Senate Convenes

I it's blue it's fine you said Charleston. I have no idea what I did not. That's what our folks. Like. That is There's a message attached. Senate will be called to order. Are there any requests for leave at this time? Madam Secretary, would you please call the roll? Bo, Bran, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dima, 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, filled 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 Blake Johnson, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized. Please pray with me. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, we, we thank You for this day, Lord, we, we ask that your blessings and your hand be upon the proceedings today, and we will do your will and uh be your ambassadors for your kingdom, Lord, we, uh, we give you all the honor and glory and and Christ's name I pray these things. Amen. United States of America and to the individual. Thank you, Senator Johnson, 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. Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? Yes. Will your committee on the gross bills, who was first Senate Bill 24 by a joint budget compared the gross copy with the ritual and find the same correctly engrossed. Joint budget where your Committee on a gross bills to its first Senate Bill 50 by Senator Boyd compared the gross copy with the richel and find the same correctly and engrossed. Public health. We're your Committee on Judiciary, to whom was referred to Senate Bill 13 by Senator Wallace. Recommend do pass. Calendar send about 88 by joint budget, an act for the Department of Education, division of Higher Education Appropriation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year Senate Bill 88 Joint budget. Thank you, Madam Secretary. There's no further business to come for the body in the morning hour. The morning hour has now expired. We will begin the business agenda. At this time we are going to pass over Senate Resolution 1. And we will take up Senate Bill 15. Senator Boyd. Senate Bill 15 by Senator Boyd to amend the law concerning negligent discharge of firearms while hunting deer and to repeal Section 1543205. Senator Boyd, you're recognized. Thank you. So During the last legislative session in the legislative council, there was the Arkansas Gam and Fish Subcommittee. And during that there was the 2nd Amendment task force, and there were a series of bills that were passed out of there as recommendations for this General Assembly. Uh, this is the first one. So what this bill does is right now currently in the state of Arkansas, it is, uh, there's a discrimination against deer hunters that if you negligently discharge your firearm while deer hunting, that you are mandated to have a fine and Up to, you know, not less than $100 and not more than $1000 in up to 6 months in the in jail. Uh, so what this bill does is it repeals this, so the first question I had was, well, what about elk hunting? What about bear hunting? That's a big game. Well, the answer is, this is from 1965 before uh before elk hunting and bear hunting were legalized again in the state of Arkansas. And so I suspect that's why they're not Included in there, though I wasn't around in 1965. I wasn't even born yet. So, uh, then there's discussion that, well, maybe this was before the requirement wear Hunter orange, and it was so the requirement for Hunter Orange was introduced by the in 1976, 11 years after this, this bill was passed. So what I would say is this is an extraneous. Mandate on the books, there are ample other things both civilly and criminally if we are talking about negligent discharge of a firearm. And so this is just the clean up legislation in my humble opinion that we don't really need. Uh, so, you know, some people asked and I and while I don't know that it's relevant, but I'm going to go ahead and answer the question. What does negligent mean? Negligent under Arkansas code means should be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable. risk reckless means consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk. So the other thing that I'll make a point of, and then I'll, you know, if anybody has any questions, I'll have to try to answer them, is the game and fish testified that they didn't, they've never used this statute. So then the other question is, what about the prosecutors? Well, yesterday I ran into my prosecutor in the Capitol. I asked him, you know, hey, is this a challenge? So did not indicate to me it was. The prosecutor association is aware of this because they're the ones who sent me the definitions of negligent and reckless, and I've had no negative feedback other than, you know, maybe you could say there were some discussion in committee, but outside of that I've had no feedback for or against this this bill. So that said, I'm, you know, happy to try to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Boyd. Yes. Sorry, Senator Stubblefield, not you. The senator behind you, I'm sorry, ma'am. Senator Senator Sublefield, I'm sorry, Senator behind you had a question. I thought, oh, I apologize. I saw a hand behind you. Senator Flowers, did you have a question Uh, please rise and ask a question of your Senator Boyd. To confirm that we already have a statute that deals with negligent homicide where facts that are presented in that statute you're repealing could fall under. Is that correct? That, that is my interpretation is there are ample other criminal statutes that could take place of this and there there there doesn't seem to be a real reason we need this specific statute can be charged with a class B felony. OK, thank you. Thanks Singer. Thank you, Senator Flowerfield, you're recognized. I ask you this question yesterday, Senator Boyd, uh, I have people come out to my farm. And they, they have a shooting range where they shoot. Uh, that, that wouldn't, how would that affective as far as negligent, just negligence. So I'm glad you asked that because maybe I wasn't clear during my testimony, but I think this is a very important point. This current law as it stands today, says deer hunting. It doesn't have anything to do if I'm shooting coyotes or bears, but just as importantly, if I'm just out on a shooting range where a gun is just as dangerous as if I'm deer hunting. Doesn't have, he doesn't say anything about this. This is just for whatever reason we have been very specific about deer hunting, and I see no reason why we need to change this because how are we gonna change it? Are we gonna just Get rid of deer and call it hunting, but then what about somebody who's just out shooting guns, right? Like I, I just the more and more I've looked at this, the more and more I'm convinced this is just extraneous and we don't really need it in code. If there's really an issue, a good prosecutor can figure out what to do with this, or it can be dealt with in civil court. Or both. OK, thank you, thank you. Thank you. Any other questions for Senator Boyd. Now the questions. Anyone wish to speak against the bill. Anyone wish to speak for? If not, Senator Boyd, you're recognized to close. Thank you, and I'd appreciate a good vote. Thank you, Senator Boyd. Is there any objection to rolling the vote? Is that an objection? Hearing no objection. Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boy Brant Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Desma, Dotson, English flippo flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Teddy, rice, Scott, stone, Stuberfield. Sullivan Tucker Wallace. Thank you. Is there any senator who wishes to change his or her vote or who did not vote. Senator Scott voting. Is it correct behind me? I Senator Love. Present. Any other senators wish to vote who did not vote or change your vote. Seeing no others, Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 33 yeah, one nay, and one present. Senate Bill 15 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 18. Cinabel 18 by central Wallace to amend Arkansas law concerning reports by the legislative auditor of improper or illegal practices. Senator Wallace, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. Remember his last session, we passed a bill. That basically says that when we, when legislative audit notifies the county prosecutors of the issue. possible criminal issue in their, their county that we also notify the Attorney General's office. That allows the Attorney General's office and the prosecutors to both have the Option of pursuing that crime. If the prosecutors decide they want to bring the case and they'll follow it. And that's just a normal criminal matter. If the AG handles it, they must be deputized by the prosecutors on a case by case basis. But what has happened with this is both the prosecutor and the attorney general has to send up the same, same report. So we're doing double work. Uh, this bill simply makes a good bill, a little bit better. It's requested by the Attorney General's office, um, And it just cuts down on redundancy. And with that, I stand by for your questions. Any questions for Senator Wallace. Does anyone wish to speak against or for the bill. Senator, you are free to close. The senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Hearing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dima, Dotson, English, Flippo, flowers, Gilmore, hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, scot, stone, Severfield, Sullivan, Tucker. Wallace. Any senator who did not vote, who wishes to vote, or who would like to change his or her vote. Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By votes of 35, yeah, 0, nay Senate Bill 18 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 56. Senate about 56 by Centra Dotson concerning the evaluation, extension, and repeal of legislative rules. Senator Dodson, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. Senate Bill 56 members is very simple bill that if you read through uh one page, basically we have all the rules in the state administrative rules that are divided into 6 roughly equal sized groups with one of those groups coming up for rule review every, every 2 years, every cycle. So over the course of 12 years, all, all the rules in the state get reviewed. um. The the law allows for the governor to readjust the the which rules are in which groups, so which cycle they come up for review. However, what it doesn't, didn't do or wasn't anticipated at the time was to ensure that all rules get reviewed at least once every 12 years. So what this does is it ensures that the governor still is able to adjust which, which grouping the rules are in every Every 12 years, however, once a rule is reviewed, it won't go past that 12 years before it gets reviewed again. So ensuring that once every 12 years all rules have at least been looked at and reviewed. More than happy to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Dodson? Appreciate a good vote. Anyone wish to speak against or for the bill. Senator has closed without objection, I would ask Madam Secretary to roll the boat. Boy, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dima Datsun 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 did not vote, who wishes to vote or wish to change his or her vote. Seeing no one please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35, yeah, 0, nay, Senate Bill 56 passes, please transmit to the house. Senate Bill 61. Senate Bill 61 by Sandra Hill to authorize veterinary telemedicine in the state and to set certain standards for veterinary telemedicine. Senator Hill, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Governor. Colleagues very seldom does it happen in the Senate chamber where we have a bill that's a win-win situation for everyone involved. In this case, we have a win, a victory for the veterinarians. We have a win for all of our constituents. But most of all, we have a win for our beloved pets. And animals in their livestock. With that being said, this is a telemedicine bill that we're running, which is a win-win deal because it allows our constituents who are who are at work to be able to have their animals and livestock checked on them. This bill allows the veterinarians for the first time to be able to, if they have not established a patient-client relationship with someone and if it's an emergency situation, they can use tele telemedicine to establish that relationship within 7 days for small animals in 21 days for large animals. As you all know, we're a vet shortage in the state and so with the shortage, it allows the veterinarians in areas that are underserved in East Arkansas and South Arkansas. Where the veterinarian can take care of the emergency, and he can go by their farm or facility or they can get the animal to him within 21 days because the veterinarian leaves Little Rock, Arkansas, and has to go to East Arkansas. the side of West Memphis or somewhere. That's 4 to 6 hours. He loses all of his income for that day. So this allows them a time frame where they can work it around when they're out making their calls and stuff. And so with that being said, I'd appreciate a good vote from y'all today, and I'll take any questions. Any questions for Senator Hill? Senator Stubblefield, you're recognized. Hill, you know that I too am a farmer, have been all my life. And I also I'm well aware of the fact that a doctor and a patient can do things over telemedicine that they cannot do when they're in in an office. And it's the same way with animals. You can't do certain things with animals over telemedicine. Like you can if you've got the animals there on the premises. So that's, that's the big issue I have is We're still going to have animals that's going to have to see a vet. Uh, whether you've got telemedicine or not. Because a lot of these animals will have to be treated by a licensed veterinarian at a at a veterinary clinic or wherever. Uh, and tell them I simply will not work in those situations. I, I know I've experienced. Especially with horses. And other than that, I have no problem with the bill. Well, it With this bill, the veterinarian has a choice to say in here, you need to bring that animal to me or I need to get by there to you. This is just in extreme cases where it's an emergency situation where something needs to be done and the veterinarian cannot get out there. If you look in there, it says the emergency or urgent situation, yeah, so if that's the case, the veterinarian has to, has to establish that's with a veterinarian client relationship is not established. So this right here just kind of fills in a gap that we don't have out there. an emergency would be even More tedious because there's a lot of things that can happen to an animal horse, especially. It can happen quickly, that needs a train licensed veterinarian to save that animal. Where you could not get someone there quick enough. I'm not disagreeing with you at all. That's where the not in all cases, this feels a gap that we don't have out there, Senator Stubblefield. So it's a gap we're short of that. I'm fully aware of that. We need more veterinarians. Uh But that, that's my, that's my main objection to this piece of legislation is, I've been around animals all my life and I've seen situations where you can't treat an animals through telemedicine. just can't do it, and I agree 100%. In some cases you can't do it and you have to go in there. So I'm not saying this is the only way we're gonna do veterinarian work in the state of Arkansas by any means. You, you still have the same traditional issues that you've always had there where if you need one, you get them to them or they'll come to you, one of the two. OK. Senator Hammer, you're recognized, and then Cinder Petty. Thank you, Madam President. Senator Hill, my question is that with the incorporation of telemedicine if the owner of the livestock or pet requires Or request that the veterinarians show up, that doesn't allow the veterinarian the option to decline and say I want to do it by telemedicine. Does it still leave the authority in the owner of the pet or livestock, the ability to require and the vet comply with it. Yeah, the, the vet will do whatever needs to be done as far as if you want the veterinarian that your, your facility, you can work that out with them. That'd be between the client and the vet. This is just another, another option that lays it out there. It may be 3 hours before that vet can get there, maybe the vet can do something that will ease the pain that your animal is under until they can get there, right? And if the property, if the owner is OK with the vet doing it by telemedicine, then this allows the vet to have the ability to do what the owner requests without being limited by what the law currently says they can or cannot do that. That is correct. OK, thank you. Senator Petty, you're recognized. Here we go. So first of all, I uh I think I would be more inclined to support this, if you could tell us how many more vet bills you're going to run this year. One more today. Today I'm answering for today. Just kidding. So I'm assuming it doesn't, it doesn't call it out or if it did, I've overlooked it that that licensed veterinarian means licensed by the state of Arkansas. OK, thank you. You must be in the state of Arkansas and just for the record, I did not mention this earlier. Uh, we say we uh representative Vault and myself have worked with the veterinarians. We had 5 different meetings with, when I say meetings, I'm not talking about 1520 minutes, I'm talking about 2 and 3 hours. And so this, this has been thoroughly vetted through the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association. They're all for this and they're on board. Senator Bryant even showed up one of our meetings one night, so that lasted about 4 hours, so, this had been thoroughly vetted, no known opposition. This was this is what I call good legislation. Both of these I'm run today are good legislation they've been worked out that's good for the industry as a whole. Senator Deas, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Senator Hill, definition of emergency. Is is that I don't see a clear definition of emergency emergency and urgent. Emergency situation is going to something that's an emergency to you. As in, could be two different things. An emergency you could be your dog has ear mites, emergency to me may be my cow got its leg cut off. Yeah. And so it could be two separate, two separate situations, and then the second question is clarity on does this give the ability for non-licensed veterinarians, so vet techs that uh anybody on the veterinarians team to to engage in the telemedicine uh relationship and prescribe medicine. No, OK, so there is no, there's no prescription of medicine from a non-licensed veterinarian. That is correct. Thank you. Sepiot and go a little farther with that to to write a script in the state of Arkansas, you must be a veterinarian. Send her love, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. How many other states have adopted this type of legislation. There's, I can't tell you a number of states. Several of them have close to what we're running here. Some of them are actually more Extreme than what we're doing here we're still kind of holding this close together and everything falls under place, but I'd say out of the 50 states, and I'm just, I don't even want to throw a number out to you I'd be just making it up, but there are a number of them I know Hawaii has, Texas has, Oklahoma has, Missouri. I mean, you can take our surrounding states that have something similar. OK. All right, thank you. Any other questions, Senator Bryant, you're recognized. There we go. Just a quick question, clarity. You said only a licensed veterinarian in the state of Arkansas. A license that is licensed in the state. You may have someone in Oklahoma that lives on a line that is actually a licensed veterinarian in Arkansas. I guess that that would be one of my concerns is living up in the Northwest we've obviously got access to Missouri vets and Oklahoma vets. So if I'm, you know, a family member is scrolling and they get an advertisement. For a vet that is in Missouri, says, you know, now offering telemedicine, and I call that that because I got obviously an emergency going on with my pet. What, what would prevent that relationship from occurring that if they were lack of veterinarian in the state of Arkansas, and they see the small animal or the large animal in the 7 and 21 days, they can build that relationship because they are already licensed veterinarian in the state of Arkansas. So how do, how do you handle the case if the, the issue is resolved, and I just do not take my pet to that vet. That would be promulgated through rules and the agriculture department. OK, all right, thank you. And actually there is we actually have a vet board, so it'd probably end up going before them. Any other questions for Senator Hill? Senator Stubblefield, you're recognized for a follow-up question. Question. Well, You know, we talked about medicine and, and some of these animals have to have uh certain medications and they had to have it within a certain amount of time in order to survive. Yeah as a horse person and I was a horse person, you know, you know, you're well aware of that. If a technician cannot administer that that medication. How is that gonna work? This, this bill has nothing to do with the tax. This is strictly the veterinarians themselves. The next one, the next one has to do a test, but we're working with a vet over. a monitor talking to someone else, talking them through this, who are going to be administering licenses. Uh, medicines. So what's, I don't understand the question. Well, the question is, how are they going to administer these, uh, These medications unless there's a bet on hand, but the medication needs to be administered. The vet will have to be there. He won't use telemed. He or she will, he or she will actually be on your farm or you'll have your animal at their facility. OK, so that will just has nothing to do with your traditional client-patient relationship that you already have with your vets. This is not going to affect you whatsoever, because you're a veterinarian can actually already have a client patient relationship can actually work with you on the telephone right now and advise you on what you need to do. Well, that's easy to say unless you're doing a C-section, but we're not doing a C se. We're not doing a C-section on the, on telemedicine. Seeing no other questions. Anyone wish to speak against the bill. Anyone wish to speak for? Senator, you are free to close. I'd appreciate a good vote. Senator has closed. Sir, objection to rolling the boat. Objection noted, Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Boy Brant Caldwell, Caldwell. Clark Clark Crawl. Davis Davis. Days days. This mine? This man. Dotson. English. Flippo flowers. Gilmore. Hammer. Hester Hickey Hill Irvin Blake Johnson. Blake Johnson. Mark Johnson Mark Johnson King letting love. Love McKee Murdoch, Peyton. Penzo Patty. Rice, stone. Scott stuff Stamerfield. afield. He found. Sullivan Tucker Wallace Senators who have not voted and wish to vote or wish to change your vote. I see Senator Alan Clark, yeah. Senator Dee's name. Anyone else on this side before I go to this side, this side, Senator Mark Johnson, ya, Senator Caldwell, yeah. Anyone else, please check the board, Senator Love, yay. else. Please check the board. Seeing no others, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 33 yeah to nay. Senate Bill 61 passes, please transmit to the house. We will take up Senate Bill 68. Senate Bill 68 by Central Hill to allow veterinary technicians, veterinary technologists and veterinary tech uh technician specialist to go to a location other than the location of the supervising veterinarian to provide services raised on emergency call. Sander Hill, you're recognized. This will be the last vet bill of the day. Working with the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association, we came up with this. I worked with 7 of their Governmental Affairs Committee for the last year, basically, basically all this uh bill does, it allows a veterinarian who is tied up, whether it be in surgery or something else to send one of his text specialists or technologists out to a field on a call under indirect supervision right now they can do anything they can in the office, but right now he can send them out on a call, but they are still directly reporting to him, and he is he or she is responsible for everything that they do, and they report. Back to him before they do anything. So he just allowed to send someone if they have a A horse that's a collicking, and they need to get someone out there to check and assist with it to take the animal to keep the animal from being pained or possibly even losing that animal, he can send one of his staff members out there who are qualified to do this, and they will be working and going on behalf of him while he's finishing up the surgery or whatever he or she are doing at this time. This just allows someone to go out to the farm or to someone's house and assist during this time. To take get the animal where it's not in pain. It's not hurting and be able to report back to the veterinarian on what needs to be done, but they are working indirectly but directly for the veterinarian, just allows them to leave, leave the establishment and go do it. I'll take any questions. Any questions for Senator Hill on SB 68. Senator Dees, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam President. Senator Hill, I, I think I'm, I've got more problems with this one. I think I did the last one, but um I'm trying to understand when I spoke to um veterinarians this week and members of our Arkansas. Livestock livestock and poultry commission. There were, there were concerns about um about how the foundation of um of that whole relationship is about supervision and um and that this the this bill would would hamper that supervision of non-licensed veterinarians and so can you help me put at rest my concerns about this. Unsupervised veterinarian techs or team members being Been involved in this entire process because it makes me a little uneasy. Yes, I can believe I can assist you with that. I, I'm gonna give you two real life examples. One is a cow was trying to calve. Veterinarian was in surgery on a major horse surgery. He could not go out there. So he's, he was not able to send someone out who could have actually assisted with that. 6 hours later when he gets out there, the farmer loses the calf and the cow. So he loses both. The cow was in pain the whole time. This veterinarian called me and said, y'all got to get this done. There's a shortage of us, he said. I can't be everywhere. I can't be in surgery. I can't be in my office and I can't be at the farm all at the same time. And this, this will allow them to send their qualified staff who we all actually passed. Pass the laws in here to pass the bills to allow them to do this. This just allows them to go out, assess the situation. Contact the vet back and say this is what's going on right now and a lot of this happens with the veterinarians getting caught. There are very few veterinarians nowadays that work after hours. So this allows him if he's he's not there, he can send someone out, report back to him, and he can get back to them. This just Just allows the scope just expands the ability for the veterinarian to go on out. Another example is a horse got in a a a cattle guard. Are you familiar with them where they go through and they hurt themselves. The horse stayed there in pain with a broken leg for 24 hours before the veterinarian could get out there and assist. How much schooling or requirement to be a veterinarian technologist. Yeah, I would have to look back through that we'd have to look that up. I can't tell you how much the schooling is right now minimal, and that's, that's what I'm concerned about is this would allow that have not gone through the full length degree of of a of a licensed veterinarian degree in path, career path, to have heavy influence and it scares me about the risk to our our farmers and to their I'd rather have a risk of someone coming out and not having anyone whatsoever because they were still working directly with that, but I still trust the vet. The vet's the one making the calls, not, not the person coming out to your farm bill's in the right place and your heart's definitely in the right place. I'm wondering if Solution is is creating more opportunities for more licensed veterinarians in schools, we're working on that and right now there's a vet shortage. We don't have another option. We just need to let the animals suffer and the farmers lose them, or are we kind of work with what veterinarians we have. I think there's roughly 700 in the state of Arkansas. I may just say 1000. I'll give a few more, which would be about uh You get what, 1.7 head of cattle in the state of Arkansas, and you probably got probably. 30 large animal vets, maybe true large animal vets. This is directly mainly for a large animal vets. Senator Hammer, you are recognized. I command president where's the veterinarians Association on this bill. They're 100% for it and just as a comparison, the the The associate who's going to go out there and lay eyes on the situation and report back to the vet. Will that person be able to actually do anything other than life saving measures or what, what restrictions are they going to be on, are going to be on them. She's under restrictions that based off the veterinarian. Now, can she go out there and do a surgery, she or he, no, they can't do that. They're going to be working. Through the veterinarian doing what he tells them to do and the and the liability rests on the veterinarian. That is correct. These are actually employees of the veterinarians. He's not just calling someone down the road. These people actually work in his office, OK, so I would liken this unto like a physician who has an assistant that or maybe a PA or APRN that's actually maybe going to go out and or be the physical presence but still works under that is. of the physician. Is that a fair that's a fair assessment. Thank you. Any other questions for Senator Hillrell. Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank Sinner I think that's a sign you're not supposed to ask a question, Senator Davis. Uh, I know you've been working on this for about 2 years now, and I've just really been wondering why you hate animals. You can answer that for me. I'm kind of like Senator Johnson, they are very tasty. Any other questions? Does anyone wish to speak against the bill. Oh, I'm sorry, Senator Irving, you had a question. You are recognized. Uh, no, I, I think important, and, and I'm not sure because I can't pull it up, but if they're, if emergency or urgent situation is defined somewhere in that code, I would probably, I'm not sure if you know that answer or not, but I think that's important in this situation that these are for emergency and urgent situations. I, I'm going to I'm going to say emergency is described somewhere, otherwise they would have defined it. It probably is. I haven't been able to find it, but if it's not, I would add, I would probably suggest you add that definition should cover that then they should define that whenever they do the rules. We're not, well, no, but that might be a good addition, you know, to, to add it in there just so that we have an emergency or urgent situation clearly defined if it's not already in the current statute or code. We'll check on that I would, yeah, I would probably check. I mean, I would check on that and make sure it's defined because you do want it to be very narrowed and specific, so whether, so they're not actually treating, but they're responding to a call, just I, I mean, that's my questions, but I'm gonna support, but I do think you probably should tighten up a few things. Thank you. Any other questions, Senator Payton, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, Currently, without this law, uh, what happens on the farm when you need a veterinarian and they can't come. is you call your neighbor or your friend down the road that has cattle and horses, and you do whatever the best you can to treat them. Yes, sir. Is there any regulation currently that stops that? I mean, no, sir. OK, thank you. Any other questions for Senator Hill? Seeing no other questions. Does anyone wish to speak against? Anyone wish to speak for? Senator Hill, you're free to close. Senator has closed. Is there any objection to rolling the boat? Is there any objection, seeing none, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bright, Caldwell, Clark, Kroll, Davis, Des, Despa Dotson English flippo flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King, letting, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Pino, Petty. rice, scot, stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator wished to change his or her vote. I will begin on this side. I see Senator Dees voting nay. Any others on this side? Seeing no other on this side, any senators on this side wish to change his or her vote. Seeing no one. Please cast up the ballot by a vote of 34 yeah and one nay, Senate Bill 68 passes, please transmit to the house. We will now go to the top of the Agenda under the morning hour and take up Senate Resolution 1, Senator Sullivan. Senate Resolution one by Senator Sullivan to honor St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro for being the first medical facility in the state to open a maternal life 360 home. Senator Solomon, you're recognized. Thank you, Governor. I've asked Senator Wallace to join me. St. Bernard serves both of our areas, and I know there are folks in the gallery, uh, right back here from Saint Bernard and we're thankful you are here. Saint Bernard is mentioned is the first medical facility in the state. To open a maternal life 360 program. We're really proud of them, as many of you know, the maternal life 360 health program supports women with high risk pregnancies who are enrolled in the Arkansas Health and opportunity for me program and the traditional Medicaid through home visit services during pregnancy and up for 2 years postpartum. This is a great program. We're very proud of St. Bernard's for starting this. We would appreciate. made a good vote. Thanks, Senator Sullivan. All those in favor of Senate Resolution 1 to honor St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro for being the first medical facility in the state to open a maternal life 360. Please signify by saying I and he opposed I have it. Senate resolution 1 is adopted. And I will not follow Senator Hill's veterinary veterans bills again. Next, we will take House Bill 1080. House for 1080 by Representative Evans and Senator Hester to repeal the requirement for a fiscal impact statement for bills related to health benefit plans and to repeal the bill filing deadline for bills affecting health benefit plans of entities of the state. Senator Hester, you're recognized, this is repealing requiring a fiscal impact study for bills that affect our EBD. What we did is because one legislature can't bind the next. We're removing this from statute and putting it in our joint rules. Yesterday we passed our joint rules that included this language. So that has happened. We did that yesterday, so we're removing the law today. Happy to answer any questions. Any questions for Senator Hester. We passed joint rules yesterday. Any other questions for Senator Hester. Saying no other questions. Does anyone wish to speak against? Or 4 Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote. Hearing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd Bron Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, this 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, Stubberville, Tucker, Wallace. Any senator who has not voted or who does not wish to vote Send her flowers present, any other senator wish to change his or her vote, Senator Penzo present, not voting not voting, Senator Penzo not voting. Any other senators wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no other. Madam Secretary, please cast up the ballot by a vote of 32 ya, zero nay, and 2 not voting 1 present, House Bill 1080. Passes, please return to the house. Yeah We will now take up Budget calendar. Senate Bill 58 by joint budget, an act for the auditor of state continuing education of local officials appropriation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year. Senator Dismayer recognized for Senate Bill 53. All right, thank you. This is a continuing education appropriation as you just stated, and it's for the county clerks, circuit clerks, county treasurers, and then the coroners and county collectors. Any questions for Senator Dismay. Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the boat. Hearing no objection, Madam Secretary, please roll the boat. Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Des, Dima Dotson, English Clippo, flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Letting love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, rice, Scott, stone, Stubberil, Tucker Wallace. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yeah, 0, nay, Senate Bill 53 passes and it corresponding emergency clause is adopted, please transmit to the house. Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk? Yes, Cinel89 by Central English to amend the information that a school district shall provide electronically with respect to its schools, district board of directors, Senate Bill 89. Education, 90 by Central English to require members of the public to be afforded the opportunity to present public comment at each meeting of the school district board of directors, Senate Bill Manning. Education, Senate joint Resolution filed by Senator King to have in the Arkansas Constitution to repeal the office of Lieutenant Governor, Senate joint resolution 5. State agencies. No other items at the desk, any announcements? Senator Davis, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to announce the doctor of the day today. He is from Russellville, Doctor David Murphy. He is an ophthalmologist. He's there in the back, if you guys would go by and say hello to him and thank him for being here today. And our nurse of the day is Lee Fazio, and I don't see her back there, but she's been back there and I think we'll be here pretty regularly, so we can tell her hello and thank you and we see her. Thank you. Hm Thank you, Senator Davis, Senator Stone, you're recognized for announcement. Madam President, I think this is the first time this has ever happened, but we have two doctors of the day to day. So we also have Dr. Jonathan Lewis from Camden, Arkansas. I believe Doctor Lewis is an orthopedic surgeon, is that right? He's back here in the back, so we're just thankful to have him, have him here today also. Thank you. Thank you. Thank. I would I would ask the members. We have announcements. If you all don't mind, we have announcements and so if you can hold on just a few more moments. Senator Alan Clark, you're recognized for an announcement. Thank you, Madam Chair. For those of you who will have bills to present to the judiciary, which will be many of you, we meet at Wednesdays at 10 and we will meet on Mondays, uh, 15 minutes after session, so keep that in mind not only on Wednesdays, but Mondays 15 minutes after session if we have business. Senator Des is recognized for an announcement. Members please. Do you know how serious it is to make sure we continue to beat the house and the basketball game this year. Please, can we have your attention? OK, this is serious, and we need to raise a lot of money for the CAC and the Boys and Girls Club, I'm sorry, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Arkansas. So please put on your radar March 4th, OK, we will be challenging the house again, uh, for I think it's 5 or 6 years in a row to continue to win and show why we're in the upper chamber, but put it on your radar, March 4th at Central. high down the street, and if you need a New Jersey, please come get your size, uh, and your order in to Miss Sabrina. Um she is uh calculating all of that and gathering all that information, uh, we'll get the cost to you, but we need to get that information in so we can get it ordered, put it on your calendar March 4th. Let's go tell them why we are the upper chamber. Thank you. Senator Hester is recognized for an announcement. Hey, members, we're gonna, we're gonna come into session at 11 o'clock tomorrow, but I'm gonna ask if we can meet in the, in the, in the quiet room at 10:40 to go over a little bit of uh logistical stuff. So 10:40 in the quiet room session at 11 tomorrow, if you can, if you can be there. Thank you. Any other announcements. Seeing no other announcements. The Senate will stand and adjournment subject to the clearing of the desk until tomorrow, January 23rd, 2025 at 11 a.m. I couldn't.