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Daily Legislative Update: Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Date
Category Daily Legislative Update
Photo by Will Newton/Arkansas House of Representatives

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 – Day 44

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 calls for adjournment no later than April 16, with sine die adjournment no later than May 5. This resolution was approved by the House yesterday and is on today’s Senate Calendar.

HR 1049 – Rep. Brian Evans
This resolution will authorize the legislature to take a weeklong recess during the Arkansas spring break week. This resolution was approved by the House yesterday.

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 today’s agenda in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. We oppose this bill.

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 received a “Do Pass as amended” recommendation from the Senate State Agencies Committee yesterday and is on today’s Senate Calendar.
  • SB 208 – Requires canvassers to request photo identification before obtaining a petition signature. This bill passed the House yesterday 70-24 and is on tomorrow’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies Committee for concurrence in a House amendment.
  • SB 209 – Disqualifies signatures obtained by a canvasser under specific circumstances. The emergency clause was adopted 24-9 yesterday, and the bill has been assigned to the House State Agencies Committee.
  • SB 210 – Requires petition signers to read the ballot title in the presence of a canvasser. The emergency clause was adopted 24-9 yesterday, and the bill has been assigned to the House State Agencies Committee.
  • SB 211 – Mandates that canvassers submit an affidavit before collected petition signatures can be counted. This bill passed the House yesterday 65-27.
  • SB 212 – Establishes the Document Validity Division. This bill is on tomorrow’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies 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. This bill is on today’s agenda in the House State Agencies Committee. We oppose this bill.

 

TOMORROW AT THE CAPITOL

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 was adopted yesterday, and the bill is on Thursday’s agenda 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 is on Thursday’s agenda in the Senate Agriculture 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 seeks to enhance 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 seeks to adopt federal income tax law regarding depreciation and expensing of property. It 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 seeks to create the Broadband Expansion and Efficiency Act and a sales and use tax exemption for machinery and equipment used in producing broadband communications services. It is on Thursday’s agenda  in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. We support this bill.

HB 1506 – Rep. Wade Andrews and Sen. Matt McKee
This bill seeks to amend laws concerning public officers and employees. It prohibits public employers from deducting labor organization membership dues from employee compensation. This bill is on Thursday’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 Thursday’s agenda in the House Education Committee.

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. This bill is on Thursday’s agenda in the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee.

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 is on Thursday’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies Committee.

 

YESTERDAY AT THE CAPITOL

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. A third amendment was approved by the House yesterday. We support this bill.

HB 1049 – Rep. Dwight Tosh and Sen. Ron Caldwell
This bill would amend Arkansas law concerning criminal offenses and criminalize unlawful squatting. The House concurred in a Senate amendment yesterday. We support this bill.

 

PENDING BILLS

HJR 1014 – Rep. Howard Beaty and Sen. Jonathan Dismang
This 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 with some language adjustments.

HB 1150 – Rep. Jeremiah Moore and Sen. Kim Hammer
This bill 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.

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.

Workers’ Compensation Bills
SB 284 – SB 288 – Sen. John Payton
These bills seek to amend various provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Law:

  • SB 284 – Expands ability of claimants to change physicians from one time to once a year.
  • SB 285 – Modifies compensation restrictions to increase maximum weekly benefit for disability or death from 66 2/3rds to 70% of the employee’s average weekly wage. The maximum annual salary total of weekly benefit payments is increased to $120,000. Similar increases apply to permanent partial disability rates.
  • SB 286 – Creates flexibility in determining impairment ratings based on job requirements.
  • SB 287 – Allows attorney fees for controverted medical expenses
  • SB 288 – Expands ability of claimants to change specialist physicians from one time to once a year.

All have been placed on the deferred list in the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. The sponsor plans to schedule a Special Order of Business to hear all five of these bills. We oppose these bills.

 

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

HB 1574 – Rep. DeAnn Vaught and Sen. Kim Hammer
Amends the law concerning canvassers by requiring Arkansas domicile. Referred to the House State Agencies Committee.

HB 1575 – Rep. Robin Lundstrum and  Sen. Joshua Bryant
Prohibits individuals with employment or financial interests in solid waste organizations from serving on certain boards. Referred to the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

HB 1576 – Rep. Robin Lundstrum and Sen. Joshua Bryant
Prohibits the placement of solid waste landfills or transfer stations over Karst topography. Referred to the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

HB 1582 – Rep. Mindy McAlindon and Sen. Jane English
Requires individuals to meet specific conditions to be eligible for benefits under the Division of Workforce Services law. Referred to the  House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

HB 1583 – Rep. Mary Bentley and Sen. Justin Boyd
Mandates insurance coverage for acquired brain injury. Referred to the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

HB 1587 – Rep. Lee Johnson and Sen. Justin Boyd
Amends “Any Willing Provider” laws and revises the Patient Protection Act of 1995. Referred to the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

SB 292 – Sen. Kim Hammer and Rep. Ryan Rose
Amends school election laws to reschedule elections if they fall on a state holiday; declares an emergency. Referred to the Senate Education Committee.

SB 298 – Sen. Terry Rice and Rep. Marcus Richmond
Repeals the law allowing for the setting aside of a decree to quiet title, ensuring finality in quiet title actions. Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SB 307 – Sen. Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Les Eaves
Amends public utilities law, establishes the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025. Referred to the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee.