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Daily Legislative Update: Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Date
Category Daily Legislative Update

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 – Day 3

TODAY AT THE CAPITOL
Three Senate committees met at 9 a.m., followed by the full Senate session at 10 a.m. Four House committees are scheduled to meet at 10 a.m., with the full House convening at 1:30 p.m. All committee meetings on today’s agenda are organizational meetings.

TOMORROW AT THE CAPITOL
Additional organizational committee meetings are scheduled for the morning.

STATE CHAMBER/AIA LEGISLATIVE TRACKING
We added seven bills to our tracking list based on yesterday’s filings.

  • HB 1116 (Rep. David Ray (R) and Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R)), seeks to establish the Remote and Mobile Work Modernization and Competitiveness Act. The bill proposes income tax and withholding exemptions for certain remote and mobile employees as well as nonresidents. It was referred to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.
  • SB 56 (Sen. Jim Dotson (R) and Sen. Jon Eubanks (R)), addresses the evaluation, extension, and repeal of administrative rules. This bill was referred to the Senate State Agencies Committee.
  • SB 57 (Sen. Clarke Tucker (D)), proposes amendments to the income tax credit for certain individual political contributions. The bill also seeks to amend portions of the Arkansas Code stemming from Initiated Act 1 of 1996. It was referred to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.
  • SB 58 (Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R) and Sen. Jon Eubanks (R)), aims to remove the prohibition on nonprofit, tax-exempt, or government-funded hospitals from holding licensed pharmacy permits for retail drug sales.
  • SB 60 (Sen. Ricky Hill (R) and Rep. Brian Evans (R)), proposes a restriction on digital asset mining businesses, prohibiting them from being located within a 30-mile radius of a military facility.
  • SB 61 (Sen. Ricky Hill (R) and Rep. DeAnn Vaught (R)), seeks to authorize veterinary telemedicine in Arkansas and establish specific standards for its practice.
  • SB 62 (Sen. Bryan King (R)), proposes the termination of the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME) program, with plans to transfer all beneficiaries of the program to the traditional Arkansas Medicaid program.

YESTERDAY AT THE CAPITOL
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivered her State of the State address, outlining key legislative priorities for the upcoming session. She emphasized improving education, reducing costs for families, and enhancing public safety as central themes of her administration.

Education Initiatives: Sanders announced the Arkansas ACCESS plan to expand access to higher education, simplify college applications, and fund dual enrollment for high school students. She also proposed reforming higher education funding to include associate degrees and non-degree credentials while calling for the termination of professors who engage in political indoctrination. For K-12 schools, Sanders highlighted the universal rollout of Education Freedom Accounts and a ban on cellphone use during school hours to address student mental health. She also pledged to use medical marijuana tax revenue to make school breakfast free for all students.

Economic Measures: Sanders advocated for eliminating the state’s sales tax on groceries, describing it as regressive. She also proposed the Good Neighborhood Act to encourage food donations and the Buy Local Act to support Arkansas farmers in school food procurement.

Public Safety: Sanders credited her administration’s measures for reducing violent crime in Little Rock and pledged to expand evidence-based prison programs. She proposed the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act to enhance penalties for violent undocumented immigrants and legislation to prevent adversaries like China from purchasing land near critical infrastructure.

STATE CHAMBER/AIA LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION
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 tent located in the State Chamber/AIA parking lot. Worried about the cold? No need—our fully heated tent will keep you warm throughout the evening