Senate floor

Jan. 17, 2023

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• Recognizing the Bryant Hornets football team
• Withdrawing SB 3 and SB 56 from consideration

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: The Senate will be called to order. Are there any requests for leave at this time? Senator Hester, you’re recognized.

 

Sen Hester: I request leave for Senator King.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Madam secretary, please call the roll.

 

Secretary: Boyd, Bryant, Caldwell, Chesterfield, Clark, Crowell, Davis, Dees, Dismang, Dotson, English, Flippo, Flowers, Gilmore, Hammer, Hester, Hickey, Hill, Irvin, Blake Johnson, Mark Johnson, King on leave, Leding, Love, McKee, Murdock, Payton, Penzo, Petty, Rice, Stone, Stubblefield, Sullivan, Tucker, Wallace.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Thank you, Madam Secretary. If everyone in the chamber and in the galleries would please rise for a prayer led by Senator Crowell, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Sen Crowell: Dear Lord, we come before you humbly and ask you for grace and forgiveness of our sins and our shortcoming. Lord, we ask that you would guide us in our work today and that we do our work through you. We ask you for safe travels for the team that is here on the way home. We ask you for our minds to be clear and set forward. Thank you for the state, this country that we are willing to serve and to protect. Let’s have a great session, in your name, amen.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Ladies and gentlemen in the galleries, welcome to your Arkansas State 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? Senator Love, you’re recognized.

 

Sen Love: Good afternoon, colleagues. Today we have Dr. Jennifer Doyle with us, who is a doctor of ophthalmology, and she is my constituent, the best senator on the floor. She’s from Little Rock. Can you give her a hand? And then I also want to say our nurse today is Ms. Sherry Bernard. She has been with us in the House and she’s now down here with the Senate. So can you give her a hand as well? Thank you all.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Thanks, Senator Love. Other announcements? Senator Hammer.

 

Sen Hammer: Thank you, Madam Chair. I’d like to remind you that tomorrow morning at 7 o’clock, we’ll start our prayer caucus. It’ll meet on Wednesday morning, 7 o’clock in the Old Supreme courtroom. Invite all of you to come. Invite a friend to come with you.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Thank you, senator. No other announcements. Madam Secretary, are there items at the desk?

 

Secretary: Yes, ma’am. We your committee on Engrossed Bills to whom was referred Senate Bill 27 by Joint Budget compared the engrossed copy with the original and found the same correctly and grossed.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Joint Budget committee.

 

Secretary: We your committee on Engrossed Bills to whom was referred Senate Bill 34 by Joint Budget compared the engrossed copy with the original and it found the same correctly engrossed.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Joint Budget committee.

 

Secretary: We your committee on Joint Budget to whom was referred Senate Bill 10 by Joint Budget recommend do pass.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Calendar.

 

Secretary: Committee on Joint Budget to whom was referred Senate Bill 12 by Joint Budget recommended do pass.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Calendar.

 

Secretary: Committee on Joint Budget to whom was referred Senate Bill 46 by Joint Budget recommended do pass.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Calendar.

 

Secretary: Senate Bill 59 by Senator Chesterfield, to amend the law with respect to circumstances that justify the use of physical force upon another person. Senate Bill 59.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Judiciary.

 

Secretary: Senate Bill 60 by Senator Chesterfield, to abolish the panic defense. Senate Bill 60.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Judiciary.

 

Secretary: Senate Bill 61 by Joint Budget, an act for the Department of Education Division of Career and Technical Education appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Senate Bill 61.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Joint Budget.

 

Secretary: Senate Bill 62 by Senator Hill, to prohibit public entities from contracting with companies that boycott energy, fossil fuel, firearms, and ammunition industries. Senate Bill 62.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: State Agencies.

 

Secretary: Senate Bill 63 by Joint Budget, an act for the Department of Energy and Environment Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Senate Bill 63.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Joint Budget.

 

Secretary: Senate Bill 64 by Joint Budget, an act for the Department of Energy and Environment Arkansas Geological Survey appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Senate Bill 64.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Joint Budget.

 

Secretary: Senate Bill 65 by Joint Budget, an act for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Senate Bill 65.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Joint Budget.

 

Secretary: Senate Bill 66 by Senator Dees and Senator Petty, to create the Protection of Minors in Distribution of Harmful Material Act, to establish liability for the publication or dispersion of material harmful to minors on the Internet, and to require reasonable age verification. Senate Bill 66.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Insurance and Commerce. 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 start the business agenda. Madam secretary, please read any Senate or House bills that we may have.

 

Secretary: Senate Resolution 1 by Senator Hammer, to recognize the Bryant Hornets football team as the class 7A state champions.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Senator Hammer, you are recognized.

 

Sen Hammer: Thank you, madam chair. I’d like a point of personal privilege to ask leave for the seniors of the Bryant football team and coaching staff to be present for the reading of the resolution on the floor, please.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Granted.

 

Sen Hammer: Thank you. Could we go ahead and have them come in, madam chair? If you all go on down, we’ll go two or three deep down there.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Senator Hammer, you are recognized.

 

Recognizing the Bryant Hornets football team

Sen Hammer: Thank you, madam chair. I’m honored to present to you today the Bryant Hornets football team, their senior managers and senior trainers that are on the floors. The individuals on the floor today represent the senior high portion of the football team. The sophomores and juniors are in the gallery. I’d ask all of you that are on the Bryant football team or affiliated with the Bryant football team in the gallery if you would please stand at this time so we might recognize you as well. [applause] You might have to get some concussion protocol. I notice that some of your taller players are bumping their heads against the ceiling up there. Madam chair, I’d like to read the resolution. It’s a short one. I’d like to read it in full. Please, madam chair.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: It is granted. And I encourage the audience to pay attention so the senator can recognize this outstanding team.

 

Sen Hammer: This is to recognize Bryant Hornets football team as the class 7A state champions. Whereas the Bryant Hornets bested the Bentonville Tigers to take the class 7A state football title for a fifth consecutive time with a score of 36-7 before a crowd of 18,482 fans at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Friday, December 2nd, 2022, and whereas in the past five seasons, the Hornets have never lost to an end state team, and whereas, with their fifth straight championship title, the Bryant Hornets made Arkansas history as the first team to have won that many consecutive state titles in the playoff era, and whereas Coach Buck James said, “Five in a row is mind-boggling. I think this is something these young men will remember forever. I know I will remember it forever.” I’d like to make this notation. It is not in the resolution, but with that win, coach Buck James successfully has won 212 victories as a coach serving under the Bryant Hornets, but that is his entitled career, 212.

[applause]

 

Sen Hammer: Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate of the 94th General Assembly of the state of Arkansas that the state Senate congratulates and recognizes the Bryant Hornets football team as the class 7A state champions. Be it further resolved that upon adoption of this resolution, a copy be provided to coach Buck James by the secretary of the Senate. Madam chair, I would move for adoption of this resolution, recognize the players, coaches, and staff, and if I may, yield the mic to Buck James for a few words. And then I’d like to ask for a point of personal privilege for five minutes for photos, please, madam chair. I move to the adoption of the resolution.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Thank you, senator. All those in favor of the resolution, please indicate by saying aye. Any opposed?

 

Sen Hammer: Thank you. Would you express your appreciation? And then Buck James.

 

Coach James: I’m very humbled. I did not know I was going to speak, so pardon me if I just maul this. But I do want to take the opportunity to be able to thank our young men, our coaches. I feel like we have the best players in the state, but obviously, we have the best coaches. Our administration is here, and I know that most of you understand what it’s like in public schools and dealing with the public and dealing with parents, and our parents let us coach these kids. There’s a reason why they’ve been this successful. And we don’t have parents who come and complain about whether my son starts plays or gets the ball. What they do is they allow us to coach them, and these guys do a great job of doing it. Our administration does a great job of supporting us in every endeavor we have. And then we’ve got guys who believe that this was possible.

 

Coach James: At one point in time, when we came to Bryant, winning a playoff game was a big deal. And to be able to win five state championships in a row, it is mind-boggling. You look at the people that have tried to do this, and people spend lots of money to be able to have great football programs. They do it all over the world. They do it every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons to be able to play at a high level, and these guys do it for free. They do it because they love the game. They do it because they want to be coached, and this is what is a blessing. This is what we have in the state of Arkansas. It’s what we have in central Arkansas with the kind of kids who come out here and do this kind of thing and then be able to go out and do it every night when everybody’s trying to knock you off the top. And I appreciate these young men.

 

Coach James: I appreciate you guys more than you know letting us come up here and giving us a chance to shine. This is a great moment for these kids. They’ve been excited about it. Some of them wore their best clothes. Some of them wore all the clothes. And this is something that– this is what it’s about. It’s high school football in America, and it’s the greatest game there is. I appreciate you letting me be here. Thank you.

 

Sen Hammer: Madam chair, I’d like a point of personal privilege to recess for no more than five minutes for photo ops for anybody who would like to come get their pictures with this team, please.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Thank you, senator. Senate stands in recess for no more than five minutes.

[Recess]

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Senate will come back to order. Senator Ricky Hill, you’re recognized.

 

Withdrawing SB 56 and SB 3

Sen Hill: Thank you, madam governor. I’m getting more used to saying that now. I have a motion to withdraw Senate Bill 56 from State Agencies Committee for the purpose of withdrawing for further consideration.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Thank you, senator. All those in favor, say aye. Any opposed? Motion’s adopted.

 

Sen Hill: Okay. Now I want to make a motion to withdraw Senate Bill number 56 from further consideration.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Thank you, senator. Without objection. Senator English, you’re now recognized.

 

Sen English: Thank you, governor.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Yes, ma’am.

 

Sen English: Thank you. This is a motion to withdraw Senate Bill 3 from Education Committee for the purpose of withdrawing from further consideration.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: All those in favor signify by saying Aye. Any opposed?

 

Sen English: This is a motion to withdraw Senate Bill 3 from further consideration.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Thank you, senator. Without objection. Are there any further questions? Are there other items at the desk?

 

Secretary: Yes, Senate Bill 67.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: I apologize, madam secretary. Senator Flowers.

 

Sen Flowers: I didn’t hear those bills. I heard Senate Bill 3. The others were 55 and 56?

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Senator Hill had 56.

 

Sen Flowers: Didn’t he withdraw two?

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: No, ma’am.

 

Sen Flowers: 56?

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Yes, ma’am.

 

Sen Flowers: Okay. Thank you.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Thank you, senator. I’ll now recognize the secretary for items at the desk.

 

Secretary: Senate Bill 67 by Senator Irvin, an act for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences appropriation for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Senate Bill 67.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Joint Budget. Senator Clark, you’re recognized.

 

Sen Clark: Thank you, madam governor. I would like to introduce my intern for this session. This is her first day, and I would like to ask for leave. She’s back here in the back corner. If you’ll make her welcome, her name is Calista Glover. She is a senior at Henderson University, where she is majoring in pre-law political science. She was homeschooled in high school, and her mother is Robin Edwards, and her dad is Kelly Glover. Please make her welcome. And I would like to ask for leave.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Are there any other items before the Senate? You’ve all signed it. Madam secretary, you’re recognized.

 

Secretary: Senate Bill 68 by Senator Dotson and Hester, to amend the law that requires Holocaust education and to establish Holocaust Education Week in the public schools of the state of Arkansas. Senate Bill 68.

 

Lt Gov Rutledge: Education. Are there any other matters before the Senate this afternoon? Seeing none, any announcements? Seeing none, the Senate will stand in adjournment until tomorrow, January 18th, 2023, at 1:00 PM, subject to clearing the desk.