Senate Convenes

OK, members, if you would just uh please take your seat. We're going to bring this meeting to order. OK, are there any requests for leave at this time. Senator Hesker. Senator Hammer and Senator Gilmore. Senator Hammer and Senator Senator Gilmore for leave. Anybody else? OK, Madam Secretary, would you please call the roll? But Brandt, Caldwell, Clark, Croll, Davis, Des, Dema Gotson, English, Flippo, flowers, Gilmore on leave, hammer on leave, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Lating, love, McKee, Murdoch, Payton, Penzo, Patty, rice, Scott, Stone. everfield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace. Thank you, Senator Stone, would you lead us in prayer? Everybody in the uh in the room, including the galleries, if you don't mind, please stay in. So, you're recognized. Thank you. Let us pray. Righteous Lord, we just want to come before you right now. We just want to honor and praise your holy name, dear Lord. I just asked that everything that we say and do um at the Capitol day would just be pleasing and honoring to you, the Lord just forgive us forever we come short in our lives. I just ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. And if we would, let's all face the flag and we'll say the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag. Of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. OK, ladies and gentlemen in the gallery, we greatly appreciate you being in the Arkansas Senate today. Uh, is our expectation of 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 in the reading of the journal. Yeah, that's right. OK. Is there any announcements that need to be made? Senator Caldwell, you're recognized, sir. Thank President. I don't know if they came in the other place or not. I was gonna have, uh, I have guests here today. I want to recognize, uh, and uh they were supposed to be in the East gallery and I can't see in the west, but I have members of the Wyn High School, Marine Corps, Junior ROTC, uh, in the building today, and they may be late getting here they're they're over here ROTC here. I don't think, OK, they're, they're not in the gallery yet, but if you see them come. through. Welcome, but, uh, they, they do an excellent job to, to be honest with you, on the ROTC program, uh, you have to have 10% of your school population to participate, and we have 98 members of the uh of our school body that participates in the in the junior ROTC. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Senator Caldwell. Any other members have any other announcements? OK. Where to start. out of it. Madam Secretary, are the items at the desk to be read. Yes, sir, we, your committee on gross bills, who was referred Senate Bill 3 by Senator Sullivan Beckle report compared the engrossed copy with the ritual and find the same correctly engrossed state agencies Committee on grossilston was first Senate Bill 63 by Senator Hickey compared the engrossed copy with the original and find the same correctly engrossed. Worship. State agencies. Were your Committee on Arider who was first Senate Bill 15 by Senator Boyd, Recommend due pass. calendar Committee on A right who was first Sen 61 by Senator Hill recommend due pastend Committee on Arita, who was first symbol 68 by Senator Hill recommend due pass calendar. Committee on Joint Budget 2's first Senate Bill 53 by a joint budget recommend due pass calendar. Committee on state agencies tumors first in about 18 by Central Wallace recommend due pass calendar Committee on State agencies team was first symbol 56 by Senator Dodson recommend to pass calendar state agencies team was 3 House Bill 1080 by Representative Evans recommend new pass calendar. Senate resolution 3 by Senator Stone and Gilmore to recognize and celebrate Arkansas Forestry Day, its state Capitol on January 201, 2025. Senate Resolution 3 calendar Senate joint resolution 3 by Senator King. A constitutional amendment concerning the membership of the state highway commission, Senate Joint Resolution 3. State agencies. Senate joint resolution 4 by Senator Boet. An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to provide that the annual school election shall not be held if the proposed right of the tax levy is the same as the last approved and no other matters are to be decided. Senate joint resolution 4 state agencies. 79 by Senator Crowe to amend the law concerning the Arkansas Public Employees retirement system and the state police retirement system, Senate Bill 79. Joint retirement. Spent about 80 by joint budget and act for the office of the governor, legislative liaisons, appropriation for the 2024, 2025 fiscal year, Senate Bill 80. Joint budget symbol 81 my joint budget and act for the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, state parks and tourism divisions. Appropriation for the 2025, 2026 fiscal year Senate Bill 81. Joint Senate Bill 82 by Senator Payton. To increase the sales and use tax exemption for used motor vehicles and to amend the reduced sales and use tax right applicable to purchases of used motor vehicles, Senate Bill 82. Reverend 83 by Senator Brynt to mandate coverage for uh breast reconstruction surgeries to require prior authorization for breast reconstruction surgeries and to establish a minimum reimbursement rate for breast reconstructive surgeries, Senate Bill 83. 83 insurance commerce. where we at. Senator Stone, do you want to be recognized, sir? OK, if everyone would listen sooner stone. You're recognized Senator Stone. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, colleagues, I would ask that we would suspend the rules for the purpose of uh presenting a forestry resolution today and add to the calendar. OK, members, you heard the, heard the motion uh to suspend all in favor say aye. And you oppose? OK, here and none, you're recognized to present you might as well just wait. We'll do it at the end, OK. You can go to Senate concurrent resolution to the business. OK, we're going to move to the business agenda, uh, Senator Hester, you want to present SCR one. Se a concurrent resolution one by Senator Hester and Representative Evans to adopt the joint rules of the House of Representatives and the Senate for the ninety-fifth General Assembly. Thank you, members. This is just the, the joint rules on the procedures that we're going to do that, that we follow with filing bills, bill filing deadlines, are typical procedures, our understanding with the House. Happy to answer any questions. OK, any of the members have any questions in regards to this? Any questions? OK, all in favor, say ah. OK, that motion will pass. Transit Transmit to the house. Next one's gonna be SB one, I believe that was Sener Hammer, but Senator Tucker, you're gonna be presenting that, correct? OK, Senator Tucker, you're recognized. Senate Bill 1 by Senate efficiency, and act for the expenses of the Arkansas Senate of the ninety-fifth General Assembly Appropriation for the 2025 fiscal year. Senator Tucker, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. This is just to approve the Senate our expenses, the Senate expenses for this session. So appreciate a good vote. Any of the members have any questions in regards to this? Organs. OK, see you uh this one has an emergency clause, so we'll have a roll call, so. Madam Secretary, if you would. Is there any objection to rolling the vote? Madam Secretary, if you would, Brant Caldwell, Clark, Crowe, Davis, Des, this may, Dotson, English Flippo, flowers, Gilmore on leave, Hammer on leave. Hester Hickey Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King Lating, Love, McKee, Murdoch, Peyton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Scott, Stone, Stubberfield, Sullivan. Tucker Wallace. right. Does anyone else want to vote or change their vote? OK, if you would please cast up the ballot. your screen. OK, by vote of 33, 0 nays. SB 1 is passed and the emergency clause was adopted. Transmit to the house. OK, the next one we're gonna have is uh HCR 1002, Senator Dodson House concurrent resolution 1002, Representative Ryan Central Dotson to urge the United States Congress to permanently extend the tax cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Senator Dodd, it's in your direction now, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members, House Concurrent resolution 1002 is just like the title says, we're urging Congress to extend the tax cuts and Jobs Act that is set to expire at the end of 2025. And so if, if they do not take action by the end of this year, it'll effectively increase taxes on all of our constituents all across the entire state, so this resolution simply urges them to get, get to work in DC. More than happy to answer any questions. Appreciate a good vote. OK, do any members have any questions of Senator Dodson? OK Anyone wants to speak for or against the bill or the resolution? All right, we'll have a voice vote, all in favor say aye. Any oppose I'm gonna consider that past. to the We would return that to the house. Oh God. quick maths and for stone. Senator Stone, are you ready? OK. You're recognized to present your resolution. That is correct. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you hold on just a second. She's going to read it and then Senate resolution 3 by Senator Stone and Gilmore to recognize and celebrate Arkansas Forestry Day, its state Capitol on January 21, 2025. Senator Stone colleagues, I have a Senate resolution to present on behalf of the forest industry. And if you'll allow me just about 11 moment before I read the resolution. I just want to say that I've made a living in the forest industry the last 45 years, but even being in there that long, there's a lot of men and women that have came before me to pave the way for me to be able to even stand here today. I know that Senator Jim Scott was the first Forester to serve in our legislature. I know Congressman Bruce Wesson was a forester that served and also representative Ken Bragg was a forester was. To serve, and I stand here as a forester today to speak on behalf of the forest industry and what it means to our state. Our Senate resolution is to recognize and celebrate the Forestry Day at the state Capitol on January 21st, 2025, whereas the forestry, forests provide more than 5000 products we depend on every day and whereas the state's abundant forest resources have provided important economic and environmental benefits to the state and the nation since the 1880s and whereas the forest value-added contribution to the state's economy is $7 billion. And we asked to force products industry supports 26,980 direct jobs and 54,70059 total jobs. And whereas a timber harvesters and forest landowners follow voluntary best management practices that protect our water, water quality and whereas the state's force provide unparalleled syndic beauty and whereas the forest and the Arkansas support habitat for more than 600 species of fish and wildlife and where is the state's forest landowners manage their land to protect and enhance habitat for threatened and endangered species and whereas since 19 47, the Arkansas Forestry Association has served as the voice of forestry for the state's entire forest community. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate of the ninety-fourth General Assembly that the Senate recognize and celebrate Arkansas Forestry Day at the state Capitol building on January 21, 2025. Be it further resolved that upon its adoption, a copy this resolution shall be transmitted to the president of the Arkansas Forest Association by the secretary of the Senate. Mr. President, that concludes the reading of the resolution and I also want to recognize the abundance of foresters and forest-related injuries, she said industries is said in both galleries today. So with that being said, I'd appreciate a good vote on the resolution. Thank you. OK, you've heard Senator Stone, anybody have any of Senator Stone. Anyone want to speak for or against this resolution. OK, all in favor of the Senate resolution, please say aye. And he opposed. We'll consider that that's passed. Thank you. Thank you, sir. All right, are there any other senators have any other announcements at this time? Senator Tucker. to Thank you, Mr. President, colleagues, please join me in welcoming our doctor of the day today, Dr. Lauren Gibson Oliver, who's a family medicine practitioner here in Little Rock, and then Lee Fazio, our nurse of the day as well. Uh, welcome. Thank you all very much for being here. Senator English. Just a reminder of the state chamber of Commerce legislative reception, warm tint, and lots of shrimp. She can guarantee that warm tent. Any other announcements. Anybody else? OK, then the Senate will stand an adjournment subject to the clearing of the desk until 1:30 January 22, 2025.