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Daily Legislative Update: Wednesday, February 5, 2025

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

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 – Day 24

TODAY AT THE CAPITOL

A full schedule of committee meetings met at 10:00 a.m., and the House and Senate convened 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.

* * * CALL TO ACTION* * * 

HB 1204 – Rep. Jon Eubanks and Sen. Missy Irvin

Seeks to establish recovery of damages for necessary medical care, treatment or services rendered. This bill received a Do Pass in the Senate Judiciary Committee today and is expected to be on the Senate floor tomorrow. We support this bill that is designed to increase transparency and bring fairness to the calculation of damages in litigation.

Please call or text your state senator and ask them to vote FOR HB 1204.

* * *

Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Sen. Kim Hammer filed the five bills listed below yesterday and they all received a Do Pass recommendation this morning from the House Agriculture, Forestry, Economic Development Committee. We oppose these bills as a group unless compelling evidence is presented demonstrating that current funding for new businesses is inadequate.

  • HB 1372 – Allocates economic development funding to businesses established within the past five years.
  • HB 1373 – Provides workforce development funding to businesses operating for less than five years.
  • HB 1374 – Requires the that AEDC director report on contracts awarded to businesses operating for less than five years.
  • HB 1375 – Mandates a report on funds supporting organizations or programs assisting individuals starting new businesses or businesses established within the past five years.
  • HB 1376 – Encourages state agencies to allocate a portion of state contracts to Arkansas businesses that have operated for less than five years.

HB 1159 – Rep. Jay Richardson
This bill would create the Retail Convenience Store Security Act and regulate/require certain security measures at retail convenience stores. This bill has been amended and is on this morning’s agenda in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee. We oppose this bill.

HB 1177 – Rep. Matt Brown and Sen. Blake Johnson
This bill seeks to amend the Arkansas Franchise Practices Act and to clarify the applicability of the Arkansas Franchise Practices Act. This bill is on this morning’s agenda in the House Insurance and Commerce.

HB 1381 – Rep. Trey Steimel and Sen. Blake Johnson
Concerning an insurer’s right to subrogation and reimbursement for medical and hospital benefits. This bill is on this morning’s agenda in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

SB 133 – Sen. Justin Boyd and Rep. Howard Beaty
Seeks to amend the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). To define “central bank digital currency” in the UCC and modify the UCC definitions of “money” and “deposit account” This bill is on this morning’s agenda in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

SB 50 – Sen. Justin Boyd and Rep. Carlton Wing
This bill would require a legislative study of workforce and social services reform and to require consideration of legislation necessary to address issues identified during the study. This bill is on this morning’s agenda in the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

SB 5 and SB 6 – Sen. Brian King
SB 5 seeks to add the criminal offense of prescription drug harm or homicide. SB 6 would create the criminal offense of vaccine harm. These bill are on this morning’s agenda in the Senate Judiciary Committee. We oppose these bills.

Rep. David Ray and Sen. Kim Hammer filed three good bills that address election and ballot laws.

  • HB 1221 – To amend Arkansas law concerning initiatives, referenda, and constitutional amendments.
  • HB 1222 – To require the Attorney General to review ballot titles for conflicts with the United States Constitution and federal statutes and to prohibit the submission of multiple initiative petitions and referendum petitions.
  • HB 1223 – To allow a candidate for the office of Justice of the Supreme Court or Judge of the Court of Appeals who is serving as an appointee to use the title of that position as a prefix on the ballot.

 

TOMORROW AT THE CAPITOL

HB 1383 – Rep. Jack Ladyman
To amend the Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund Act and to modify the amount of the payment for corrective action. This bill is on tomorrow’s agenda in the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

SB 58 – Sen. Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Jon Eubanks
This bill seeks to remove the prohibition on nonprofit, tax-exempt, or governmentally funded hospitals holding a licensed pharmacy permit for the sale of retail drugs. This bill is on tomorrow’s agenda in the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. We support this bill.

HB 1049 – Rep. Dwight Tosh and Sen. Ron Caldwell
This good bill would amend Arkansas law concerning criminal offenses and to criminalize unlawful squatting. This bill is on tomorrow’s agenda in the House Judiciary Committee.

SB 141 – Sen. Brian King
This bill seeks to eliminate funding to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. This bill is on tomorrow’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies Committee. We oppose this bill.

 

NEWLY TRACKED BILLS
We added four bills to our tracking list based on recent filings.

HB 1402 – Rep. Aaron Pilkington and Rep. Jamie Scott
To amend Initiated Act 1 of 2000, also known as the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act; and to direct the Arkansas Minority Health Commission to establish and administer a grant program for school-based health centers. Referred to House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

HB 1403 – Rep. Aaron Pilkington
To amend the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021 to allow nonhospital entities to be community bridge organizations. Referred to House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

HB 1404 – Rep. Cameron Cooper and Sen. John Payton
To create a tax credit for contributions to a pregnancy help organization. Referred to House Revenue and Taxation Committee.

SB 188 – Sen. Clarke Tucker
To amend Arkansas law concerning initiative petitions and referendum petitions; and to require public posting of statewide initiative petitions and referendum petitions. This bill is on tomorrow’s agenda in the Senate State Agencies Committee.