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Daily Legislative Update: Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Date
Category Daily Legislative Update
Photo Courtesy of the Office of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – Day 43

TODAY AT THE CAPITOL
Standing committees met at 10:00 a.m. 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.

HCR 1006 – House Speaker Brian Evans and Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester
This resolution seeks to extend the session beyond its 60 day maximum and call for adjournment no later than April 16, with sine die adjournment no later than May 5. This bill was advanced by the House Management Committee yesterday and is on today’s House Calendar.

HR 1049 – Rep. Brian Evans
This resolution will authorize the legislature to take a weeklong recess during the Arkansas spring break week. This bill was advanced by the House Management Committee yesterday and is on today’s House Calendar.

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 and awaits consideration in the House Education Committee. We support this bill.

HB 1506 – Rep. Wade Andrews and Sen. Matt McKee
This bill amends laws concerning public officers and employees. It prohibits public employers from deducting labor organization membership dues from employee compensation. This bill is on today’s agenda in the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee. We support this bill.

HB 1483 – Rep. Zachary Gramlich
This bill allows public school districts to use state funds for contracted adult education programs. This bill is on Tuesday’s agenda in the House Education Committee.

SB 207 – 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 passed the House yesterday 67-26 and has been referred to the Senate State Agencies Committee.
  • SB 208 – Requires canvassers to request photo identification before obtaining a petition signature. This bill received a Do Pass recommendation yesterday from the House State Agencies Committee and is on today’s House Calendar.
  • SB 209 – Disqualifies signatures obtained by a canvasser under specific circumstances. This bill is on today’s Senate Calendar for reconsideration of the emergency clause.
  • SB 210 – Requires petition signers to read the ballot title in the presence of a canvasser. This bill is on today’s Senate Calendar for reconsideration of the emergency clause.
  • SB 211 – Mandates that canvassers submit an affidavit before collected petition signatures can be counted. This bill received a Do Pass recommendation yesterday from the House State Agencies Committee and is on today’s House Calendar.
  • SB 212 – Establishes the Document Validity Division. This bill awaits consideration 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.

 

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 passed 32-0 in the Senate yesterday and is on today’s House Calendar to concur in a Senate amendment. We support this bill.

HB 1435 – Rep. Brandon Achor and Sen. Jane English
This bill seeks to amend the law regarding income tax credits for childcare by modifying the employer-provided childcare credit and establishing a new income tax credit for licensed childcare providers. An amendment to this bill was filed yesterday and it awaits consideration in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.

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. This bill passed the House yesterday 93-0 and has been referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee. We support this bill.

HB 1442 – Rep. Brandon Achor and Sen. Dave Wallace
This bill seeks to set restrictions on pharmacy contracting and conflicts of interest, and to establish pharmaceutical patient freedom of choice. An amendment to this bill was filed yesterday and the bill awaits consideration in the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee.

SB 206 – Sen. Steve Crowell and Rep. Rebecca Burkes
This bill amends the Right to Read Act, adjusting the amount of literacy tutoring grants awarded under the Act. This bill passed the House yesterday 96-0.

 

PENDING BILLS
HJR 1014 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Jonathan Dismang
This proposed constitutional amendment concerns economic development in the state of Arkansas. It authorizes the General Assembly to provide for the creation of economic development districts to promote economic development. This joint resolution awaits consideration in the House State Agencies Committee. We support this bill.

HB 1538 – Rep. David Ray
This bill seeks to extend the state’s existing net operating loss carry forward law from 10 years to 20 years. 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 1500 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Ben Gilmore
This bill 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
This bill 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 1469 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Blake Johnson
This bill creates the Broadband Expansion and Efficiency Act and a sales and use tax exemption for machinery and equipment used in producing broadband communications services. It awaits consideration in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.

HB 1150 – Rep. Jeremiah Moore and Sen. Kim Hammer
This bill prohibits healthcare payors and pharmacy benefits managers from obtaining specific pharmacy permits It awaits consideration in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee. We oppose this bill.

HB 1521 – Rep. Frances Cavenaugh and Sen. Jim Petty
This bill from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission seeks to repeal certain unused, underused, no longer needed or unfunded tax incentives. This bill awaits consideration in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.

SB 188 – Sen. Clarke Tucker
This bill seeks to amend Arkansas law concerning initiative petitions and referendum petitions and require public posting of statewide initiative petitions and referendum petitions. This bill awaits consideration in the Senate State Agencies Committee.

 

NEWLY TRACKED BILLS
We added 20 bills to our tracking list based on bills filed yesterday.

Workers’ Compensation Bills
SB 284 – SB 288 – Sen. John Payton
These bill seek to amend various provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Law from Initiated Measure 1948, No. 4, including:

  • SB 284 – Employer liability modifications
  • SB 285 – Modify compensation restrictions
  • SB 286 – Allow additional wage loss benefits in addition to scheduled injury payments
  • SB 287 – Attorney fees for controverted medical expenses
  • SB 288 – Physician change process

All have been assigned to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

HB 1558 – Rep. Richard McGrew and Sen. Ronald Caldwell
Amends the law concerning the Arkansas Real Estate Commission; creates a property management broker and associate license; amends the Real Estate License Law. Referred to the House Insurance and Commerce Committee

HB 1560 – Rep. Richard McGrew and Sen. Ronald Caldwell
Amends public works contracts law; requires pricing information for lighting components in public works projects. Referred to House State Agencies Committee and is on tomorrow’s agenda.

HB 1561 – Rep. Stetson Painter and Sen. Ricky Hill
Establishes the Research and Education Protection Act of 2025. Referred to the House Education Committee.

HB 1562 – Rep. Jimmy Gazaway
Amends the law on termination of oral leases for farmlands; updates notice of termination requirements. Referred to the House Agriculture, Forestry, Economic Development Committee.

HB 1565 – Rep. Rebecca Burkes and Sen. Steve Crowell
Amends county property assessor duties; allows property owners to opt out of online database listings. Referred to the House City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.

HB 1571 – Rep. David Ray and Sen. Breanne Davis
Amends the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program Act.

HB 1572 – Rep. Jack Ladyman
Creates a feasibility study on new nuclear energy generation.

SB 274 – Sen. Dave Wallace and Rep. Joey Carr
Creates a sales and use tax exemption for certain burial-related items, including caskets, burial vaults, and monuments. Referred to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.

SB 275 – Sen. Missy Irvin and Rep. Jeremiah Moore
Amends the law on liquefied petroleum gas regulation. Referred to the Senate Agriculture and Economic Development Committee.

SB 276 – Sen. Blake Johnson and Rep. Trey Steimel
Seeks to amend the law on surplus lines insurance; clarifies its use for motor vehicle financial responsibility coverage. Referred to the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee.

SB 278 – Sen. Jane English and Rep. Stephen Meeks
Repeals occupational authorization and licensure laws for certain employment agencies; repeals the Arkansas Private Employment Agency Act of 1975. Referred to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

SB 279 – Sen. Missy Irvin and Rep. Jeremy Wooldridge
Assists the Division of Labor in enforcing fair and prompt wage payments; clarifies wage and hour complaint investigations. Referred to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

SB 280 – Sen. Missy Irvin
Designates the Oil and Gas Commission as custodian of property and disbursing agent for the Office of the State Geologist. Referred to the Senate Agriculture and Economic Development Committee.

SB 282 – Sen. Clint Penzo and Rep. Matt Duffield
Amends public water system laws; allows voters to decide on water fluoridation. Referred to the Senate State Agencies Committee.

SB 289 – Sen. Jim Dotson
Reduces the statewide sales tax rate by one-eighth percent to decrease surplus tax revenue. Referred to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.