TODAY AT THE CAPITOL

After the Joint Budget Committee met at 9:00 a.m., the House Health, Education, and Judiciary committees met at 10:00 a.m. The Senate convened at 10:00 a.m., and the Senate State Agencies, Agriculture, and City, County & Local committees will meet after adjournment. The House will convene at 1:30 p.m.

To view committee schedules, agendas, and live streams—including live coverage of the House and Senate—visit www.arkleg.state.ar.us.

HB 1204 – Rep. Jon Eubanks and Sen. Missy Irvin

This bill establishes the amount of damages for necessary medical care, treatment or services rendered at the amount paid. This bill passed the Senate this morning 18-17. We support this bill

SB 58 – Sen. Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Jon Eubanks

This bill seeks to remove the prohibition on nonprofit, tax-exempt, or governmentally funded hospitals holding a licensed pharmacy permit for the sale of retail drugs. This bill is on today’s agenda in the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. We support this bill.

SB 141 – Sen. Brian King

This bill seeks to eliminate funding to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. It is on today’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies Committee. We oppose this bill.

HB 1383 – Rep. Jack Ladyman

To amend the Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund Act and to modify the amount of the payment for corrective action. This bill is on today’s agenda in the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

HB 1049 – Rep. Dwight Tosh and Sen. Ron Caldwell

This good bill would amend Arkansas law concerning criminal offenses and to criminalize unlawful squatting. This bill is on today’s agenda in the House Judiciary Committee.

Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Sen. Kim Hammer

The five bills listed below all received a Do Pass recommendation from the House Agriculture, Forestry, Economic Development Committee yesterday and are on today’s House Calendar. We oppose these bills as a group unless compelling evidence is presented demonstrating that current funding for new businesses is inadequate.

• HB 1372 – Allocates economic development funding to businesses established within the past five years.
• HB 1373 – Provides workforce development funding to businesses operating for less than five years.
• HB 1374 – Requires the AEDC director to report on contracts awarded to businesses operating for less than five years.
• HB 1375 – Mandates a report on funds supporting organizations or programs assisting individuals starting new businesses or businesses established within the past five years.
• HB 1376 – Encourages state agencies to allocate a portion of state contracts to Arkansas businesses that have operated for less than five years.

SB 133 – Sen. Justin Boyd and Rep. Howard Beaty

Seeks to amend the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). To define “central bank digital currency” in the UCC and modify the UCC definitions of “money” and “deposit account” This bill received a Do Pass yesterday in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee and is on this afternoon’s House Calendar.

SB 50 – Sen. Justin Boyd and Rep. Carlton Wing

This bill would require a legislative study of workforce and social services reform and to require consideration of legislation necessary to address issues identified during the study. It received a Do Pass recommendation yesterday in the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee and passed the Senate this morning 32-0.

SB 188 – Sen. Clarke Tucker

To amend Arkansas law concerning initiative petitions and referendum petitions and to require public posting of statewide initiative petitions and referendum petitions. This bill is on today’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies Committee.

YESTERDAY AT THE CAPITOL

Rep. David Ray and Sen. Kim Hammer

Two of these three good bills were considered in the House State Agencies committee yesterday.

• HB 1221 – To amend Arkansas law concerning initiatives, referenda, and constitutional amendments. Received a Do Pass recommendation from the House State Agencies committee yesterday.
• HB 1222 – To require the Attorney General to review ballot titles for conflicts with the United States Constitution and federal statutes and to prohibit the submission of multiple initiative petitions and referendum petitions. This bill was amended yesterday.
• HB 1223 – To allow a candidate for the office of Justice of the Supreme Court or Judge of the Court of Appeals who is serving as an appointee to use the title of that position as a prefix on the ballot. Received a Do Pass recommendation from the House State Agencies committee yesterday.

TOMORROW AT THE CAPITOL

The House and Senate will be in recess until Monday, February 10.

NEWLY TRACKED BILLS

We added ten bills to our tracking list based on recent filings.

HB 1407 – Rep. Carol Dalby and Sen. Alan Clark

Amends the law concerning the State Administration of Justice Fund. Referred to House Judiciary Committee.

HB 1409 – Rep. Wayne Long

Amends energy regulations and establishes the Electric Reliability Act. Referred to House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

HB 1410 – Rep. Steve Unger and Sen. Joshua Bryant

Amends laws concerning prohibited activities by public servants. Referred to House State Agencies Committee.

HB 1411 – Rep. Matthew Shepherd and Sen. Matt Stone

Clarifies the regulation of carbon capture and sequestration and establishes the Carbon Dioxide Storage Fund. Referred to House Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committee.

HB 1412 – Rep. Matthew Shepherd and Sen. Matt Stone

Clarifies pipeline safety regulations for hazardous liquids and carbon dioxide transportation. Referred to House Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committee.

HB 1413 – Rep. Matthew Shepherd and Sen. Matt Stone

Amends laws concerning brine production and the formation of brine production units. Referred to House Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committee.

SB 200 – Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. RJ Hawk

Expands the gross receipts tax exemption to include leased textbooks and instructional materials. Referred to Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.

SB 202 – Sen. Jimmy Hickey and Rep. Howard Beaty

Amends statutory bonding requirements for State Highway Commission construction projects. Referred to Senate Transportation, Technology, and Legislative Affairs Committee.

SJR 10 – Sen. Bryan King

Proposes a constitutional amendment to improve efficiency in government by creating the Department of Government Efficiency. Referred to Senate State Agencies Committee.

SJR 11 – Sen. John Payton

Proposes an amendment to Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, § 5, to strengthen the right to keep and bear arms. Referred to Senate State Agencies Committee.