TODAY AT THE CAPITOL

Standing committees meet this morning, and the House and Senate 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.

SB 7 – Sen. Clint Penzo

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 today’s agenda in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. We oppose this bill.

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

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 this morning 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 bills are on this morning’s agenda in the Senate Judiciary Committee. We oppose these bills.

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

Seeks to amend Arkansas law concerning criminal offenses and criminalize unlawful squatting. This bill is on this morning’s agenda in the Senate Judiciary Committee. We support this bill.

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

Seeks to clarify pipeline safety regulations for hazardous liquids and carbon dioxide transportation. This bill is on today’s agenda in the House Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committee.

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

Seeks to amend laws concerning brine production and the formation of brine production units. This bill is on today’s agenda in the House Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committee.

HB 1159 - Rep. Jay Richardson

Seeks to establish the Retail Convenience Store Security Act to regulate security measures at retail convenience stores. This bill is on this morning’s agenda in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee. We oppose this bill.

HB 1409 – Rep. Wayne Long

Seeks to amend energy regulations and establishes the Electric Reliability Act. This bill is on this morning’s agenda in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

SB 149 – Sen. Jane English

Seeks to amend the public school funding amounts under the Public School Funding Act of 2003. This bill is on this morning’s agenda in the Senate Education Committee.

SB 207 thru 212 - Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Kendon Underwood

The following bills are from the Secretary of State’s office and seek to improve the ballot initiative process. All but SB 212 received Do Pass recommendations yesterday in the Senate State Agencies Committee and are on this afternoon’s Senate Calendar.

• 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. Do Pass committee motion failed yesterday 4-3.

SB 2 – Sen. Clint Penzo and Rep. Matt Duffield

Seeks to repeal the statewide fluoridation program and remove the mandate for water systems to maintain a fluoride content. This bill is on this morning’s agenda in the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. We oppose this bill.

TOMORROW AT THE CAPITOL

SB 141 – Sen. Brian King

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

HB 1212 thru 1223 - Rep. David Ray and Sen. Kim Hammer 

These three bills seek to improve the ballot initiative process. They are on tomorrow’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies Committee.

• HB 1221 – To amend Arkansas law concerning initiatives, referenda, and constitutional amendments.
• 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.
• 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.

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 tomorrow’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies Committee.

HB 1312 – Rep. Keith Brooks

To adjust public school funding allocations under the Public School Funding Act of 2003. Is on tomorrow’s agenda in the House Education Committee.

YESTERDAY AT THE CAPITOL

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

Seeks to prohibit a healthcare payor or a pharmacy benefits manager from obtaining certain pharmacy permits. This bill was placed on the pending Fiscal Impact Statement list in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee. We have concerns about this bill.

NEWLY TRACKED BILLS

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

HB 1447 - Rep. Wayne Long

Exempts licensed septic system installers under the Arkansas Sewage Disposal Systems Act from requiring a plumbing license. Referred to House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee.

HB 1448 - Rep. Chad Puryear and Sen. Jim Petty

Modifies municipal planning area regulations to require notice and compensation for affected property owners. Referred to House City, County, and Local Affairs Committees.

HB 1451 - Rep. Robin Lundstrum and Sen. Jane English

Revises the definition of a student under the Arkansas Concurrent Challenge Scholarship Program. Referred to House Education Committee.

HB 1452 - Rep. Robin Lundstrum and Sen. Tyler Dees

Clarifies medical marijuana regulations, including prohibiting unsealed containers of certain forms of medical marijuana in motor vehicles. Referred to House Judiciary Committee.

HB 1453 - Rep. Stephen Meeks

Amends the Horizontal Property Act to regulate property owners’ associations. Referred to House City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.

HJR 1013 - Rep. Aaron Pilkington

Proposes a constitutional amendment granting the governor authority to fill certain vacancies by appointment. Referred to House State Agencies Committee.

SB 215 - Sen. Joshua Bryant and Rep. Brit McKenzie

Updates regulations on real estate donated by public school districts and amends the Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities Program Act. Committee hearing set for this morning in the Senate Education Committee.

SB 216 - Sen. Jim Dotson

Modifies postsecondary education financial assistance programs. (Shell bill) Committee hearing set for this morning in Senate Education Committee.

SB 217 - Sen. Clint Penzo and Rep. Mary Bentley

Directs the Department of Human Services to request a waiver to exclude candy and soft drinks from SNAP-eligible foods. Moved to deferred list in Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee.

SB 218 - Sen. Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Trey Steimel

Revises the Arkansas Small Business Innovation Research Matching Grant Program.