. House Bill 1221 Cent her flowers. No, Senator Hammer, yes. Boyd Bright Le Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers, no, Gilmore hammer, yes. Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton Lee, Pennzo Petty, Rice Scott stone Stubberfield Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Would you ever like to vote that has not or changed their vote? Senator Murdoch, no. Senator Tucker, no. Senator Scott, no. Senator King, no. Senator Letting know. Anyone else It's supposed to check Senator Hickey, no. Please check the board, make sure we're good. Anyone else. Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 25 ya, 8 nays, the bill and the emergency clause has passed, returned to the house. Co House Bill 1222. 1222 by Representative Ra Centra Hammer to acquire the Attorney General to review ballot titles for conflicts with the United States Constitution and federal statutes and to prohibit the submission of conflicting initiatives and referendum petitions. Senator Hammer, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. This bill is a reaction to a situation that actually occurred where the Attorney General was hit with multiple initiative requests ballot requests all dealing with. same subject matter. It was a matter of here, you pick which one that you think is right. This is intended to stop from flooding the system with the same petitions. I'll be glad to answer any questions. Um Are there any questions for Senator Hammer? Seeing them would anyone like to speak against the bill. Senator Tucker, you're recognized to speak against the bill. Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I'll be brief. I'm not going to repeat everything that I said last week from a big picture standpoint. This is another roadblock from the people being able to get ballot measures on the ballot. There are actually two pieces on the bill, one that wasn't mentioned is this gives the Attorney General a lot of power. And just to be clear, I'm not talking about General Griffin, who I like and respect. I'm just talking about the Office of the Attorney General. It empowers the Attorney General to unilaterally strike down ballot measures if he perceives it's unconstitutional or it conflicts with federal law. The question I ing committee is you all have heard me come down here before, although I haven't done it this session yet and complain about how we pass unconstitutional bills on occasion, and we know that's happened because courts have struck them down. Well, why don't we pass a law giving the AG the same power. We have to ask his permission before we can run bills to determine for his determination of whether they're constitutional or not. That's the same thing that we're doing to the people now is they can only run their own legislation, which is what the ballot measure process is if they get the attorney general's permission to decide that it's that it's comp. Constitutional. That, that, that's, that's no more right for them than it is for us. The second piece of the bill it's supposed to help the AG's office with their workload, but that's not the way that it's written. It says that at the same sponsor can't submit two ballot measures that conflict with each other will conflict, and the bill is written in a very broad way. They just have the same subject matter. So if I submit a ballot measure on topic X, and then I decide later that I wanted to want to change that, and I submit a revised topic. I'm prohibited from doing that. Um, that, that's the first way the bill and the language is is. Inaccurate. The other is the rationale for the bill supposedly is that the AG's office only has 10 days to review the the ballot measure language, but that's the bill doesn't prohibit you from submitting more than one over a 10 day period. Once you've submitted one, then you can't submit another until after the next general election. At least the language would be tailored to the concern if you were prohibited from resubmitting another one within 10 days, but that's not what it says. It says not until after the next general election. And the other, the final way that the language is too strong, it says the Attorney General shall reject. The whole purpose of this is to help the Attorney General's office, but we're not even giving the Attorney General the ability to say, no, you know what, we can handle this work. We'll go ahead and review these ballot measures that have been submitted by the people of Arkansas. We're not giving the EAG that discretion. We're saying the AG shall reject anything that conflicts over the course of an entire election cycle. So for all those reasons, this is an overreach and I'll be voting no. Thank you. Would anyone like to speak for the bill. Against the bill. Saying none, Senator Hammer, you're recognized to close on the bill? I can share again this is a result of a situation that occurred where the Attorney General was presented with multiple petitions at one time, and the results were that here, you figured it out, you determine what it is. What this bill will do is bring some clarity to the Attorney General being able to make a determination and also to keep from flooding the system and with the 10 day turnaround time, if you wanted to use the system to your advantage or gain the system, what you would do is you'd flood the Attorney General's office with multiple petitions or with multiple requests. In order to slow the process down, which buys you more time so that you continue to add and just go on. This is going to stop from gaining the system, so I'd appreciate a good vote. Any objection to rolling the vote. We have a pair at the desk, House Bill 1222, Senator Hammer, yes, Central flowers, no. Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Boyd, Bryant Lee Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dima Datsun English flippo flower snow, Gilmore hammer, yes, Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Le Penzo Petty, rice, scot, stone, Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Would any member like to vote that has not or changed their vote, Senator Love, no, Senator Scott. No, Senator Tucker, no. Senator King, no. Senator Letting know. Senator Murdoch, no. Senator Clark, no. Anyone else Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 25a and 8 nays. The bill has passed, returned to the House. House Bill 1315. House for 1315 by Representative Torres and Sen for days to authorize a blood type designation to be placed on a driver's license or identification card. Senator Dees, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, members, this is a, this is a great bill from um Representative Torres and I, we had a constituent that brought this up to us in Silent Springs that is a veteran that um was involved in multiple blood drives in which they could, they, they found it odd that most people don't know their blood type, and they referenced that uh in, in their line of duty and their service that on their dog tags, you will have your blood type because of of needed in emergencies when you need to know your blood out in the field. And so this idea came from that in exchange where most people in the state of Arkansas don't know their blood type and and in cases it can be an emergency, especially in rural hospitals, um, for need of testing, and so this bill allows um the purpose of this bill enables our Arkansans uh to voluntarily display their blood type on their driver's license or state issued ID. And so it's an opt-in system for citizens if they'd like to. participate and it is a, uh, it's a fiscal neutral impact, uh, very minor, uh, process. In fact, if you look on the back of your driver's license today, there's a medical code segment already on the back of your driver's license that that would be where this would go and um so I love the idea, love the ability to do this, and so with that I stand ready for for any questions. Senator Boyd, you're recognized for question? Thank you, Mr. President. I think this is a great bill and, and I support it. I just out of curiosity, does the citizen have any requirement to present the type of blood they have or is it just like it's self-reported and if I say I'm on negative, then that's just what's going on there with no verification, just, it's my understanding it's self-reported that the citizen brings their their information. For their own ID. Any other questions? Seeing them when he would like to speak against the bill. For the bill, Senator you recognized to close. Senator is closed. Any objection to rolling the boat, seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Oh, Brantly Caldwell Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, this man Datsun English flippo flowers leave, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting love MKee Murdoch, Peyton Lee, Penzo petty rice. Scottstown Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Would any member like to vote that has not or changed their vote. Seeing none, Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 32 ye and zero nays. The bill has passed, returned to the house. House Bill 1427. 1427 Representative Pilkington and Senator Irving to create the healthy moms, Healthy Babies Act, and to amend Arkansas law to improve maternal health in this state. Senator Irvin, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President, members, you've heard this bill before and so I'm just happy to answer any questions. I appreciate a good vote for healthy moms Healthy Babies Act. Any questions? no. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill, Senator Irving, you recognized a close on the bill. I'm closed. Appreciate a good vote. Any objections to rolling the vote? Seeing them, Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Bo, Bryant Lee, Caldwell Clark K Crowe, Davis, Ds, dismaying dots, and Flippo flowers leave Gilmore Hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting, love, McKee Murdoch, Peyton Lee, Penzo Petty, rice Scott, So Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Would any member like to vote that has not or change their vote. Senator Dotson present. Senator Dee's present, Senator King not voting. Senator Pinzo present, Senator Clark present. Send her love present. Senator McKee present. Senator Senator Hickey present. Anyone else check the board, make sure I'm right. Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 24 ye, zero nays. The bill has passed, returned to the house. Madam Secretary, anything to read across the desk? Were your committee on a gross bills to Miss Ford House Bill 1049 by Representative Tosh compared the engrossed copy with the original and find things correctly engrossed calendar. Are there any announcements at this time? Members, I would say if uh the weather's not getting any better out there. If you, if you were going to go home and will not be here tomorrow, please let us know. Number one, it's We can make best information with the best or the best decisions with the best information we have. Uh, and two, we can put you on leave if you're not going to be here. OK. All right, we can also make sure we're getting any paired votes that you would like to have and any announcements from anyone else at this time. Senator Irvin, you're recognized. OK. OK. Members, public health is not going to meet tomorrow morning, just simply because of the public's inability to get here for testimony. What 1:30. OK, any other announcements, Senator Blake Johnson? Announced in committee in terms of commerce will again come back in at one o'clock. Today Any other announcements? Senator Dodson, you recognized? Joint retirement will meet upon adjournment of the House this afternoon in Mackay. Any other announcements. seeing now the Senate will stand in adjournments subject to clearing the desk until 1:30 tomorrow, and if that changes at all, I will communicate that promptly as possible. It