House Convenes

I invite the members, guests, staff, press in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by House chaplain Brother Richard Hamlin, senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church of Cabot, and to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean. Heavenly Father, we come to you today reminded of the power and significance of words. We remember John and how he told us that, uh, in the beginning was the word, everything that we know, everything that exists. God began because of words. Jesus, you told us. That we're accountable for every idle word that we speak, so that the words that we say are eternal. Stand to take God in a country where we hear so many words and so many of them are bitter and divisive and even angry and hurtful. So today, God, I wanna pray for this legislative body, representatives that. Uh, we might remember you to help us, God, to remember. The words of the psalmist when he prayed so long ago, God made the words of my mouth. of my heart be acceptable in thy sight. Oh Lord, may, we always remember your instructions to let no Uh, corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth. But that which is good to the use and I pray then God that here in this house, they would not only speak the language of truth, Members, please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. As everyone made known their presence. Cast up the ballot, Madam clerk. With 96 members present. The chair sees a quorum. Are there any requests for leave? Representative Lynch, for what purpose? They, I'll take your leave. Lead for representative Nazareo. Is leave granted for Representative Nazarenko. Representative Lundstrom, for what purpose? Representative Lady Ladyman. So granted Representative Steinmel. Uh, he's here. He, uh, Gazaways here. Oh good. Representative Matthew Shepherd moves that we dispensed with the reading of the previous day's journal, with no objection, so ordered. Are there any reports from select committees? Madam Clark Mr. Speaker, your Committee on Joint budgets to whom was referred House Bill 1102, House Bill 1108, House Bill 1109, House Bill 1110, House Bill 11-11. House Bill 1113, vaguely report that we have the same consideration and here it's with same recommendation that it do pass respectfully submitted. Lane Jean, co-chair. Madam Clark, any reports from standing committees. You're recognized. Mr. Speaker, we your Committee on Education to whom was referred House Bill 1133 beg leave reporting the same consideration and here at the arm the same recommendation that it do passes amendment number one, respectfully submitted. Representative Keith Brooks, chair. Mr. Speaker, we're your committee on Judiciary Committees to whom was referred House Bill number 1006, vaguely report that we have the same consideration here the same recommendation that it do pass as Amendment number one, respectfully submitted. Carol Darby, chair. Thank you, Madam Clark. Is there any unfinished business? Are there any executive communications? Madam Clark, you're recognized. To the Speaker of the House. Dear Mr. Speaker, this is to inform you that on January 16, 2025, I reviewed and approved the following measures from the regular session of the ninety-fifth General Assembly, House Bill 1002, Act 1, House Concurrent resolution 1001, House Concurrent resolution 1003. Sincerely, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Arkansas. Thank you, Madam Clark. Members with us in the East gallery today. We have the University of Arkansas Associated student government Razorback Action Group. They are here today, guest of Representative Clowney, Representative Garner, and Representative Whittaker, would you please make them welcome as they stand. Members with us in the chamber today, Arkansas State troopers, Sergeant Chuck Lewis, administrative Services of Little Rock, Sergeant Austin Ley from the regulatory Services Division of Little Rock. Thank you, gentlemen, for your service. Would you please make them welcome. Members our doctor of the day is Doctor Lauren Gibson Oliver. She is Family Medicine from Little Rock, uh, and Representative Ashley Hudson's district and our nurse for the day is Lee Fazio. Would you please make them welcome? Madam Clark, please read House Resolution 1001. House resolution 1001 by Speaker Evans to adopt the rules of the House of Representatives of the ninety-fifth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, if you remember last week, uh, ran, uh, a bill that where we repealed, uh, Requirement for fiscal impact for the healthcare plans, because it was, it encompassed a larger group than what we intended and the changes to the, the rules for this General Assembly reflects that, uh, It just Requires and changes the dates. Or sets the dates for the fiscal requirement for the plans that affect TBD. Appreciate a good vote. Representative Eubanks has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution. For the resolution. Representative Eubank should close for the resolution. Question before the house is the passage of House Resolution 1001. Prepare the machine, madam clerk. So everyone voted. Everyone voted You remember like to change their vote. Cast at the ballot, Madam Clerk. The vote of 95 e, 1 nay, one present, the resolution has passed. Representative Beta, you're recognized. point of personal privilege. You're welcome to come to the way I'll present your point. Speak our assets represented Wardlaw joined me in the well. Representative Wardlaw that. Members my appoint personal privilege today. Uh, is today is to recognize the Arkansas Forestry Day at the state Capitol, January 21st of 2025, and to recognize and celebrate Arkansas Forestry Day. Uh, we're joined in the chamber today by representatives of the forestry industry. Uh, if you're, if you're a representative forestry, please stand. Well, they, they told me they're in the West in the east gallery, uh, but we do have folks here, they were in the rotunda today. Just to share a few points about forestry and forestry industry in the state, uh, private landowners in Arkansas own about 15,300,000 acres of state forest, and about 3.6 million are, are publicly owned by federal, state, and other entities. Uh, they provide for more than 5000 products that we have in our everyday use here in the state. Uh, forestry industry contributes a a value-added contribution to our economy of approximately $7 billion. The forest products industry supports 26,980 direct jobs in the state, and 54,759 total jobs. Uh, 1 in 14 Arkansan owns forest land in this state. Arkansas families depend on the 1.8. $5 billion in direct wages that are provided by the forest products industry in the state. In this industry, one direct job. equates to 2.4 indirect jobs. Um, since 1947, the Arkansas Forestry Association has served as the voice of forestry for the state's entire forestry community. So with that, I just wanted to recognize and honor the Forestry Association and, um, They're not here, but they can hear the remarks and we'll get a resolution out to them tomorrow. Thank you. Representative Wardlaw, you're recognized. I just want to make it very clear to you guys, remember those stats as we go throughout this session, you'll see the investments that are going to happen going forward from the forestry industry, and we have new, new and better sawmills coming to Arkansas with initiative products, and we're gonna come to you with legislation that's gonna do, so it's gonna be very important that you understand how big that industry is and what it means. Thank you gentlemen for this, uh, point of personal privilege in recognizing this industry that is so vital to our state. The Morning hour has ended. Members, uh, just encourage you, uh, Really start paying close attention to your email, uh, committees are starting to meet on a full schedule now, uh, your committee chairs will be sending out information regarding bills that's going to be heard in committee. It's gonna be very important for you to be in attendance for those meetings, um. You'll also be seeing a lot of, of emails that will be coming out of the speaker's office just with information, announcements, and so forth. Uh, so please start paying attention to those email boxes are going to start filling up. Representative Meeks, you're recognized. English speaker, 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 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. That's proper motion. It's non-debatable. All those in favor say aye. Honey, I have it. Do I have any announcements from committee chairs? Any committee announcements, Representative Eubanks, you're recognized, rules will not meet. will not meet tomorrow. Representative Barker, for what purpose? You're recognized for an announcement. Aging, sorry, aging children in youth 131 for an organizational meeting. Representative Lynch, for what purpose? egg will meet tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.? As for an announcement, 15 minutes upon adjournment, room 130 for an organizational meeting. Thank you, sir. Representative Warren, for what purpose? Announcement, you're recognized for an announcement. Joint retirement will be 15 minutes upon adjournment in Mackay. Representative Wing, for what purpose? You're recognized prayer caucus will meet tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. in the old Supreme Court room, uh, for much more than just an organizational meeting. Look forward to seeing you there. Representative Gasa away, for what purpose? Announcement you're recognized agencies will meet tomorrow at 100 a.m., room 151. Seeing no other announcements, the desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills and upon completion of the items named in the adjourned resolution, the House will be adjourned until 1:30 tomorrow. Representative Eubanks, for what purpose? An announcement. You're recognized for announcement, chamber is having their reception tomorrow evening and the big tent and it will be heated and there'll be extra shrimp. Oh, that's today. I'm sorry. Yesterday was a holiday. I thought today was Monday. Today at 4:30 in the big tent in the parking lot and it will be. Thank you. Any other non-committee announcements.