House Convenes

I invite the members, staff, press, and guests in the gallery to stand and be led in prayer by house chaplain, Brother Richard Hamlin, senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Cabot, and to remain standing for the Pledge of allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, today, we think of our need for hope. How that one of our greatest enemies. This legislative body needs to serve. With a heart full of hope and the awareness that they can. God, I pray then over them today, the words of Jeremiah the prophet from so long ago. When he spoke of those things that he remembered. And because of that, your mercies that we are not. They're in. God, we hope Members please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. Is everyone indicated their presence. Cast up the ballot, Madam clerk. With 99 members present, the chair sees a quorum. Are there any requests for leave? Representative Collins, for what purpose? We Hear your leave for representative. Nope. Representative John Eubank's moves that we dispensed the reading of the previous day's journal. No objections, so ordered. Are there any reports from select committees? None. Any reports from standing committees, Madam Clerk. Mr. Speaker, we're your Committee on state agencies and governmental affairs, to whom was referred House Bill 1050, House Bill 1075, vaguely report, we have the same consideration here of the same recommendation that it do pass respectfully submitted Representative Gasaway, Chair. Mr. Speaker, we your committee on City, County, and local affairs, to whom was referred House Bill 1137 beg leave report they have the same consideration here but the same recommendation that it do pass respectfully submitted. Representative Gonzalez, chair. Thank you, Madam Clark. Are there any, is there any unfinished business or any executive communications. No, thank you, Madam Clerk. Members, um, I want to take a moment to recognize today with us our Arkansas state troopers, Sergeant Chuck Lewis, administrative Services Division, Little Rock and Sergeant Austin Ley regulatory Services Division, Little Rock. Gentlemen, thank you for your service. Members, please make them welcome. Members our doctor of the day's Doctor Jonathan Lewis, Family Medicine, guest of Representative Wade Andrews today from Camden. Please make him welcome. We also have with us today Doctor David Murphy, ophthalmologist from Little Rock, a guest of Representative Matt Duffield. And our nurses Lee Fazio and Ebony Crutchfield, thank you for your service to the house. Members with us in the North gallery today. Please welcome, uh, guest of Doctor Jonathan Lewis, uh, his family, Charlie Lewis and Tammy Lewis from Camden. Representative Ladyman. Uh, Madam Clark, please read House Resolution 1003 Resolution 1003 by Representative Ladyman to honor Saint Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro for being the first medical facility in the state to open a maternal life 360 home. Representative Ladyman, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, this time I'd like to invite the other representatives from Craighead County to come down. Representative Ryan. Gosh. Uh, members, uh, in the north gallery today, uh, we have Emily McGee, who is the, uh, nurse executive and vice president of Women and Children's Services at Saint Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro with us, as well as other members of that team. So if you would, please let me, please help me welcome them to the House of Representatives. In November of 2024, Saint Bernard's Center in Jonesboro, partnered with DHS to open the first maternal Life360 home in the state of Arkansas to serve women with high-risk pregnancies. The maternal Life360 home program supports women with traditional Medicare through Home Medicaid through home and visit services during pregnancy and for up to 2 years postpartum. The program also functions to address related social needs. Like food security and housing to benefit the long-term health and well-being of women and children. So why am I running this resolution to honor Saint Bernard's. In 2018, the Public Health Committee in this body approved the Our Homes program. In a bill that was ran by Representative Michelle Gray and Senator Missy Urban. In 2019, a working group met quarterly. To discuss how to implement this our Homes program. Until November of 2024. No one No one Picked up the mantle to implement this program. Which would help our mothers and children tremendously. Governor Sanders formed a group to revisit the issue of infant mortality in Saint Bernard's picked up the mantle and started the first our homes program. I hope I hope their action will bring other hospitals and medical facilities to follow. Implementing this program to help reduce infant mortality in Arkansas. Also, I recently met with officials at Saint Bernard's. Uh, to discuss infant and maternal mortality and how we could improve that. As you all know, Arkansas ranks forty-seventh. And 50th In these categories nationwide. I was informed by Saint Bernard's. That if their numbers alone were studied, they would rank 16th in the nation. In infant mortality and maternal mortality. So, I want to thank and recognize Saint Bernard's for their hard work, success, and leadership in this area. Is any, any of y'all have any comments? Mr. Speaker, have the clerk read the resolution by title only. Madam Clark, please read the resolution by title only Saint Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro for being the first medical facility in the state to open a maternal life 360 home. Thank you, Madam Clark. Representative Ladyman has explained the resolution. Does anyone wish to speak against the resolution. For the resolution. Representative Ladyman is closed for the resolution. The question before the House is the passage of House Resolution 1003. All those in favor say aye. I have it. Congratulations, Representative Ladyman, the resolution is adopted. Representative Wing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, each of us earned our place here through an election, and some by large margins, others with narrow victories, some with no opponent at all. Some contests were in a party primary, and some in a partisan general election, and that may have included some attacks from an opponent. They may have been personal and inflammatory. But we are here now. And it is important to understand that the enemy is not sitting in this chamber. We are now on the same team. We are working together to do the people's work. And contrary to what may be implied in the media or celebrated in social media. We are all teammates now. Teammates that may have different ideas, but unified in the quest for better policy for the people that we serve. And here's some other news. The enemy of the republic? is not a member of the other political party or factions within your own party. The enemy of the republic is and always has been bad ideas. Here we participate in a process which elevates the good ideas through thoughtful and informed discussion. This process, which includes vigorous debate, thoughtful and informed debate is exactly what the founders of this nation fought for. To process denied for most of the world's history prior to the founding of the United States of America. What we have here is sacred self-governance that is as fragile as we make it. Each of us are more than politicians. We are public servants. We serve the public best by showing them a path toward a better way. And that better way includes better policy, of course, but it also includes a better way of interacting with each other. A higher standard of civil discourse. This brings to light a fact that is hidden in this generation. That fact is that we are far more alike than we are different. And in the end, demonstrating this may be the greatest gift that we can give to the people that we serve. So let's exemplify this unifying trade every day of our public service. This doesn't mean that we agree on everything, of course. It merely means that we agree on the fundamental terms of discussion that we presume the best in each other's intentions. And that while we may disagree on how we get there. We all want to get to the same place, which is an even better Arkansas. If history holds true, we will see about 2000 bills filed in this session, roughly half of those bills will turn into law. There will be some vigorous debate on some, but let's presume that all big vigorous debate has pure intentions and that the issue of the debate is the point and not the character of the debater. Every member here earned their place by the people who voted for them, and that process is worthy of respect. We are now a 100 member team and our task is pursuing the best path forward for our great state and the amazing people that we have within our borders. The best ideas will earn their way forward as we embrace each other as teammates and mutual pursuit of the best policy. That is what is in the best interest of Arkansas, and that is the reason why we are here. So now let's go have a great session. Thank you very much. Thank you, thank you, Representative Wing. Members of the Morning Hour is ended. We would go to regular bills on your red calendar. Madam Clark, please read House Bill 1001. 1001 by Representative Vaugh and act for the Arkansas House of Representatives of the ninety-fifth General Assembly appropriation for the Representative Bocher recognized our wonderful staff who work so hard for us, it'll pay you, um, as we're here working for the people, um, there's really no changes. I know that we'll be taking up all of our own travel here in the house now. Um, and that was really the only change that we have. And with that, I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Bo has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Barney was close for your bill. Representative Vau is closed for the bill. Question before the house is the passage of House Bill 1001. This bill does include an emergency clause, prepare the machine, madam clerk. Remembs your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? You remember like to change their vote. Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. The vote of 99, 0 nays, 0 present. Madam Clark, please read Senate Bill 1. Senate Bill 1 by Representative Vaugh and Act for the expenses for the Arkansas Senate for the ninety-fifth General Assembly Appropriation for the 2025. Representative Bocher recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Out of, uh, out of courtesy, I think we should probably pass their appropriation because they did pass hours. So I would appreciate a good vote. Representative Vaugh has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill. For the bill Representative clothes for your bill. The question before the house is the passage of Senate Bill 1 members of this bill does include an emergency clause. Please prepare the machine, madam clerk. Maybe there's your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Everyone voted member would like to change their vote. Madam Clerk cast up the ballot. With the vote of 99 e, zero nays, and 0 present, the bill and the emergency clause has passed. Members will now go to the yellow calendar. Rep Representative Jean, you recognize the budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, we've got, uh, 6 appropriations today. I'll, I'll go over them, especially for the new members. Well, we've got time and My goal is to batch these. And I do realize, It is against some people's religion to batch. But I have not found it to be a sin. House Bill 1102, it's the, uh, appropriation for this is the state turn back for our cities and county government. This is the only one that has general revenue in, and it is not increased, but it's the, the general turn back for our cities and county governments that's in the RSA every year, and it is unchanged from last year. House Bill 1108 is the, uh, treasury of the state. This is the refund. This is a pass-through. This is sales tax that is collected on the county and city level. On all our 75 counties, and there are 500 cities, the the the state collects it and sends it back to the cities and counties. Uh, there's no new money there. It's just a pass through. House Bill 1109 is the amendment 74, property tax. This is done off of, uh, revenue stamps that you had, goes back to the schools and county governments. House built 1110. This is an animal rescue shelter. This is nothing general revenue, I don't even remember who who it was, but years ago, there's a license plate. That, uh, we sail in the state and the revenue derived off of that goes in here for grants for animal shelters to get. And I checked, I think, last night, there's only like $2000 in the fund. So it's not, we're not, we're not rating any account. This is, this is self-sustaining. Oh, House Bill 1111, uh, this is the also, this is a, uh, uh, money that goes back for our emergency medical appropriation for local law enforcement. This is a $25 fine if they catch you without proof of insurance when they do a traffic stop, and this money goes back to help for medical expenses, uh, for our county, uh, local law enforcement. And the last one is House Bill 1113, uh, this is the general obligation bond. Our bonds on our colleges and our bonds on water and sewer, uh, that money is collected and passed through to pay these bond funds proceeds with. Any questions on any of these, do I need to pull any out of see none. We're gonna vote House Bill 1102, House Bill 1108, House Bill 1109, House Bill 1110, House Bill 1111 and House Bill 1113, your one vote is for the bills and the batch and the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker, had the clerk read the bill for the 3rd time. Madam Clark, read the bills for the 3rd time, 1108, House Bill 1109, House Bill 1110. House Bill. the Machine, Madam Clark, members, your vote will be recorded for both the bill and the emergency clause of each bill. As everyone voted. Any member would like to change their vote, cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. vote of 100 ye, zero nays, and 0 present, batch of bills, including the emergency clause, has passed. Representative Meeks, for what purpose? Motion, please. Take your motion. After the announcements reading of the bills, transferring the bills, placing the calendars on the desk, members amending their own bills with their own amendments. Members withdrawing their own bills, finalizing resolutions, reading communications, and any remaining committee reports. I move that we adjourn until 11 a.m. tomorrow morning. That's a proper motion. It's non-debatable. All those in favor say aye. Osna, I have it. Any Announcements in committee chair announcements. Representative Kavanaugh, what purpose? I'll hear it. Uh, house rev and tax will meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning in room 151. Representative Underwood, what purpose? Announcement. Hear it. House Judiciary will meet at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, but we would like members to get there 10 minutes early for the, uh, committee photo. Presented Brooks, for what purpose? Announcement. You recognized we'll meet tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. Representative Walker, for what purpose? Announcement. You're recognized management will meet in room 138 at 9 a.m. If you are on the agenda, you will be presenting tomorrow. Seeing no other announcements, the desk will, Representative Pilkington, for what purpose? Announcement tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. in the old Supreme Court building, um, Members of the house are invited to join members of the Senate. We will be having a rosary at 8 a.m. So if you'd like to join us, please come and join us at 8 a.m. Old Supreme Court building. Thank you. Representative Gonzalez Worthen for what purpose? Freshman caucus is meeting after we adjourn in room 130. Representative Meeks, for what purpose? announcement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Uh, colleagues, I have a gentleman that flew in from Arizona who is the president of the national effort to promote permanent Standard Time within the, uh, country. So if you're interested in learning more about the history of the time change back and forth, uh, what's being done about it and what's going on in other states besides Arkansas. We're going to meet in 15 minutes up on the 4th floor conference room. So if you want to learn more about, uh, that effort, 15 minutes. The desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of those items named in the adjourned resolution, the House will be adjourned until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.