Daily Legislative Update: Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 – Day 10

TODAY AT THE CAPITOL
Committee meetings were scheduled for this morning, with the House and Senate convening at 1:30 p.m. To view the full schedule of meetings, agendas, and video links, visit www.arkleg.state.ar.us.

BILLS IN COMMITTEE

• SB 5 & SB 6 – Sponsored by Brian King (R), both bills are on this morning’s agenda in the Senate Judiciary Committee. We oppose these bills.
  • SB 5 proposes adding the criminal offense of prescription drug harm or homicide.
  • SB 6 aims to create the criminal offense of vaccine harm.
• SB 58 – Sponsored by Jonathan Dismang (R) and Rep. Jon Eubanks (R), this bill is on this morning’s agenda in the Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee. It seeks to remove the prohibition on nonprofit, tax-exempt, or government-funded hospitals from holding a licensed pharmacy permit for the sale of retail drugs.
• HB 1058 – Sponsored by Steve Unger (R) and Sen. Joshua Bryant (R), this bill aims to amend the law concerning ethics and conflicts of interest for police officers and employees. It would also prohibit public employees from providing advance notice of required inspections to entities.

YESTERDAY AT THE CAPITOL

• HB 1133 – Sponsored by Steve Unger (R), this bill seeks to authorize the Northwest Technical Institute to appoint a president with an industrial background. It received a Do Pass recommendation yesterday in the House Education Committee. We support this bill.

NEWLY TRACKED BILLS
We added 15 bills to our tracking list yesterday. View all tracked legislation by category by clicking HERE.

• HB 1177 – Matt Brown (R) and Sen. Blake Johnson (R)
  Amends the Arkansas Franchise Practices Act to clarify its applicability. Referred to House Insurance and Commerce.

• HB 1179 – DeAnn Vaught (R)
  Creates child and adolescent mental health screening programs in schools and childcare facilities for children from birth to age 19. Referred to House Education.

• HB 1181 – Mary Bentley (R) and Sen. Clint Penzo (R)
  Amends the full practice authority of certified nurse midwives to allow admitting privileges.

• HB 1182 – Mary Bentley (R) and Rep. Missy Irvin (R)
  Replaces the term “medication assistive person” with “certified medication assistant” throughout § 17-87-701 et seq.

• HB 1184 – Lee Johnson (R) and Sen. Ricky Hill (R)
  Protects consumer privacy in mortgage applications and establishes the Consumer Privacy in Mortgage Applications Act.

• HB 1185 – Lee Johnson (R)
  Adopts the Dietitian Licensure Compact in Arkansas.

• SB 50 – Justin Boyd (R) and Rep. Carlton Wing (R)
  Requires a legislative study of workforce and social services reform and consideration of necessary legislative measures.

• SB 58 – Jonathan Dismang (R) and Rep. Jon Eubanks (R)
  Removes the prohibition on nonprofit, tax-exempt, or government-funded hospitals from holding a licensed pharmacy permit for retail drug sales. Assigned to Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor.

• SB 82 – John Payton (R)
  Increases the sales and use tax exemption for used motor vehicles and amends the reduced sales and use tax rate for such purchases. Referred to Senate Revenue and Taxation.

• SB 83 – Joshua Bryant (R) and Rep. Kendra Moore (R)
  Mandates coverage for breast reconstruction surgeries, requires prior authorization, and establishes a minimum reimbursement rate. Referred to Senate Insurance and Commerce.

• SB 84 – Blake Johnson (R) and Rep. DeAnn Vaught (R)
  Prohibits moratoriums on issuing permits in watersheds and other bodies of water. Referred to Senate Agriculture and Economic Development.

• SB 86 – Justin Boyd (R) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R)
  Amends the prohibition on nonprofit, tax-exempt, or government-funded hospitals from holding a licensed pharmacy permit for retail drug sales. Referred to Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor.

• SB 87 – Mark Johnson (R)
  Amends laws concerning county planning, creates penalties for subdivision ordinance violations, and requires county planning board members to reside in unincorporated areas. Referred to Senate City, County, and Local Affairs.

• SJR 3 – Bryan King (R)
  Proposes a constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Highway Commission. Referred to Senate State Agencies.

• SJR 4 – Justin Boyd (R) and Rep. Cindy Crawford (R)
  Proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate annual school elections if the proposed tax rate remains unchanged and no other matters are on the ballot. Referred to Senate State Agencies.