TODAY AT THE CAPITOL

Standing committees met this morning, and the House and Senate convened 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 1372, 1373, 1375, and 1376 – Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Sen. Kim Hammer

These four bills are on this afternoon’s House Calendar for withdrawal.

• 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 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.

HB 1150 – Rep. Jeremiah Moore and Sen. Kim Hammer

This bill seeks to prohibit a healthcare payor or a pharmacy benefits manager from obtaining certain pharmacy permits. This bill has been amended and is on today’s agenda in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee. We have concerns about 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.

SB 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, and 212 – Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Kendon Underwood

These bills are from the Secretary of State’s office and seek to improve the ballot initiative process. They are on today’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies Committee

• SB 207 – Amends laws regarding initiative and referendum petitions, requiring canvassers to disclose that petition fraud is a Class A misdemeanor.
• SB 208 – Requires canvassers to request photo identification before obtaining a petition signature.
• SB 209 – Disqualifies signatures obtained by a canvasser under specific circumstances.
• SB 210 – Requires petition signers to read the ballot title in the presence of a canvasser.
• SB 211 – Mandates that canvassers submit an affidavit before collected petition signatures can be counted.
• SB 212 – Establishes the Document Validity Division.

HB 1221 and HB 1223 – Rep. David Ray and Sen. Kim Hammer

These are two of three bills by these sponsors that also seek to improve the ballot initiative process. They are on today’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies Committee.

• HB 1221 – Seeks to amend Arkansas law concerning initiatives, referenda, and constitutional amendments.
• HB 1223 – Seeks 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.

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.

TOMORROW AT THE CAPITOL

SB 7 – Sen. Clint Penzo

This bill seeks to allow members of the General Assembly to request a sales and use tax report from the Department of Finance and Administration. This bill is on tomorrow’s agenda in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. We oppose this bill.

HB 1177 – Rep. Matt Brown and Sen. Blake Johnson

This bill seeks to amend the Arkansas Franchise Practices Act and to clarify the applicability of the Arkansas Franchise Practices Act. This bill will be heard as a Special Order of Business tomorrow in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

SB 5 and SB 6 – Sen. Brian King

SB 5 seeks to add the criminal offense of prescription drug harm or homicide. SB 6 would create the criminal offense of vaccine harm. These bill are on tomorrow’s morning’s agenda in the Senate Judiciary Committee. We oppose these bills.

YESTERDAY AT THE CAPITOL

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 passed the House yesterday 95-0. We support this bill.

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

This bill would amend Arkansas law concerning criminal offenses and criminalize unlawful squatting. This bill passed the House yesterday 89-2. We support this bill.

HB 1222 - Rep. David Ray and Sen. Kim Hammer

This bill would require the Attorney General to review ballot titles for conflicts with the United States Constitution and federal statutes and would prohibit the submission of multiple initiative petitions and referendum petitions. This bill passed the House yesterday 62-30.

HB 1374 - Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Sen. Kim Hammer

This bill sought to require the AEDC director to report on contracts awarded to businesses operating for less than five years. This bill was defeated in the House yesterday 29-37. We opposed this bill.

NEWLY TRACKED BILLS

We added 10 bills and joint resolutions to our tracking list based on yesterday’s filings.

HB 1438 – Rep. Frances Cavenaugh

To create an income tax credit for taxpayers aged 65 and older, equal to the taxpayer's property tax payment on a homestead. Referred to House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

HB 1442 – Rep. Brandon Achor and Sen. Dave Wallace

To set restrictions on pharmacy contracting and conflicts of interest, and to establish pharmaceutical patient freedom of choice. Referred to House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee.

HB 1444 – Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Sen. Jonathan Dismang

To amend the sales and use tax exemption for data centers. Referred to House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

HB 1445 – Rep. Brit McKenzie and Sen. Joshua Bryant

To prohibit certain restrictions on the regulation of short-term rentals. Referred to House City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.

HB 1446 – Rep. Robin Lundstrum and Sen. Jane English

To amend the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program.

HJR 1010 – Rep. Steve Unger

A constitutional amendment to provide that, by a two-thirds vote, the Senate may remove members of certain boards and commissions for cause only, after notice and hearing. Referred to House State Agencies Committee.

HJR 1011 – Rep. Stephen Meeks

A constitutional amendment concerning the consideration of bills other than appropriation bills during a fiscal session of the General Assembly. Referred to House State Agencies Committee.

HJR 1012 – Rep. Scott Richardson

An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to repeal provisions concerning the reappraisal and reassessment of real property, and to amend Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 79, concerning real property taxes. Referred to House State Agencies Committee.

SJR 13 – Sen. Jim Dotson and Rep. Robin Lundstrum

A constitutional amendment to allow a candidate for Supreme Court justice, Court of Appeals judge, circuit judge, or district judge to declare his or her party affiliation or independent status when running for judicial office. Referred to Senate Calendar.

SJR 14 – Sen. Jim Dotson

A constitutional amendment concerning the determination of the true value in money of real property for assessment purposes. (Shell bill) Referred to Senate State Agencies Committee.