TODAY AT THE CAPITOL

Three House committees and one Senate committee will meet at 10:00 a.m.

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

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

This bill seeks to amend the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program by adding the ability for scholarship funds to go towards a public or private vocational – technical school or institute in Arkansas. The bill is focused on associate degrees or certificate programs that result in a portable license or certificate in high demand fields including manufacturing, health care trades, information technology, construction trades, and logistics and distribution. This bill is on today’s House Calendar to adopt an amendment. We support this bill.

YESTERDAY AT THE CAPITOL

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

This bill would amend Arkansas law concerning criminal offenses and criminalize unlawful squatting. This bill was not considered by the Senate yesterday. We support this bill.

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

This bill from the state Department of Energy & Environment clarifies the regulation of carbon capture and sequestration and establishes the Carbon Dioxide Storage Fund. It passed in the Senate 20-4 yesterday.

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

This bill from the state Department of Energy & Environment clarifies pipeline safety regulations for hazardous liquids and carbon dioxide transportation. It passed in the Senate 29-0 yesterday.

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

This bill from the state Department of Energy & Environment seeks to amend laws concerning brine production and the formation of brine production units. It received a "Do Pass as amended" recommendation yesterday from the House Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committee.

HJR1004 – Rep. Jack Ladyman and Sen. Clint Penzo

This resolution seeks to apply to the United States Congress for an Article V Convention of the states for the purpose of proposing an amendment to the United States Constitution to impose term limits on members of Congress. This bill was defeated yesterday in the House State Agencies committee.

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

The following bills from the Secretary of State’s office seek to improve the ballot initiative process.

• SB 207 – Amends laws regarding initiative and referendum petitions, requiring canvassers to disclose that petition fraud is a Class A misdemeanor. This bill received a Do Pass recommendation yesterday from the House State Agencies Committee.
• SB 208 – Requires canvassers to request photo identification before obtaining a petition signature. This bill was referred back to the House State Agencies Committee yesterday.
• SB 209 – Disqualifies signatures obtained by a canvasser under specific circumstances. This bill awaits reconsideration of the emergency clause on the Senate floor.
• SB 210 – Requires petition signers to read the ballot title in the presence of a canvasser. This bill awaits reconsideration of the emergency clause on the Senate floor.
• SB 211 – Mandates that canvassers submit an affidavit before collected petition signatures can be counted. This bill has been referred back to the House State Agencies committee

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

This bill establishes the Document Validity Division. The bill is on today’s Senate Calendar to adopt an amendment.

SB 188 – Sen. Clarke Tucker

This bill seeks to amend Arkansas law concerning initiative petitions and referendum petitions and to require public posting of statewide initiative petitions and referendum petitions. An amendment was adopted yesterday, and the bill awaits consideration in the Senate State Agencies Committee.

PENDING BILLS

HB 1500 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Ben Gilmore

Enhances economic competitiveness by repealing the throwback rule. It awaits consideration in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. This bill is part of the State Chamber/AIA’s tax package for this session. We support this bill.

HB 1501 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Ben Gilmore

Adopts federal income tax law regarding depreciation and expensing of property; increases the allowable amount for expensing certain depreciable business assets to align with federal law. It awaits consideration in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. This bill is part of the State Chamber/AIA’s tax package for this session. We support this bill.

HB 1435 – Rep. Brandon Achor and Sen. Jane English

Amends the law regarding income tax credits for childcare by modifying the employer-provided child care credit and establishing a new income tax credit for licensed childcare providers. This bill awaits consideration in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.

HB 1469 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Blake Johnson

Creates the Broadband Expansion and Efficiency Act and a sales and use tax exemption for machinery and equipment used in producing broadband communications services. This bill awaits consideration in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.

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

Prohibits healthcare payors and pharmacy benefits managers from obtaining specific pharmacy permits This bill awaits consideration in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee. We oppose this bill.

NEWLY TRACKED BILLS

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

HB 1528 – Rep. Jessie McGruder and Sen. Jamie Scott

Requires student report cards to include the student's current reading grade level. Referred to House Education Committee.

HB 1531 – Rep. Brandon Achor

Prohibits pharmaceutical manufacturers from restricting or limiting prescription medications to a limited distribution network of out-of-state pharmacies. Referred to House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

HB 1533 – Rep. Zachary Gramlich

Creates the Decentralized Unincorporated Nonprofit Association Act. Referred to the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

HB 1534 – Rep. Bart Schulz and Sen. Steve Crowell

Increases the homestead property tax credit. Referred to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

SB 256 – Sen. Jim Dotson

Amends the Arkansas Corporate Franchise Tax Act of 1979 to reduce the minimum franchise tax for certain corporations. Referred to the Senate Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs Committee.

SB 258 – Sen. Clint Penzo and Rep. Stephen Meeks

Creates the Arkansas Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Trust Act. Referred to the Senate Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs Committee.