Senate
January 28, 2025
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:00:21] Senate will be called to order. Are there any requests for leave at this time? Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Thank you, Madam Secretary. If everyone in the chamber and in the galleries would please rise for a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Ben Gilmore is recognized to introduce our pastor of the day. Senator Gilmore.
Senator Ben Gilmore [00:01:21] Members, thank you. It's an honor and pleasure of mine to introduce my pastor, Philip Slaughter, from First Baptist Crossett. So as he prays, I know you'll be praying right along with him for him having to deal with me. So with that, pastor, please lead us in prayer.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:03:00] Thank you, Pastor, for those encouraging words. Ladies and gentlemen in the galleries, welcome to your Arkansas Senate. It is our expectation that each of you will exercise proper decorum and govern yourselves accordingly during today's proceedings. Without objection, the rules will be suspended and the Senate will dispense with the reading of the Journal. The morning hour has now begun. Are there any announcements or introductions at this time? Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk?
Secretary [00:03:36] [Engrossed Bills, SB 48]
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:03:43] Insurance and Commerce.
Secretary [00:03:45] [City, County, Local, SB 97, Do Pass]
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:03:51] Calendar.
Secretary [00:03:52] [City, County, Local, HB 1050, Do pass]
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:03:58] Calendar.
Secretary [00:03:59] [City, County, Local, HB 1075, Do pass]
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:04:05] Calendar.
Secretary [00:04:06] [City, County, Local, HB 1137, Do pass]
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:04:12] Calendar.
Secretary [00:04:13] [State Agencies, SB 3, Do pass].
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:04:19] Calendar.
Secretary [00:04:20] [State Agencies, SB 63, Do pass].
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:04:25] Calendar.
Secretary [00:04:30] Senate Bill 132 by Joint Budget, an act to make an appropriation for the payment of approved claims. Senate Bill 132.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:04:40] Joint Budget.
Secretary [00:04:41] Senate Bill 133 by Senator Boyd to amend the Uniform Commercial Code to define central bank digital currency under the Uniform Commercial Code and to modify the Uniform Commercial Code Definitions of money and deposit accounts. Senate Bill 133.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:04:59] Insurance and Commerce.
Secretary [00:05:00] Senate Bill 134 by Senator Irvin to amend the law concerning the Public School Employee Health Benefit Advisory Commission and to amend the law concerning the State Employee Health Benefits Advisory Commission. Senate Bill 134.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:05:15] Public Health.
Secretary [00:05:17] Senate Resolution 6 by Senator Irvin to recognize and celebrate January 29th, 2025, as Mental Health Day at State Capitol. Senate Resolution 6.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:05:29] Calendar. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Is there any further business to come before the body in the morning hour? If not, the morning hour has expired. We will now begin the business agenda, beginning with Senate Resolution 5. However, I do not see Senator-- oh, there you are. Senator Dotson
Secretary [00:05:53] Senate Resolution 5 by Senator Dotson to commemorate and recognize National School Choice Week during the week of January 26th through February 1st.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:06:05] Senator Dotson, you're recognized. And I apologize since you've moved seats this session.
Senator Jim Dotson [00:06:15] Thank you, Governor. Members, this resolution, as the title says, commemorates National School Choice Week and designates it as this week since its National School Choice Week. Appreciate a good vote.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:06:34] Thank you, Senator. All those in favor of Senate Resolution 5 to commemorate and recognize National School Choice Week during the week of January 26th through February 1st, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed. Ayes have it. Senate Resolution 5 is adopted. We will now take up Senate Bill-- Senator Tucker, you are recognized for an introduction.
Senator Clarke Tucker [00:07:07] Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, as always, it's our pleasure to welcome our nurse of the day, Leigh Fazio. And also today, our doctor of the day, Dr. Steven Davis, who works on all of our eyeballs over at Baptist. He's an apologist. Thank you very much for being here, Dr. Davis, and welcome to the Senate.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:07:31] Thank you, Senator Tucker. We will now take up Senate Bill 16 by Senator Boyd.
Secretary [00:07:43] Senate Bill 16 by Senator Boyd to amend the law concerning the discharge of a firearm at a train and to increase the fine that may be imposed for the discharge of a firearm at a train or for throwing other objects at a train.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:07:59] Senator Boyd, you're recognized.
Senator Justin Boyd [00:08:04] Thank you, Madam President. So, Senate Bill 16. Again, we go back to the Arkansas Legislative Task Force, our Game & Fish subcommittee, the Second Amendment task force. And this is a bill that came out of there with consensus. So this bill or this statute that we're working to amend was originally done in 1893. So what this does is, it's never been updated.
So the fine today would be a minimum of $25 and up to $250 for discharge of a firearm at a train. So what the consensus-- and so if you look at that, if you take 1893 and move it to 2025, that's around $800, almost $900 to almost $9,000. So what this does, the consensus of the group was to make it a Class A misdemeanor.
So that's the change, updating basically what happened in 1893 and make it something comparable today. So a Class A misdemeanor is up to a $2,500 fine. So it doesn't quite get to the $8,700 or whatever. But that's what the Game & Fish subcommittee felt like it should be. So happy to try to answer any questions.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:09:31] Any questions for Senator Boyd? Senator Flowers, you're recognized for a question.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:09:42] In the bill that says a Class A misdemeanor, not only is that a fine, like you said, of the $2,500, subject to jail time, too. Is that correct?
Senator Justin Boyd [00:09:55] Yes. So the current law does subject people to jail time as well. But the consensus of the group was rather than trying to figure out the exact same comparison, Class A misdemeanor seemed to be the best fit. But currently the statute could include jail, too.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:10:19] Well, the statute presently is fairly vague. It says it's offense or just a misdemeanor. It doesn't define what classification of misdemeanor it is. Yours does say, I believe.
Senator Justin Boyd [00:10:35] Yes, it does. But what my point is, one of the punishments is not only a fine, but it's jail time in the current statute today. The consensus of the group was a class A misdemeanor seemed to be the most equivalent to match this to get it updated from 1893 to 2025 and be as close as possible. Class A misdemeanor just seemed to be the best fit.
Senator Stephanie Flowers [00:10:58] Yeah, I believe it increases the jail time that the current statute has is my point. Thank you.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:11:07] Any other questions for Senator Boyd? Seeing no other questions, does anyone wish to speak against? Anyone wish to speak for the bill? Senator Boyd, you're recognized to close.
Senator Justin Boyd [00:11:21] Thank you. I appreciate a good vote.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:11:24] Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Objection noted. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. Any senator wishing to vote or wish to change his or her vote? Looking at this side, looking at this side. Any senator? Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By a vote at 31 yea, 2 nay [Love, Scott], 2 not voting [Irvin, English], Senate Bill 16 passes. Please transmit to the House. We will now take up Senate Bill 45.
Secretary [00:13:23] Senate Bill 45 by Senator Wallace to authorize the creation of the Women Veterans special license plate and repeal the Pearl Harbor survivor license plate.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:13:33] Senator Wallace, you're recognized.
Senator Dave Wallace [00:13:35] Thank you, Governor. Members, I've been here 11 years and I've carried a lot of bills. This will end up being one of my all time favorite bills. This bill will recognize the female veterans and the women veterans in the state of Arkansas with their own distinct license plate. We're replacing the Pearl Harbor license plate. Now, that may give us some concern, but let me explain a few things to you. There's only 16 living Pearl Harbor survivors in America. DFA has 125 Pearl Harbor survivor plates standing by. So we're more than adequate to cover anybody that would like a Pearl Harbor survivor plate.
And I would ask for some personal privilege. I'd like to ask our veterans in the gallery if they would please stand. For many, many years, our female veterans have stood with their male counterpart. I commanded two battalions, three companies. I had women in every command and they were the best soldiers in my command. In every case, they did the unwanted in some cases. They stood in the same cold, the same snow, the same ice as their male counterparts, the same heat, the days on end without being able to bathe. They were soldiers and Marines and sailors and airmen. And I was very proud to have served with them all those years.
Members, this license plate, their initial fee will be $15. And that's standard with new license plates. When they renew it, it will be a cost of, I think,$1, $1.50. I forget which one. The $15 will go back to repay our Department of Veterans Affairs for their sponsoring this plate. Once it's paid back, the money gathered from that $15 that's over and above what the cost was will be used and will be spent to help with female veteran issues. I think it was a very good bill, long overdue. And I would ask you all for a good vote.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:16:38] Thank you, Senator. Any questions for Senator Wallace? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator, you are free to close. He has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator who did not vote, who wishes to vote or wishes to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yeas to 0 nay, Senate Bill 45 passes. Please transmit to the House. We will now take up Senate Bill 46.
Secretary [00:18:02] Senate Bill 46 by Senator Caldwell to reflect that merger between the University of Arkansas and the East Arkansas Community College by changing the name of East Arkansas Community College to the University of Arkansas East Arkansas Community College.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:18:17] Senator Caldwell you're recognized.
Senator Ronald Caldwell [00:18:19] Thank you, Madam President. This is pretty simple. Both of the boards of the East Arkansas Community College and University of Arkansas agreed to merge. This language changes the name of the East Arkansas Community College to the University of Arkansas East Arkansas Community College and transfers a few funds. But just a basic clean up bill.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:18:43] Any questions for Senator Caldwell? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator?
Senator Ronald Caldwell [00:18:53] I would appreciate a good vote. I'm closed.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:18:56] Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Hearing no one, madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yea, 0 nay, Senate Bill 46 passes. Please transmit to the House. We will now take up House Bill 1133.
Secretary [00:19:50] House Bill 1133 by Representative Unger and Lundstrum to authorize Northwest Technical Institute to appoint a president with an industry background and declare an emergency.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:20:02] Senator English, you're recognized.
Senator Jane English [00:20:06] Thank you, Governor. Basically, this bill does just what it says. It authorizes the Northwest Technical Institute to appoint a president who has industry experience as well as and/or educational background.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:20:25] Any questions for Senator English? Anyone wish to speak against or for? Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? Madam Secretary, please roll the vote. Any senator wish to change his or her vote? Seeing no one, please cast up the ballot. By a vote of 35 yeas, 0 nay, House Bill 1133 passes and the corresponding emergency clause is adopted. Please return to the House. Senator Davis, you're recognized.
Senator Breanne Davis [00:21:35] Thank you, Madam President. The Senate Rules Committee met yesterday, January 27th, 2025, to discuss gubernatorial appointments. You'll find the list for today, January 28th, 2025, on your desk. The Rules Committee approved this list in one batch. Does any senator wish to pull any of the appointments to be voted on separate from the batch this year?
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:22:06] We will vote Grant Hodges separately. He is on page two, Board of Corrections. Will vote that separately. Any others who wish to pull someone, an appointee to vote on separately?
Senator Breanne Davis [00:22:27] All right, Madam President. I move that the Senate confirm the January 28th, 2025, list of gubernatorial appointments that were approved by the Senate Rules Committee with the exception of Grant Hodges to the Arkansas Board of Corrections.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:22:45] Thank you, Senator Davis. You all have heard the motion. All those in favor please signify by saying aye. Any opposed. Ayes have it. Appointments are confirmed.
Senator Breanne Davis [00:22:56] All right. Madam President, I move that the Senate confirm Grant Hodges to the Arkansas Board of Corrections.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:23:02] You all have-- Excuse me. Senator King is recognized to speak against the appointment.
Senator Bryan King [00:23:15] Thank you, Madam Governor. You know, there's all these boards and commissions and we all have experiences. And there's certainly boards and commissions that a lot of us would be qualified for. There are some that, quite frankly, no matter what we think of ourselves, are not qualified for. I do not think with the Board of Corrections that Mr. Hodges is qualified for that.
The other thing is, too, you know, years ago we used to talk about the Democrat machine down here and how it worked. And now, you know, this still goes on today, how things are happening and done. You know, we passed a two year ban on lobbying. Well, now you just go to work for a lobbying firm and you call yourself a consultant account manager, errand boy, whatever you want to, and you have no reporting forms, nothing at all.
If we're going to pass bills to make the appearance to the public that you should not be a lobbyist, well, then how do you go to work for a lobbying firm? But you're not a lobbyist? I mean, so you can just call yourself whatever. I mean, as I say, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, well then it's a duck. And whether you vote to give money to these groups that turn around and hire the lobbyists that hire you and all sudden you're absent of reporting on anything just because you title something different. So I'm going to ask for a no vote.
Senator Jimmy Hickey [00:24:33] One question.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:24:35] Senator Hickey, you are recognized to ask a question of Senator King.
Senator Jimmy Hickey [00:24:39] Just so-- my vote might be influenced. I didn't know. Is he registered as a lobbyist? I want to make--.
Senator Bryan King [00:24:45] No, he can't register as a lobbyist by law. But now he's an account manager. So it's like this thing of you're not an account manager, you're a consultant or an errand boy or whatever you want to call it.
Senator Jimmy Hickey [00:24:56] I understand. I just want to make sure there wasn't an actual registration.
Senator Bryan King [00:24:59] If he has, I do not know of it. What if you register as a lobbyist, you have reporting. You can title yourself something else.
Senator Jimmy Hickey [00:25:04] Thank you, sir.
Senator Bryan King [00:25:05] I just think, like I said, if you go to somebody that's in for bank robbery, what are they going to call it? They can just retitle it himself and say they're a bank account withdrawal specialist. I mean, we need to have a clear line down here of not appointing people with lobbyist or lobbying firms or whatever you want to call yourself. As I say, in politics, nothing stops until It stops. This would be cried out by Republicans. Donald Trump, The swamp. Years ago. This is the same thing. So please, I'd ask for a no vote.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:25:34] Anyone wish to speak for? Senator Hammer. Did you have a question? Or you didn't? Okay. Anyone wish to speak for? If not, Senator Davis, you are free to close on your motion. Senator has closed. Any objection to rolling the vote? I'm sorry. This is a voice vote. All those in favor of the motion, Grant Hodges on board of Corrections, please signify by saying aye. Any opposed. The ayes have it. Motion is approved. Appointment is approved. With that, are there items at the desk? Any announcements? Senator Dees, you're recognized.
Senator Tyler Dees [00:26:48] Thank you, Madam Governor. Members, Just an announcement to put on your radar that the northwest Arkansas chambers will be having an event tonight at next level events for a night out with food and fellowship there. So 430 to 630. We appreciate your being there. Thank you.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:27:07] Thank you, Senator. Senator Blake Johnson, you're recognized.
Senator Blake Johnson [00:27:11] Members, please remember to file your SFI forms with the Secretary of State and also the Senate financial disclosure form before the end of the week. Thank you.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:27:25] Senator Dotson, you're recognized.
Senator Jim Dotson [00:27:28] Thank you, Governor. Members, Joint retirement will meet upon adjournment of both chambers in Mac A, where we will be taking the committee photo today.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:27:39] Senator Hammer, you're recognized.
Senator Kim Hammer [00:27:43] Members, tomorrow morning at 8:00 Peer will be meeting. Breakfast will not be served, so get it before you come. But at 7:00 we're also going to start the prayer caucus, which will be in the old Supreme Court room downstairs. 7:00. Thank you.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:27:56] Any other announcements? Senator Irvin, you're recognized.
Senator Missy Irvin [00:28:05] Okay. Members of Public Health, our picture, committee picture is going to be downstairs at 945 on the steps. So dress accordingly. And then Ethics committee will meet upon adjournment tomorrow, hopefully in room 309. And we'll wrap up our discussion there and get that to the floor, hopefully by Thursday.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge [00:28:33] If no other announcements, no items at the desk, Senate will stand in adjournment, subject to the clearing of the desk, until January 29th, 2025, at 1:30 p.m..
