Senate Convenes

Senate will be called to order. Are there any requests for leave at this time? Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boyd, Brant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Desma Dodson, English Flippo flowers Gilmore hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting, love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Oh. Thank you, Madam Secretary. the. Leave is requested for Senator Ervin. Thank you all, everyone in the gallery and in the chamber would please rise for a prayer led by Senator Steve Croll, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Kroll, you're recognized. By your heads, dear Lord, thank you so much for everything you give us the freedoms that you give the United States of America. We just ask that you would keep our hearts pure today as we do the people's work and our minds clear. And let us have a great day in your name, Lord. Amen. to the States of America and we just say. invisible. Thank Senator Crow for those words, ladies and gentlemen in the galleries, welcome to your Arkansas State Senate. It is our expectation that each of you will exercise proper decorum and gather yourselves accordingly during today's proceedings. Without objection, the rules will be suspended, and the Senate will dispense with the reading of the journal, the Morning Hour has now begun. Are there any announcements or introductions at this time, Senator Caldwell, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Point of personal privilege. I'd like to ask leave for my daughter, Dr. Marianne Weatherford, my granddaughter Josie Weatherford. Any other introductions or announcements. Not sender love, you're recognized. Thank you, Chair. a that's. She's not read it. Never mind. All right. Are there items at the desk? Yes, for your committee on gross bills to his first Senate Bill 77 by Senator Mark Johnson compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Insurance and commerce. We're a committee on Education to whom was referred Senate Bill 142 by Senator Des recommended new pass calendar Committee on Education to who was referred uh Senate Bill 164 by Senator Dodson recommend due pass calendar. Senate resolution 8 by Senator Love to recognize Monday, February 3, 2025 is the links legislative day at the state Capitol and to recognize the links incorporated for its service and contributions to this chapter communities and the state of Arkansas Senate Resolution 8. Calendar Senate resolution 9 by Senator Love celebrate Black History Month during the month of February 2025, Senate Resolution 9, calendar, Senate joint resolution by Senator King. A constitutional amendment permitting the state of Arkansas to be sued as a defendant in state court to enforce constitutional rights or is otherwise provided by law Senate Joint Resolution 9. State agencies. Senate Bill 167 by Senator Clark to amend the dates by which certain requests to transfer public schools and public school districts shall be submitted Senate Bill 167. Education 168 by Centra Rice to establish a state examination for licener, a massage therapist, and to declare an emergency, Senate Bill 168. Public health symbol 169 by Centra Tucker. make technical corrections to the Arkansas Constitution and to amend the Arkansas Constitution Amendment 51, by 169. State agencies 170 by Senator Tucker to make corrections to Title 1 of the Arkansas Code concerning general provisions. Senate Bill 170. Judiciary symbol 171 by Senator Tucker to make technical corrections to title of the Arkansas Code Concerning Business and martial law by 171 Judiciary. 172 by Senator Tucker to make technical corrections to Title 6 of the Arkansas Code Concerning education. Symbol 172 Judiciary symbol 173 by Senator Tucker to make technical corrections Title 7 of the Arkansas Code Concerning elections, Senate Bill 173 Judiciary symbol 174 by Senator Tucker to make technical corrections to tie Title 8 of the Arkansas Constitution Arkansas code concerning environmental loss, Senate. 174 judiciary. December 175 by Senator Tucker to make technical corrections to title 11 of the Arkansas Code Concerning Labor and industrial relations, 175. Judiciary symbol 176 by Senator Tucker to make technical corrections to Title 15 of the Arkansas Code Concerning Natural Resources and economic development, 176. Judiciary symbol 177 by Senator Tucker to make technical corrections to dial 17 of the Arkansas Code Concerning professions, occupations. And businesses by 177 judiciary 178 by Senator Boyd to amend the Arkansas Healthcare Decisions Act and to clarify the ability of a surrogate to obtain records of a principal's income, assets, and banking and financial records sent by 178 public health number 179 by Senator Boyd to establish the strengthen Arkansas Homes Act and to create the strengthen Arkansas homes program premier tax funds. about 179. Insurance and commerce 180 by Centra Sullivan to men providers in the program of all-inclusive care for the elderly from the licensing requirements for home health care services sent by 180 public health. Thank you, Madam Secretaries. Any further business to come before the body announcements. I see Senator, I'm sorry. Thank you, Governor. Uh, members, I need to suspend the rules to hear Senate resolution 8, recognizing the links organization today. motion to suspend the rule. to hear. Resolution 8, what is it what is. Are they, are they here? Let's, I think, We need to, let me just wrap up the morning hours so we start the business days? I got you on this. I'm gonna handle it. I think we're going to rescind it. Any further business to come before the body in the morning hour. Senator Hickey, Senator Irvin's here. We'd asked for a motion for leave, so we just need to rescind that. Thank you. Thanks, Senator Hickey. Morning hour has expired, if no further business, we'll now begin the business agenda. And we will begin Senator Hickey, no, I'm trying to get it all. We are going to Pass over Senate resolution 7, and we would bring in backup Senator Love for Senator Love's motion. Senator Love. Consider it. You're recognized for your motion. Thank you, Governor. Members, I just need to suspend the rules to hear Senate resolution number 8, which is recognizing um Monday, February 3rd as a link's legislative day at the state Capitol. Motion to suspend the rules in order to take up Senate Resolution 8 today. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. And he opposed. I have it. Motion passes. Senate Resolution 8 by Senator Love to recognize Monday, February 3rd, 2025 as the links legislative day at the state Capitol and to recognize the links incorporated for its services and contributions to its chapter communities and the state of Arkansas. Senator Love, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Members, I appreciate your indulgence. Uh, first, I would like to ask for leave for some of my guests, which are the presidents of the the links the links organization. You don't come, you don't, they can come closer, come on closer. So, um, let me just read a little bit about the links. The links incorporated is an international nonprofit corporation established in 1946 by Margaret Roswell Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott. And whereas the links incorporated consists of more than 17,000 professional women of African descent and 299 chapters found in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth, of the Bahamas and the United Kingdom. And whereas the links Incorporated is one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer organizations made up of extraordinary women committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the cultural and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry. Whereas the chapter of the links incorporated collectively known the importance of their model, our voice, our vote, our power. And whereas the members of the Linx Incorporated are influential decision makers, opinion leaders, and distinguished achievers. Now I'm gonna, I'm gonna skip through most of this and just introduce our guests. Now therefore be it resolved by the Senate of the 95th General Assembly of the state of Arkansas that the Senate recognized Monday, February 3rd as a links legislative day. At the state capitol and recognize the links incorporated for its service, work, and contributions to his chapter communities and to the state of Arkansas. Further, it be resolved that the upon this adoption, a copy of this resolution be provided by the Secretary of the Senate to the Little Rock chapter president Annette Slater, who was not present because she had to leave. The Palm bluff chapter, President Carla Martin JD and the Northwest Arkansas chapter president Phyllis. Harris Uh, members, I've been knowing of the links organization ever since, I think it was even before I got to the legislature. I call her the Meredith, um, the first African American uh mayor of Little Rock, Miss Lottie Shackelford. This is Miss Carla Martin and ma'am, you know what I It's OK. It's Sea Tompkins. Ms. Tompkins, um. I'll tell you all the work that they give to our community is invaluable. And so I did want to recognize in this day, February 3rd, so with that I appreciate a good vote. Thank you, Senator and welcome, ladies. All those in favor of Senate resolution 8 to recognize Monday, February 3, 2025 as he links legislative day at state capitol, please signify by saying aye. And he opposed, I have it. Senate Resolution 8 is adopted. Thank you. OK. And we are going to pass over Senate resolution 7, and we will take up Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 12. Senator King. Where did he go? I remember I Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 12. Yeah my bill, my amendment. All those in favor of Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 12. Please signify it by saying I. And he opposed. I have it. OK. It amendment is adopted, please send to engrossing Senator King, you're recognized for a motion. OK, I want to make a motion to after engrossing to send the bill back to committee to be amended. After engrossing, Senator King has made a motion to re-refer back to state agencies. All those in favor please signify by saying aye. Any opposed? I have it, motion passes. We will now take up Senate Bill 48. Senate Bill 48 by Senator Boyd to amend the law concerning disclosure of deductibles under certain insurance policies. Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 48, this is a consumer friendly bill which simply requires all owner-occupied residential property insurance disclose all deductibles on the declaration page or notice of renewal in a clear and conspicuous manner. There is no known opposition to this bill. Any questions for Senator Boyd? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat. Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crow, Davis, Des, Dema Dotson English flippo flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change. change his or her vote. Seeing no one please cast up the ballot by a vote of 35, 0, nay, Senate Bill 48 passes, please transmit to the house. We will now take up Senate Bill 58. Senate Bill 58, my senator dismay to remove the prohibition of nonprofit tax exempt or governmentally funded hospitals holding a licensed pharmacy permit for the sale and retail of drugs. Senator Dimay, you're recognized. Thank you, members. I think you may have had some conversations with folks about this bill. It has been amended. I tried to do the best I could to explain that uh last Thursday when I presented the amendment, uh, but this bill is going to remove the current. prohibition that we have for tax exempt governmental or nonprofit hospitals from being able to obtain a retail license, uh, pharmacy license in the state. It does provide for stipulations though that would help, I think, ease some of the concern uh from the Pharmers Association. In fact, I, I think that I've put every one of their concerns or tried to address each one of their concerns and suggestions in this bill. Uh, so the first thing as far as the parameters of how a nonprofit governmental or tax-exempt hospital can receive a retail pharmacy permit is, number one, they have to have a hospital pharmacy permit. All nonprofit hospitals, tax exempt from governments have a hospital permit, pharmacy permit, so that will allow them to have one retail pharmacy permit to pair up with that. Number 2, for every 100 beds that they have, they can have an additional retail permit, but that is all then uh limited to where those can be, so it's within 250 yards of the. campus is where they can have those. So again, you can have, you will have one because you have a hospital pharmacy permit and you could have additional because of the size of your campus per 100 beds that you have, uh, non-inclusive of that and this was actually a suggestion by the Farmers Association that infusion centers be allowed to have retail nonprofit governmental or tax exempt infusion centers are led by those hospitals could have retail pharmacies that would be stood up next to the infusion centers. And so there is no limitation on that and if you can think about that, your cancer treatment centers and some other uh niche I guess industry where we are just not able to meet the need, especially in rural Arkansas and then the last is if there is not a pharmacy in an area serving a population per the definition of network adequacy, which we approved, I think a session ago, then a nonprofit tax exempt for governmental hospital could open up a pharmacy to fill that need in that area. Again, not in a place that there's already a pharmacy located. There are other parameters that are put in place here. There's a patient choice, uh, requirement, essentially requiring the hospitals to allow the patients they have a choice on where they receive their pharmacy, and then also and that, that mirrors what's in place for our nursing homes right now. That was a big push, and I think something we saw quoted in the paper several times that they wanted to mirror that so that it's mirrored here. And then lastly, you'll get to see an ALC once every meeting with the LC an update on the number of permits issued. exposures and just kind of a report of what's happening with the pharmacy industry, uh, as we move forward and where those are. So with that, I'd be happy to take any questions. Any questions for Senator Dimay. Seeing no questions. Does anyone wish to speak against or for? I see no one speaking against, I see Senator Boyd wishing to speak for Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. So first of all, I think everyone in here knows I'm a licensed pharmacist and I have some ownership and a couple of pharmacies, but just in case out of abundance of caution, I want to make sure I disclose that to this body, so we're all crystal clear before I participate. Um, so, and then also people out in the public might not know that. And so I just want to disclose that, uh, and my full disclosure letter will be coming probably later today. So first of all, thank you to Senator Dismay for agreeing to substantially amend his bill. Second, there has been some discussion of a draft drafting error, if that's the case, I'm confident that that can be clarified. And third, please join me today in voting for this bill. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Boyd. Anyone else wish to speak against or for this bill. Senator, you're recognized to close. All right, thank you. And like we've talked about, we are the only state in the country that has this prohibition in place. This doesn't do exactly what I would like it to do. I think that we should repeal the prohibition and move forward, uh, but that's not the way compromise works itself out. So, uh, my main focus is that we increase access and that we improve outcomes for those that need it the most, and I think this bill still accomplishes that. And with that, I appreciate a good vote. Thank you. The senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat. Objection noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. poet Brant Caldwell, Clark. Clark, Crowell, Davis. Days, this mine. This mine. Dotson English. flowers, Gilmore. Hammer, Hester Hickey Hill Irvin. Like Johnson, Mark Johnson. Mark Johnson. King Latin love McKee, Murdoch. Murdoch. Hayton Penzo. Patty, rice, Scott. Do. Stab a Phil Sullivan. Tucker Wallace. Any senator who did not vote, who wishes to vote, Senator Clark, yes. Senator Mark Johnson, yes. Any other senator, Senator Murdoch. Present. Any other senator, seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 34 yeah, zero nay, and 1 present. Senate Bill 58 passes. Please transmit to the house. Senator Tucker, you're recognized to introduce the doctor of the day. Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, we want to welcome as always, our nurse Lee Fazio, and then we also have from UAMS and a Little Rock resident for a year and a half now and we're very happy to have her, someone who specializes in anesthesiology and interventional pain, Dr. Jindal from UAMS. I just want to note, I think, I think we should be aware. Dr. Jindal's institution, UAMS, all of the medication in our clinic over here in the state capitol to help us throughout the course of the session. That's all donated by UAMS for our benefits. So I just want to make sure folks are aware of that. Thank you, Senator. We will now take up Senate Bill 98. Centinel 98 by Sentra Davis, to amend the law regarding alcoholic beverages to authorize the third party delivery of alcoholic beverages from certain retailers and to create a third party delivery permit. Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Um, this bill members, it does at a very high level, it does 3 main things. It adds grocery and delivery, um, excuse me, grocery and convenience stores to the list of approved retailers that can deliver beer and wine. It limits it to wet counties only, and it establishes a third party delivery permit overseen by ABC that will include permit fees and training standards that will address identifying underage persons, intoxicated persons and fake or altered IDs. Um, this, if passed will be the Arkansas will be the thirty-fifth state to implement this law, and every single state that touches Arkansas already allows it in some capacity. Um, I want to be clear, I think there's been a little bit of confusion in the talking points that some of you may have received, but this is strictly from grocery or convenience stores to your home, this or your residence or where you have it dropped off. This is not from a warehouse, this isn't about Amazon getting a bunch of stuff from the warehouse and just taking it to your home. This is strictly if you do a Kroger or Harps or Walmart or um Whole Foods, grocery delivery order. It authorizes is the third party, just as they currently can deliver your groceries to include beer or wine in that grocery order if it is sold in that store, which means you must live in a wet county. So I wanted to be very clear on that. It's not about warehouses, it's grocery store directly to where you have it delivered. I'm happy to take any questions. Questions for Senator Davis. Saying no questions, does, oh, I'm sorry, Senator Clark, you're recognized for a question. Sara Davis. The Page 5, line 20. says there is a rebuttable presumption that the sale or delivery of an alcoholic beverage to a minor or intoxicated person was not made with criminal negligence. If the delivery driver at the time of the delivery had received training from a training program adopted or approved under 3-4-1106. Mhm Why is it a presumption Because somebody's been trained that they didn't deliver to somebody who was intoxicated or to a minor. Why is that a presumption? Well, I think it'll be very clear in the rules and the way that ABC, um, allows for the delivery permit and requires training for the employees of the third party. So it's going to be very clear in those guidelines as to, you know, what they're looking for, who they can deliver, and they'll have to present um an ID and show that they are the person that made that order. So I should make the presumption that if I've done the right training for a cash. year at my store that they're not taking money out of the till. Is that what you're, well, I think, as I said, I think it'll be clear in the rules as to how ABC deals with their permit. I mean, I would say the third parties have just as much to lose as the grocery stores. I mean, if they're not allowed a permit, that means they will not be able to deliver in the state. So ABC will be the one enforcing and coming up with the exact rules on how to handle situations just like this. OK, don't argue that they'll make the rules, but they're going to make the rules according to what we pass here. And I don't understand the presumption that somebody's not doing wrong because they have sting operations. I can since I was in high school, I've known a sting operations where liquor stores were selling to minors over the counter, so if a liquor store themselves would have done that, then I'm going to assume that a third party is not anymore, uh, just because they've been trained and so I don't understand. The presumption of innocence because you've had training that I can't see how that makes any sense. I think it's a little like innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent. So if a situation occurs, I think um the initial response is to see exactly what happened rather than presuming guilt, and I assume that there will be an investigation as ABC promulgates the rules for exactly how to handle situations like this, um, to ensure that if it was done, on purpose that it will be dealt with accordingly, um, but not just assuming from the get-go that they are in fact guilty. OK, and you, and this doesn't help Amazon, this Amazon can't participate in this. Amazon can participate. My uh Amazon I think is who delivers for Whole Foods, um, but it's not coming from their warehouse, and that's what I wanted to be clear about if if Amazon is delivering anything, it was because an order was placed directly with a Whole Foods or a grocery store, and they are picking up from that grocery store in that county and delivering it to that home, OK. I, uh, thank you for making it clear because I just happened to have sat across the table from the Amazon person last week who was here for this bill, so I, I was a little confused by that. Thank you. Yes, thank you. Other question, Senator Payton, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Madam President. So in regards to the paragraph that Senator Clark was talking about. Are you saying that it's not granting immunity on criminal negligence or that it's just changing the presumption on the front end. Yes, changing presumption presumption on the front end. It's not just saying you're absolved no matter what, as long as you've had the training, you can do no wrong. Um, it's just saying that we're not going to just assume guilt on the front end, but investigate to ensure that they're complying with training and standards. Um, and see what happened. Well, I appreciate that. I'm not an attorney, and when you start discussing it, it gave me pause because I know that the law trumps the rules that are going to be made. And it certainly appears to me just the way I read it, that for granting some level of immunity. Uh, maybe it's not full immunity on that criminal negligence, but thank you. Thank you. Any other questions for Senator Davis. Anyone wish to speak against the bill. Anyone wish to speak for? Senator, you're free to close. Thank you, members. I asked for a good vote and I'm closed for my bill. Thank you, Senator. The senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote. Objections noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Poet Brant Caldwell. Caldwell, Clark. Crowe, Davis. There Days This man Dotson. Dodson English Flipper flowers. Flowers. Gilmore Gilmore, Hammer. Hammer. Hester, Hickey Hill. Hill Arvin Like Johnson. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson, King. King Letting love. McKee Murdoch. Murdoch. Payton and so Patty. Patty Rice. Scott Stone Stab afield. Sullivan Tucker. Tucker Wallace And I will begin on this side. Any senators who did not vote or who wish to change your vote. Senator Gilmore, no. Any other senators on this side. These no. He'll know. Any other senators who have not voted or who wish to change your vote. Senator Flowers, no. Any other senators, please check the board. Seeing no other senators, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 1512 nay, 8 not voting, Senate Bill 98 fails. Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to make a motion to expunge the vote by which SB 98 failed. Motion to expand the vote. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. And he opposed I have it, motion passes. Thank you, Senator Davis. We'll now take up Senate Bill 102. Senate Bill 102 by Senator Davis to amend the law concerning canvassers for local option elections and to amend the law concerning compensation of paid canvassers for local optional elections. Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. In 2021, we passed a bill known as Act 951 that set standard statewide, um, for our elections, for our paid canvassers. So what this bill does is the exact same thing for local wet dry elections, um, it has the same standards that we currently require of our paid canvassers statewide, um, and that language is mirrored exactly. way In this part of the law. Um, you'll see references to a county clerk instead of the Secretary of State because that's how it goes locally, where the signatures will be turned into. Um, the only thing that is new language in the bill is page 4, line 19, um, and it just says that Excuse me. Um, the signature section of the petition shall be formatted as prescribed by the county clerk, which they currently have the authority to do so, and it shall contain the same number of signature lines prescribed by the Secretary of State for statewide petitions. That's usually around 10 per page, we just made that uniform, so whether or not you're paying canvassers statewide to collect signatures or you're paying them locally for a wet dry ballot, uh, option, then the standards are exactly the same. I'm happy to take. Any questions. Any questions for Senator Davis, Senator Ervin, you're recognized for a question. Thank you. I just noticed I was reading this on page 3 lines 19 and 20, you've struck in that language and replaced it with the disqualifying offenses under and then added, I think some of those other parameters. Uh, so would that be consistent with existing law or just the other law need to be changed to reflect that change. It's consistent with existing law. It just was worded differently here, so we scratched it and it says the same thing um under Title VII where we have all that language, so it's the exact same. OK, thanks, just wanted to make sure, thank you. Any other questions for Senator Davis? Seeing no other questions. Anyone wish to speak against the bill? Anyone wish to speak for? Senator Davis, you're recognized to close. Thank you members. I asked for a good vote. I'm closed for my bill. Thank you. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat. Objection noted. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Poet Brant Caldwell. Caldwell. Clark Clark, Crowe. Davis Days Days This man, this mine. Dotson, English. Flippo. Flowers. Gilmore, Hammer Esther. Hickey Hill Irvinlake Johnson. Like Johnson, Mark Johnson, King. lighting, love. It was not. McKee Murdoch Murdoch Titan. And so, Patty, rice, Scott. Stone. Step afield. Sullivan Tucker. Wallace. I didn't get stubble. Any senator wish to vote, who's not voted or changed his or her vote. I see Senator Murdoch, no. Senator Caldwell, yes. Any other senator? Please check the board. Seeing no others, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 29 5 nay, 1 not voting, Senate Bill 102 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 133. Sam 133 by Senator Boyd to in the uniform commercial code to define central bank digital currency under the Uniform Commercial Code and to modify the uniform commercial code definitions of money and deposit accounts. Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. So let me start with two things. What this bill is not. First of all, this bill central central bank digital currency is not cryptocurrency. So just to clarify, this is not cryptocurrency that we're talking about. Second of all, what this is not is this is not the 2022 amendment to the UCC, which Christie, Governor Christie Noem at the time vetoed. This is actually a different version of the UCC. So central bank digital currency or CBDC means a form of digital money or monetary value denominated in the national unit of account that is a direct liability of the central bank. A CBDC is in the US would allow government to know how much money we have, how we spend the money, and ultimately control how we spend that money. Further, it would fundamentally change our banking system. Neither of those things are good. So this bill does 3 things. One, it has to provide a definition of central Bank digital currency in order to do the other two things. It clarifies that central bank digital currency is not money, clarify, is not money. It also clarifies that CBDC is not a deposit count in the state of Arkansas. By clarifying a central bank digital currency is not money in Arkansas and the uniform commercial code, it places a constitutionally sound speed bump in the way of our federal government implementing a central bank digital currency. That's right, it's a speed bump. It makes it harder, if not impossible for our federal government to implement something as egregious as a central bank digital currency. Other states have done other things to create a speed bump, but this method is substantially similar to the mechanism Florida. has used a couple years ago, so this is what the Florida legislature did and Governor Ron DeS Santa signed into legislation. Uh, this is not again repeat, this is not implementing the language of the 2022 UCC, which would have smoothed the transition. This is actually doing the opposite of that. The banking association spoke in favor of this bill in committee and the banking department is fully aware of this, and they have not expressed any concerns to me about this bill. Any questions for Senator Boyd. Senator Mark Johnson, you're recognized for a question. Senator Boyd, thank you for your work on this bill, and you've done a great job of clarifying it. I want to further clarify that if someone is Skeptical of the concept of central bank digital currency and central bank generally is going to mean the Federal Reserve. Then they would support this bill, and if they're not skeptical of that possible creation, then they could vote against it, but this is you in committee he used the term speed bump. Uh, this doesn't create or condone or anything. It just makes sure that that process is slowed down. Did I understand that correctly. That's right, because by changing our UCC, it creates a challenge of implementing central bank digital currency. Now we could find out that constitutionally we can't do this, but I would say we have states' rights, and it is very much the state's right to amend the UCC just like Florida and some other states have done. OK. Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Madam President. Other questions Senator Stubblefield, you're recognized for a question. I want to make sure that Senator Boyd was willing to be in the well. Or the or the other two states, uh, Florida and South Carolina, South Dakota. Are they, uh, constant are those states in litigation. Not constitutionality of this? No, not to my knowledge. No one is under that. In fact, the White House has come out currently and said, hey, this isn't going to happen under this administration, but the challenge is what about the next one or the one after that. So something where the federal government can know where every unit of money we have is in fundamentally change our banking system. We need to do our part to say no. What task would this have with the Federal Reserve, the central bank is the Federal Reserve. So it it will all be the same thing. Yes, the Federal Reserve basically becomes the the national bank, the bank. If central bank digital currency were to actually happen, but that's what this does is it seeks to stop central bank digital currency from happening. Anyone wish to speak against the bill. Anyone wish to speak for? Senator Boyd, you're a recognized clothes. Thank you, Madam President. I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you, Senator has closed any objection to rolling the vote. Say no. So Objection noted. If you all can be clear and OK. Thank you. Objection noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boy. Bront Caldwell. Clark Clark Crawl. Crowell Davis Davis Days, this Dotson English Flippo flowers. Flowers, Gilmore. Hammer, Hester Hickey. Take Hill Hill. Irvin Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King lighting, love. Love McKee Murdoch, Murdoch. Hayton and so. And Patty rice. Scott. Scott. Stone. Stab afield. Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senators who did not vote, who wished to vote, I see Senator Kroll, yes. Any other senators on this side. Send her love present. Urban present Murdoch present. Scott, present. He'll, yes. Any others? Hickey, yes. Any others, please check the board. Please check the board. Any others, seeing no others, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 31, 0, nay, and for present, Senate Bill 133 passes. Please transmit to the house. We are now going to take up Senate resolution 7. Senate resolution 7 by Senator Dees to recognize the city of Salem Springs as recipient in 2024 of a volunteer community of the Year award. The most innovative city award, the floorpla community of the Year Award and a trendsetter City Award. Senator Dees, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Thank you, Madam Governor. Members, I'd like leave for my friends here, Mayor Judy Nation and Chamber president Arthur Holbert. Thank you. I'm joined by my good friends. We have a, a host of friendly uh folks as well in the, in the gallery today from Silom Springs for this wonderful resolution. In fact, they had to shut the town down because we have all the delegates from Silent Springs here at the Capitol today, but I want to, I want to share real fast about this resolution, and it starts for me like this, being the furthest legislator from the Capitol, but I still know you all share the same sentiment. When I pull into town from a long week here in Little Rock, and I get to go back home, there's a sigh of relief. That we all feel, no matter how far you are away from home, But I feel that same way right now, because I get to honor my hometown here at the Capitol. The city of Silom Springs has been given multiple awards and we're going to highlight some of those today. Uh, they've been, they've been given by Engage Arkansas, the most the volunteer city of the year, uh, I hear that. Amen. Thank you. And um and they've also been given the, the flood plan Management Association award and the trendsetter of, of trendsetter City. of the year award. And so this is really special to be a representative of this being my hometown and having them here 4 hours away from the Capitol, we've been able to have lunch with them and to honor them. But thank you for letting me bring them here today and so members I'd ask for a resounding uh positive vote on this resolution as we recognize Silent Springs as the volunteer city of the year. Thank you, Senator Dees, all those in favor of Senate Resolution 7 to recognize the city of Solem Springs as recipient in 2024 of a volunteer community of the Year award, the most innovative city award, the floodplain community of the Year award and a trendsetter City Award, policing 5% I, and he opposed, I have it, Senate Resolution 7 is adopted. And while we're standing to applause, please recognize we have our mayor here, our city administrator. We've got members of the chamber of Commerce, Western Benton County Partnership, Kiwanis Club, uh, kind at Heart Rotary Club, Boys and Girls Club, Simmons Foods, and few that I'm sure I've missed, but all of them have been a big part of why they, these are the, the volunteer city of the year. So thank you one more time, Silent Springs. Thank you and thank you all for joining us at the Capitol today. We will now take up House Bill 1056. House for 1056 by Representative Evans and sent for Hester. Create the Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and declare an emergency. Senator Hester, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. So members, this is a bill creating a new joint committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, and I think that the question that I've been getting a lot is why, and I think we have to look back, why do we have any subcommittees? Why don't we just hear anything on the floor. We have a subcommittee when we feel like it's an issue that is worthy of having a a subset of members that understand the issues, can hear them routinely, hear them year after year, understand them better so we can better serve whatever population that is, and I think that's where we are with our military and veterans affairs. We know that the military and veterans population in the state of Arkansas is growing. We can cite that with the F-35 project in Fort Smith. We know that the munitions down in Camden are continuing to grow. Uh, we've recently, a few years ago, we made the retirement for military tax exempt, which is also helping move military people here. So and veterans here. So with that, we know that this is a growing population in Arkansas. We want to continue to honor them in the way that I believe the state of Arkansas should, with that, we hope, I hope that you will join me in supporting this committee. Any questions for Senator Hester. Senator Payton, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Senator Hester, and we hashed this out in committee and, and I appreciate the amendment that was made, but I'd like it stated on the on the floor that Yeah Bills that get assigned to this committee could be from either chamber. And if a bill is assigned to the committee from either chamber and the other chamber wants to oppose it, what the remedy would be, and I think we discussed that that could be sent even through a second committee if it's like something pertaining to health care or taxes or or uh something like that could go to a to One of those committees in addition to this, can you just restate that on the I'd be happy to. So I think the clarification would be on almost all of these joint committees, the House has more members than the than the Senate does. For instance, on joint energy, there's 15 House members and 10 senators. On this one, there'll be 12 House members and 8 senators. So if we have a joint committee and all the House members vote for it and no senators, it could be called Du pass. Well, if we're not happy with how that went, uh, when it comes to our floor, um, We'll just have Philip re-refer or we will go 18 members will re-refer it to state agencies or whatever committee that is, but we are 18 members are not bound by something that happens at a joint committee. It is my guess that by far and away the majority of the time, there will be, you know, significant support or opposition to any bill, but if we don't like the results of what came out of that committee, 18 people on this floor will uh re-refer it to another committee to be heard. Any other questions for Senator Hester. Seeing no other questions. Anyone wish to speak against the bill. Anyone wish to speak for. Senator, you are free to close. Uh, members, I think I heard a question on the crowd says when did this start? There's emergency clauses on the back, so it's as soon as the governor signs this bill, um, it would be and we're, it would be law. Now we made an amendment in my closing here, uh, that memo on page 3, we, we, we moved to a shall to a may. It did say that any bill relating to military affairs shall be referred to this committee. Well, if it was to do with income tax, we don't want it to go to military. route, we would want it to go to the revenue and tax committee. So we amended that, so it will have to go back to the house for confirmation of that amendment, then to the governor's desk. And with that, I asked for a good vote. Thank you, Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat. Objections noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. poet But it. Front Caldwell, Clark. Clark Crawl, Davis Das Desma, Dotson. English. Philippo flowers. Gilmore Hammer, Hester, Hicky Hill Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Desma, I mean, lighting, sorry. Letting Life, McKee, Murdoch. Murdoch, Peyton, Pennzo Patty, rice. Scott stone. Stanfield. Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Any senators wish to vote, Senator Clark present. Senator. Murdoch, yes Scott, are you changing your boat? OK, y'all just talking. OK. OK. All right. I just want to make sure we were stealing 3rd or what we were doing. Any, any other senators which should change your vote? Please check the board, seeing no one. Please cast up the ballot by a vote of 33, yeah, zero nay, and 2 present House Bill 1056 passes and the corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please return to the house. We have items at the desk. Were your committee on grossels, who was first Senate Bill 12 by Senator King, compared the engrossed copy of the original and find the same correctly engrossed. State agencies, 181 by Centra Sullivan. To amend the regional library system law and to amend the requirements for regional library system directors. City County local. Any announcements. Senator Flippo, you're recognized for an announcement. Thank you, Governor. Colleagues, I appreciate it if you can join me tonight or this afternoon from 4:30 to 6:30 for the North Central Arkansas Economic Alliance. Senator Hester's going to be telling all my folks back home how much he's looking forward to working with these next 2 years and just what a big help I've been to him personally. So I appreciate y'all be there today to see that. Thank you. Senator Hill, you're recognized. Insurance and commerce um transportation is meeting 15 minutes after in the old Supreme Court. Senator Stubblefield. Yes, City County, local will meet at 10 o'clock in the morning. Any other announcements? Senator Irvin. OK. Public health, if you have a bill in public health, um, you're the Senate sponsor of or the House or your sponsor of a House bill, please get with me so I can get that bill scheduled for you to run your bill. Um, if you have a special order of business, I got you taken care of on February 12th for your bill, um, but it does, um, we, we will schedule that for you ason request as well, and we will hear scope of practice bills the week of February 17th of all that week and we'll probably be meeting on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Friday just to get all the bills done. So get with me and I'll get you scheduled and members of public health our picture will be Wednesday before public health, so I probably, please come. Senator dismaying, you're recognized joint budget will meet tomorrow at 9. We will be hearing bills. I think we have some update on the pay plan. So again, we're gonna begin work tomorrow on a joint budget at 9 o'clock. Any other announcements? Seeing no other announcements, Senate will stand in adjournment until 1:30 p.m. February 4th, subject to the clearing of the desk.