House Convenes

I invite the members, staff, press, and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by Pastor Chuck Bucken. Maddox Road Baptist Church in Jacksonville. He is a guest today of Representative Mark Perry. To be followed By the pledge of allegiance led by Representative Lane Jean. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this day. You know, Father, we live in a fallen world. You don't have to look far to see that just by looking at the news or getting on social media. And the men and women of this House Representatives don't have to be told that. They see the same things, but the difference is Instead of just seeing the news, sometimes they are called to act upon the news, and they're called to make decisions to act to ensure the safety of our state to act to maintain the moral compass of our state. To make fiscal decisions that are never popular. And these are not easy decisions, they're not popular decisions. So Father, I pray for the members of the house. I pray for a hedge of protection around them, that you would uh be, uh, be with them, that you would protect them, their families, that you would protect their health. I know this is a necessarily stressful job, because uh their citizen legislatures, they're, they're called to do both their normal job and then come to the capital. But they're also called to make sometimes even life and death decisions. So I pray that you be with them. I pray that you would wrap your arms around them and let them know that you are with them, that you encourage them. Pray that you would give them your wisdom for when they have to make tough, tough decisions. I pray that you would give them peace that passes all understanding. I pray that you would give them your heart as they consider legislation, help them to remember your grace, your mercy, and to show that to their fellow citizens. Lead them in your ways, Father. We all have our plans that we've made. And I'm sure they have. But we might make our plans, but you direct our steps. So Father, the government we know is an institution that is created by you, you are sovereign, we are not. The king's heart, Proverbs 22 says, it's like a stream of waters that you can move wherever you will. So, I just pray that you will be with the men and women of the house that you would direct them, that they would trust you in these Members, please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. As everyone indicated their presence. Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 99 members present, chair sees a quorum. Are there any requests for leave, Representative Gramlich, what purpose? Leave. recognized bro. I leave granted for Representative Bro. So ordered. Representative Matthew Shepherd moves that we dispense with the reading of the previous day's journal with no objection, so ordered. Are there any reports from select committees, Madam Clerk, you're recognized. Mr. Speaker, we your committee on joint budgets to whom for House Bill 1128, House Bill 1153, House Bill 1225, House Bill 1226, House Bill 1227, House Bill 1228, House Bill 1229. House Bill 12:30, House 12:31. House Bill 1233. House Bill 1234, House Bill 1247, Hospital 1248, 1249, House Bill 1260, House Bill 1261, House Bill 1264. House Bill 1265, House Bill 1266 bagg leave report, we have the same consideration here with the same recommendation that it do pass, respectfully submitted Lane Jean, co-chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Are there any reports from standing committees, you're on Judiciary to whom was referred House Bill 1317, vaguely report under the same consideration here with the same recommendation that it do pass with amendment number one, respectfully submitted Carol Doby, chair. Mr. Speaker, we your committee on Judiciary, to whom was the first Senate Bill 13, and Senate Bill 15 bag leave report we under the same consideration here concern the same recommendation that do pass respectfully submitted Carol I'll be chair. Mr. Speaker, we your Committee on Public Transportation, who was referred Senate Bill 16 vaguely report the. consideration here with term same recommendation that do pass, respectfully submitted. Representative Mike Holcombe, chair. Mr. Speaker, we're here at Committee on Public Transportation who was referred to Senate Bill 45 vaguely report we have the same consideration. I'm here at the time with the same recommendation that do pass as amendment number one, respectfully submitted. Mike Holcombe, chair. Mr. Speaker. We are a Committee on Education who was referred House Bill 1139, House Bill 1236, Senate Bill 46, beg leave report. We have the same consideration here of the same recommendation that it do pass. respectfully submitted Keith Brooks chair. Mr. Speaker, we have a committee on Education whom House Bill 1180 beg leave report into the same consideration here the term same recommendation that do passes amendment number 3, respectfully submitted, Keith Brooks, chair. Mr. Speaker, we're your committee on Education terms was House Bill 1215 vaguely reporting the same consideration here. It's time for information that it do pass as Amendment number one, respectfully submitted. Keith Brooks, chair. Mr. Speaker, we your committee on Public Health, welfare and Labor Committee, to whom was referred House Bill 1310, House Bill 1181, House Bill 1245, Be. Report the same consideration here but the same recommendation that it do pass, respectfully submitted Jeff Wardlaw, chair. Thank you, Madam Clark. Is there any unfinished business? Are there any executive communications? Please read the letter from the governor. To the Speaker of the House. Dear Mr. Speaker, this is to inform you that on February 3, 2025, I reviewed and approved the following measures from the regular session of the ninety-fifth General Assembly House Bill 1005 Act 14, House Bill 1006, Acts 15. Sincerely, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Members, I'll direct your attention to the back of the chamber today. I'd like to recognize Arkansas State Trooper Sergeant Chuck Lewis of the administrative Services Division and Sergeant Austin Ley of the regulatory Services Division, both of Little Rock. Gentlemen, thank you for your service. Members also with us today, Doctor James Hunt, our doctor of the day. He is an anesthesiologist and pain management from Little Rock. He is, uh, Representative Mark Perry's district. Join, joining him to take care of all of us on a daily basis. Our nurse of the day, Ms. Lee Fazio. Ms. Lee, thank you. Members you may have noticed, uh, yesterday and today as they are, uh, working up and down the aisles. We have kicked off our page program for the ninety-fifth General Assembly, and we've got a great group here with us today helping us through these proceedings. I want to point out, uh, just a special welcome to one of the pages, uh, grandson of Representative Jack Ladyman, Mr. Brett Ladyman. Brett, glad to have you here today. Members in the East gallery joining us today are representatives of the Community College Association. They are student leaders from community colleges all across Arkansas. They are guests of Representative Keith Brooks today. In the West Gallery today, we have joining us the 20th class of New Vision Newport leadership. They are guests of Representative Wayne Long, please make them welcome. Representative Warren, for what purpose? Point of personal privilege. You're recognized. I'd like to ask uh fellow representatives, uh, Bruce Cozart and Richard McGru to please join me. We're privileged. We, we had a surprise visitor today. But I'd like to, uh, have a gentleman in the new president of National Park College, uh, Doctor Wade Durden. He took over in the last year and has He actually did many jobs at National Park College. He went to look for a new president, Durden. the It was the morning hour has ended. Madam Clerk Please read House Bill 1067. House Bill 1067 by Representative Gramley concerning firearm hold agreements and to provide civil immunity to a federal firearms licensee who agrees to hold a firearm for an individual. Representative Grammar, you recognized present your bill. Uh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, House Bill 1067, um, does one thing and broadly is to grant, uh, civil, it's immunity to civil liability to FFLs who choose to hold a firearm. Um, and let's just give context to why. So, Right now, there are individuals across this state are veterans especially, and they may have a weapon in their home. They want to get a weapon out of their home so that they can protect themselves, uh, from suicide ideation and what follows from that. Right now, FFL holders, uh, don't have the ability to take their guns, because their insurance companies and lawyers are saying that we don't want any liability if you were to know something, this individual had an issue. And uh if they were to take that weapon and go home and uh do something to themselves or someone else, they don't want to be held liable. So what this bill will do is it will grant basically them a, a, a good Samaritan, and all they were they were trying to do was help these engine. Uh, this is totally voluntary. Um, you, uh, the government is in no way involved. It's a private contract between a FFL holder and a uh I'll answer any questions. Representative Ladyman, for what purpose? Yes, uh, Representative, could, could you give us an example of, uh, what a federal firearms license he is. I mean, what type of entity would that be? Sure. So, uh, there's a variety of different kinds of people who can be an FFL. You can either be a a gun store, uh, that, that would be one of the most well known, um, private individuals can also be FFL holders or in the case of one business in Northwest Arkansas. It is a pharmacy gun store. So, um, all right, with that, I appreciate a good vote. Representative Gramlich has explained the bill, what anyone would like to speak against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Gramwich is closed for the bill. The question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1067. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Madam clerk. The vote of 96 ye, two nays, and 0 present. The bill has passed. Madam Clark, please read House Bill 1007 by Representative Perrier to regulate liability for shooting sports events and to provide immunity to certain individuals with respect to shooting sports events. Representative Perrier, you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you, Speaker. Are you shooting sports programs continue to grow across Arkansas. These programs impact thousands of her youth in a programs grow, so does the challenge to find venues to host these events. Um, HB 1007 will grant liability. The bill is limited to events sponsored by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, uh, the overall goal of this bill is to encourage more landowners to open up their property by providing the peace of mind granted with liability protections. With that, I'd appreciate take any questions. Representative Perrier has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Perrier is closed for the bill. The question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1007, prepare the machine, madam clerk. As everyone voted. Everyone voted. Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With a vote of 85 ya, 9 nays, and 1 present, the bill has passed. Representative Meeks, for what purpose? Motion, please. You're recognized. In accordance with House Rule 33M. I move we adjourn until 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. That's a proper motion. It's non-debatable. All those in favor say aye. Po nay, your eyes have it. Is there any Any announcements from committees. Representative Marker For what purpose? You're recognized Children and Youth Committee will have our photo tomorrow at 9:45 on the House Representative Gonzalez for what purpose? announcement. You're recognized City County will meet tomorrow at 100 a.m. make me Representative Eubanks, for what purpose? Announcement recognized House rules will meet tomorrow at noon. And Big Mac. Representative Shepherd, for what purpose? Announcement recognized. Joint energy will meet, uh, 15 minutes upon the adjournment of both chambers, uh, today. Representative Gazaway, for what purpose? Announcement, you're recognized. State agencies will meet tomorrow morning 10 a.m., room 151. We have a special order of business, SB 3. Thank you. Representative Warren, for what purpose? Announcement, you're recognized. We would love to have everybody join us today, the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce is hosting everybody for uh Hot Springs event at the War Memorial press box. So please come join us 4:30 to 6:30. Representative Maddox, for what purpose? Announcement you're recognized. Insurance and commerce will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. and we're gonna reconvene after session to accommodate a member who needs to run a bill. Representative Lynch, for what purpose? You're recognized. Uh, A committee will meet tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. around 138. Any other announcements from committees. Seeing none, the desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in the adjourned resolution, the House will be adjourned until 1:30 tomorrow.