Go back

Daily Legislative Update: Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Date
Category Daily Legislative Update

BILL PREFILING BEGAN FRIDAY

Friday, November 15, marked the first day of bill filing for the 95th Arkansas General Assembly. The session will convene at noon on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Key filing deadlines include:

  • January 27: Retirement and certain health care legislation.
  • February 12: Constitutional amendments and lottery-funded scholarship legislation.
  • March 3: Appropriation bills.
  • No deadline: General bills.

ELECTION RESULTS

In this year’s elections, 54 Arkansas House races were contested and seven Senate races were contested.

House: Democrats gained one seat, but Republicans retained an 81–19 supermajority. The House will welcome 11 new members.

Senate: Republicans maintained their 29–6 majority. The Senate will welcome only one new member, Rep. Jamie Scott (D-North Little Rock). She will succeed Sen. Linda Chesterfield (D-Little Rock), who did not seek re-election.

 

SENATE COMMITTEES

The Senate held organizational meetings on Wednesday, November 6. Sen. Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs) was re-elected as Senate President Pro Tempore. Senate committee rosters are as follows:

Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development

  • Chair: Sen. Ron Caldwell (R-Wynne)
  • Vice Chair: Sen. Matt Stone (R-Camden)
  • Members: Sens. Jonathan Dismang (R-Beebe), Jimmy Hickey (R-Texarkana), Greg Leding (D-Fayetteville), Jamie Scott (D-North Little Rock), Ben Gilmore (R-Crossett), Steve Crowell (R-Magnolia)

City, County, and Local Affairs

  • Chair: Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch)
  • Vice Chair: Sen. Jim Petty (R-Van Buren)
  • Members: Sens. Terry Rice (R-Waldron), Josh Bryant (R-Rogers), Jane English (R-North Little Rock), Dave Wallace (R-Leachville), Breanne Davis (R-Russellville), Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs)

Education

  • Chair: Sen. Jane English (R-North Little Rock)
  • Vice Chair: Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro)
  • Members: Sens. Stephanie Flowers (D-Pine Bluff), Breanne Davis (R-Russellville), Reggie Murdock (D-Marianna), Jim Dotson (R-Bentonville), Bryan King (R-Green Forest), Josh Bryant (R-Rogers)

Insurance and Commerce

  • Chair: Sen. Blake Johnson (R-Corning)
  • Vice Chair: Sen. Justin Boyd (R-Fort Smith)
  • Members: Sens. Mark Johnson (R-Little Rock), Reggie Murdock (D-Marianna), Matt McKee (R-Pearcy), Clint Penzo (R-Springdale), Stephanie Flowers (D-Pine Bluff), Missy Irvin (R-Mountain View)

Judiciary

  • Chair: Sen. Alan Clark (R-Lonsdale)
  • Vice Chair: Sen. Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs)
  • Members: Sens. Clarke Tucker (D-Little Rock), Ben Gilmore (R-Crossett), Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch), Matt McKee (R-Pearcy), Terry Rice (R-Waldron), Blake Johnson (R-Corning)

Public Health, Welfare, and Labor

  • Chair: Sen. Missy Irvin (R-Mountain View)
  • Vice Chair: Sen. Dave Wallace (R-Leachville)
  • Members: Sens. Fred Love (D-Little Rock), Scott Flippo (R-Mountain Home), Ricky Hill (R-Cabot), Clint Penzo (R-Springdale), Greg Leding (D-Fayetteville), John Payton (R-Wilburn)

Revenue and Taxation

  • Chair: Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R-Texarkana)
  • Vice Chair: Sen. Steve Crowell (R-Magnolia)
  • Members: Sens. Jonathan Dismang (R-Beebe), Jim Petty (R-Van Buren), Ron Caldwell (R-Wynne), Justin Boyd (R-Fort Smith), Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs), Kim Hammer (R-Benton)

State Agencies and Governmental Affairs

  • Chair: Sen. Scott Flippo (R-Mountain Home)
  • Vice Chair: Sen. John Payton (R-Wilburn)
  • Members: Sens. Kim Hammer (R-Benton), Bryan King (R-Green Forest), Jim Dotson (R-Bentonville), Clarke Tucker (D-Little Rock), Alan Clark (R-Lonsdale), Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro)

Chairs of Other Committees

  • Transportation, Technology, and Legislative Affairs: Sen. Ricky Hill (R-Cabot)
  • Rules: Sen. Breanne Davis (R-Russellville)
  • Efficiency: Sen. Kim Hammer (R-Benton)
  • Joint Performance Review: Sen. Terry Rice (R-Waldron)
  • Joint Energy: Sen. Mark Johnson (R-Little Rock)
  • Joint Children and Youth: Sen. Ben Gilmore (R-Crossett)
  • Joint Public Retirement and Social Security Programs: Sen. Jim Dotson (R-Bentonville)

HOUSE COMMITTEES

The House held organizational meetings on Tuesday, November 19, to finalize committee memberships. Chairs and Vice Chairs will be appointed by the Speaker on the first day of the session. House committee rosters are as follows:

Aging, Children, Youth, Legislative, and Military Affairs

  • Chairperson: TBD
  • Vice Chairperson: TBD
  • Members: Reps. Mary Bentley, Sonia Eubanks Barker, Joy C. Springer, Rick McClure, Keith Brooks, Tony Furman, Hope Duke, Joey L. Carr, Matt Duffield, Shad Pearce, Jessie McGruder, Lincoln Barnett, Paul Childress, Glenn Barnes, James Eaton, Nick Burkes, Diana Gonzales Worthen, Randy Torres, Jason Nazarenko, Dolly Henley

Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development

  • Chairperson: TBD
  • Vice Chairperson: TBD
  • Members: Reps. Lane Jean, Matthew J. Shepherd, Bruce Cozart, Stephen Magie, David Whitaker, Ron McNair, DeAnn Vaught, Marcus Richmond, Roger D. Lynch, Carlton Wing, Denise Garner, Cameron Cooper, Harlan Breaux, Steven Walker, Jeremiah Moore, Matthew Brown, Kendra Moore, Chad Puryear, Steven Unger, Tracy Steele

City, County, and Local Affairs

  • Chairperson: TBD
  • Vice Chairperson: TBD
  • Members: Reps. Richard Womack, Mike Holcomb, Justin Gonzales, Karilyn Brown, Frances Cavenaugh, Johnny Rye, Aaron Pilkington, Tippi McCullough, Ashley Hudson, Jon Milligan, Bart Schulz, Rebecca Burkes, Mindy McAlindon, Stetson Painter, Tara Shephard, R. Scott Richmond, Brit McKenzie, Wade Andrews, Alyssa Brown, Brad Hall

Education

  • Chairperson: TBD
  • Vice Chairperson: TBD
  • Members: Reps. Stephen Meeks, Bruce Cozart, Rick Beck, Karilyn Brown, DeAnn Vaught, Austin McCollum, Sonia Eubanks Barker, Julie Mayberry, Denise Garner, Keith Brooks, Tony Furman, Steven Walker, Hope Duke, Stetson Painter, Brit McKenzie, Wade Andrews, Jessie McGruder, Lincoln Barnett, Diana Gonzales Worthen, Jason Nazarenko

Insurance and Commerce

  • Chairperson: TBD
  • Vice Chairperson: TBD
  • Members: Reps. Jon Eubanks, Les Eaves, Jack Ladyman, Robin Lundstrum, Dwight Tosh, Kenneth B. Ferguson, Fred Allen, Austin McCollum, John Maddox, Steve Hollowell, Carol Dalby, Les Warren, Jim Wooten, Mark Perry, Lee Johnson, Jay Richardson, Richard McGrew, Brandon C. Achor, Zachary Gramlich, Trey Steimel

Judiciary

  • Chairperson: TBD
  • Vice Chairperson: TBD
  • Members: Reps. Matthew J. Shepherd, Jon S. Eubanks, Dwight Tosh, Justin Gonzales, Jimmy Gazaway, Carol Dalby, Cindy Crawford, Nicole Clowney, Andrew Collins, Brian S. Evans, Tippi McCullough, Joy C. Springer, Howard M. Beaty, Ashley Hudson, Kendon Underwood, Jeremiah Moore, Matthew Brown, Steven Unger, Scott Richardson, Shad Pearce

Public Health, Welfare, and Labor

  • Chairperson: TBD
  • Vice Chairperson: TBD
  • Members: Reps. Jeffrey Wardlaw, Stephen Magie, Jack Ladyman, Mary Bentley, Kenneth B. Ferguson, Fred Allen, Allen Pilkington, Mark Perry, Lee Johnson, Cameron Cooper, Jay Richardson, Denise Ennett, Wayne Long, Bart Schulz, Kendra Moore, Ryan Rose, Zachary Gramlich, Jeremy Wooldridge, Glenn Barnes, Dolly Henley

Public Transportation

  • Chairperson: TBD
  • Vice Chairperson: TBD
  • Members: Reps. Richard Womack, Mike Holcomb, David Whitaker, Marcus E. Richmond, Stan Berry, Harlan Breaux, Mark D. McElroy, Jon Milligan, RJ Hawk, Joey L. Carr, Chad Puryear, Matt Duffield, Tara Shephard, Trey Steimel, Tracy Steele, Paul Childress, Alyssa Brown, Brad Hall, Nick Burkes, Randy Torres

Revenue and Taxation

  • Chairperson: TBD
  • Vice Chairperson: TBD
  • Members: Reps. Lane Jean, Les Eaves, Ron McNair, Robin Lundstrum, Frances Cavenaugh, John Maddox, Johnny Rye, Steve Hollowell, Roger D. Lynch, Carlton Wing, Les Warren, Jim Wooten, Richard McGrew, David Ray, Rick McClure, John P. Carr, Brandon C. Achor, Rebecca Burkes, Mindy McAlindon, James Eaton

State Agencies and Governmental Affairs

  • Chairperson: TBD
  • Vice Chairperson: TBD
  • Members: Reps. Stephen Meeks, Jeffrey Wardlaw, Rick Beck, Jimmy Gazaway, Stan Berry, Julie Mayberry, Cindy Crawford, Nicole Clowney, Andrew Collins, Brian S. Evans, Denise Ennett, Mark D. McElroy, David Ray, Howard M. Beaty, John P. Carr, Kendon Underwood, Wayne Long, RJ Hawk, Ryan Rose, Jeremy Wooldridge

STATE CHAMBER/AIA LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION

Save the date! The State Chamber/AIA will host its Annual Legislative Reception on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will take place in the big tent on the State Chamber/AIA parking lot.