Daily Legislative Update: Friday, January 24, 2025

Friday, January 24, 2025 – Day 12

TODAY AT THE CAPITOL
The House and Senate are adjourned until 1:30 p.m. on Monday.

YESTERDAY AT THE CAPITOL
HB 1133, sponsored by Rep. Steve Unger (R), seeks to authorize the Northwest Technical Institute to appoint a president with an industry background. The bill passed the House with a vote of 81 to 8 and has been assigned to the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee. We support this bill.

SB 70, sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R), aims to amend the law regarding insurance policy standards and revise insurer notice requirements for premium increases. The bill received a Do Pass recommendation from the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee. We support this bill.

TRACKED BILLS
We have added six newly filed bills to our tracking list, bringing the total to 123 bills and resolutions. So far, the House has introduced 216 bills, and the Senate has introduced 102 bills. Including resolutions, the General Assembly has filed a total of 355 bills and resolutions in its first two weeks.

HB 1198 – Rep. Jeremiah Moore (R) and Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R)
Seeks to prohibit certain heights of wind power devices for waterfowl conservation in Arkansas. Referred to the House Joint Energy Committee.

HB 1216 – Rep. Wayne Long (R)
Seeks to create the Free Market Zones Act and to exempt businesses located in opportunity zones from the income tax, corporate franchise tax, and elective pass-through entity tax. Referred to House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

SB 91 – Sen. Clint Penzo (R) and Rep. David Ray (R)
Provides that local governmental units shall have no authority to regulate or control the amount charged for rental application fees or rental deposits for private residential or commercial properties. Referred to Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.

SB 97 – Sen. Bart Hester (R) and Rep. Jeremiah Moore (R)
Would authorize the issuance of additional retail liquor permits to certain existing holders of retail liquor permits. Referred to Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.

SB 98 – Sen. Breanne Davis (R) and Rep. John Maddox (R)
This bill proposes amendments to the law concerning alcoholic beverages. It seeks to authorize third-party delivery of alcoholic beverages from specific retailers and establish a third-party delivery permit. Referred to the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.

SB 102 – Sen. Breanne Davis (R) and Rep. DeAnn Vaught (R)
This bill aims to amend laws related to canvassers for local option elections, including provisions regarding the compensation of paid canvassers. Referred to the Senate State Agencies Committee.