Senate Convenes
Video
Transcript
Bills discussed (32)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB184
· 4 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “…169 passes, please transmit to the house. will now take up Senate Bill 184. Senate Bill 184 by Centra Sullivan to transfer the powers…”
|
TO TRANSFER THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION COMMISSION AND THE STATE … | D. Sullivan | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB59
Act 123
· 4 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “…ver SB 59. It We will move to Well, actually we can take up SB 59. Amendment 1 to SB 59 to vote tomorrow, you want to go in a…”
|
TO PROVIDE EACH STUDENT WITH ONE BREAKFAST AT NO COST EACH SCHOOL DAY UPON REQUEST … | J. Dismang | Notification that SB59 is now Act 123 |
|
HB1208
Act 128
· 3 mentions in chapter
Matched: “Motion to batch HB1208, HB1210, and HB1211”
|
TO ALLOW THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO COLLECT AMOUNTS OF OVERPAYMENTS FOR DEBTS … | Warren | Notification that HB1208 is now Act 128 |
|
HB1210
Act 130
· 3 mentions in chapter
Matched: “Motion to batch HB1208, HB1210, and HB1211”
|
TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING TRANSFER OF FUNDS FOR THE COSTS OF ADMINISTERING THE ARKANSAS … | Gilmore | Notification that HB1210 is now Act 130 |
|
HB1211
Act 131
· 3 mentions in chapter
Matched: “Motion to batch HB1208, HB1210, and HB1211”
|
TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFY LANGUAGE FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS UNDER THE … | Warren | Notification that HB1211 is now Act 131 |
|
SB169
Act 221
· 3 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “…r your courage. Thank you Senator Love. We will now take up Senate Bill 169. Cinema 169 by Central Tucker to make technical corrections…”
|
TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION; AND TO AMEND ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENT 51. | C. Tucker | Notification that SB169 is now Act 221 |
|
SB17
Act 200
· 3 mentions in transcript, chapter
Matched: “We are passing over Senate Bill 12. We will move now to Senate Bill 17. 17 by central love to create Lux's law to prohibit the sal…”
|
TO CREATE LUX'S LAW; TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF A DEAD HUMAN BODY THAT IS … | F. Love | Notification that SB17 is now Act 200 |
|
HB1048
Act 125
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1048 C. Cooper A. Clark TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INCIDENT…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INCIDENTAL SALE OF GOAT MILK, SHEEP MILK, AND WHOLE … | C. Cooper | Notification that HB1048 is now Act 125 |
|
HB1049
Act 238
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1049 Evans Caldwell TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CRIMINAL OF…”
|
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CRIMINAL OFFENSES; AND TO CRIMINALIZE UNLAWFUL SQUATTING. | Tosh | Notification that HB1049 is now Act 238 |
|
HB1075
Act 146
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1075 Ray Bryant TO PROHIBIT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM REGULATING T…”
|
TO PROHIBIT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM REGULATING THE SALE OR USE OF A LAWN CARE … | Ray | Notification that HB1075 is now Act 146 |
|
HB1207
Act 127
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1207 Warren Gilmore TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFY LA…”
|
TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFY LANGUAGE FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS UNDER THE … | Warren | Notification that HB1207 is now Act 127 |
|
HB1209
Act 129
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1209 Warren Gilmore FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS BY…”
|
FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS BY THE ARKANSAS JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM REGARDING THE SUBJECTION … | Warren | Notification that HB1209 is now Act 129 |
|
HB1223
Act 126
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1223 Ray Gilmore TO ALLOW A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE…”
|
TO ALLOW A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OR JUDGE … | Ray | Notification that HB1223 is now Act 126 |
|
HB1390
Act 132
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1390 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF A…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1390 is now Act 132 |
|
HB1391
Act 133
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “HB1391 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF D…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1391 is now Act 133 |
|
SB101
Act 300
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…city, county, local community owned Grossvis who was first Senate Bill 101 by Central Penzo compared the engrossed copy with the ritua…”
|
TO ESTABLISH THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSURE COMPACT. | C. Penzo | Notification that SB101 is now Act 300 |
|
SB116
Act 193
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB116 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - SYSTEM AND VARIOUS…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - SYSTEM AND VARIOUS DIVISIONS APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB116 is now Act 193 |
|
SB12
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “We are passing over Senate Bill 12. We will move now to Senate Bill 17. 17 by central love to…”
|
TO AMEND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1967; AND TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING … | B. King | Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB13
Act 49
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…sures for the regular session of the 95th General Assembly. Senate Bill 13 Act 49, 133 Act 50, Senate Bill 45 Act 51. Sent Bill 58 Act…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING CIVIL ACTIONS BROUGHT BY CERTAIN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE; AND … | D. Wallace | Notification that SB13 is now Act 49 |
|
SB138
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…me correctly gross. State agencies, notice of withdrawal of Senate Bill 138 by Senator Boyd and referred to interim study on education.…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING WAR REENACTMENTS AT SCHOOLS; AND TO PERMIT AN UNLOADED FIREARM … | J. Boyd | Sine Die adjournment |
|
SB186
Act 235
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB186 J. Bryant TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS…”
|
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED BY A LICENSEE OF … | J. Bryant | Notification that SB186 is now Act 235 |
|
SB199
Act 194
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB199 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REAPPROPRIATION.”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REAPPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB199 is now Act 194 |
|
SB20
Act 243
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB20 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - ARKANSAS SENTENC…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - ARKANSAS SENTENCING COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB20 is now Act 243 |
|
SB226
Act 247
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…nded number 1 calendar Committee on Education and was first Senate Bill 226 by Central lighting recommend to pass calendar Committee on…”
|
TO AMEND THE SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION ACT; AND TO MODIFY THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL … | G. Leding | Notification that SB226 is now Act 247 |
|
SB23
Act 188
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB23 AN ACT FOR THE JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE AND DISABILITY COMMISSIO…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE AND DISABILITY COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB23 is now Act 188 |
|
SB234
Act 220
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…cuit judgeship declare an emergency and for other purposes. Senate Bill 234, Judiciary symbol 235 by Senator”
|
CONCERNING THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT-WEST; TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL CIRCUIT JUDGESHIP; AND TO DECLARE AN … | Dees | Notification that SB234 is now Act 220 |
|
SB244
Act 275
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…ded imposition of sentence in certain district court cases, Senate Bill 244. Judiciary to 45 by joint budget and act for the institutio…”
|
CONCERNING POSTPONEMENT OF JUDGMENT IN DISTRICT COURT; AND TO PERMIT A SUSPENDED IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE … | J. Bryant | Notification that SB244 is now Act 275 |
|
SB28
Act 189
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB28 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS ETHICS COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS ETHICS COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB28 is now Act 189 |
|
SB31
Act 190
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB31 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND LICENSING - WORKERS'…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND LICENSING - WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB31 is now Act 190 |
|
SB65
Act 191
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB65 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM -…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM - CAPITOL ZONING DISTRICT COMMISSION … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB65 is now Act 191 |
|
SB74
Act 192
· 1 mention in chapter
Matched: “SB74 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATION…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB74 is now Act 192 |
|
SB91
Act 459
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…t We're your committee on a gross bills who was referred to Senate Bill 91 by Senator Pennzo the engrossed copy with the ritual and fi…”
|
TO PROVIDE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS SHALL HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO REGULATE OR CONTROL THE … | C. Penzo | Notification that SB91 is now Act 459 |
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Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
5:01
It Senate will be called to order. Any requests for leave at
Chair
Unverified
5:15
this time. Laid requests for Senator King. Thank you, Senator. Madam Secretary,
Speaker 13
5:22
please call the roll. Boyd Bront Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, Desma dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark
Johnson, King Le, letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott Stone Stuberville, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Thank you, Madam
Chair
Unverified
5:41
Secretary, for everyone in the chamber
and in the galleries would please rise. We will be led by prayer. By
Speaker 16
5:51
prayer Calhoun, who'll be introduced by Senator Ricky Hill, followed
Chair
Unverified
5:56
by that, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Hill, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Colleagues,
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
6:05
if you would welcome today a true servant. Not only of God but of mankind. He's worked as a state trooper. He worked with the food pantry. He works with racial tension and everything else, you name it, he's involved in it. This is a true man of the cloth that I would welcome from St. John's Baptist Church in Lonoak, Arkansas, Pastor Calhoun. Let me first start by giving honor
Speaker 20
6:31
and respect to each of you in the past that you serve in
and to each senator the member and volunteer staff support staff, God bless you all and to amazing preacher and musician that allowed me to be here on today and all his bowed, let us pray. Lord, before we ask you for anything, we want to thank you for everything. We thank you for allowing us to see and witness another amazing day on this beautiful earth that you created by speaking it into it. existence. We're grateful for every member of the Senate body and our prayer is that they lead
to the best of their ability that you will rest on their hearts and minds so that they lead play and meet and govern the way that you would have them to. We pray a prayer of peace that everything is done out of a spirit of love, continue to walk with us, continue to talk with us, give us of our sins. Lord God, our prayer is at thee will lead us to the best of their ability to lead this great state of Arkansas. To make sure there's lead the way that you would have it to be led is this prayer we pray in the mighty name of Jesus. We all
Speaker 22
7:36
said, Amen. of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Why? in the justice. Thank you pastor for those kind words and
Chair
Unverified
7:55
uplifting words. Appreciate you being here with us today. This time I would like
Just one moment. I like to recognize Senator Clark Tucker.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
8:16
Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, since we adjourned on Thursday, we lost the former governor of the state of Arkansas, Jim Guy Tucker, who served not only as governor but the prosecuting attorney, US congressman, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General. So he was a longtime public servant for our state. I think we'll have a memorial resolution hopefully with his family in the very near future, but I thought it would be appropriate at this time for us to have a moment of silence for Governor Tucker.
Chair
Unverified
8:45
Thank you, members. Thank you, Senator Tucker, for that moment of silence and recognizing former Governor Jim Guy Tucker. He was a two-time predecessor of mine as Attorney General and as lieutenant Governor, and I had the opportunity to work with him. I, I invited him to the Attorney General's office, and we did a consumer education public service announcement interview together and it was remarkable
to get to spend some time with him and that, and he and his wife Betty over the years, so thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen in the galleries. Welcome to your Arkansas State Senate is our expectation that each of you will exercise proper decorum and govern yourselves accordingly during today's proceedings without objection, the rules will be suspended and the Senate will dispense with
the reading of the journal. Morning hour has now begun. Are there any announcements or introductions at this time? Madam Secretary, are there items
Speaker 42
9:46
at the desk? Yes dear Mr. President or Tim, just to inform you that on February 13, 2025, I reviewed and approved the following measures for the regular session of the 95th General Assembly. Senate Bill 13 Act 49, 133 Act 50, Senate Bill 45 Act 51. Sent Bill 58 Act 52, Senate Bill 19, Act 54, Sy Bill 21, Act 55, simple 24 Act 56, Senate Bill 27
Act 57, Senate Bill 29, Act 58, Sym Bill 30 Act 59, sent 43 Act 60, Senate Bill 66, Act 61. 80 Act 62105 Act 63 SN 107 Act 64, C 108 Acts 65 symbol 109 Acts 66, Senator 112 Act 67, 113 Act 68, sym 114 Acts 69, sent by
115 Acts 70, 126 Act 71, Symbol 129 Acts 72, Senate Bill 190, Act 73. Cinema 191 Acts 74, 192, Act 75, 193 Act 76, Sent 194, Acts 77, 195 Acts 78, symbol 190, uh symbol 196 Act 79, 197 Act 80, 198 Act 81, sincerely, Sarah Sanders, Governor. File it.
What We're your committee on a gross bills who was referred to Senate Bill 91 by Senator Pennzo the engrossed copy with the ritual and find them correctly engrossed. The city, county, local community owned Grossvis who was first Senate Bill 101 by Central Penzo compared the engrossed copy with the ritual and find some correctly engrossed. Public health Committee on Eros to his 1st 123 by Central letting compared the engross copy with the original by some correctly engrossed.
Insurance and commerce Committee on GrossBus, who was first sent Bill 230 by Central Boyd compared to the gross copper. original and find the same correctly engrossed. Insurance and commerce, who was first in book 231 by Centra Dotson compared the gross copy with the Rachel and
Speaker 47
12:06
found some correctly gross. State agencies, notice of
Speaker 42
12:08
withdrawal of Senate Bill 138 by Senator Boyd and referred to interim study on education. Ballot Without objection.
Were your Committee on Education who is first sent by 142 by Senator D's recommended new passes amended number 1 calendar Committee on Education and was first Senate Bill 226 by Central lighting recommend to pass calendar Committee on Education was first sent to 28 by central hammer recommend Du pass calendar. on education was very house about 1060 by Representative uh Scott and Senator Dodson recommend Du pass. calendar, depending on education
who was a house for 1189 by Representative Fat and Senator Leding recommend due past calendar. December 234 by Senator Des. An act concerning in 19 19th Judicial District West to create an additional circuit judgeship declare an emergency and for other purposes. Senate Bill 234, Judiciary symbol 235 by Senator
Boyd to create the voluntary portable benefit Account Act 235 Public health symbol 236 by Senator Boyd to amend the insurance Holding Company regulatory Accent with 236. Insurance and commerce 237 by Senator Boyd to amend the law concerning the licensing and regulation of captive insurers sent 237. Insurance and commerce 238 by Central Payton to amend the used tire recycling and accountability Act 238.
Public healthy 239 by entra Scott to require a report card to include
Speaker 12
14:02
a student's current reading grade level 239. Education, similar
Speaker 57
14:07
to 40 by Century Hill to amend the Credit Reporting Disclosures
Speaker 42
14:12
Act of 1989 and to clarify the content required for a notice of adverse action
Chair
Unverified
14:18
sent 240. Insurance and commerce. 241 by Scott to
Speaker 42
14:22
amend the uniform attendance and Leave Policy Act
and to grant paid leave to public employees in the event of the death of a public employee's family member or child symbol 241, state agencies symbol 242 by Senator Hill to amend the law concerning loans involving the stock of a state bank, 242. Insurance and commerceymbol 243 by Senator Hickey to amend the law regarding lottery funding. scholarship programs 243. Education symbol 244 by Senator Bryant concerning uh
postponement of judgment in district courts and to permit a suspended imposition of sentence in certain district court cases, Senate Bill 244. Judiciary to 45 by joint budget and act for the institutions of higher education, capital improvement appropriation 245 joint budget. Any other business to come before the body in the
Chair
Unverified
15:20
morning hour, if not the morning hour has expired. We will now begin the business agenda.
pencil this in here. We will Passover SB
Speaker 39
15:45
59. It We will move to Well, actually we can take up SB 59.
Speaker 70
15:53
Amendment 1 to SB 59 to vote tomorrow, you want to go in and vote today. Yeah, yeah, OK, yep.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
16:06
I remember one Senate Bill 59. Senator, dismaying you're recognized amendment was to take off a co-sponsor in the house that I think didn't mean to be taken
Speaker 4
16:19
off, but we're just going to let it be. So it was just changing co-sponsors. All those
Chair
Unverified
16:24
in favor of Amendment 1 to SB 59 to concur in the House amendment, please signify by saying I, and he opposed, I
Speaker 42
16:31
habit. Senate Bill 59 by Senator dismay to provide each student with a breakfast at no cost each school day upon request without
consideration of the students' eligibility for a federally
Chair
Unverified
16:42
funded free or reduced price meal and declare an emergency. in dismay, you're recognized.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
16:48
Same bill, a couple of different co-sponsors. I'd appreciate
Chair
Unverified
16:52
a good bet. Any questions for Senator Dismaying. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed. Any objection to
rolling the boat. Madam Secretary, Please roll the vote, Bryant
Speaker 13
17:09
Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, Dima Dotson English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King leave, letting love McKee Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to
Chair
Unverified
17:32
change his or her vote. The Senator Hickey present. Senator Caldwell present.
Senator Flippo present. Sandra Kroll present. Senator Stubblefield present. Senator Hill, no. Senator Bryant present. Senator Dees's present. Is that everyone, please check the board. Senator Clark. Present Senator McKee, present. Send her hammer present.
No, Senator Hammer, yes. Please check the board. See, hearing no others, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 24 yeah, 1
nay, and 9 present. Senate Bill 59. Passes with the concurred House amendment in the emergency clause is adopted, please. Please enroll it.
We are passing over Senate Bill 12. We will move now to Senate Bill 17. 17 by central love
Speaker 42
18:54
to create Lux's law to prohibit the sale of a dead human body that is intended to be cremated or buried and to establish penalties for the sale of a dead human body. Senator Lovier
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
19:10
recognized. Thank you, Governor and good afternoon, colleagues. Senate
Bill 17 more affectionately known as Luxislaw's a pretty simple bill. It would have been, it will, it will amend section 560-101 of the Arkansas Code, which deals with the abuse of a corpse. This would include that it will be a class C felony if anyone sells a corpse or any part of a corpse after the final disposition through cremation or burial. Simply stated.
If anyone does anything besides what the family's final wishes are for their loved one. They will be punished under Arkansas law. Currently, Arkansas has no law. If anyone takes your deceased loved one and sells them or any parts of them. SB 17 Ames, not to only deter this from occurring, but punish. The person that does this grotesque act. You are
About a year ago, Miss Logan, who is Lux's grandmother came to me. And the story that I heard from her was unfathomable. I couldn't even think that Arkansas did not have a law to address this. But I called BLR after I talked with her. And they assured me there was no law to address this.
I would like to thank Ms. Danisha Smith, who is Lux's grandmother. Because she's putting herself out there. She's letting her story be told because you all this should never happen to any Arkansan. that there are still born child is so not only sold, he was sold twice.
That if you have a loved one that was disposition for cremation or burial if someone would take their body, cut parts off of it, and sell it. No one should have to go through this. And with SB 17, I aim to make sure that this doesn't happen to any other family in Arkansas. And with that, I'm open for questions. Questions for Senator Love.
Chair
Unverified
21:50
Saying no questions. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Speaking for Senator Ervin, you're recognized.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
22:04
Members, I would just ask you to go back and watch the testimony that was given in public health by Ms. Smith and Miss um Miss Logan. This is probably the best bill I've ever seen come through this body, and I just wanted to
commend Senator Love for listening to his constituents and bringing this forward. This stillborn baby was trafficked. And there was a huge trafficking ring selling Corpses that the FBI investigated, and this is one victim that they were able to trace back and identify. It was incredibly powerful, and I just invite you to watch that testimony and these two brave women coming
forward and sharing their story on behalf of their baby and grandbaby, but all the victims that never were recovered in those families that were never brought that piece. So I just, Senator Love did an amazing job. by listening to his constituents, and I'm really just proud of your work. Like Thanks to Urban. Any others wish
Chair
Unverified
23:14
to speak against or for? Senator Love, you're a recognized clothes.
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
23:22
Colleagues, I would just ask that you give me
Speaker 40
23:30
a good vote. Thank you. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the
Speaker 13
23:36
boat? Seeing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boy, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, this man dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Le, letting love,
McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, scotch stone, Stubber Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or
Chair
Unverified
24:01
her vote. Seeing no one please cast up the ballot by a vote of 348. Zero,
nay, Senate Bill 17 passes, please transmit to the.
Speaker 86
24:27
Send her love, you're recognized her as you
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
24:29
see, uh, the families in the East gallery, and I want to just thank you all for passing this and Miss Logan, Miss Smith,
thank you all for your courage. Thank you Senator Love. We will now
Speaker 109
24:48
take up Senate Bill 169. Cinema 169 by Central Tucker to make technical corrections to
Speaker 42
24:57
the Arkansas Constitution and to amend the Arkansas Constitution Amendment 51. Senator Tucker, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
25:07
Madam President, members. This is another technical corrections bill just on a different day because I went to a different committee. It just changes a couple
Speaker 34
25:14
ands and an or that were out of place. Happy to take any questions. Appreciate
Chair
Unverified
25:21
your vote. See no questions. Anyone wish to speak against or for Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling
the boat. This vote does require 24 votes,
Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant
Speaker 13
25:38
Caldwell, Clark K Crow, Davis, Des, dismay dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Mike Johnson, Mark Johnson, King leave, letting love McKee Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberfield, Tucker,
Chair
Unverified
25:57
Wallace. Any senator wished to change his or her
vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 34 yeah, zero nay, Senate
Bill 169 passes, please transmit to the house. will now take up Senate Bill 184. Senate Bill 184 by Centra
Speaker 57
26:18
Sullivan to transfer the powers and duties of the Arkansas Educational Television Commission and the
Chair
Unverified
26:24
state library board to the Department of Education, Senator Sullivan,
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
26:28
you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Folks, let me go through a few things
on this bill that are critical. First, this is only about the state library board. It does not impact your local library boards. They're independent. They're you're local library board is funded by the primarily by your county taxes, so this is only about abolishing the state board. If you look at the appropriations
for both ATM, PBS, and the library board, they are formed underneath the Department of Education. Now the board sets in between the department, uh. And the and the people. So the Department of Education really cannot rescind any orders by the library board. So whatever the library board on ATN decides that's what happens. They actually have more uh legal
authority than you do when it comes to making those decisions. In the bill, all the funding, all the operations all remain intact, so we're not taking away any of the power that still remains only this time it's under the authority of the Department of Education. You know, we've had previous transformations that did not cause mass hysteria or problems with contract issues. So if you're getting questions about
whether the contracts will be invalid. Folks are already under the Department of Education, and we've done transformation before and not had problems. You know, these boards each meet once per quarter. That's 4 times a year, they meet for 2 or 3 hours. So at the most, they're meeting for 12. hours a year. And they're in charge and they're the leadership function of the library in ATN. So what
happens, how do they, what do they do? Well, effectively, the directors of these two organizations are the bureaucrats making those decisions. You know how much training the library board gets if you're on that board, 0. How much training the AETN PBS board gets 0. As a matter of fact, if you watched the last recent meeting Friday with the library board, the president of the library board had to ask the director, what do
I do on a motion and how do we move next? They don't know. Our boards will function much more efficiently. And folks, listen, I'm a proponent of the library. Whatever your emails say. I love our libraries they're important educational institutions, and they need to function that way. The same thing with PBS and AEDN. They provide valuable functions that they can be more valuable and more effective if they're under good leadership.
You know, I'm going to take them kind of one at a time and not really, it saddens me to air some of the
dirty laundry, uh, that I've got a for you the um Central Arkansas Library, Nate Coulter and got a prize several 100 pages of his emails between our library director, Ms. Chilco and the Arkansas Library Association. They are really several functions. There's the American Library Association, which
the lobbying group at the national level. They're lobbying group. They set the rules. They're kind of the mother ship for all libraries, even down to your county library. Most of your county libraries, many of them have the American Library Association in their policy. So you have the American Library Association, the Arkansas Library Association, the state library board, folks, they all, those, they function pretty much as one unit. Uh, if you were
watching the board meeting this week of the library board. There was a motion to extricate the American Library Association from our state library board policies. I'll tell you one of the reasons. The American Library Association in their platform. say that we will not restrict no one should restrict anyone from any material, whether that's printed, video, or other, the American Library Association says no one.
Regardless of your age, your maturity should be held restricted and accessed that information. Now, folks, we've had pretty good discussions about that here in the state. I don't think anybody says that there should be no restrictions. As a matter of fact, in the court decision recently with Act 372. The judge said that you could move material based on sexually explicit material. You can restrict access to that. That's what the judge said.
Now the American Library Association disagrees with that, and they said make it available to everyone. This week, past week on Friday, the motion was made to draw policy for the library board to have policy on how we could segregate sexually explicit material, not banned, segregated, which the court said you could do. The library board voted against that. They essentially said that all material should be available at
all times regardless of age. I think we
have some failed leadership in these positions I don't want to just go through a few of the things that I've pulled here if you'll give me just a minute to pull them up. Now the American Library Association, again, they kind of act as the mother ship for all of our libraries. Now some of your libraries don't adhere to their policies as much as
others. But we're talking about the state board who should have a leadership role in what we in the state do. The American Association of of uh this is the ALA past director. She was the director for the National Association, which many of your boards affiliate with. I cannot believe that a Marxist who believes that collective power is possible to build can be wielded for a better world is the president-elect of the ALA.
I am so excited for what we can do together, solidarity. Now that's the president and the past president of the ALA. And our state board took no action. The mission of the ALA, equity, diversity and inclusion are fundamental values of the association of its members, and diversity is listed as the ALA's key action areas.
This is a letter from the president to state departments of education saying we're going to get rid of DEI. Across all educational platforms. The ALA would be one. This is the Arkansas Library's newsletter, and it lists members of our library board as at least past members of the library Association. It lists our library director. As a managing editor of columns.
Now folks, this is the Arkansas Library Association, of which most of your libraries are members. The state
library board, and most of all of them have an education email. This is an email from an attorney
for Cals, I think. I will give Jennifer Chilcoat a call Monday and she she can visit with the Secretary of Education and also she if she can offer any additional insight. However, since the new
guy from the Santas land, I would not count on much help there. That's when the lawsuit was coming against 372 and they're organizing and our library association, the president is a part of that. Now you can assume she's acting with or without the direction of the board. Both of them are bad. Another email. Why not just let the General Assembly tell libraries what
books they can approve for circulation. This is from Nate Coulter, by the way. Our legislative bodies have descended into the depths of ignorance and shamelessness, not seen in my lifetime. It takes more than a looney Tunes patron to claim we were peddling obscenity. This is again a a text messages. The Arkansas State Library was MIA. This is as they're organizing to fight 372 and
hiring the ACLU and others. He says the pitiful director of the state library was cowering underneath her desk while her overlords in the ADE and governor's office mocked ALA and the freedom to read principles that all Arkansas State library employees profess to support. Now think about that. This is from Coulter who pretty much leads the state association, put up the money from cows for the lawsuit.
And he's complaining that the ADE, the Department of Education, and the governor are mocking ALA for their principles, you know, the ALA supports affirmative gender-affirming care. They support pronouns. They support much of the things that we've voted against as a state, and our library board should be working with our libraries in the direction that we prefer. And get this last statement. that all of the Arkansas State Library professed to support.
So he's making the claim here and I'm not backing it up, but Nate Coulter is making the claim that Arkansas State Library support the American Library Association. So when I say the American Library Association is the mother ship for these libraries. It's very true. This again from Nate Coulter to Mr. Adams, the attorney. I suppose I understand how the state agency that's the Department of Education,
therefore accountable to Oliva takes this stance, but might also strike some as for net quote, as for now, move on and learn to be good Germans. That's that's the Arkansas Library Association and the speaking on behalf of them to their attorneys. Senator Sullivan, I'm going to recognize Sen
Chair
Unverified
37:49
letting for a point of order, just wondering where this endless reading of
Senator Greg Leding
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37:54
somebody's personal correspondence has to do with
Speaker 125
37:58
the policy that the senator is presenting. It just politely request that he get back
Speaker 127
38:06
to discussing the policy. Yeah, the Senator Sullivan,
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
38:09
you can continue on. Thank you. This is from again just to tie all this together, the Arkansas State Library Board is working with these organizations. They're all one. This is from, I think the past president of the Arkansas Library Association.
They don't call me the Larry Flynn of the Hot Springs Library for nothing. I guess you all know who Larry Flynn is, Hustler magazine. And his reply from Nate Coulter is Adam. Are y'all peddling porn in hot springs to kids. You know, I don't know what the context is, but I can't imagine a good context for that. And these are the people, the organizations that are setting the standard for the state of Arkansas. I've got just a few more. I have
a number of emails here that have the library association and our director on them. And again, I think you have to assume that if the director knows about this, then the library board knows about it. They referenced the freedom to read Foundation, which is also the American Library Association. But folks, these are the people that are setting the standard for the state of Arkansas. This is our state library whose charge it is to
work with local libraries and spend the money, educational for our students. I've got a bunch of them here. I won't read all of them, but they're all pretty much the same. You know, the director put out a a letter, uh, guidance to the libraries and then about 5 minutes later pulled it down, took it all back and said, Don't read this. Throw it away. And then shortly thereafter they published the talking points from the state from the attorney for the library association.
OK, let's move on to the PBS because they're both
contained in this. Arkansas PBS CEO promises internal changes, no more questionable audit findings. Most of you are here when we went through the audit findings of PBS and AETN folks, they were terrible. And you know what action our board took? 0. You know what action the Department of Ed took. They can't take anything.
But we need people who have oversight responsibilities for these boards who are going to direct our state in the right way that we spend our money, we spend our time, we spend our resources correctly. We had millions of dollars, literally millions of dollars during COVID, with no
oversight how that money was spent. We were hiring people out of state. And when they asked in committee why we weren't building our own using that money to build our own resources within the state.
There was no answer to that. Now they have since changed, but we don't have good leadership there, and leadership comes from the board, and the board needs to be through the Department of Education.
Chair
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41:23
I'll take any questions. Questions for Senator Sullivan. Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized for
Senator Mark Johnson
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41:29
a question. Thank you, Madam President. Senator Sullivan, you were reading some emails and Senator Leding had a point of order about personal emails. Those
were on official emails from the the business website of the, the individuals, not their personal emails. Is
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
41:48
that correct? Well, it really doesn't make any difference when they're acting and they're official capacity than their personal emails are accessible by FOIA, but these were from their official. From the official uh email
Senator Mark Johnson
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41:59
account. OK, thank you. Any other questions for Senator Sullivan.
Chair
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42:11
Say no questions. Anyone wish to speak against? Senator Scott, you're recognized to speak against. Good afternoon, colleagues.
Senator Jamie Scott
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42:30
I'm not really feeling well, but I thought it was important that I show up today and speak in strong opposition against Senate Bill 184, a bill in my opinion,
at first glance, which may seem to be a simple restructuring of government but in reality it threatens the very foundation of Arkansas PBS and the educational program that thousands of our candidatesans rely on. And this is not just about reconsolidating the commissions. It's about power. It's about influence, it's about the control of a vital institution that serves every Arkansan from our youngest learners to our senior senior citizens, and so if we pass this
bill, we are not just shifting the oversight. We are gambling the future of the Arkansas PBS and I know some of you have strong feelings against PBS, but this organization operates in this very significant in the state of Arkansas, it receives private and federal funding. I want to remind everyone. So right now, um, Arkansas PBS receives money from corporate sponsors, nonprofit organizations and individual donors, and it's my knowledge that the people in these posi
these businesses who believe in the value of independent public broadcasting, but let's make no mistake about it, this funding will be at risk. If this bill is passed, and I know some of us, um, probably don't care about that, but Why are we just continuing to pass legislation like this. Do we not care about the impact it's gonna have on the state of Arkansas. If we undermine um if we
continue to undermine these organizations just because sometimes our feelings might be hurt by emails, um, perhaps we should come to a better solution on how we're just making decisions that are truly impacting these organizations and the structures that we have in place. So it means that we're going to cut civic and educational programs, perhaps, and it means that our students and our teachers and Our families will have fewer resources and that might be OK to some, but that shouldn't be
OK to all of us. It means that PBS may no longer, and I say may because I don't know, have the ability to broadcast our high school sports and this gives the athletes an opportunity to showcase their abilities across the state of Arkansas. It means that local projects um that tell the story of Arkansan people and their stories and their histories and their struggles, um, those stories could be lost if we lose this money. And yet here we are once again, just, you know, and I know that this train is probably already
gone. I saw how fast this bill got out of committee and I feel like we owe our Kansans better than just rubber stamping legislation that has true consequences in this state and so I ask you, when did we become so casual at passing bills that harm people and harm Arkansans and how do we just separate ourselves from these votes so easily every week in this chamber. So if we, if we pass this legislation, in my opinion, it chips away at the rights, the
opportunities, and the resources of Arkansans and every week we should be focusing on the people that sent us here.
And we leave those people behind by the legislation that we're passing and we're just telling them to figure it out and we shouldn't keep doing this. We can't keep continuing to gut institutions and stripping away the resources and then acting like we're surprised when the consequences really hit in our. So I'm asking. Because I feel like Arkansas
PBS, who is gonna be directly impacted by this legislation. I feel like they're a pillar of education of civic engagement and a public service and they have been for decades. Are we really willing to risk all of that because of the sake of democracy or some of these leaders, you know, had things to say about. One of our senators, and I'm not justifying the things that they're saying on public email. That's not just, I'm not justifying the actions of grown people. I am not, but all I am
saying is this is how we're gonna be, is this the stuff that we're gonna
legislate. And so we will jeopardize the funding. Knowing that who is going to suffer?
Who is going to suffer from the things that we keep passing out of here. And so I think we should be a problem solving body and to me we're not we're not solving problems is our solution is to just legislate things because our feelings are hurt by what people are saying in this state about the legislation that we're filing, they have a right
to speak their voice because some of it is impactful to marginalized communities that are hurt by the stuff we're passing. And so you can't silence these people. I don't care what. you keep trying to pass. You're not gonna silence their voices, they're going to be upset. People speak from the right and the left every week about bills that we pass and I pray that I'm never someone who legislates based off my feelings being hurt. We are better body than that.
And so, colleagues, I know this train is gone. I know you're gonna vote however you want to vote, but I stand and I'm speaking because this stuff is not right and we are a better body than that. And so I ask you to speak uh vote against Senate Bill
Chair
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48:10
184. Anyone wish to speak for Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized. I had a question,
Speaker 145
48:14
Madam Chair, but the Speaker has left. Thank you. Send Senator Ross,
Speaker 16
48:19
do you have a question of the, of Senator Sullivan.
Speaker 147
48:25
I had a question of Senator Scott, but she's left
Chair
Unverified
48:31
the way. OK. And I apologize, Sindery. I didn't realize that you had a question. If Senator Scott would entertain it, I would welcome her
Chair
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48:45
to Senator ice, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Senator Scott. My apologies, I didn't see you. Thank
Senator Terry Rice
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48:51
you for coming back to well. Just in your speaking, I
want to know, were you familiar with the audit findings of the Arkansas PBS director who was responsible. Over the fact that there were bids given under the $20,000 caps. And allowed people to set up a different LLC or or business to be able to get by with that thing and and also that there were employees leaving that were complaining about things that were being done and falling on
deaf ears. Were you aware of those things? So I did
Senator Jamie Scott
Unverified
49:29
serve in the House for 6 years, Senator Rice, and I'm sorry because I didn't see you speaking. um, I didn't see you when you stood up. I was just a little, um, but I am aware that the audit finding was bad. Um, I just don't think that this is a solution, if that makes sense, but I was aware of the findings with the audit. I said in those meetings over in Big Mac, like several of you, and that's my response. Thank you. I just want to see if you were
Senator Terry Rice
Unverified
49:52
aware of those, sir. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Scott, for
Chair
Unverified
49:57
coming back to the wheel to address question Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized to Speak in
Senator Mark Johnson
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50:05
favor. Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, let me, while we're this, I always feel in here, I always like we're disclosing things. I will disclose the PBS or Arkansas Educational Television network commission is located in my district. It's located in my hometown of Conway. Uh, it's something I'm
very proud of and a place that I think has served the state well. The founding director of that agency was a former senator. Lee Reeves, who later for many years was Anne's predecessor, I believe, as the Secretary of the Senate. Uh, so there an institution that I support and and It's near and dear to my heart but I look at the bill that Senator
Sullivan has brought forth, and it makes perfect sense to me that the educational function and that's how this was created, not, not to, you know, uh, let PBS do things that other networks can do and all that, that kind of came along later. The the core function of this agency is education. The core function truly the most important, I think, is elementary and secondary education. So I think it's a good bill for that matter. Now, I want to
share with you something you may have had the same experience that I have this last week, but I'm very troubled by this, uh, I have been lobbied on this bill by lobbyists who are, are good people. I consider them friends, but they're independent, hired lobbyists representing the PBS Foundation, Arkansas PBS Foundation. Uh That troubles me. I think we have, and I don't want to get
too deep in that. I'll stay, keep my comments relevant to this legislation, but When a nonprofit group that is affiliated with a state agency, hires lobbyists to come out here and influence us on legislation that troubles me. And this is specifically happened. Now, I'm not against lobbyists. I used to be one. But I think there should be a
line between what private people do with their money and bring in someone to petition the government for redress grievances and when funds that are raised to support an institution such as this, that money is channeled to to hire lobbyists to come defeat specific legislation. bothered and I would be bothered by it if it were something unrelated to this entity or not.
I can't speak to the library board, what they've done. They may not have done this. They may have done exactly the same thing. I mean, we all get the emails, you hear it, but we control how state government is organized. I was actually a little surprised under transformation a few years ago that this wasn't done because it seemed like the logical place to put the education. entities, all of them of the state under the state Department of Education. So for a number of reasons. I
ask you to vote for this bill, but we need to send a message that this public policy should be done on its merits and its considerations and not on the whim of people who can tap funds that are supposed to be for a charitable purpose and used to influence our vote. Thank you, Madam Pritch. Speak against. I see Senator
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
54:07
Leding, you're recognized to speak against. Thank you, Madam President. I have concerns about transferring both of these bodies, but I'm going to limit my concerns to the PBS board and not just because the 1st 8 years of my life growing up on the north side of Springdale where you couldn't get cable. We got exactly 2 channels, local ABC affiliate and Arkansas PBS. So I grew up with that programming, was proud to share it with our daughter when she was born and remember what an incredible asset and resource Arkansas PBS was during the early months of the pandemic and all the education programming they
provided while the schools were briefly closed. I understand that it might make some efficiency sense to transfer the library board under the Department of Education. I'm less convinced that that's the case with the PBS board. I don't know that the department is set up to handle this kind of thing, whether there's going to be some kind of cost to absorbing those responsibilities, but also the sponsor did address funding and said there shouldn't be any kind of threat to funding and maybe Senator Sullivan can address this when he closes. I have heard from several people though that if this the PBS board is moved to the Department of Education, there could be the perception that it's lost its
independence, and that might potential federal grants or public support, which could therefore threaten its funding, and I just really don't know why we would threaten such a valuable resource for all Arkansans and plan to vote no. Thank
Speaker 96
55:26
you. Thanks, Senator letting any senator wish to
Chair
Unverified
55:32
speak for. Speak against Senator Tucker, you're recognized.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
55:40
Thank you, Madam President, colleagues. I'll be brief. Senator Johnson, just to respond to your point, Unfortunately, if
this bill passes, I don't think that's going to absolve your concern because in my experience, the Arkansas Department of Education has folks lobbying us down here on a daily basis, so just, just for what that's worth, um. As you all know, there's there's two pieces of this, the library board and the AETN, and the fundamental question I have is the same one Senator Scott raced, which is what are we doing? Like, what problem are we solving with this, and I have
yet to really hear an answer to that question. On the library side of things, there is local representation on the state library board for libraries in every single one of your districts that may be lost if it gets transferred to ADE. Some of y'all who have been down here for a while may remember that when Governor Hutchinson was governor, the funding for libraries was to Category C, and that had a much larger impact on rural libraries than it did on Central Arkansas library system and everything that was listed about Nate Coulter in the presentation would be totally unaffected by anything that happens with this
bill, whether it passes or fails, so I'm not sure what the purpose is of moving the state library board over, but really the bigger impact is with with AETN, and there's, there's several reasons not to move it over. The first is that It depends on the year, but it's, it's generally $1.7 million every year in private funding that goes to the foundation, and then they get grants and it can be up to $3 million depending on how many grants they get in a particular year, that's 25 to 30% of AETN's funding. Several of those people have just said they're not going
to give that money to the Arkansas Department of Education. So AETN risks losing a significant portion of the private half of the public-private partnership that exists that supports ATN right now. Second, which Senator Lang touched on is editorial. independence. If it's part of a government agency, it loses its editorial independence and related to that there are two aspects of AETN's relationship with the federal government that require editorial independence. One is about half their funding comes from the corporation for Public Broadcasting. We don't know if they're going to fund
the Arkansas Department of Education. We just don't know. Maybe they will, but we don't know. And then also they have a license with the SEC. They may lose that license if it gets transferred to the State Department. Maybe they won't, but we don't know that they might. And the question that goes back to the beginning is why are we doing something that may really harm AETN for what reason? and there hasn't been a good reason to articulated it. The last point is ATN has non-educational aspects of its programming. It has public safety. It provides public safety communications to the
people of Arkansas. Why move that to the Arkansas Department of Education. So I really believe this would harm ATN whether it works, the truth is we don't know how much it will harm. And so the question is why do it? So for those
reasons, I'll be happy to take a question. Question for Senator Tucker, I
Speaker 146
58:34
see Senator Ervin, Senator Mark Johnson, you have the question as well. Thank you. Just
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
58:39
question, maybe you can't answer, but it could be for Senator Sullivan because
I was trying to read some things about the AETN commissioner responsibilities. Um, if the commissioners are appointed by the governor, correct? OK. And their service is established by What's in legislation. Is that correct? 8-year terms so far as I know, yes. OK, so. I mean, the, the legislature could restructure that commission if the commission has failed in its fiduciary
responsibility. I'm very familiar with the audit. I hammered them pretty hard on that audit, uh, which was the right thing to do. But if the commission was the fiduciary responsibility, couldn't the legislature just completely re-establish the commission, get rid of everybody that's on the commission and give the governor the ability to appoint new commissioners and Lessen those terms or change it. They could also add the Secretary of Education to the commission, uh, they could add
other, I mean, all of that could be done legislatively. Is that correct? My
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
59:50
understanding is everything that you just said is true, and we, we could give, you know, the pro tem and the speaker an appointment on the commission if
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
59:57
that's what we wanted to do. Yeah. And so that, I mean, that could be something that Senator, I'm just trying to understand. I understand and I'm not sure why we wouldn't want to have the Department of Education. very involved with both the library board and the commission and the and the the commission. I I guess I'm just trying to
understand if just getting rid of the commission will fix the problems or not, or re-establishing the commission. You know, with more of an education, Department of Education presence would be the writer, the better approach. I'm just,
I'm just trying to understand and figure this out for myself. I'm not opposed to
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:00:36
AD having an important role with ATN. I think
that could be a valuable relationship, but the fact that ATN has the independence right now.
Private donors give the money to ATMs, several of whom have explicitly said they're not going to give the money to ADE, and we could lose the federal license with FCC. I just think those are reasons to pause and consider our options.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:01:00
I thank you and Senator Solomon could answer those questions perhaps. Thank you, Senator Mark Johnson
Chair
Unverified
1:01:05
with the question. Send her hammer, I believe also has a question for you, Senator Tucker. Thank you, Madam
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:01:12
President. Senator Tucker, uh, you, you took issue with my statement
about the lobbyists. You see, we're lobbyists, we're lobbied all the time by the Department of Education. I Could be wrong, but do you know if these representatives in the Department of Education, who I presume are full-time employees such starting with Secretary Oliva himself and other people that we all know and love that work over there. They're, they're paid out of state tax dollars, aren't they? That's certainly my understanding, but these, these people that I was referring to and I, I hope I can
draw a distinction. I was referring to people who are paid with foundation money, which I assume is His gifts given, whether it's by the people you say are threatening to withdraw their funding or other people who watched the telethons and dial up the numbers and call in and give money. I don't know that they ought necessarily authorized that money would be spent for lobbying as opposed for programming or something, Would you agree that there's a
Speaker 176
1:02:20
distinction between those two sources of what I just said. Senator, I have no information about who's
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:02:27
paying the lobbyists and they may be doing it pro bono for all I know, but if they are being paid, maybe they're being paid by the foundation directly. Maybe they're being paid privately by a supporter of the foundation, and I think all of those facts would be very important to determine the the quality of their motives when they come down here, but I will say in all of those scenarios, whether they're working for free, whether they're being paid directly by the foundation or whether they paid by supporters
of the foundation, those are private dollars and it's free Americans, they can spend their money however they see fit so far as I'm concerned. Well, would you agree
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:03:01
though if if they're taking a tax deduction, uh, if I like you give to a 501c3 nonprofit organization that those funds are not supposed to be spent on lobbying. Would you agree with
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:03:11
that? If there are 501c3 dollars being spent on lobbying as a a and I don't know that that's happening here. For the record, but yes, there is a there is a that is against
the law, up to a certain percentage of the C3's budget. It's a higher percentage with a C4.
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:03:29
Well, I agree with you absolutely. If someone is as you said, pro bono or otherwise doing it, that's their right as a free citizen to do it. I've just, whether it's if it's an agency that supports and I presume the foundation is a separate nonprofit. I hope it's 501. 3 because I've given to them before and I took a tax deduction, so I just, and these
two individuals did not dispute the fact that they were being paid by the foundation, so I just wanted to clarify that, and I'm glad that you agree that there is a difference
Chair
Unverified
1:04:05
there. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Senator Johnson, Senator
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:04:09
Hammer question for Senator Tucker. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Senator Tucker in the committee the director of PBS I think it was, we had asked about any other states. that had gone through this process or had similar structure, and I think she cited Iowa and that to her knowledge
there had been no disruption to the licenser transfer. Do you remember that conversation? or do you have any insight on that? I have, I
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:04:37
have some updated information if you'll give me a second, I'll. I'm just thinking
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:04:45
that would address the concerns of the transfer of licener.
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:04:59
When that happened in Iowa, this is, this is what I've been told I haven't independently verified this, but I think it's reliable. When Iowa examined changing their model, the state of Iowa kept Iowa PBS's independence board in place. There were 4 gubernatorial appointees to the board, 4 from institutions of higher learning. Do you mind quoting your source there, not that I'm questioning you,
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:05:19
I'd just like to be able to go look at that. That was from the director of
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
1:05:24
ATN. That's OK. All right, thank you. As she also communicated to me
that Iowa acknowledged the threat to Iowa PBS's private fundraising and acknowledged that Iowa PBS needed to remain independent for that reason. OK, thank you. Yes, thank you,
Chair
Unverified
1:05:41
members. Thank you, Senator Tucker. Anyone else wish
to speak for anyone else wish to speak against. Seeing no one else, Senator Sullivan, you're recognized clothes. Thank you, Governor. Folks, I
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
1:05:53
would submit commissions are the problem. We have too many. We went through a transformation years
back. If you remember about 3 years ago in
the house held the library budget, and it took about 3 or 4 votes to pass it, and I would say if the library board, uh and those functions are concerned about funding. It ought to be this body that they're concerned about. I'd also say that some of the comments that were made about loss of funding are, in my words, disingenuous. Folks, all the funding stays. Well, they have the staff to staff this, to staff stays. They
don't go anywhere. Matter of fact, if you look at surrounding states, surrounding states do this differently all over. And some of the surrounding states, AETN is managed by higher ed. So the idea that all of a sudden things fall apart and we're not going to be funded and not get the money. It's just not true. Now if you as a body decide not to fund county libraries, I think to the point. Pretty close, somewhere between 6 and $7 million. You can do
that. It's not in this bill. But all this does is transfer the authority and the decision-making power to the Department of Education, folks, I'll submit to you that our libraries are a great resources. Our AETN and PBS are great resources. They're not operating well. There's poor leadership, and that poor leadership falls to the board, not to the directors, to the board. And if we're gonna have boards that fail to engage
in critical issues when you have audits like this. 44 instances where the PBS paid
multiple vendors that were located at the same address, 44 instances, 2 instances where $32,000 where the network paid for goods and services before receiving them. 131,000 plus penalty from the corporation of Public Broadcasting. 14,000 plus paid during the review period to an
out of state law firm that had been on the network's retainer since at least 2014. Folks, we can do better. And the
way to do better is have competent leadership and competent leadership right now is where you have direct authority and you have direct input with the Department of Education, and I know you're getting a lot of emails on this, and most of them are false and they're wrong. We need to step forward and do what's right for the state of Arkansas. Thank you, and I'm closed.
Chair
Unverified
1:08:38
Thank you, Senator. Senator has closed,
Speaker 83
1:08:46
Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Bo Brant. Caldwell, Clark. Clark. Crowel Davis, Des,
Speaker 13
1:08:59
this man. Dotson. Dotson English. English Flippo.
Flowers. Gilmore. Ammer, Hester, Hickey Hill. Irvin Irvin, Like Johnson Mark Johnson. King Le letting love, McKee. Murdoch. Peyton and so.
Patty. Rice Scott. Stan, Stuberil. Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator who did not vote,
Chair
Unverified
1:09:56
who wishes to vote or wishes to change your vote, I see Senator English, no. Any other senator. Please check the board. Seeing no other senator.
Please cast up the ballot. by a vote of 23, 8 nay, 3 not voting, SB 184 passes, please transmit to The house. We will
now take up SB 186. 186
Speaker 42
1:10:30
concerning financial statements required to be submitted by licensee of a contractor's licensing
Chair
Unverified
1:10:35
board. Senator Bryant, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President.
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
1:10:43
Remember Senate Bill 186 increases the threshold of a restricted commercial license from 750,000 to 1.5 million. So currently, if you're in Arkansas, if you want to be a contractor, you have to go through the licensing process. If you're not in the subcategory process, you can get what's called just a general building contractor, and that is unrestricted. When you do that, you have to get a financial statement, which is part of the CPA standards, and they have to basically have their own network of CPA. for for cross accountability,
and if you do a project currently in law for less than 750,000 or less or two stories or less in that project, you can get what's called a compiled statement, which is something that you can contract with your local uh your mom and pop CPA like my CPA. A lot, a lot of these projects, 567 years ago were easy to accomplish. You could do that project, but with the cost of inflation and all the other anomalies in our market. Those are pushing. up in the north of a million dollars for those same projects
that were 740,000 less than three years ago. So a lot of our CPAs are pushing that work off to the bigger firms because they don't do those type of compilation report or those type of financial statements. They just want to do the compiled reports, so this increases that limits to let more of our CPAs get into that work. It doesn't prohibit you from getting a, a bond to do the work if you wanted to go that route instead of getting the compiled statement or the financial statement that is untouched. So with that, I'll be glad to answer any questions.
Chair
Unverified
1:12:15
Questions for Senator Bryant. Saying no questions. Anyone wish to speak against. And one must speak for. Senator, recognized clothes and has closed. Any objection rolling the boat? Madam
Speaker 13
1:12:35
Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, dismay dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey,
Hill, Arvin like Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Le letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo, Petty, Rice, Scottstown, Stubenfield, Sullivan Tucker
Chair
Unverified
1:12:55
Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Send her flowers present,
any other senators. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By
a vote of 33, 0, nay, and 1
present. Senate Bill 186 passes, transmit to the house. Recognize
Senator Des for an introduction. Thank you,
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
1:13:27
Governor. Members, I'd like to draw attention to our doctor and nurse of the day. If we could welcome Dr. Makayla Kalaggni from Springdale and nurse Lea Lee Fazio today. Welcome.
Chair
Unverified
1:13:47
Thank you, Senator, we will now turn
to the House calendar. Beginning with House Bill 1048. Uh House. To amend
Speaker 49
1:14:04
the incidental sale of goat milk, sheep milk, and whole milk that has not been pasteurized and to clarify that the incidental sale of raw milk is not
Chair
Unverified
1:14:12
limited to a sale on the farm. Senator Clark, you're recognized.
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:14:17
Thank you, Governor. Colleagues It is good to be back. Uh, thoughts and prayers go out to all those who are sick. I know some schools have even closed because of The flu and other bugs that are going around. And uh it is good to be healthy and back on my feet. The, this bill. Only does a couple of things.
If you look at Line 35. At a farmer's market. Or line 36 via delivery from the farm where the milk is produced. And it says the subchapter does not prohibit The sale of unpasteurized milk at a farmer's market or via delivery from the farm where the milk is produced. That's the two things that the bill does. That's all it does. The other words it's changed are just fixing capitalization. Uh,
from the past. When I came To the Senate 12 years ago, one of the first things that I was faced with
was the raw milk bill. I was shocked, not that we want to legalize raw milk, but that that selling raw milk was illegal, uh, because I guess I grew up. Like you would with the surrounded by bootleggers, uh, grew up on raw milk, buying it from friends, different friends
at different times who had cows that they milked. And did not know how dangerous that it was.
And I'm not here today to tell you that it's not. There's not any danger, and I'm not here today to encourage you to drink raw milk. Uh, there is danger, and I'd like to share with you how dangerous it is. The, but if the folks who milk
the cows are not clean, or not very clean, don't take care of everything, uh. And even otherwise there are bacteria that can get in the milk that can make you sick and that can even kill you. Uh, so if you're not already a raw milk fan, we're not inviting you to be one. Um The best study I found And most comprehensive study I found from 1998 to 2018. That's 21 years.
Found that in the USA 2600 people in 21 years, got sick from drinking raw milk. Now the numbers for pasteurized milk, which they also studied was 2100. In that 21 years, 3 people died as a result of drinking raw milk. That's 1 every 7 years. 3 people died from drinking pasteurized milk, 1 every 7 years. Now that's how many
people uh and there are tens of millions of people in the US who drink raw milk. I considered running a bill that outlawed lightning. 15 to 20 people in the US every year are killed by
lightning. It's one person every 7 years that has
died from drinking raw milk. Backyard poles, 384 on average, children die a year in the US
drowning in backyard pools. Raw milk, it was one every 7 years. If you take aspirin. Over 500 people a year die from taking aspirin in the US raw milk, it was one. Out of every 7 years. If you eat raw oysters, CDC says 80,000 people a year, not 2600 people in 21 years,
80,000 people a year get sick from eating raw oysters. That's pretty serious. And 100 people die a year from drinking raw poison. Raw milk, it's one every 7 years. I'm sorry. I told you wrong. It's Tylenol that that over 500 people a year die from aspirin is much more dangerous. It's 5000 people a year. And if you take ibuprofen, which is my favorite pain reliever. 16,000 people a year.
That from the results of taking ibuprofen. Raw milk, why we had such controversy 12 years ago and why and why we ever had an illegal to start with is beyond me. It's 1 every 7 years, and what we're going to allow is for it to be sold at a farmer's market or for the farmer to deliver it to your home. I'll be or deliver it wherever they want to deliver it. I'll be happy to take any questions.
Chair
Unverified
1:19:21
Questions for Senator Clark, Senator Payton, and Senator Boyd.
Senator John Payton
Unverified
1:19:26
Thank you, Madam President. I really appreciate the fact that you've studied this deeply and you have all those statistics. I was hoping you could answer a question for me. Could it be all the raw milk I drank growing up that stunted my growth. I'd I'd hate to see how tall
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:19:42
you would be if your growth had been stunted, but Senator Boyden, you're recognized for a
Chair
Unverified
1:19:49
question. Thank you, Madam President. Just, are there any labeling
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
1:19:56
requirements or is it just I can sell raw milk and sell it under the
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:20:02
guise that it's pasteurized, as you know, Senator Boyd, the, we only bring the bill with a little bit of legislation that's being changed. This is all that's been changed. Senator Gilmore, I like to give credit where credit's due. I did not have the answer to that question in committee, and he looked it up and the labeling is already in the law. There is required labeling that it, the farm that it comes from
the name of the farm and the location. And you of course, I'm
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
1:20:35
sorry. Any other questions, Senator Stubblefield? Thank you, Senator Clark, for bringing this bill. I think it's to utterly good bill. And I just want to commend you on all your work you put into it with the statistics as uh as one of the older generations who grew up, Senator Wallace, probably drinking raw milk all of our lives, uh, with the thousands of other families that grew up around us and is the one
who passed the raw milk bill several 6 years ago. I'll ask you the same question, Johnny Key asked me that I I passed the raw milk bill. He said, if you're butchering a calf in your front yard. And you have a calf hanging from the tree and somebody drives along and wants to buy a quarter or 5. It's legal to sell it to him, isn't it? Yes, that's
Chair
Unverified
1:21:29
Any other questions for Senator Clark? Seeing no other questions, anyone wished to speak against. Anyone would speak for. Senator, you are recognized clothes, folks, I did
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
1:21:43
not mention. will be helping a lot of people who are lactose intolerant. I am thankful that I am not, but for some reason, I know my cousin called me 12 years ago when we were voting on this bill and says, please vote
for it, all of my kids, 6 kids, she said, all of my kids are lactose intolerant, and I should not have had to buy a cow, and I could have, I could, in my mind, imagine Terry milking a cow and I said no, you should not have had to buy a cow, uh, and the other side benefit of this. Bill is The goats whose milk is being drank because it's not just cows, it's unpasteurized goat's milk to the goats whose milk is being drank might otherwise be executed, so you'll, it's a PETA bill too. You'll be, you'll be
Chair
Unverified
1:22:31
saving goats. Thank you for a good vote. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat.
Speaker 13
1:22:46
That objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boy, Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, dismaying dots and English flippo Flowers Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King on a lead, letting love McKee Murdoch, Peyton,
Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scottstone, Steerfield Sullivan,
Chair
Unverified
1:23:06
Tucker Wallace. Any senator wished to change his or her vote. Send
her flowers, no. Any other senator. Seeing no
one else, please cast up the ballot. My votes of 33A, 1
nay, House Bill 1048 passes. Please return to the house.
Speaker 220
1:23:36
We will now take up House Bill 1049. House Bill 1049
Speaker 13
1:23:40
by Representative Evans and Senator Caldwell to mend Arkansas law concerning criminal offenses and to criminalize unlawful squatting. Senator Caldwell, you're recognized. Thank you,
Chair
Unverified
1:23:46
Madam President. I want to pass over this bill. I've gotten a text since
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
1:23:50
we've been in chambers from the House that said there was a mistake in the sponsors list. I'd like to go back and correct that and bring this back at a later date. Thanks Senator Caldwell. We're
Speaker 13
1:24:10
House Bill 1075. House 1075 by Representative Vy and Senator Bryant to prohibit a local government from regulating the sale or use of a lawn care device or imposing a tax or
Chair
Unverified
1:24:21
fee on the use of a lawn care device in certain circumstances. Senator Bryant, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
1:24:26
President. Members have brought this bill to you from Representative Rake a couple of weeks ago, uh, out of abundance of concern and caution pulled this down, sent it back to committee. Uh, the issues that we addressed. Now this bill, if I can remind you,
prohibits local government from prohibiting long care devices based on the nature of their of their propulsion or their gas or electric or solar. What we did is we deleted some language on page 2 for the issue of prohibiting a local government from, it does not prohibit a local government from levying a sales and use tax. There was too much language that brought confusion that maybe they did have the ability to do something different with that, with these type of devices, so we removed that language, and there is
already existing strict scrutiny and rules governing what a city can do for sales and use tax already in law, and then we also added language to ensure that local government can enact and enforce noise ordinances, so that
should correct the issues and I'm glad to open it up for questions. Any questions for Senator
Chair
Unverified
1:25:30
Bryant. See no questions. Anyone wish to speak against?
Speaker 58
1:25:35
Anyone we speak for? Senator has closed. Any objection rolling the vote.
Speaker 13
1:25:45
Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant, Caldwell, Clark Kroll, Davis, D, dismay dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King leave, letting the love of McKee Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, stone Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his
Chair
Unverified
1:26:11
or her vote? Senator Tucker, no. Senator
Scott, no. Senator Love present. Any other senators see no others. Please cast up the
ballot. By a vote of 31 yeah to nay, 1 present, House Bill 1075 passes, please return. To the house. As mended. We are
passing over. HB 1118 and House Bill 1119. We will now take up House Bill 1207. Has for 1207 by Representative Warren and Senator
Speaker 42
1:27:04
Gilmore to make technical corrections and clarify language for the proper administration of benefits under
Chair
Unverified
1:27:12
the state police retirement system. Senator Gilmore, you're
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:27:16
recognized. Thank you, Governor. Members, pretty simple bill comes to us from the retirement system. It's just making technical corrections, uh, changing just for consistency's sake, where it says um it had in their law enforcement officer or division of uniform employee with the division of state
police and we're just changing that to state police officer happy to take questions. Any questions for Senator Gilmore?
Speaker 230
1:27:46
Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized for a question. Is there any controversy on 1207 through 1211. Are these all
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:27:57
technical corrections, but I didn't think the batch ahead of time, Senator. Well, if the, if, if staff is so inclined, I'm open to making the motion to batch, and if the body, if the body is, is willing. So I make the motion to batch for, per the wishes of the body if that's possible.
Chair
Unverified
1:28:17
Uh, we have one with an emergency clause, and so we would need to pull it from the batch that
Speaker 16
1:28:27
is House Bill 1209. OK, we're going to Roll the boat there's no
Chair
Unverified
1:28:36
objection. On, I got it. I can hear you. On House Bill 1207, we will then take up House Bill 1209, we will then batch 1208, 1210, and 1211.
Speaker 13
1:28:57
Bill 1207. So this is House Bill 120712. I've got, OK, OK. Boyd, Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Thisma Datsun English flippo flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Lee, letting Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo. petty rice scot stone
Chair
Unverified
1:29:23
Stubberville, Sullivan Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote. Seeing no
one, please cast up the ballot. My vote of 34 yeah, zero nay. House Bill 1207
passes. Please return to the house. We will now take up House Bill 1209. That is the one with the emergency clause. Senator Gilmore House
Speaker 42
1:29:47
Bill 1209 by Representative Warren and Central Gilmore for the proper administration of benefits by the Arkansas Judicial retirement System
regarding the subject subjection of annuity rights to
Chair
Unverified
1:29:58
process of law and correction of errors. Senator Gilmore, you're recognized. Members, this is the one with the emergency clause,
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:30:04
very simple bill comes from us, comes to us from the department. Uh, it just sets up some mechanisms where they can uh um offset some claims against members of retiree or beneficiaries that try to defraud the system. Also, there's a component of here for correction of errors that the director may find. So with that,
have to take questions and would ask for a good vote and if
Chair
Unverified
1:30:31
there's no questions, I'm ready to close. Any questions for Senator
Gilmore and while we speak against or for. Senator, you recognized clothes. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat. Madam Secretary, please roll the boat,
Speaker 13
1:30:48
Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, dismaying dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey
Hill, Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Lee, letting Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo Petty, Rice Scott, Stone Stubbervill, Selvanuck Wallace. Any senator wished to change his or her vote.
Speaker 96
1:31:08
Seeing no one please cast up the ballot by a
Chair
Unverified
1:31:15
vote of 34 yeah, zero name, House Bill
1209 passes in the corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please return to the house.
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:31:27
Thank you, colleagues, and then I would like to make a motion to batch 1208, 1210, 1211 to be voted on together. Y'all heard
Chair
Unverified
1:31:36
the motion, any objection? Oh, I'm, well, we're just voting to take him up as a batch. All those
Speaker 78
1:31:46
in favor of voting in a batch, please signify to say I. And he opposed, I have it.
Speaker 13
1:31:53
House for 1208 by representative Warren Senator Gilmore to allow the Arkansas public employees
Speaker 42
1:31:58
retirement system, collect amounts of overpayments for debts owed to a state supported retirement system administered by the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System. House Bill 1210 by Representative Warren and Senator Gilmore to amend the laws concerning transfer of funds for the cost of administering the Arkansas judicial retirement system and state police retirement system. As 1211 by Representative Warren and Senator Gilmore to make technical corrections and clarify language for the proper
administration of benefits under the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System. Senator Gilmore
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:32:37
Thank you. Happy to take questions. If not, I'm
Chair
Unverified
1:32:40
closed. Any questions? Anyone who speak against or for Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling
Speaker 136
1:32:51
the vote. Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crow, Davis, Des, this
Speaker 13
1:32:59
dots and English flippo Flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Lee, letting love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo Petty, Rice Scott stone, steer Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wished to change his
Chair
Unverified
1:33:17
or her vote. Seeing no one please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 348 0 name.
House Bill 1208, House Bill 1210, and House Bill 1211 all pass, please return those to the house. Finally, we will take up. House Bill 1223. We are passing over 1221 and 1222. House Bill 1223 by Rain to
Speaker 13
1:33:52
Gilmore to allow a candidate for the Office of Justice of the
Supreme Court or judge of the court of appeals who is serving in that position as an appointee to use the title of
Chair
Unverified
1:34:06
that position as a prefix on the ballot. Senator Gilmore, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Members, very simple bill, um,
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
1:34:12
on page two of that bill, you'll see where it just adds in uh Supreme Court justice or court of appeals. This is just to bring parity, what's already allowed um in every other elected position that I'm aware of, uh, so no known opposition to this bill that I know of, passed out of the house with uh almost
unanimous support. So with that, I'm
Chair
Unverified
1:34:34
happy to take questions. Any questions for Senator Gilmore.
Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat. Madam Secretary, please
Speaker 13
1:34:48
roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, dismay dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore Hammer, Hester, Hickey Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark
Johnson, King Le letting love McKee Murdoch Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott Stone Stub Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wished to change his
Chair
Unverified
1:35:09
or her vote. Senator Scott, no. Any other senators wish to change. His or her vote? See, seeing no others, please. Did someone say no? I'm sorry. OK. I just want to make sure
There was a lot of talking going on, so while we're
voting, I'd appreciate if you all. Limit any conversation to nothing. Please
cast up the ballot. By a vote of 33 yeah, one nay, House Bill 1223 passes, please return to the house. That concludes our business agenda or their items at the desk.
Oh, that concludes our business agenda, however, we do have a budget calendar. Senator Bryant, are you handling the budget calendar today?
Speaker 13
1:36:37
Oh 1. House for 1390 by joint budget and act for the Department of Human Services Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
1:36:55
reappropriation. Remembers on your desk is the budget calendar. We
will take the House bills individually and then we'll do the Senate bills as a batch, so starting first with House Bill 1390. Does anybody have any questions related to
This reappropriation for DHS. Any
Chair
Unverified
1:37:12
questions for Senator Bryant? On House Bill 1390, anyone wishes to speak against or for. Senator has closed.
Speaker 40
1:37:22
Any objection to rolling the boat? Madam Secretary,
Speaker 13
1:37:26
please roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis Des, Dismay dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Le letting love
McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott Stone, Seba Phil Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to
Chair
Unverified
1:37:48
change his or her vote, seeing no one. Please cast up the ballot by a vote of 34 yeah, zero nay, House
Bill 1390 passes and the corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please return to the house. House for
Speaker 13
1:38:05
1391 by joint budget, and act for the Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disability
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
1:38:11
Services reappropriation. Members this is the Department of Human Services reappropriation for the division
Chair
Unverified
1:38:21
of Developmental disabilities. Any questions? Anyone wish to speak against or for Senator has closed. Any objection to
Speaker 40
1:38:29
rolling the boat. Madam Secretary, please
Speaker 13
1:38:32
roll the boat. Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dismay dots and English flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester,
Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Bike Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Lee, letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo, Petty, Rice, Scott
Chair
Unverified
1:38:50
Stone, Stubberfield Sullivan, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wished to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please
cast up the ballot. By votes at
34 e, zero nay, House Bill 1391 passes. And corresponding emergency clause is adopted. Please return to the house. We
will now take up the Senate bills in a
Speaker 16
1:39:17
batch unless someone wishes to pull one out of the batch. Some
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
1:39:22
members of the rest of the Senate bills, I will go individually by number and if anybody wants me to pull one out, we can do that. Senate Bill 20. Senate Bill 23. Senate Bill 28. Senate Bill 31. Senate Bill 65. Senate Bill 74.
Senate Bill 116 and Senate Bill 199. Does anybody want me to pull any of those
Speaker 42
1:40:00
out of the batch to be voted on separately. See none. Senate Bill 20 by joint budget, an act for the Department of Corrections, Arkansas Sentencing Commission Appropriation for 2025, 2026 fiscal year. Sending Bill 23 by joint budget and act for the judicial discipline and Disability Commission appropriation for
2025, 2026 fiscal year. 28 by joint budget and act for the Arkansas Ethics Commission appropriation for 2025, 2026 fiscal year. Symbol 31 by joint budget, an act for the Department of Labor and Licensing Workers' compensation commission appropriation of 2025, 2026 fiscal years. 65 a joint budget, and I'm for the Department of Parks, Heritage Tour. Capital zoning district commission appropriation of 2025, 2026 fiscal year. Cityville 74 by joint budget, and I for the Department of
Veterans Affairs preparation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year. Senate Bill 111, 116, but joint budget, and I for the University of Arkansas system in various divisions and preparation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year. about 199
Speaker 49
1:41:06
joint budget and act for the Department of Agriculture reappropriation. Any,
Chair
Unverified
1:41:14
no questions, anyone would speak against or for Senator has
closed any objection to rolling the vote on the batch of Senate bills. Senate budget bills, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat.
Speaker 13
1:41:32
Boyd Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dima dots and English flippo flowers, Gilmore hammer, Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Lee, letting Love McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo Petty, Rice Scott Stone Stubberville, Sullivan, Tucker Wallace.
Chair
Unverified
1:41:48
Any senator wished to change his
or her vote. Seeing no one please cast up the ballot by vote of 34 0 nay, the batch of Senate bills
in the budget calendar all passed and they corresponding emergency clauses
are adopted. transmit to the house. Senator Hester, you're recognized. Well, we have a few items at the desk
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
1:42:14
if you don't mind. Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? Yes. 11:31 by
Speaker 42
1:42:22
Representative Pilkington authorized an advanced practice registered nurse to
Speaker 13
1:42:27
delegate certain tasks to medical assistance and other unlicensed staff. House Bill 1131. Public health. House Bill 1182 by Representative Bentley and Senator Irving. To
Speaker 42
1:42:42
replace the fan term medication assistant, uh, person with a defined term, certified Medicaid medication assistance
Speaker 13
1:42:55
through Section 1787701, and the code House Bill 1182 public health 12 1292 by Representative Bentley and Senator Hammer to amend the residency requirements for the adoption of a minor has 1292 Judiciary. That's
Speaker 42
1:43:11
what 1368 Borough of Bryan Central Wallace. To me the list of musicians honored on Arkansas music Appreciation Day House Bill 1368.
State agencies 1437 by Representative Duffield and Senator Clark to prohibit a person required to register as a sex offender from entering a water park, swimming area, or children's playground or public park. House Bill 13 1437 judiciary, House Bill 1441 makes and Central stone to amend the law concerning the Arkansas coordinate system of 1983, House Bill 1441, agriculture. Any announcements, Senator Hester, you're recognized.
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
1:43:59
Hey members, I've had lots of discussions with many members today about what the what the potential weather is looking like the next few days. Here's all I can tell you is over the next 2 or 3 hours, I'm gonna be meeting with the minority and majority leadership. We won't make a decision in a silo, you know, the, the, the 4 or 5 of us will talk about what tomorrow looks like, but we will, you know, we'll let you know what that looks like. I, I can't say until we meet, there's a lot of factors that go into, you know, into this staff.
Constituents come speak for our members here, our members that live an hour away versus already here. We'll take all that into account and we will, we'll make a decision later today. With that, I want to read some current cancellations, the legislative dinner hosted by the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation for tomorrow night's canceled. The reception sponsored by the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce for tomorrow night is canceled. The Arkansas Razorback basketball watch party sponsored by Capital Advisors for Wednesday night has been. canceled. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
1:45:14
Senator, Senator Urban, you're recognized. Thank you,
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:45:18
members, um, if you're on transportation committee, it's meeting 15 minutes upon adjournment in the old Supreme Courtroom and then public health will meet in 272 upon adjournment of transportation. Any
Chair
Unverified
1:45:32
other announcements? Seeing no others. Senate will
stand. An adjournment subject to clearing of the desk.
Speaker 110
1:45:47
And we will reconvene at a time to be determined. yeah
Agenda
Call to Order
Roll Call
Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Doctor of the Day
Announcements
Items to be Read Across the Desk
SENATE BILLS TO CONCUR IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS
SB59 #1 J. Dismang Dismang TO PROVIDE EACH STUDENT WITH ONE BREAKFAST AT NO COST EACH SCHOOL DAY UPON REQUEST WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF THE STUDENT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR A FEDERALLY FUNDED FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEAL; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
SB17 F. Love TO CREATE LUX'S LAW; TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF A DEAD HUMAN BODY THAT IS INTENDED TO BE CREMATED OR BURIED; AND TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR THE SALE OF A DEAD HUMAN BODY.
SB169 C. Tucker TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION; AND TO AMEND ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENT 51.
SB184 D. Sullivan TO TRANSFER THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION COMMISSION AND THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SB186 J. Bryant TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED BY A LICENSEE OF THE CONTRACTORS LICENSING BOARD.
HOUSE BILLS FOR THIRD READING AND PASSAGE
HB1048 C. Cooper A. Clark TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE INCIDENTAL SALE OF GOAT MILK, SHEEP MILK, AND WHOLE MILK THAT HAS NOT BEEN PASTEURIZED; AND TO CLARIFY THAT THE INCIDENTAL SALE OF RAW MILK IS NOT LIMITED TO A SALE ON THE FARM.
HB1049 Evans Caldwell TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CRIMINAL OFFENSES; AND TO CRIMINALIZE UNLAWFUL SQUATTING.
HB1075 Ray Bryant TO PROHIBIT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM REGULATING THE SALE OR USE OF A LAWN CARE DEVICE OR IMPOSING A TAX OR FEE ON THE USE OF A LAWN CARE DEVICE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
HB1207 Warren Gilmore TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFY LANGUAGE FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS UNDER THE STATE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
Motion to batch HB1208, HB1210, and HB1211
HB1208 - TO ALLOW THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO COLLECT AMOUNTS OF OVERPAYMENTS FOR DEBTS OWED TO A STATE SUPPORTED RETIREMENT SYSTEM ADMINISTERED BY THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
HB1209 Warren Gilmore FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS BY THE ARKANSAS JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM REGARDING THE SUBJECTION OF ANNUITY RIGHTS TO PROCESS OF LAW AND CORRECTION OF ERRORS.
HB1210 Warren Gilmore TO AMEND THE LAWS CONCERNING TRANSFER OF FUNDS FOR THE COSTS OF ADMINISTERING THE ARKANSAS JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE STATE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
Batch vote for HB1208, HB1210, and HB1211
HB1211 Warren Gilmore TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFY LANGUAGE FOR THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS UNDER THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
HB1223 Ray Gilmore TO ALLOW A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OR JUDGE OF THE COURT OF APPEALS WHO IS SERVING IN THAT POSITION AS AN APPOINTEE TO USE THE TITLE OF THAT POSITION AS A PREFIX ON THE BALLOT.
Budget Bills and their Emergency Clauses to be considered which have been introduced by Joint Budget Committee
HB1390 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES REAPPROPRIATION.
HB1391 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES REAPPROPRIATION.
SB20 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - ARKANSAS SENTENCING COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB23 AN ACT FOR THE JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE AND DISABILITY COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB28 AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS ETHICS COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB31 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND LICENSING - WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB65 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM - CAPITOL ZONING DISTRICT COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB74 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026.
SB116 AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - SYSTEM AND VARIOUS DIVISIONS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
SB199 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REAPPROPRIATION.
Items to be read across the desk
Announcements
Adjourn
Documents
No documents posted.
Speakers
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 13
Speaker 16
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
Speaker 20
Speaker 22
Senator Clarke Tucker
Unverified
Speaker 42
Speaker 47
Speaker 12
Speaker 57
Speaker 39
Speaker 70
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Speaker 4
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Speaker 40
Speaker 86
Speaker 109
Speaker 34
Senator Dan Sullivan
Unverified
Senator Greg Leding
Unverified
Speaker 125
Speaker 127
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
Senator Jamie Scott
Unverified
Speaker 145
Speaker 147
Speaker 149
Senator Terry Rice
Unverified
Speaker 96
Speaker 146
Speaker 176
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
Speaker 83
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
Senator Tyler Dees
Unverified
Speaker 49
Senator Alan Clark
Unverified
Senator John Payton
Unverified
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
Senator Gary Stubblefield
Unverified
Speaker 218
Speaker 220
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
Speaker 102
Speaker 58
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
Speaker 230
Speaker 64
Speaker 78
Speaker 136
Speaker 110