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Bills discussed (1)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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HB1001
Act 2
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1001 by Representative Charles to improve rural health. Represen…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATION FOR … | Evans | Notification that HB1001 is now Act 2 |
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- October 5, 2026
Speaker 1
0:00
Cabot, where he resides and represents now, Speaker Brian Evans. Thank you,
Speaker 3
0:11
Parliamentarian Vines. Boy, I have had this day circled on my calendar for a long time. This is one of my
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
0:18
favorite days of the year and you may think, well why? Why is this, why is this such a big deal to me? And I'll tell you why as i was sitting there um day before yesterday in conway uh in in idawatern auditorium
there in old maine and looking out across the body of five six hundred of you that are attending boy state it brought back a lot of memories for me and it always does every year because 41 years ago this week i was just like you i had the privilege of wearing the orange so to all my orange guys in the room props to you you got the best color of the week and you didn't even know it 41 years ago I had the opportunity and the privilege to go to Arkansas Boys State
it was a great week I loved every single minute of it now some of you may have had a fabulous week you have learned things you have experienced things you have met new people you have formed friendships that otherwise you may have never uh never made i can tell you that 41 years later there are guys that i talk to on a regular basis that i met at arkansas boys state that it had not been for that opportunity our paths would have never crossed some of you have just kind of been
there you just kind of been soaking it in taking it in experiencing it some of you may this may have not been a great week for you you may have not enjoyed any part of this but whether this has been a great week for you whether this has just kind of been an okay week I mean you did get out of the last week of school across most of the schools in the state or whether this has just been bad and you can't wait to get home there's one thing that every one of you sitting in this chamber and every one of our boy state delegates up in the galleries there's one thing that every
one of you have in common and if I was to come around and just ask you individually this question you would probably each give me a little bit of a different answer and that question would be why are you here why are you here this week and some would say well my school counselor told me about this it just kind of seemed like a thing to do or the American Legion post in in in my district or where I live they said something about it I read about it in the paper or I have a friend that I
know because we play baseball together or a friend I know that we play basketball together or you know and he was going to go side to side I would go none of those answers would be wrong but here's what the part that you're missing the reason that you are here this week is because someone someone back in your town in your school believed in you they believed in you and they wanted to invest in you they believed in you because they saw something in you they saw your potential
it might have been something that you said it might have been something that you didn't say maybe you were in a circumstance or a situation at school one day and how you handled that situation made a lasting impression in someone on your campus a teacher a coach a counselor Someone that works in the office, someone from the community. They recognize you by your actions, by how you acted or didn't act as being a future leader.
Not only in your community, but potentially in our state and in our nation. 41 years ago, Arkansas Boys State, University of Central Arkansas, I was there and wore the orange. I went back three years following that. I loved it so much I went back and worked as a counselor because I wanted to be a part of helping young men experience the same thing I did. I remember the day that I came during a legislative session in 1983
and I sat right back there on that bench and served as a page. And I remember that day being in awe of this place. Your capital, not my capital, this is your capital. This is the People's Building, your Arkansas State Capitol. And between that day of being a page, the week I spent at Arkansas Boys State, I knew without a doubt that there was a way and a purpose to serve people and be an advocate for people and be a voice for people and make a difference in people's lives.
And that's what we do here every day, that we're here as your elected officials. I want to take just a second, introduce some folks around the room. It's really important to me. First, I'll start to my left, big tall guy here. You've probably seen him around campus all week. Representative Wade Andrews from Camden. If you've not met Wade yet and you're anywhere from down in South Arkansas, please see him before today's over. Back over his left shoulder, Representative Wayne Long. Representative Long is from Bradford, has part of White County, part of Jackson County. So if you're Bradford, Newport, anywhere up in that area, please see him.
Over here, leaning on to the side over here, Representative Johnny Rye from Truman. up by Jonesboro, so if you, Johnny's got part of Jonesboro and Truman, Lepanto area, if you're from up northeast Arkansas, please see him. In the back, my good friend, Representative Glenn Barnes from Pine Bluff, so if you're from down around Jefferson County, he represents you. He would love to meet you if he hasn't had the opportunity to do that yet. I see a senator slipped in the back of the room, I'm not sure how he got through security. Senator McKee is here.
He serves in the Arkansas Senate. He's from Garland County over around the Lake Hamilton area. So if you're from Garland County, Hot Springs, Lake Hamilton, any of that, he'd love to visit with you. Over here next to him, Representative Rick Beck from up north of Moralton, a little big spot called Center Ridge. Rick's been around here a long time, knows a whole lot about a lot of things. So if you're up Conway County, Moralton, anywhere up in that area, he'd love to visit with you. Next, Representative Lincoln Barnett from over in eastern Arkansas, Crittenden County.
Lincoln's over Hughes, Forest City, part of West Memphis area. So if you're over from that part of the state, please go see him. He'd love to visit with you and get to know who you are personally. Over here in the very back, you've got a special guest here today, Representative Stephen Meeks. Now, I'm going to throw a term out here that may not mean anything to you, but in our language, we use the term ranking member. What does that mean? That means that when you come into the legislature on the first organizational day, you draw for seniority.
Everything around here is kind of dictated by seniority. How you choose your committees, everything all the way down from where you park, all those things are kind of in a process by your seniority, the number of 1 through 100. Representative Stephen Minx is senior member number one. He has been here, he is in his 16th year of serving in the legislature, has been just an outstanding member, not only for our body, but for his district back in Faulkner County.
So if you're from part of Conway over towards Bologna, all the way up to Greenbrier, Worcester, kind of in that area, go by and see Stephen. Just a wealth of knowledge of what goes on around here. We are happy you're here today. We are thrilled to have you. We're going to do our very best to give you a little bit of an experience of what we go through representing you and your families back home. Did I miss the idea? Paul Childress just slipped in the back door there, representing Paul Childress from Saline County.
He serves primarily the city of Benton. So if you're anywhere from Saline County down around Benton, please go by and see Paul there in the back as well. Guys, great. Mr. Parliamentarian? yes yes
Speaker 9
8:28
the senate is here you're welcome come come come down to the well we are here
Speaker 12
8:45
to notify you that the senate is organized and ready for business
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
8:48
all right thank you so the senate is in place senator mckee you'll escort them back down to the senate chambers we're happy to have them we're glad to know that y'all are going to be there on the other end let's do the work of the people mr parliamentarian the
Speaker 17
9:18
house of representatives for arkansas boy state will come to order
i invite the members staff press and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by the Boy State Chaplain, Brody Williamson, and to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Representative Ford. Please bow your heads. Dear Heavenly Father,
Speaker 20
9:39
we thank you for having us here today. We pray for the safety of everyone in this room, and we pray for all these delegates here tonight. Lord, we thank you for everything you do for us. We'll just lead, guide, and direct us as we make our decisions today.
And thank you for all you do again. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Amen. Amen.
by pushing your yellow present button. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clark. Is everybody
pressed the yellow button to record their attendance?
cast up the ballot mr. clerk with members present the chair sees a quorum
77 members present the chair appoints the following committee to notify the senate that the house is organized and ready for business representative aj walton
The chair appoints the following committee to notify the governor that the organizer is ready for business. Representative Rogers. Is Representative Rogers in here?
Mr. Cook, please read the calendar item. House Bill 1001.
Chair
Unverified
12:18
House Bill 1001 by Representative Charles to improve rural health. Representative Charles, you
are recognized to explain the bill.
Chair
Unverified
12:28
Gentlemen, we've got listed, you'll see on your calendar, on your desk, Most of these are lead sponsors.
Is Representative Charles not in the room? Is there a co-sponsor to the bill? I know he'll do it, but typically we have.
Speaker 42
13:10
Is there a co-sponsor on this bill? Are you a co-sponsor, sir? What's your name? Representative
Jones, you are recognized to explain the bill.
Speaker 46
13:29
Good afternoon, members of the House. How y'all doing? Alrighty, so this bill is to increase funding for health care in rural areas. I'm from a rural area myself that is plagued by gun violence. As a young African-American man, I see how bad the rural health care system is at the moment. The bill line proposing increases health care funding for the rural hospitals and...
This bill addresses both parliament ones by investing in rural health care and encouraging more medical professionals to serve these rural communities. We
Speaker 52
14:28
can improve emergency care, reduce health health disparities, and
Speaker 46
14:33
give rural families access to the proper care they need. I believe we can fund this bill through state health care funds, the federal health grants, and also by targeted
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
14:49
budget reallocations. Any questions? Yes, sir. representative Perry for what purpose it says here that is a tax that is imposed on individuals who make at least three hundred thousand dollars how much will
Chair
Unverified
15:19
this tax be representative Perry let me let me interrupt you I just I did a poor job of explaining this when it whenever you want to be recognized you stand speaker recognize you he'll say for what purpose you'll respond question then he'll grant you he'll recognize you from there we don't just jump into it sorry no it's my fault just want to clarify that so we're going forward but wait to be recognized with the question then you can explain for what purpose representative perry a question you're recognized it says here that is a tax that
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
15:51
is imposed on an individual who learns at least three hundred thousand dollars how much will this tax B? His tax would
Speaker 66
16:15
be 10%. Thank you. Representative Underwood, for what purpose? Question. You're
Speaker 69
16:17
recognized. Mr. Jones, what made you pick the number of $300,000 when people under that amount of money would also be using the same hospitals?
Speaker 46
16:24
I feel as if you make at least $300,000 net worth, you have maybe just a little bit of despair for your people. Representative
Speaker 74
16:44
Pilkington, for what purpose? Question. Recognized. You said the tax would be 10%. Is that 10% of an individual's income? Yes.
Speaker 80
16:54
Representative Unger, you get, for what purpose? Uh, question. You're recognized. How are you going to choose how
Speaker 46
17:10
to allocate the funding and to what locations? The funding will be allocated determining on maybe the area and the population of the area. It could also depend on, like, maybe if the hospital they have nearing the rural areas are beginning to close down or are declining their services.
Speaker 86
17:24
Thank you. Representative William, for what purpose? Question. You are recognized. Is there any unintended consequences that might hurt
Speaker 87
17:45
rural communities instead of helping them? Is there any unintended consequences that could hurt the rural communities instead
Speaker 91
18:01
Representative Dalby, for what purpose? Question. You are recognized. So how
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
18:08
exactly do you plan on funding this bill for the long term? Because we cannot just write a blank check because that will be fiscally irresponsible and that will lead us to a financial crisis. So how would you plan to fund this in
Speaker 63
18:21
the long term? In the long term, I will continue to take the 10% from those making the $300,000.
Speaker 52
18:26
I also use in federal grants and other government funds.
Speaker 96
18:34
Representative Henley, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. Is this bill
Speaker 52
18:43
for a long or short-term goal? This is a long-term bill to improve
just general health care in rural areas.
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
18:59
Okay. Representative McKenzie, you're recognized. Thank you. Would you think that with targeting these people who make over $300,000,
do you think that might negatively impact the people who might move to Arkansas, who
Speaker 102
19:09
might help our economy? I believe it could, but it
Speaker 46
19:15
can't. because as I believe that maybe taking the $300,000 then becomes a part of your civic duty life. Okay, maybe I would want to help this person go through school. Thank you. Representative Emmett, for what premise?
Representative Jones has left the well. Representative Jones has explained the bill. Would anybody like to speak against
the bill? Representative McCollum, you are recognized to speak against the bill. While
Chair
Unverified
20:07
he's coming up, if you speak for or against, you come to the well, and also if you ask more than one question,
and you have to ask a follow-up question, that sort of thing.
Speaker 107
20:17
So be mindful of that, too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a personal person in a family that does make above $300,000, it specifies within the bill that it's to help have more health care professionals in rural areas of Arkansas for health care. Now, having more professionals does not mean that it's a higher quality. It doesn't specify that. So that means for us that are making $300,000 or more
with a 10% income tax, which is quite a lot, may not even be making things more higher quality. It's just that there's more health care professionals. You may be getting the same, you may be getting more people, but if they don't know what they're doing, it's a waste of our time and money. Representative McCollum,
I spoke against the bill. does anybody wish to speak for the bill representative Pierce you are
Speaker 113
21:17
recognized to speak for the bill during my further research I have researched that in rural places in Arkansas there has been a bunch of declining funds for rural hospitals and this also has impacted maternity and overall health for Arkansans although the 10% may seem a lot for people who make above $300,000 it's best to do so
to not just promote a life but to save a life as well in today's economy nobody has the amount of money for transportation or has the type of transportation to travel miles away to a nearby hospital to provide that if it that same health care that could be provided by rural health care representative Pierce has spoken has spoken for the bill maybe I'd like to
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
22:26
speak against the bill. Representative Dalby. When we throw government subsidies at rural health care, it can create a temporary administrative fix and or bureaucratic positions, but it does not help the long term.
Like Senator McCollum said, not Senator, Representative McCollum said, it can, it doesn't, it wasn't, the bill did not specify it
Speaker 117
23:07
would be better health care. It would just be more health care. And with just more health care, we open ourselves to malpractice lawsuits. And how would you combat the malpractice lawsuits? Representative McGruder, what purpose?
Speaker 59
23:40
Right now, it's just questions, guys. If you want to ask a question,
Speaker 46
24:00
stand up. Representative Eden, for what purpose? And to clarify, in the 30th line, it says expand funding for rural health and quality of care in rural communities. So it's just not expanding, it's the quality as well.
Speaker 52
24:28
your statement. Would you agree that the bill increases the quality and the hands-on for the health care, or
Speaker 117
24:35
Jase? I do agree that it creates more health care possessions, but I do not agree that it creates a better quality of health care.
Representative Dahlbe has spoken against the bill. Would anybody like to speak for the bill? Representative Whitaker would like to speak for the bill. You're recognized. all right.
Speaker 130
25:22
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not going to get up here and act like I know all
the statistics to rural areas, but I live in a rural area just like our fellow representative here, and I understand his cause for it. For me, I'll stay in Clarendon, and we only have a clinic so it's only so much they can do for us besides provide medicine and give us provide with common things for like flu or cough or like soreness so we have to go to Stuttgart and Stuttgart is never tip-top shape and they have flaws too so we have to go to Children's all the way in Little Rock which is an hour and some change. I see his cause as trying to not only better the
community's health, but also the people working there. Because like Representative Dably said, he does not feel as if it's going to better the quality or the sustainability, but it's only going to just bring in more. And if they're not doing anything, it's not going to work. That's the whole
Speaker 131
26:19
point of the quality. Quality is improving, making better, not just looking better or bringing people to look good.
Representative Whitaker has spoken for the bill. Would anybody like to speak against the bill? Representative Hensley, you
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
26:56
have... Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The only reason why I'm speaking out against this bill is is that I get the full purpose of what it is trying to do.
It's trying to better health care in rural communities. But if you look at the bill, it does not specify where that money is coming from. That is the main issue for me. If it specified where the money came from, I will be fully for it. But it only says that it's taxing people who make more than $300,000 a year. That's not enough explaining for a bill dealing with health care. Thank you. Representative Hensley has spoken for the bill.
Anybody like to speak against the bill? Representative
Representative Ry
Unverified
27:49
Quaid, you're recognized. Although rural health care is important, I think we can all agree on
Speaker 142
27:55
that. The issue remains in the 10% tax. That would seem almost like an attack on the upper middle class income earners. I mean, 10% of your yearly income, if you're making $300,000, that's a lot of money.
Now, if we switch it to something more like 4% of a monthly income, that could be a little more reasonable. But 10% just seems like, kind of seems like an infringement on people's money, man. it seems like we're trying to take from the rich and from the poor and not as much of a work together to solve an issue.
Representative Rye has spoke against the bill. Would anybody like to speak for
Speaker 146
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the bill? Representative Richardson, you have a floor? I'm going to support this bill to improve rural health care in Arkansas.
Too many people in small towns struggle to access doctors, hospitals, and basic health care. This bill will help expand medical service and support healthier communities across our state. I believe if you stay in a rural area, 300,000 is a lot, and 10% is not a lot taken from that. As many elders, it's a lot of elders stay in rural areas. Even though I stay in a rural area, a hospital is like 30 minutes away,
and it may not seem like a long time, but when you're in need, 30 minutes can be a lot. So I believe that this is a great bill, and it will help out a lot for the rural community. Representative Richardson has spoken for the bill. Would anybody like to speak
against the bill? Representative Vaught, for what purpose? I'd like to make a motion. You're recognized. I move immediate consideration.
Chair
Unverified
30:19
Is it proper motion? not debatable all in favor say aye any opposed all right this is a procedure gentlemen to end debate and vote immediately we call it a motion for immediate consideration.
For some of you that are familiar with Robert's Rules of Order, it's usually a previous question. But we are governed by Masons, and we use immediate consideration. What that does, it ends the debate immediately. If we get two-thirds of the body voting for the motion, we move immediately into the vote on the underlying bill. In this case, it probably failed because there were no votes, really, for lack of a better term. So debate would continue. in the future uh and yesterday in girls state we got very uh we used it very uh a lot we used it
about every bill so be mindful of it but you do need to voice vote and when he calls we don't put everything on the board motions and resolutions different things like that we just voice vote so you you've got to pay attention keep up with the with what's happening and and vote as we go forward and that's what happened there just to
just recap would anybody wish to speak against the bill representative gruder for what you're recognized
Speaker 155
32:09
My problem is there's a lot of doctors that make about $300,000 a year. The issue I
Speaker 156
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see is if we're taxing them, would that
drive them away from Arkansas? Thank you. Representative McGrew has spoken against the bill. Speaker
Speaker 6
32:30
Evans, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Guys, I want a great debate. I've been listening to
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
32:36
this, and I'm really impressed with your engagement and your willingness to come and speak for and against this issue.
And so if you had thoughts on this and you were wanting to come speak for and against, you hold that thought, but I want to pause just for a moment. Got two very special guests here today that I want to take just a moment and introduce. Now, one of these guys has been a great friend to me. You have probably seen him around all week, and that is from the American Legion Boys State Board of Directors, Mr. Lynn Cotton back here in the back.
Speaker 7
33:15
Now you probably don't know this how famous he really is
but now he's he's he's big time famous for two reasons. One he's big time famous because of the dedication that he has poured into Arkansas Boys State for more years than I can even think of. He gives a week, two weeks, three weeks of his life every summer.
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
33:35
Volunteers comes down and makes sure that you guys have a great way. The other reason that he is so famous is because he is the father of your United States Senator, Tom Cotton. You may have heard of Senator Tom Cotton, and he is here with us today.
Senator Cotton, I would love for you to come down and greet these guys, if you would. Guys from your United States Capitol all the way back from Washington, D.C., please welcome United States Senator Tom
Speaker 158
34:12
Cotton. Thank you. Well, it's great to be back at Boys State. I was a delegate myself in your position 32 years ago in 1994. My father was a delegate in 1962.
He's been either a counselor on the board or a chairman now for 30 years. We have deep affection and devotion to this program. I think now that you've been through it for a week, you can understand why. You've probably made some friends here that are going to be friends for the rest of your life and be able to stay in touch with them as well in a way that my dad and I weren't always able to, given the state of technology back then. But I hope this week has instilled in you a greater sense of confidence and ambition as you go forward into your senior year and then once you get out of high school, and
also a sense of patriotism as well, that you've learned a little bit more about our state and about our nation and what makes Arkansas and America such a special place and that you're going to take that back home and you're going to try to help instill that in your peers and your classmates and your teammates and in your community as well because your teachers and coaches sent you here for a reason. They selected you because they saw a spark of leadership in you not just next year, not just for the next few years but for the rest of your life as young men who can grow into adults
who lead our communities, who lead our state, who lead our nation. So I want to express again my congratulations to you for being elected to the House. It goes to show the confidence that your peers had in you and urge you to take that responsibility seriously as you go on in the next steps of your life. So thank you all for letting me come here. Congratulations again
Speaker 11
35:49
on being a Boyd State Delegate and being in the House of Representatives. Guys,
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
36:01
He wore the colors just like each of you have, and I did, and his dad did, and many of our friends that are here today. He is a fabulous senator for us here in Arkansas. He cares deeply about all four corners of our state. He represents us very well in Washington, D.C. He is a leader right now in the administration on national and global security. So he is up there serving us. He is a veteran, he's a combat veteran. So when you're laying your head down on the pillow at night and you're safe and secure in your home
and back in your communities, you can credit a whole lot of that to the work that Senator Cotton has done on national security. So, Senator Cotton, thank you for being here today. It's quite an honor to have you here in our chamber. Speaker. Anybody
wish to speak for the bill? Representative Carr, you're recognized.
Speaker 163
37:20
Okay, I personally feel like we should support the bill because it could be a a better atmosphere, better equipment, better health status, and a better life. From where I'm coming from, I come from a small town called Alzheimer's. We don't really have a lot. We don't really, we have to go, like, to Little Rock or Palm Bluff just to have better stuff. Like, if you go to a sub down in Alzheimer's, you're not going to really get stuff. We kind of looking at it like, oh, he don't know what he's talking about. He's just throwing out numbers.
But y'all got to look at the better for it. Like, it can actually help. it can actually sit there and be a good thing for us. So I feel like we work together and get that out there, we can be better. Representative Carr has spoken for
the bill. Would anybody wish to speak against the bill? Representative Allen, for what purpose?
Representative Fred Allen
Unverified
38:23
Motion. State your motion. I'd like to motion for immediate consideration. That's a proper
Speaker 152
38:34
motion. Not debatable. All in favor say
Speaker 32
38:42
aye. Aye. Any opposed? Nay. Motion carries. The question before the House is passage of House Bill 1001.
Unknown speaker
38:53
Bear the machine, Mr. Clark. Has everybody voted? Has everyone voted?
Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 24 yeas, 51 nays, and one present, the bill has failed. House Bill 2000.
Speaker 172
39:55
Mr. Clerk, please read House Bill 1002. House
Chair
Unverified
40:01
Bill 1002, Representative McGee, to provide more funding to rural Arkansas school districts to hire more teachers. Representative McGee, you are
recognized to explain the bill. To
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
40:29
summarize, this bill was created with the purpose of improving education for smaller,
Speaker 177
40:35
more rural communities, schools particularly 1 and 2A. This bill will reduce the number of differing classes a teacher can teach to three. For example, if a teacher is in charge of teaching biology, chemistry, and two other classes, they cannot be forced into a position to teach another. This is because we want a more effective use of one teacher's time over their subjects. While this does mean we get more standardized teaching
for smaller schools, this would also mean some schools may be required to hire one or more teachers, so we are also proposing that we increase the sign-on bonus to create more desire for these positions. Thank you. Representative Gazeway, for what purpose?
Speaker 125
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Question. You're recognized. So how are we going to be able to
Speaker 177
41:46
allocate the funds for this bill? This bill will be state funded. The plea for this bill is a cry out to the state to get the funding
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
42:01
for this bill. Thank you. Representative Dalby? You said this funding would only
Speaker 174
42:04
be for 1A, 2A, and 3A. For what purpose? Question.
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
42:08
You're recognized. Thank you. You said the funding would be for 1A, 2A, and 3A, and this is all state funded, so we are depending on the good nature of our state.
and we're so this bill i believe is actively dividing us because unity between
Speaker 183
42:22
the higher classes and the poorer classes is important and this is actively dividing us so how would you
Speaker 177
42:35
combat that representative you again this is primarily to target one two and three a schools which experience the most stretched out teachers, we believe that these rural schools
are the primarily people who are being affected by this. We don't believe that many of the four and up A schools have experienced this problem, but those who do experience this as well will also receive the same benefits. Representative Eubanks,
for what purpose? you are recognized. So this
Representative Jon S. Eubanks
Unverified
43:15
bill would be trying to add more teachers to rural areas. I come from
a rural 3A school. The Learns Act and the Access Acts were both passed recently, and they did sweeping education reforms and also created a $50,000 starting amount for all Arkansas teachers. The issue I'm seeing with this bill is that you, A, do not have anywhere that you're saying that you're going to get the funding from. I know you said recently the state, but where are you going to cut from to get this funding. And then I also have an issue coming in that we are already having a shortage of teachers from burnout, because yes, when the Learns Bill was created, it did help
new teachers coming into the state, but for teachers who had been teaching for many years, who already had that initial higher salary, it lowered their amount. So what do you plan to do to fix that issue? That is an excellent question. Sadly, we
Speaker 177
44:16
do not have an answer at that time. Thank you. Representative McClure, for what purpose?
Speaker 195
44:27
Question. You are recognized. What evidence do we have that simply hiring more
Speaker 177
44:37
teachers will improve educational outcome? The idea behind this bill was so teachers can specify in certain topics, so by hiring these teachers, we're allowing them to teach primarily just these subjects, which is enhanced teaching, which is the goal of this bill.
Speaker 199
44:58
Representative Holliday, for what purpose? So you say
Speaker 202
45:13
that you would offer a sign-in bonus to newly hired teachers. What about the more experienced teachers that have been there for a while?
What about their salaries? - Their
Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
45:32
salaries will remain the same. They will also be reaping the benefits by having to teach
Speaker 177
45:37
less classes. They're still teaching the same number of classes, but they're only over three subjects, which is a lot less of a curriculum
Speaker 204
45:46
to learn. They get to specify and explain much more effectively. - Representative Gremlich, what purpose?
Speaker 206
46:02
Question. They're recognized. How do we ensure the money goes directly toward hiring teachers?
Speaker 177
46:22
It is included on the sign-on bonus, which is how we plan to promote new teachers to come to the school. Thank you.
Speaker 209
46:32
Representative Barnes for what purpose question you are recognized how will you ensure that this won't lower the experience for teachers because you are bringing in more less experience like let's say teachers that have not finished their full education how will this will this not harm our students' learning?
Speaker 177
47:07
Again. We believe that by hiring these new teachers, the sign-on bonus will be enticing enough to gather actually experienced teachers who are capable in their subject, but by also reducing the
Speaker 204
47:28
number of classes that the previous teachers who are already at these schools are teaching, we're getting a greater education per class.
Speaker 216
47:43
Representative Hawk, for what purpose? You are recognized. Wouldn't this bill cause just more teachers to be hired working less hours, so like several teachers working for like maybe only two classes?
Speaker 177
48:18
This is specifically why we chose for teachers to teach up to three classes. We believe this is a standard amount that a teacher should teach to teach as many students as possible in one day. They can teach up to two, maybe three of the same class to all of these students, but we believe that this number is the most effective means of increasing our education. Thank you. Representative Allen, for what purpose?
Rep. McGee has presented the bill. Would anybody like to speak against the bill? Representative
Allen, you are recognized to speak against the bill.
Representative Fred Allen
Unverified
49:26
while having a sign-on bonus for new teachers coming in could help us get more teachers overall I believe that that sign-on bonus could also make more experienced teachers who have been in schools for a while and been in the education business for a while leave because they're seeing these new teachers get something that benefits them a lot more than the older and experienced teachers so that's why I'm against this bill. Thank you.
Representative Allen has spoken against the bill. Does anybody wish to speak
for the bill? Representative McElroy, you are recognized
to speak for the bill. I am totally for this bill.
I had teachers who have taught five different subjects in one day, and I feel like prep time, that's why our teachers are so tired. They have to prep all the time for different subjects, and removing that prep time will give them more time to rest and recover after only having to teach one or two different courses. Representative
McElroy has spoken for the bill.
Speaker 225
51:09
Representative Henley, for what purpose? Motion. Motion for consideration on the bill. Immediate consideration on the bill.
Speaker 152
51:25
Proper motion. not debatable. All in favor say aye. Any opposed, say nay. Approved.
Speaker 32
51:47
the question before the house is passage
of house bill 1002 prepare the machine mr. clerk
Chair
Unverified
52:17
has everybody voted everyone has voted cast up the ballot
Speaker 27
52:38
Mr. Kirk by a vote of 38 yes 36 nay and 2 present the bill has failed wait passed
Speaker 40
52:58
all right gentlemen just real quick just just just update you because to explain to you about
Chair
Unverified
53:03
immediate consideration it's it's a great motion uh it's used a lot of times in here uh when everything's been said but everyone hasn't said it uh the the downfall to it is you cut off the ability for the sponsor to close for his bill he he or she in this case he doesn't get to doesn't get to come back and answer any questions so be mindful if you're for the bill you if you think you got the votes yes it's great but if you if you're against the bill and you don't think you have votes it's great but be mindful there are consequences in that case you had a
very tight bill and you didn't have the votes either way you probably need a little bit more debate so be mindful and use that strategically but you do cut off all debate when you go to that motion it's it's final on
everything representative Rye you are the pro tempore please come up
Speaker 44
54:15
Thank you.
House Bill 1003 by Representative Chaffet, an act to
Speaker 234
54:52
create the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2026. Thank you. This bill would
Speaker 32
55:10
try to solve the problem of the overconsumption of
resources, energy, and land by AI data centers that put strain on the communities and counties that they are based in, as well as violating residents' trust. Giving local communities the power to impose stricter zoning laws that would prohibit data centers, instructions, and their areas, as well as passing ordinances limiting energy and water usage up to the counties, as well as proposing a 10% tax on these corporations that goes towards conservation efforts.
Speaker 86
55:56
Representative Wooden, for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. What's the plan? Wait. If data centers are crucial for, like, growth, why give counties the power to outright ban them? Shouldn't there be a statewide standard? Can you repeat that? Hold on a closer. I wrote it down here. If data centers are crucial for continued growth, why give counties the power to outright ban them? Shouldn't
Speaker 27
56:25
there be a statewide standard? So the reason we give counties the ability to either choose to impose these laws or not
is because some counties, they benefit from these data centers, while other counties with maybe more rural residents, it may be harming them. So that's why we're giving them the power to choose this, because in the end, we want the counties to be happy, and we want to do what's
Speaker 77
56:54
going to benefit them the most. what purpose question permission
Representative Steve Unger
Unverified
56:58
granted how will this affect existing data centers like that
possessed by the food and drugs administration in jefferson arkansas yeah
so this is really affecting ones by the tax so whatever revenue these corporations make like i said 10 percent of it would go to conservation efforts to the fact that they are consuming energy as well as taking up land if the counties choose to do so this really also impacts ones that are meant to be built so this one packs corporations that want to build ones so like zoning areas you know they have to be put into
place and they're approved so it gives it really is affecting new A&M centers
Representative Steve Unger
Unverified
57:34
the most so I have a follow-up I have a follow-up question would this just be for corporations or would that include the federal government you recognize
Speaker 249
57:43
for a follow-up oh yeah sorry permission My question was, how
Representative Steve Unger
Unverified
57:47
would this affect data centers that will be built by the federal government, not corporations? My bad. I believe it would fall under the same thing
Speaker 27
57:59
because it is a state law, but that being said, federal is over the state, so I believe they would have jurisdiction over that.
Thank you. Representative Puryear, for what purpose? Question? Permission granted. Why did you choose 10%? Yeah, so we were looking at how much of an effect it would. 10% would allow these companies to still remain operatable with their, you know, 10% tax is, of course, costing them money. We would also be able to raise a significant amount of money to preserve our wildlife, our, you know, ecosystems, and our environment. Thank you.
Speaker 237
58:39
Representative Hogan. Okay, Representative Hogan, for what purpose? Representative
Representative Ry
Unverified
58:50
Shatlin has presented the bill. Would you like to speak against the bill?
Chair
Unverified
58:58
What's his name? Representative Hogan, you're recognized to speak against the bill.
Speaker 256
59:14
While I agree that data centers can definitely raise costs associated with utilities for local communities, I also would argue that they do provide a lot of jobs for local communities and can be very beneficial for boosting a local economy. So I just don't see any plan to accommodate to all of these lost jobs. And if there's no plan to create more jobs that are lost,
I don't see how local communities are going to benefit from this at all. What do you want to like
Chair
Unverified
1:00:00
to speak for the bill? Representative McCullen, you're recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker 107
1:00:16
Seeing as I was on the committee that decided to have this passed to go to the House of Representatives, I'm highly in favor of this bill. There's many layers to this, and as you can tell, in Arkansas there's not much regulation on data centers. And to kind of answer the question about how the federal is funding, we have to realize that the federal government has separate regulations. is up to them. For us, we have to think of the entire majority of our state as a whole. And I believe that having that county by county basis, my county, Boone County, for example, a lot of our
groundwater, we have a lot of houses that are on wells. A lot of the groundwater that could be used if it wasn't great water from Harrison, Arkansas, could be taken away. So Boone County might not want to have a data center. They should have the opportunity to decide that. So why don't you agree that that would be a standard basis for not just across the state but each county should be able to have a voice on a data center. Data centers are a very controversial topic and many people have different opinions on it so I believe that it should be based by base like a county by county
Chair
Unverified
1:01:24
basis. Wouldn't you agree? Representative McCollum has spoken for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against a bill. Representative McNeer? Representative McKenzie,
you're recognized to speak against the bill. Good evening. I believe
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
1:01:53
that this bill would not be good because of the 10%.
Most businesses operate on much narrower frameworks than we realize. 10% is enough to cause a business to fail. And if a business is going to fail, it's just going to go to Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Louisiana. Arkansas leaves the game, and our economy suffers, and then we suffer, and our children suffer. Don't vote for this bill. It's not worth it.
Chair
Unverified
1:02:28
Representative McKenzie has spoken against the bill. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Richmond, you're recognized to speak for the
Representative Marcus E. Richmond
Unverified
1:02:51
bill. Yeah, I was on the committee as well for this bill. It was very detailed, and we talked about it a whole lot.
But with the 10%, these are not small companies. These are very large corporations that are using this technology. And so 10% for them, and they're used to being taxed in a higher bracket. So I don't think that that's that big of a deal. Representative Richmond has spoken
Chair
Unverified
1:03:22
for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
Representative Unger, you're recognized to speak against the bill.
Representative Steve Unger
Unverified
1:03:39
I would like to preface this by saying I love the intent of the bill. I love the intent of preventing electricity hikes for Arkansans and rural Arkansans especially. But I think the central issue with this bill is that it doesn't really have a role for the federal government. Like, during questioning, the presenter of the bill said that the federal government would be considered a corporation.
This would affect things like the Food and Drug Administration that needs data centers for, like, scientific research, drug research, medical research, whatever. And that 10% tax, that will increase the strain on the federal budget and cause issues, especially when we're trying to, like, when we're trying to improve scientific research for, like, these communities for, like, food regulation and safety standards. So that's why I think we need to revise and resubmit. Thank you. - Representative
Chair
Unverified
1:04:27
Unger has spoken for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill?
I mean, he was speaking against it. Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Collins, you've been recognized to
Representative Andrew Collins
Unverified
1:04:54
speak for the bill. I believe this bill is very thorough and in second page line four states that local community should play a role in determining if data centers should be
placed in or around the communities so it also gives the people a chance to kind of say what they want and it also keeps conservation. Representative Collins has spoken
Chair
Unverified
1:05:13
for the bill would anyone like to speak against the bill? For the bill. Okay.
Representative McGurray, you've been recognized to speak for the bill.
Speaker 273
1:05:43
First of all, I think we should vote for it because what's stopping data centers from not sharing data or sharing it? They take up so much land that what's the point of having them because they're getting money off of us for paying for AI regardless. So what's stopping them from increasing it or making more fancier stuff that we don't need? And the 10% was not just for that. It was more for property tax off than anything. Thank you.
Chair
Unverified
1:06:13
Representative McGurr has spoken for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against it? Would anyone
like to speak for the bill? Representative Eves, you've
Speaker 276
1:06:34
been recognized to speak for the bill. Thank you,
Representative Les D. Eaves
Unverified
1:06:37
Mr. Speaker. In my hometown of Texarkana, there is a plan for a data center, for a data center.
I just, I don't want there, there doesn't need to be one, we already have problems with noise pollution, water consumption, and electricity, and our electricity cost rates are really, or our electricity bills are really high, and
Speaker 50
1:07:17
Representative Eves, do you wish to close for your bill? I believe
Speaker 281
1:07:30
that this bill will help for there not to be a data center in Texas. Rep. Eves has spoken for
Speaker 282
1:07:41
the bill. Rep. Sheffern, do you wish to close for your bill?
Recognition to close the bill. Thank you for everyone considering this bill. I want to emphasize that this bill is not about completely denying the AI data centers. It's about balance. Each county gets its option in providing these AI data centers, zoning. they get the option to tax these areas, so there's a lot of counties, in fact, there's an AI data center that's very good, and it puts hundreds of jobs into that county, and it would be beneficial, and at the end of the day, that's what we want. We want the counties to make the best decision for
their people. They know what's best for them, so that's why we're giving it to them. I do want to address Unger's point, so the federal, he mentioned that, like, the FDA has AI data centers. That is a federal issue. The state can't do anything about federal. So if the if the higher-ups at you know the U.S. Fed if they want to put in the data center then that is not up to the state and they will do that and they likely will and those type of data centers are good. Like I said this is about balance
and all the counties get to decide whether or not they want to have this or not
and it will hopefully help them in the long term. Thank
Representative Ry
Unverified
1:09:02
y'all. Representative Sheffley has closed the floor for the bill. The question for the House is the passage of House Bill 1003. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everyone voted?
Speaker 142
1:09:25
has everyone voted cast up the ballot mr.
Chair
Unverified
1:09:42
clerk by the vote of 62 yays seven
nays and three present the bill is passed
Speaker 142
1:09:55
- Mr. Clark, please read House Bill 1004. - House
Speaker 234
1:10:18
Bill 1004 by Representative Dotson to create the Motor Vehicle Registration Affordability Act and to reduce the registration fees for motor vehicles.
- Representative Dodson, you are recognized
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
1:10:50
to explain the bill. - Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This bill is to create a tax deduction for car vehicle reduction on the register. It is supposed to bring money back due to higher fuel prices. So since America is now turning to more EV vehicles, it decreases the tax on every initiative from gas hybrid to electric.
It decreases the amount of money that you have to buy for the vehicle registration for anybody who wants to buy the vehicle. representative william for what purpose question you are recognized isn't
Speaker 86
1:11:38
this just shifting costs instead of uh or for not reducing them for most uh vehicle owners can you repeat the question i'm sorry isn't this uh shifting
Speaker 88
1:11:47
costs for most vehicle owners instead of reducing them
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
1:11:51
is shifting it's shifting the cost and reducing them because the initial price for everyone i know gas is 35 dollars um the hybrid was 150 and then ev is just uh 200 so shift is shifting the cost by also while also lowering for the vehicle registration. Can I
Speaker 86
1:12:17
have a follow-up? You're approved. Why are we wanting electric vehicle owners
to pay more than gas owners if we're trying to get more electric vehicles for emissions? Well,
Speaker 294
1:12:29
the only reason why the initiatives for EV prices are so high,
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
1:12:34
those are the initiatives that are set already. $200 is the maximum for the normal vehicle registration for an EV vehicle. Gas is also the same thing within the state of Arkansas. Those have been set in the president of the $35, the $150, and then the $200.
My bad. Representative Gardner, for what purpose? You're recognized.
Speaker 296
1:13:05
So, if I was, say I was a gas driver and it went from $32 to $20, wouldn't that affect me thinking that the hybrid drivers are getting more of a deal than I am? They're not making more
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
1:13:20
of a deal. The deal is that your prices on your gas vehicle are decreasing.
Every car dealing with gas, hybrid, or EV, they have all received a good decrease. So, there is nobody making a major profit off of it. Everybody is being included within the decrease. I have a follow-up. Recognized. So, wouldn't it
Speaker 301
1:13:45
have been easier to do a percent instead of just decreasing the numbers? Well, that's what I was
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
1:13:50
about to bring that up. I forgot to bring that up. I forgot to put the percentages of every one on the bill. So, that was my fault.
But it does, I think I could, I have them. The percentages that it decreases by, the gas is being decreased by 32 or 37, EV is being decreased by 37, and then, no, EV is being decreased by 47, and then hybrid is being decreased by 42. Representative
Eubanks, for what purpose? All recognized.
Speaker 189
1:14:32
this bill because it really does help with the big issue we're all struggling
Representative Jon S. Eubanks
Unverified
1:14:38
with. Rising fuel prices are happening all over the country right now. The only question I have is this. So, how are you thinking that increased registration fees are going to help reduce the fuel price? Because if EV owners, when they were buying their electric vehicles, were getting tax credits from the government or getting to have extra reductions on the purchase price of it, whereas gas owners were not getting that same benefit.
And now we're flipping it, it seems, with this bill where EV owners would be having to pay a high registration fee. So
Speaker 189
1:15:11
in what way would this help reduce fuel prices?
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
1:15:15
Well, the bill is never to reduce fuel prices. Fuel prices are high alone. This bill is bringing money back to the person of that said vehicle. Instead of having to pay a high registration fee, you're putting in much lower to make sure you have more money for gas. That way it can be more efficient for the vehicle and the owner of that vehicle.
Representative McCollum, for what purpose? Question.
Speaker 107
1:15:48
We recognize. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I know that this has been implemented in the state of California, but how would you, vehicle registration funds a lot of our state highways, its maintenance, our county roads, a lot of these things are funded by vehicle registration. How would you fulfill that funding deficit that would be created by your bill?
Speaker 96
1:16:12
The way that that funding deficit will have to be created,
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
1:16:15
because that's a thing that I was thinking about once my bill had passed committee, because I don't think I specified that good enough. And I can take accountability for that. But I think I will have to try to find ways that we can pull money out of other said committees. So probably like judiciary or something like that, pool money so we can put it back into the money that we're taking out for these tax credits, so that way we're still making that revenue for that said area of transportation and all that other stuff.
Representative Mick Colando, for what purpose? Recognized.
Speaker 306
1:16:55
So, as gas prices continue to increase at a quickly-timed manner, when are you going to be able to make these changes when the bill is act, and so how? Can you repeat the question? So, as the gas prices increase over time, how quickly are you able to make these acts, and if
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
1:17:17
so, how? If it was as soon as possible, really, because I know with the gas prices continuing to go higher, it's going to become a, you know, bigger situation for, you know, whatever.
And I think as soon as possible would be the best option for us to make sure of that. Thank you. Representative
Henley has presented the bill. Does anybody wish to speak against the bill?
Representative Rye, you are recognized to speak against the bill.
Representative Ry
Unverified
1:18:02
I think we can all agree that as
Speaker 142
1:18:05
gas prices rise, it is pulling more money out of our pockets. However, the main point is, what happens once they go back down? Are we going to keep taking money out of highway funds and stuff like that to keep it in the consumer's pocket? And what if this has a negative effect? Because as highway and road funds go down due to this lower amount of spending, so does the quality of these places. And as the quality goes down, the car crashes, amount of accidents, pop tires, all that goes up.
So then you've got more money coming out of American people's pockets than in the original case. So what are we going to do about that?
Representative Rye has spoken against the bill. Does anybody wish to speak for the bill? Representative Perry, you're recognized to speak for the bill.
Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
1:18:59
I believe this bill will have a positive impact on Arkansas because it is putting more money
Speaker 311
1:19:03
in the common Arkansas pocket to spend on whatever they may need in their life.
Maybe they need some groceries that month and reducing their car registration may get them those groceries that they may need. Many of our Kansas are living paycheck to paycheck. This will get them the money they need to live that
month. Representative Perry, I spoke for the bill. Does anybody wish to speak
against the bill? Representative McKenzie, you're recognized to speak against the bill.
Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
1:19:38
Good evening everyone. I was on the committee that was pushing this bill through. I was against it. It was, this bill is going to, if it passes, remove up to 10% of the state's entire budget. That is not something we can afford. Our budget is already strained as is. It's going to be terrible if a crisis strikes the state and we won't have any money.
to bail ourselves out thank you representative mckenzie has spoken against the bill does anybody wish to
Speaker 128
1:20:22
speak for the bill representative mcelroy wishes to speak for the bill
I support this bill because reducing vehicle registration fees helps offset the burden of high
gas prices. Like, parents and families are already spending more and more money at the gas pumps. And lower registration costs can put that money back into their pockets. We can't directly control the gas prices, but we can reduce other transportation fees. Representative McElroy has
spoken for the bill does anybody wish to speak
against the bill? Representative Lynch you are recognized to speak for the bill or against
Representative Roger D. Lynch
Unverified
1:21:30
the bill. I would like to speak against the bill today due to the registration costs not truly going to make a huge effect on your everyday Arkansan. I understand like the gas bill did go from $20 or it was $35 to $20 registration. It is $15 I understand. Yes, it can matter paycheck to paycheck. But
the biggest problem with this bill is that it says it'll make an incentive for electric car drivers to go electric. But as a electric car owner myself, that isn't a large money comparison of your savings and the cost of gas. Yes, it is a consideration every year, and yes, it is a headache, but saving me 80 bucks isn't a drastic effect in the amount I'm saving compared to how much I'm saving to the cost of gas, and it's not worth it because it is going to take so much money out of the fund towards fixing potholes, fixing issues on our roads,
which is already underfunded in the state of Arkansas. Thank
Speaker 26
1:22:26
you. Representative Lynch has spoken against the bill. Does anybody wish to speak
for the bill? Representative John or Carl, you're recognized to speak for the bill. Just
Speaker 163
1:22:48
to add on to what he said, it's basically like I'm totally with the bill because you got to realize families already be going through a lot.
Gas prices is extremely high. You spending about a hundred, overly over a hundred dollars just to fill one tank up. You got to realize people still got to put food in their house. People still got to prepare for families, kids, intuition, all of that. I feel like that we should further go along with this bill to increase, I mean, to decrease the fuel pumps and try to work together. Because how are we going to live life steady, throwing in more money, trying to fill up a gas tank when we can be using that to survive?
Representative Carr has spoken for the bill. Representative Dotson, do you wish to
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
1:23:42
close through your bill? Now, I understand a lot of the tension coming with this bill, and that's the point of me making this bill. The bill is supposed to be controversial, but at the same time it's supposed to be good. The bill is supposed to bring money back into the people's pockets with lower registration fees yes that does mean that some things are going to have to take effect
like road maintenance and all of that but at the same time those things can be fixed over time with the state surplus that we can use for those types of things you bring it in money taking out money and make it ensuring that the people are paying more not paying more at the the gas pump and ensuring that they have things to provide food on the table more gas in their cars and more opportunities to do more things with the money that they own, and especially for the people who live paycheck to paycheck. That way they do not have to worry about this situation
going on with gas prices. The whole reason of this bill is to make sure that the American dollar and the person paying with that money has the reasonable amount to keep supplying for their family and all of that. Thank you.
Speaker 32
1:24:52
Representative Dodson has closed for the bill. The question before the house is passage of House Bill 1004. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk.
Speaker 27
1:25:16
Has everyone voted? Everyone has voted. Cast up the ballot, Mr. Clerk. By a vote of 20 yay, 46 nays, and four present, the bill has failed. Now we will be addressing the Senate
bills. We are on a little bit of a time crunch, so we will only take about two questions per
Speaker 320
1:25:47
each bill. Gentlemen, let me elaborate on that for just a minute. got
Chair
Unverified
1:25:58
roughly 20-30 minutes left and we've got these four Senate bills I think you want to give the sponsors a chance to present so we we don't have to cut off all debate but we've got to I'm sorry
look on the backside of your agenda there should be four Senate bills yeah We're going to present those, but we've got about 20, 30 minutes left, so we need to be concise so we can get through these four before you guys have
Speaker 233
1:26:44
to take off for the afternoon. Mr. Clark, please read Senate Bill 1. Senate Bill 1 by Representative Roberts to fight food through healthy incentives.
Representative Roberts, you are recognized to explain the bill. Good morning, my
Speaker 324
1:27:06
fellow representatives. This bill was being
Representative Jon S. Eubanks
Unverified
1:27:08
created to combat the growing issue of food insecurity in our great state. Across the state right now, we are having issues of access to clean and healthy food. When you go to the grocery store, you're able to get access to foods that are very unhealthy for a lot cheaper. When you try to buy something that is healthier, say salad or lettuce or anything that would be good that we know is a good, healthier food, it is always priced higher.
Whereas when you're trying to purchase something that is cheaper, you always, for families who are fighting financial crises right now, they're having to buy what's cheaper, and oftentimes that is not a healthier food. So what this bill is proposing is to allow for an increase in retention and SNAP benefits. I know Governor Sanders has recently tried to remove the ability for junk foods to be offered from SNAP and to try to allow for SNAP benefits to only be
Speaker 189
1:28:01
for healthier foods. This would help give a better incentive to doing that.
Speaker 32
1:28:06
So thank you. Representative Roberts has explained the bill.
Representative Steve Unger
Unverified
1:28:21
Questions. Representative Unger, you have for what purpose? Question. You're recognized. What mechanism do you plan to use to
Speaker 189
1:28:28
provide more healthy food for like SNAP users? Great question. So there's this program being used in a dozen states right now called the Double Bucks program. And so what it does is for, there's a $20 cap per day, but for every dollar of healthier
foods that you purchase, that's an extra dollar that goes back into your SNAP benefits as like an incentive to try to help offer more healthier options. Representative Mechalind,
for what purpose? You're recognized. How does the bill define
Speaker 329
1:29:02
junk food? It is a broad term, and to do that, I would refer back to when Governor Sanders
Representative Jon S. Eubanks
Unverified
1:29:08
made her proclamation defining junk foods that were being cut from SNAP benefits.
This bill is really trying to help reduce childhood obesity, is trying to help give more access to healthier food options. I know for so many families right now, there's such an incentive to try to get healthier foods, but when you are on such a tight budget with how expensive gas is right now, with how expensive housing is right now, you only can afford what you can, and when the healthier option isn't cheap, like it usually is not, you go for the more common junk foods.
Speaker 189
1:29:39
So I would refer back to Governor Sanders on that.
Representative Roberts has explained the bill. Would anybody like to speak against the bill? Representative
Speaker 333
1:30:04
Kavanaugh, for what purpose? Speaking against. For recognizing, speaking against the bill.
Speaker 334
1:30:19
I don't think that is fair that a statewide tax on junk food should be applied just because individuals who use SNAP benefits are using them solely to purchase junk food and not nutritional foods that will help nourish them.
Frankly, it is not everyone's fault. Not everyone is on SNAP. Some people are actually, you know, using their funds to buy healthy food. So I don't think we should tax everybody for the misuse of funds by a few. Representative Kevinoff has spoken against
the bill. Would anybody like to speak for the bill?
Representative Blomstrom, you are recognized to speak for the
Speaker 337
1:31:46
bill. Please come to the well. I think I would like to clarify, maybe. I believe the intent of the bill wasn't to be a tax on junk food, but rather an incentive to allow people in poor situations
and give them the access to actually make healthier food decisions. And I think that this bill would be a great addition to trying to make Arkansas a healthier state overall, considering that we are ranked pretty high in obesity across the state. And I believe a large part of that may be due to us also being a poorer state, especially in more rural areas. And that might only give poor individuals access to junk food.
So this incentive, specifically on SNAP benefits, I think would be great and allow many individuals to essentially actually have access to buy healthier foods at the grocery store. Representative Lundstrom has spoken for the bill. Would anybody like to speak against the bill?
Representative, I can't see your name, but. Representative Hall, you
are recognized to speak against the bill.
Representative Brad Hall
Unverified
1:33:09
Hall, blue shirt. I eat a lot of snacks So I don't want to go to the store And pay $8 for a bag of chips Because it's already $5 I don't want to pay an extra $3 for a bag
of chips That's why I'm speaking against it Representative Hall has spoken Against the bill
Would anybody like to speak for the bill? Representative Jean, you are recognized
Representative Lane Jean
Unverified
1:33:57
to speak for the bill. I just want to say this, Arkansas is one of the top obesity states, and that's very dear to me because because my family you know but like I like to just get on that
topic we really need to go with this bill because healthy food is just something we need in everyday life and I'm not gonna lie going to the store to actually try to get vegetables and all type of stuff that's gonna contribute to to your body is very, very high, like very expensive. So I feel like this will help. - Representative Jean has spoken for the bill.
Representative Roberts, do you wish to close for your
Representative Jon S. Eubanks
Unverified
1:34:54
bill or recognized? - I know that the bill right now has issues specifically an increased tax for added junk food. However, I do want to clarify that that would only be for SNAP benefit users. It would not be for everyone. This bill was intentionally designed to be something that can help lower-income families who are on SNAP and on EBT funds
so that they can have better options. This was never intended to hurt everyone. This
Speaker 189
1:35:20
is just meant to help get those individuals a better option, so thank you. Representative
Roberts has closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate
Bill No. 1. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clark.
Speaker 27
1:35:47
Has everybody voted? Everybody's voted. Cast up the
ballot, Mr. Clark. By a vote of 43 yay, 27 nay, and 5 present, the bill has passed. Mr. Clerk, please read calendar item, Senate Bill No. 2.
Speaker 234
1:36:21
Senate Bill 2 by Representative Howell, to mandate reading tests and to require tutoring to students who fail the reading tests. Representative Howell, you are recognized to explain the bill.
Speaker 346
1:36:53
Okay, so first I would just like to say I'm extremely proud of how much work I put into this bill, so just bear with me. So this bill was originally designed to help with the literacy crisis that we're currently in, not only as a state but as a country. I don't know if I'm the only one, but I know we all seen on TikTok that video of them high school seniors that couldn't read that sentence. And it was low-key kind of embarrassing, and so that really called to me. And I feel like that reading tests should be implemented in earlier middle school ages. That way, if the student does not pass the reading test, they will get free tutoring offered by the state, which will increase jobs for teachers as well.
So it kind of ties into the first bill that we passed, which would lead to Clay's Rural Schools for Teachers. This bill would increase jobs. It would help our state's test scores, because as we all know, our graduation rates are really high, and so are our grades. But our ACT scores and our state-mandated test scores, they're not where they need to be. Thank you. Representative Howell has
explained the bill. Questions? We will only be taking two.
Representative Holoco, for what purpose? One day. The one on
Speaker 256
1:38:23
the orange tree, I can't see your name, I'm sorry. I have a question. You are recognized. My question for this bill is why is the test given at grade 8? Reading is such a critical part of learning and if it's not caught early in like say elementary
years then that student can really fall behind and it's very hard for them to be able to catch up especially when their peers are just so
Speaker 349
1:38:42
much further ahead so my question is why grade eight and why not a year that is a lot earlier in
Speaker 346
1:38:49
their developmental process um well from my understanding in the discussion we changed it to earlier ages um was is anybody in the education am i am i tripping or did we i thought we changed it to grade six and seventh but i could be wrong okay so maybe it was just a typo but I did we did work to implement it in earlier grades because
we talked about that what you presented and it didn't make sense it was just pushed it more behind in the high school ages to where they would not be
able to catch up on state tests representative
Speaker 353
1:39:27
Mayberry for what purpose you're recognized what would you do for the students who
Speaker 346
1:39:33
just don't care and just skim to the reading tests that is an excellent question and for those students we would have to we talked about offering incentives for those who consistently do not show an effort and those incentives will
have to be things that they would actually want to try for and not just like a certificate that they get like most schools do and so that would honestly be left up for the school's discretion to decide.
Moving on, would anybody like to speak against the bill? Representative Howell has presented the bill. You are free to leave
the well. Would anybody like... Okay. Representative Dalby, you're recognized. Against the bill.
Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
1:40:22
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The only reason that I'm against this bill is because it's not clear on older students. I think we should require older students to pass the reading test because they're getting ready to go out into society. And likewise, I've seen the TikTok that's going around where the girl tried to bring attention to the seniors that failed the reading test. They couldn't read a sentence, and she was expelled from her school. And I think that should just be a call to attention to this bill.
And I just think it needs to go back to community to fine-tune some things. Representative Dalby
has spoken against the bill. Would anybody like to speak for the
bill? Representative Henley, you are recognized to speak for the
Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
1:41:23
bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the reason why I'm speaking for this bill is because it catches it early as the student comes into middle school.
Those are the times where the tests start to really matter. They start taking bigger effect. You're starting to get prepared for the ACT. Some parents are starting to get their kids prepared to take the ACT. So you have to make sure those scores are there. It also makes sure that no student is falling back behind in anything. It's actually ensuring that they can get the proper test scores that they deserve and need to be successful in life. I know the argument is that it's not really helping, but the bill is clear as day.
It's ensuring that these kids get the incentives, they get the help starting at the beginning of middle school and working their way up so that way we can get the Irish test scores within our state a lot higher. Thank you. Due to time, I'm about
Speaker 79
1:42:16
to close. But Representative Howell, would you like to close for your bill? Representative Howell is closed for his bill.
The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill 2.
Speaker 25
1:42:54
Prepare the machine. Mr. Clerk? has everybody voted
Speaker 27
1:42:57
everyone has voted yes has everyone voted all right there we go cast up the ballot mr. clerk by a vote of 67 yay six nays and one present the bill senate two has passed
Speaker 357
1:43:12
Mr. Clerk please read Senate Bill number
Speaker 234
1:43:27
3 Senate Bill 3 by Representative Blanton an act to create the freedom to earn act and to reduce the individual and corporate income tax rates good morning my fellow
Speaker 358
1:43:44
representatives i'm bringing a bill forward to combat the cost
of living crisis this bill is
Speaker 311
1:43:51
is to reduce the income tax from 3.7 to 3 percent flat on all taxable income around 45 to 55 percent of our people in arkansas are living paycheck to paycheck This bill will help alleviate financial pressures on your neighbors by giving them from $200 to $700 depending on their salary. This money can be spent on groceries, gas or rent.
This bill has an additional benefit of also helping combat the unemployment crisis in Arkansas. by bringing jobs to the state, by making this state more attractive to other companies in higher states, such as New York, Illinois, and California. Thank you. Representative Blanton
Speaker 355
1:44:38
has explained the bill. You're welcome to leave.
Speaker 195
1:44:50
Would anybody like to speak against the bill? Sorry, sorry, questions. Representative McClure, what is your purpose? Question. You're recognized. What evidence suggests that lowering taxes from 3.7 to 3.0
Speaker 311
1:45:16
will generate enough economic growth to offset lost revenue? From previous historical state tax cuts, from the one just four years ago, we had a tax cut of 6.9 to 3.7, yet we did not go into a deficit.
We are actually in a surplus of $367 million. Representative Eubanks, state
Speaker 329
1:45:44
your purpose. Question. You're recognized. With the income
Speaker 189
1:45:47
tax decrease, what would you do to, say, help claim some of the funds that are going to be lost from this
Speaker 359
1:45:55
reduced income tax? Great question. So, a projected GDP,
Speaker 311
1:46:00
our current annual GDP growth is at 2.5. The projected one after the income tax is cut is anywhere from 2.7% to 3.2%. Also, it will reduce the tax structure and make it
Speaker 358
1:46:13
way more simple, reducing costs for the administration. We will move on. Representative
Speaker 32
1:46:21
Blanton has explained the bill. Would anybody like to speak against the bill? Representative Unger,
Representative Steve Unger
Unverified
1:46:31
you are recognized to speak against the bill. The main selling point for this bill is that it provides incentives for economic growth in Arkansas, but we should ask who is getting this economic growth, right? CEOs are paid nearly 270 times more than the workers that they employ, so most of these benefits will be going to these big companies and these big rich CEOs that don't really need this extra money. Like, the decrease is literally from 3.7 to 3%.
That's a 0.7% decrease. That's not going to do anything for the average person, but what it's going to do is it's going to allow for these big companies to get tax breaks, and they are going to be the ones that are actually benefiting from
Speaker 355
1:47:18
this bill. Thank you. Does anybody want to speak
for the bill? Representative Pinkleton. You're recognized as
Speaker 74
1:47:32
speaking for the bill. By lowering the income tax,
we attract businesses to Arkansas, and those businesses bring jobs and taxes with them. So through the long term, by lowering the income tax, we can actually increase the revenue for the government since these businesses are bringing in more taxes. Would anybody like to speak against the bill? Representative, would
Speaker 358
1:48:05
My fellow delegates, I believe this is the bill for the common man that lives in Arkansas. I would appreciate your vote. Thank you. Representative Blanton has closed
for the bill. The question for the House is the passage of Senate Bill Number 3. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clerk. Has everybody voted?
Speaker 27
1:48:40
Has everyone voted? Passed up the ballot, Mr. Clerk.
By a vote of 53 yea, 15 nay, and 16 present, this bill has passed. Mr. Clerk, please read the calendar item,
Chair
Unverified
1:49:08
Senate Bill No. 4. Senate Bill 4 by
Speaker 235
1:49:12
Representative Heron to create the Mixed-Use Zoning Act of 2026.
Speaker 365
1:49:21
Thank you. Gentlemen, I'm here to represent a bill which would incentivize the usage of mixed-use zoning inside of growing and or medium-sized cities through a statewide grant program to provide the adoption of effective dual-usage zones. This economic grant program would provide affordable housing options to disenfranchised communities and help to grow small businesses. This would also have the secondary benefit of providing communities connections, encouraging new green areas, and introducing new third areas.
As these communities will choose to adopt the grant, Grow. There will be an increase in foot traffic and help to allow thriving downtown communities across the state of Arkansas. A 1% hotel tourism tax funds it at a $50 million cap. In order to get the grant, a developer applies to the state and commits to repurposing buildings into mixed-use zoning and also vows to lease the homes they create to a low-income residence under a certain threshold. Once the application is submitted, the city that the applicant comes from gets the final approval. Thank you.
Representative Heron has presented the bill. Would anybody wish to speak against the bill? For the bill. Representative Heron, would you like to close your bill? Representative Heron
has closed the bill. The question before the House is the passage of Senate Bill number 4. Prepare the machine, Mr. Clark. Cast the ballot.
Has everyone voted? Everyone voted? Now cast the ballot, Mr.
Clark. By a vote of 51 yea, 7 nay, and 13 present, the bill has passed. Representative Walker, for what purpose? Walker, recognized.
Speaker 368
1:51:39
Pursuitant to House Rule 33M, I move we adjourn, Boys State House Session. That's a proper
Speaker 369
1:51:48
motion. It is not debatable. All in favor, say aye.
And opposed to say nay. Motion passes. Arkansas Boys State is hereby adjourned. Signed, aye.
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified
1:52:17
Great job, guys. So as the parliamentarian said at the very beginning today, when
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
1:52:24
you're at home, tuning in, watching the news, sometimes you only see a 30-second segment, maybe a minute segment of something that may have taken a full day or a full week
Agenda
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Speakers
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Speaker 3
Representative Brian S. Evans
Unverified
Speaker 9
Speaker 12
Speaker 17
Representative Jessie McGruder Chair
Unverified
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Chair
Unverified
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Representative Mark Perry
Unverified
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Representative Carol Dalby
Unverified
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Representative Brit McKenzie
Unverified
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Representative Dolly Henley
Unverified
Representative Ry
Unverified
Speaker 142
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Speaker 6
Speaker 7
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Speaker 11
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Representative Fred Allen
Unverified
Speaker 152
Speaker 32
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Representative Richard McGrew
Unverified
Speaker 177
Speaker 125
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Representative Jon S. Eubanks
Unverified
Speaker 195
Speaker 199
Speaker 202
Speaker 204
Speaker 206
Speaker 209
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Representative Mark D. McElroy Chair
Unverified
Speaker 225
Speaker 27
Speaker 40
Speaker 44
Speaker 234
Speaker 77
Representative Steve Unger
Unverified
Speaker 249
Speaker 237
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Representative Marcus E. Richmond
Unverified
Representative Andrew Collins
Unverified
Speaker 273
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Representative Les D. Eaves
Unverified
Speaker 50
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Representative Roger D. Lynch
Unverified
Speaker 26
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Representative Brad Hall
Unverified
Representative Lane Jean
Unverified
Speaker 346
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Speaker 353
Speaker 79
Speaker 25
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Speaker 235
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Speaker 369
Representative Mindy McAlindon
Unverified