February 19, 2025

Daily Legislative Update: Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 – Day 37

TODAY AT THE CAPITOL
Six standing committees will meet 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.

HB 1049 – Rep. Dwight Tosh and Sen. Ron Caldwell
This bill would amend Arkansas law concerning criminal offenses and criminalize unlawful squatting. This bill is on this afternoon’s Senate calendar. We support this bill.

SB 207 thru 211 – 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. Awaits additional consideration in the House State Agencies Committee.
SB 208 – Requires canvassers to request photo identification before obtaining a petition signature. Is on today’s House Calendar to adopt an amendment.
SB 211 – Mandates that canvassers submit an affidavit before collected petition signatures can be counted. Received a Do Pass recommendation yesterday from the House State Agencies committee.
SB 209 – Disqualifies signatures obtained by a canvasser under specific circumstances. Is on today’s Senate Calendar to vote on the emergency clause.
SB 210 – Requires petition signers to read the ballot title in the presence of a canvasser. Is on today’s Senate Calendar to vote on the emergency clause.

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. This bill received a Do Pass recommendation yesterday in the Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committee and is on today’s Senate Calendar.

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. This bill received a Do Pass recommendation yesterday in the Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committee and is on today’s Senate Calendar.

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 is on today’s House Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development Committee agenda.

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

HJR1004 – Rep. Jack Ladyman and Sen. Clint Penzo
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. It is on today’s agenda in the House State Agencies committee.

HB 1069 – Rep. Stephen Meeks
This bill would allow Arkansas to follow the federal government if it adopts year round daylight savings time. This bill is on today’s agenda in the House State Agencies Committee.

TOMORROW AT THE CAPITOL
HB 1512 – Rep. Matthew Shepherd and Sen. Jonathan Dismang
This bill is Governor Sanders’ Arkansas ACCESS Act that amends various education-related provisions in the Arkansas Code. This bill is on tomorrow’s agenda in the House Education Committee.

HB 1312 – Rep. Keith Brooks
Adjusts public school funding allocations under the Public School Funding Act of 2003. This bill is on tomorrow’s agenda in the House Education Committee.

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

YESTERDAY AT THE CAPITOL
HB 1221 and HB 1222 – Rep. David Ray and Sen. Kim Hammer
These bills seek to improve the ballot initiative process.

HB 1221 – Seeks to amend Arkansas law concerning initiatives, referenda, and constitutional amendments. Passed the Senate yesterday 25-8.
HB 1222 – Seeks to require the Attorney General to review ballot titles for conflicts with the United States Constitution and federal statutes and to prohibit submission of multiple initiative petitions and referendum petitions. Passed the Senate yesterday 25-8.

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 filed on this bill and it 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. This bill 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. This bill 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 1446 – Rep. Robin Lundstrum and Sen. Jane English
Amends 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. 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.

NEWLY TRACKED BILLS
We added seven bills to our tracking list based on yesterday’s filings.

HB 1517 – Rep. David Ray and Sen Ben Gilmore
Establishes the Earned Wage Access Services Act. Referred to the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

HB 1519 – Rep. Frances Cavenaugh and Sen. Ben Gilmore
Allows the Secretary of the Department of Commerce to participate in hiring and contracting employees for the State Insurance Department, State Bank Department, and State Securities Department. Referred to the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

HB 1520 – Rep. Frances Cavenaugh and Sen. Steve Crowell
Requires the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration to respond to written requests for legal opinions within a specified timeframe. Referred to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

HB 1521 – Rep. Frances Cavenaugh and Sen. Jim Petty
Repeals certain unused, underused, or unfunded tax incentives. Referred to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee

HB 1524 – Rep. Jeremy Wooldridge and Sen. Ben Gilmore
Amends the law regarding bidding procedures for the construction of buildings and facilities. Referred to the House State Agencies Committee.

SB 249 – Sen. Matt Stone and Rep. Howard Beaty
Amends the law concerning violations and penalties related to forestry; modifies the powers of the Arkansas Forestry Commission. Referred to the Senate Agriculture and Economic Development Committee.

SB 253 – Sen. Ricky Hill and Rep. RJ Hawk
Amends the definition of a manufactured home unit. Referred to the Senate Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs Committee.