Senate Convenes

Senate will be called to order. Are there any requests for leave at this time. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boy, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Desma, Dotson, English, Flippo, flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Lating love, McKee, Murdoch, Payton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, stone. Steer Phil Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Thank you, Madam Secretary. If everyone in the chamber and in the galleries would please rise for a prayer led by Senator Wallace, followed by the Pledge of allegiance. Senator Wallace, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Oh Lord, our Heavenly Father. Thank you for this day. Thank you for the life that you have given us. Lord, help us in the Senate, so that we will make the laws for the state of Arkansas that are just for all, a Henry father, watch over our families, our loved ones. Watch over a military, O Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen. I'm glad the flag. United States of America and to the republic under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank Senator Wallace 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 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. The morning hour has now begun. I would first like to recognize Senator Flowers to introduce our Senate pages for the day. place Senator Flowers, you're recognized. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President, Members, I would like to recognize our Senate pages joining us today when I call your name, please come to the front to be recognized. Cassidy Thomas. Cassidy is a student, a freshman student. At Lion College. She is the page of Senator Kroll. Let's welcome Cassidy Thomas. Next we have Ainsley Readerer. Ainsley, please come forward. Ainsley is in the 8th grade. She is homeschooled and she is the page of Senator Gilmore. We'd like to take your picture. Let's welcome Ainsley. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Flowers, and welcome to our pages today. Are there any other announcements or introductions at this time. Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? Yes. Dear Mr. President, this is to inform you that on January 27, 2025, I reviewed and approved the following measures for the fiscal session of the ninety-fifth General Assembly, Senate Bill 1 is now Act 9. Sincerely, Sarah Sanders, uh, Governor of Arkansas. You got to get that changed. It's not right. Will your committee on gross bills, to whom was referred to Senate Bill 47 by Senator Boyd compared the engrossed copy of the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Insurance and commerce committee on Gross just who was first Senate Bill 89 by Central English compared the grossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Education Committee on Engross bills team was referred Senate Bill 90 by Senator English compared the gross copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Education Committee on gross bills. Who was fired Senate Bill 94 Senator Dodson compared the engrossed copy of the ritual and find the same correctly engrossed. Insurance and commerce. Were your committee on Education who was first sent 46 by Central Caldwell recommend new pass. calendar Committee on education who was for house 1133 by Centra Unger recommend Du pass calendar. 103 by Senator Penzo. To create the pharmacy, nondescription Act to require pharmacy benefits managers to accept any pharmacy or pharmacists willing to accept relevant and reasonable terms of participation and declare an emergency by 103. Insurance and commerce 104 by Penzo to amend the Arkansas Pharmacy Benefits Manager Laener Act to protect patients' rights and access to medications, an emergency, send it by 104. and commerce. Symbol 105 joint budget and act for the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Appropriation for 2025, 2026 fiscal year, sent 105 joint budget 106 by joint budget, and I for the Department of Agriculture Appropriation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year sent by 106. Joint budget December 107 by joint budget, an Act for the Southeast Arkansas College Appropriation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal. 107 joint budget Cyber 1085 joint budget and act for the uh SAU tech appropriation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year, sent by 108 joint budget 109 by joint budget and act for the Arkansas, South Arkansas College Preparation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year 109 joint budget 110 by Central Penza. To authorize certified nurse aides or or certified nursing assistants who provide in-home services to beneficiaries in the Arkansas Medicaid program to perform additional care and duties. Senate Bill 110. Public health. So Any further business to come before the body in the morning hour, if not the morning hour has expired. We will now begin the business agenda. We'll begin with Senate resolution 4. So. Senate resolution 4 by Senator Tucker to welcome Lieutenant General retired Jy Silver as president of the University of Arkansas System. Senator Tucker, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to start by asking for leave for some guests to join us on the floor. Thank you for that enthusiasm. That come on, come over here. So it's an exciting day today. We're here to welcome the new head of the UFA system. So it's been more than 13 years since UA system has had a change in leadership. Dr. Bobbitt did an excellent job during his tenure, and we were thrilled that the board of trustees has has hit it out of the park to welcome Lieutenant General Jay Silveri and his wife Virginia to Arkansas. President Silveria comes to us after a very distinguished career in the US Air Force, including serving as the equivalent of the president of the Air Force Academy before retiring to lead the Washington DC campus of Texas A&M University. And the Bush School of Government and Public Service. We're joined today by several members of the UA Board of trustees, including Chair Kelly Eichler and also Kevin Crass, who are a friend to many in here and we're we're so glad y'all are here with us today. Uh, the UA System Administration and the president's home are not only in my district, but they, they're neighbors of mine. So I'm particularly excited to welcome General Saveri in Virginia to the neighborhood. As you can tell from the from the resolution before you today, Lieutenant General Cervari is no stranger to leading complex organizations and executing important missions. It's safe to say that with his nearly 4000 hours as an Air Force command pilot of F-15 and F-35 jets, and its command of major operations overseas, including supervision of a 20 country region, countries that included Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, that he brings a steady temperament and resolve to the management of 20 campuses. s divisions, and units of the UA system. President Silveria, I know I speak for everyone in this room and thanking you for your service to our nation and welcoming both you and Virginia to Arkansas. Congratulations on your appointment. I know you're excited to get out across the state to visit your campuses and the many students, faculty and staff that the system serves, everyone in here, I can speak for them and to say we all look forward to working with you and to supporting the important work of the UA system under your leadership. Thank you, Madam President, I would appreciate a good. vote on Senate Resolution 4. Thank you, Senator Tucker. All those in favor of Senate resolution 4 to welcome Lieutenant General retired Jay Silveria as president of the University of Arkansas system. Please signify by saying I. And he opposed as have it Senate resolution 4 passes or it's about. I you. I. Senate will come back to order. We will now take up Senate Bill 70. Senator Hickey. Thank you. Senate Bill 70 by Century Hickey to amend the law concerning standards for insurance policies and revise the notice requirements of an insurer for a premium increase. Senator Hickey, you're a recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Members, this is pretty self-explanatory. We currently have that uh the insurer must notify the agent. And the insured, uh, if a premium increase is going to be more than 25%. So what we're doing is we're actually making that time a little bit longer. So currently it's at 30 days at the that the insurer has to notify the insured's agent. We're gonna take that up to 60 days and we're gonna take the uh the the constituent where there at 10 days where that has to be 30 days. Again, I think everybody understands what the increased cost of uh what insurance policies are right now. This just gives it a little bit longer, so hopefully they can be placed without their insurance canceling. Any questions? Saying no questions. Anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the boat, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Bo, Bright, Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, Thisma Batson, English flippo flowers, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Lating, love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan. Wallace. Any senator wished to change his or her vote. Seeing no one. Please cast up the ballot by a vote of 35 yeah, zero nay, Senate bill 70 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate bill 76. Cin about 76 by Senator Blake Johnson to amend the law concerning miscellaneous prohibited practices under the Arkansas Insurance Code and to clarify fees collected by certain brokers. Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. We uh this, this bill does not change the Arkansas, um, public policy. The, uh, since 2015, Arkansas Insurance Department has interpreted state law to exempt surplus line brokers from the 20% cap, uh, the fee cap, recognizes that the exemption is critical to provide insurance availability to Arkansas residents. Uh, so these, uh, supplemental land policies are For folks who can't get insurance through the standard lines and and this has been uh in 2015, it was published in the bulletin and interpreted by the the uh insurance commission and this has been the practice, but it's just been in the bulletin. So this would put it in the statute so to to hopefully expand the supplemental lines in the state of Arkansas. They would feel comfortable coming to the state with it being in law. rather than just in a bulletin or rule. Any questions for Senator Blake Johnson. Senator Hill, you're recognized. What are some of those? Those are just like a a policy if you can't get a roof insured by the standard lines, uh, it would be, it would be a supplemental insurance policy for your roof that you can insure through the standard lines. Any other questions for Senator Johnson? Seeing no one, anyone wish to speak against or for. Senator, you are free to close. Thank you, madam. We appreciate a good vote. Senator has closed any objection to rolling the vote? Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Desmay 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, Steberfield, Sullivan, Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her boat, seeing no one. cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yeah, 0, nay, Senate Bill 76 passes, please transmit. To the house. Senator Dimay, you're recognized. I'd like to make a motion to recall House Bill 1102, that's an appropriation bill dealt with Cindy County turn back. There was some special language that was added during the fiscal session that related to deputy prosecutors, the agreement, when we Uh, when the sponsor drafted that piece of special language is that it would kind of take us back to the 1999 percentages. In fact, you know, the way it's written, it will phase out the county's responsibilities altogether and put that on the backs of the state. That was not kind of the agreement that was made and so I'd like to recall that so we can work through uh maybe a better fix uh in regards to special language. Motion to recall House Bill 1102. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed? Is habit. Motion carries. Senator Sullivan, you're recognized to introduce the doctor of the day. Thank you, Governor. I'd like to introduce Doctor Lisa Spence back in the back, our doctor of the day. I was fortunate enough to get to meet with her for about 10 minutes outside, we share some uh goals, really important for our state and the health of our children and, and adults and look forward to, to her working and me working with her, uh, in our state to improve our health. Dr. Lisa Spence. Thank you, thank you, Senator Sullivan. Any other, any announcements at this time, Senator Urban, you're recognized um transportation is meeting 15 minutes upon adjournment in the old Supreme Court room, um, also Senate Ethics Committee is meeting at 2:30 today in room 309. If you're on the ethics committee, room 309. Um, also just, uh, there's a reception tonight with AFMC. You've got one of these on your desk from 5 to 7. Uh, it's held down West 3rd Street, so it's very close to the Capitol and a little event center that's near their building, so I hope to see you there, um. And there's a bill filing deadline today for scope of practice bills, so that should be, uh, when the desk closes today. Holler if you have any questions, ethics at 2:30, transportation 15 minutes upon adjournment. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Urban. Senator Caldwell, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Uh, Senator Agra will not meet tomorrow. Thanks, Senator, Senator Davis. right now. Thank you, Madam Chair, the Rules Committee will meet upon adjournment in room 309, and at this time I also have a motion to re-refer Senate Bill 102 from state agencies to city county local. There is a motion on the floor. Senators, there's a motion on the floor by Senator Davis to re-refer Senate Bill 102 back to state agencies, is that correct from state agencies to city, county, local, and withdraw from state agencies and put in city, county, local. All those in favor of Senator Davis's motion questions Senator Hickey, you're recognized. Senators, so it um the entire bill amends Title III, which deals with local elections and alcohol specifically, it does not amend Title VII, which is statewide elections. So that's why. So the code, the code that it affects is actually in City County. That's correct. OK, thank you. Thanks. Any other questions on the motion? If no other questions on the motion, and when we speak against or for all those in favor of Senator Davis's motion. Please signify by saying I. And he opposed, I have it, motion carries. Senator Clark, you're recognized in case you didn't see the calendar, Senate Judiciary is not meeting today. There were no bills ready to run. Thanks, Senator Clark, Senator Stubblefield, you're recognized. Thank you Madam Governor. A city county local will be meeting in the morning at 10 o'clock. We have about 10 bales sold. Senator Stubenville. Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? Yes, Senate Bill 111 by Senator Hammer to establish the dentist and dental hygienist compact Senate Bill 111. Public health. Senate resolution 5 by Senator Dotson to commemorate and recognize national School Choice Week during the week of January 26th through February 1, Senate resolution 5. Calendar. There are no further announcements. The Senate will stand and adjournment until tomorrow, January 28th, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. subject to the clearing of the desk.