Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development - Senate

meeting and uh I'm glad everybody showed up, uh. Stone as last year, you have anything to say? No, I just, Uh, new members, uh, Senator Hickey, Senator Scott, we're, we're gonna be real nice to you. We're not gonna do like we did Senator Ley. Uh, says Crow, welcome to the committee, everybody. Uh, I hope that, uh, there, there's, uh, things that will come before this committee, uh, that you will have, uh, no understanding or knowledge at all, and there'll be many things that will come to this committee that uh will affect everyone in your district and, uh. Uh, we, we were, we were blessed, uh, 2 sessions ago that, that Senator Ley was able to run a bill on, uh, artificial insemination. Yeah, so, and, and so lots, lots of knowledge and experience there. So, anyway, uh, uh, again, I want to, uh, uh, kind of, uh, uh, we, we need to adopt the rules. Uh, we, we run a, a, a pretty open uh committee here, uh. Uh, it does take 5 members to, uh, to have a quorum and to pass a bill, and, uh, we, uh, expect everyone in, in the room to uh address the committee in, you know, a professional uh way and, and remember the, uh, the decorum that we normally have, uh, rarely, but sometimes we do get some hostile events that come through, but that's on a rare occasion. Uh, but, uh, if, if the members would look over the rules and see if you have any questions, I'll give you a minute. If not, I'd ask for a motion to adopt. Circulating, uh, 2 center row, uh, all in favor say aye. Thank you very much. Uh, with that being said, in new members and with such a diverse uh background in the state and uh I, I want to, our guests to, uh, stand and introduce themselves and tell what industry you represent, please. Rodney, start with you over here. I'm Robbie Baker. I'm lobbyist, my company Capitol concerts, uh, English committee, I'll be representing for producers and royalty owners, oil and gas, and Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association. Uh, Mark Lambert. I'm director of state affairs for Arkansas Farm Bureau, um, many of you are aware of what we do. Uh, we represent farmers and ranchers across Arkansas and all 75 counties. Um, we also, uh, I do not know anything about the insurance company, but if you want any inside information, please give me on that. I can put you all in touch, but, uh, just kind of here to be a resource you'll ever have any questions over anything or need to talk to somebody, please. Uh, feel free to reach out. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the name is Randy Thurman, Courtney Shepherd and I are government solutions. Mineral extraction businesses. hopefully not having. Thank you, Chair, committee members. I'm Rachel Smith. I work for Governor Sanders as an attorney policy advisor, um, in my portfolio I cover A, energy, environment, transportation. I'll be covering this committee hearing session. Personally though, my family does a little bit, um, in the agriculture and forestry industry in Grantland Oak and Union County. So looking forward to working with you and having a. Thank you, Mr. Chair, I'm Marvin Childers, the president of the Poultry Fed Oklahoma. and I'm here on behalf of uh. Um, Andy Miller represent uh Flywheel Energy, uh, natural gas production in the hall North Central Arkansas. associates look forward to working with you. We work with a number of clients on industrial development. Of other issues and If we bring anything before you, you'd be very positive for the state. Jake, director of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Commerce, um, the Department of Commerce is available for everybody around. We'd be happy to provide feedback or. You know, based on what we're seeing in kids who won't work with y'all have close economic development of a few draft bills we're hoping to present. All throughout the session incentives and waterways on district courts. Scott Sullivan. Kelly Robbins has already saw rice Federation and good morning. Mr. Chair, members, I'm Steve principal of Natural State Consulting and strategy. We represent Green Bay Packaging in this space. Chico irrigation, which is. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Max Braswell with the Arkansas Fourestry Association. Our association has been here in the state since 1947. We work on behalf of all components of the private timber and force product sector products manufacturers like Green Bay Packaging, private non-industrial landowners, professional foresters, loggers, uh, you name it. like. Larry Walkerro I'm with the I have with that, uh. My name is Jackson Brows public affairs manager for Weyerhauser. Uh, we own and operator about 1.2 million acres of timberland here in the state of Arkansas and operating in the state since 1956, about 700 plus employees and looking forward to adding a couple 100 more here this year in 2025 as we open our new timber stream. I want to sell. I'm just looking forward to it. everybody and engage with you guys. Morning, I'm Jeff Weaver. I'm the director of government affairs for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Uh, we serve as the research and development arm for the largest industry in Arkansas. We also have offices in all 75 counties, uh, that support the extension part of our. Uh, we support many of the universities in Arkansas with research and uh we also have some tertiary things like LEDAR 4H and uh development arm of our, of our entity also. Yeah, I'm Bill Pasco with Paschal Strategic and in this committee, I wear the hat of the Arkansas cannabis in beer. I'm Lance Eades with Capital Consulting firm and I work with. Different Shein Ho and the executive vice president of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association cattle producers all of this session. I'm Paul Thompson on private land. Thank you all for being here. Anyone have any other questions or comments? staff Lane Rogers. There doesn't Des her attorney. So Robert, you skipped out, you're on my blind. You're on my blind side over here. Uh, Robert Moy, uh, my farm is roy Strategies. We represent uh rice and Foods, the White River Irrigation District, Standard lithium, and Port Little Rock is for purposes of this committee. Also do work in the real estate sectors uh around real crop agricultural production and uh. Recreational properties and also a family is owned and operated a rice farm in Southern Mono County since 1909, so a lot of family history and the agriculture space and glad to be a part of this. Sorry about this Good. Any questions? Any comment from anybody? If not, we look forward to working with everybody, and we stand adjourn.