House of Representatives

January 26, 2023

Rep Shepherd: I invite the members, staff, press, and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by Reverend Dixon Platt of First Methodist Church of Warren, a guest of Representative Wardlaw, and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Representative Lane Jean.

[Prayer]

[Pledge of Allegiance]

Rep Shepherd: Members, please indicate your presence by pushing your yellow present button. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. 

Rep Shepherd: Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 99 members present, the Chair sees a quorum. Are there any requests for leave? Representative Burkes, for what purpose?

Rep Burkes: Leave.

Rep Shepherd: You’re recognized.

Rep Burkes: Request leave for Mindy McAlindon.

Rep Shepherd: Is leave granted for Representative McAlindon? So noted. Representative Jeffrey Wardlaw moves we dispense with the reading of the previous day’s journal. Without objection, so ordered. Are there reports from select committees? Are there reports from standing committees? Read the reports, Madam Clerk.

Madam Clerk: Mr. Speaker, we your Committee on Judiciary, to whom was referred House Bill number 1208 beg leave report that we have same had under consideration, and herewith returned with the recommendation that it do pass. Respectfully submitted, Representative Stan Berry, Vice-Chair.

Rep Shepherd: Is there any unfinished business? Are there any executive communications? Read the letter from the Governor, Madam Clerk.

Madam Clerk: State of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor. January 23rd, 2023. To the Speaker of the House. Dear, Mr. Speaker, this is to inform you that on January 23rd, 2023, I reviewed and approved the following measures from the legislative session of the 94th General Assembly. House Bill 1056, Act 2, House Bill 1057, Act 3, House Bill 1058, Act 4, House Bill 1052, Act 5, House Bill 1001, Act 6. Sincerely, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Arkansas.

Rep Shepherd: Madam Clerk, please read House Resolution 1005.

Madam Clerk: House Resolution 1005 by Representative Charlene Fite. To recognize Damon and Margaret Reed for their work in restoring the Morrow farmstead in Morrow, Arkansas.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Fite, you’re recognized to explain the resolution.

Rep C Fite: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Who in here knows where Morrow Arkansas is? Raise your hand. Well, several people do. Morrow is in my district and one of the sweetest communities in the State of Arkansas. And today I want to honor Margaret and Damon Reed. They have done a remarkable thing, they bought an 1826 farmhouse, and they have totally restored it. Every time Tom and I would drive through Morrow we would check on the progress. It’s now finished. They had guests in it at Christmas and had it all decorated as it was in 1826, except with lights.

And today I want to honor them. This house has been placed on the Arkansas Registry of Historic Places, on the National Registry of Historic Places, and tomorrow night, they are being honored by Preserve Arkansas as the volunteers who did this because they did a lot of the work themselves. It took them 18 months to restore this house to its former glory. So today I rise to honor them. Mr. Clerk, if you would read just the summary– or Madam Clerk, if you would read the summary?

Rep Shepherd: Madam Clerk, please read the summary of the resolution.

Madam Clerk: To recognize Damon and Margaret Reed for their work in restoring the Morrow farmstead in Morrow, Arkansas.

Rep C Fite: And I thank you for a good vote.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Fite has explained the resolution. Would anyone like to speak against the resolution? Would anyone like to speak for the resolution? Representative Fite is closed for the resolution. The question before the House is the passage of House Resolution 1005, all in favor say aye. Any opposed? Resolution passes. 

Members, we have some guests with us today. In the East Gallery, we have the Associate General Contractors of Arkansas. I just read what they put in front of me. [laughter] In the North Gallery, we have Dr. David Naylor, and Ms. Linda Hargis of the Conway School Board, guests of Representative Bentley.  And in the East Gallery, we have David Meeks, the father of Representative Meeks. He is a Vietnam veteran and today is his birthday. [applause]

Morning hour has ended. Members, we’re going to pass over House Bill 1082. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1165.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1165 by Representative Nicks. To amend Arkansas law concerning the 21st District of the State district court system.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Nicks, you’re recognized to explain the bill.

Rep Nicks: Thank you, Mr. Chair, Colleagues. House Bill 1165 amends current statute concerning the 21st District Court. The 21st District Court, it covers Crittenden County, it has 7 existing courts. This amendment will reduce the number from 7 to 6. It would delete the town of Jennette. Jennette is a small community in Crittenden County, and their court has been dormant for the past 15-plus years. So current statute requires that the district judge schedule one day a month for that court out there. And so the Administrative Office of Courts and the District Court judge request the town of Jennette be deleted from this statute. And I believe House Bill 1165 will do just that. And as far as I know, there’s no opposition to this bill. And I would appreciate a good vote.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Nicks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Nicks is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1165. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 95 yeas, zero nay, and 1 present, the bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1112.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1112 by Representative Warren. To amend the law concerning a student’s eligibility to attend a school district when he or she resides on a tract of land located in two school districts.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Warren, you’re recognized to explain the bill.

Rep Warren: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this bill is going to be limited in scope and not affect most of you but those in counties under a de-seg order are impacted. In those counties, we do not have school choice as most of you know it. With the advancement of technology, it’s become laser precise where district lines are. Homeowners who bought in certain districts have found out they’re no longer in the same district because of those precision lines now. They bought according to the assessor’s records to be in certain school districts.

What this does, we’ve got people whose land or their homes and their actual land are now split between 2 districts. What this allows is if you’re in 2 districts, it allows the homeowner to choose which district they go to school in. So I would appreciate a good vote. Be glad to take any questions. Thank you.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Warren has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Warren is closed for the bill. The question before the House is a passage of House Bill 1112. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With a vote of 95 yeas, zero nay, and zero present, the bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House bill 1099.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1099 by Representative Collins. To specify the time within which one may seek an opinion from the Attorney General on whether the decision of a public records custodian regarding the release of certain public records is consistent with the law.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Collins, you’re recognized to explain the bill.

Rep Collins: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this bill with Senator Payton just says under the FOIA, current law says that certain parties have to or may seek an opinion from the attorney general immediately. Immediately is a vague term. It’s not clearly defined. It leads to some people losing their ability to pursue their rights under the FOIA.

And so what we landed on was to replace immediately with before the close of the office of the Attorney General the following business day. This is a clear and defined time that will allow everyone to avoid confusion and be able to pursue their rights under the FOIA. It is supported by the Press Association, the FOIA Coalition, the FOIA Task Force, the office of the Attorney General, and the Municipal League. Everyone I believe is on board with this because again not really changing but clarifying the law. Seeing no questions, I’d appreciate a good vote.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Collins has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Collins is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1099. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 96 yeas, zero nay, and zero present, the bill is passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1163.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1163 by Representative Bentley. To amend the law related to the management of lands located or created within lakes or rivers by the Commissioner of State Lands.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Bentley, you’re recognized to explain the bill.

Rep Bentley: Thank you, Speaker. Colleagues, everybody doing okay? We’re good, getting done with the third week. This bill is a very simple bill. In the past– this really changes nothing but anyway just changes how things are done, makes it more effective and efficient for our constituents, and also helps the Land Commissioner’s office be a lot easier for the Land Commissioner’s office. So if you own land on a river and there’s a bend in the river, and over time sand will settle in that bend and then we’ll get some debris settle on there and some mulch will settle on there and then trees will start growing. Before you know it, you have some land that you can actually add to your current land and get a deed for.

So the process has been kind of– in my opinion, convoluted where the landowner with the land next to this new created land in the river would go to the Land Commissioner’s office and want to seek a deed. And so he’d give a deposit to the Land Commissioner’s office. And the Land Commissioner’s office would have to hire a surveyor wherever in the state that was. And they took forever to get the survey done and find the right person.

So this kind of flips it where it says the landowner will come to the Land Commissioner’s Office, give a $125 deposit and then they will hire a surveyor that they’ve worked with. Because if you guys have property, you’ve worked with the same surveyor forever that already has your property there, much easier for that surveyor to come in and actually probably a little bit cheaper than somebody else coming in from further in the state that doesn’t know the land where you live.

So the landowner will have to go get the survey to the specifics of the Land Commissioner’s Office, bring all that back to the Land Commissioner, and then get it taken care of. So to me, it’s much easier for our constituents, much better for the Land Commissioner’s office. And with that, I will take any questions that any of you may have on 1163.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Collins for what purpose? You’re recognized.

Rep Collins: Thank you. So I just noticed there’s an increase in the fee here from $5 to $125. Am I reading that right? And what’s the basis for that?

Rep Bentley: Before they had you put more of a deposit down. We’re getting rid of the deposit they would have to do to pay for the surveyor. So before the land owner had to give a deposit for the surveyor. We’re no longer doing that. So that’s why the $125 fee for the Land Commissioner’s office. And it’s still going to be a lot cheaper for that landowner to use a surveyor they’ve used, that already has their land in their documents and already done. So I think in the end, it’s going to be a lot cheaper for our landowners.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Wardlaw, what purpose?

Rep Wardlaw: Question.

Rep Shepherd: You’re recognized.

Rep Wardlaw: So with this bill and I lived on this river, and say that sand built up and the tree grew, think that was kind of the example in Committee yesterday. Would that not increase my property taxes by gaining that property that the river brought along that I didn’t actually have?

Rep Bentley: If you own more land, you’re going to have a higher tax value.

Rep Wardlaw: Thank you.

Rep Bentley: All right, thank you.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Bentley has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Bentley is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1163. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 96 yea, zero nay, and 1 present, the bill has passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1164.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1164 by Representative Bentley. To amend the law concerning the correction of errors arising from the erroneous sale of lands of the State of Arkansas, and amend the law concerning the duties of the Commissioner of State Lands.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Bentley, you’re recognized to explain the bill.

Rep Bentley: Colleagues, this is one of my favorite bills where we get rid of obsolete language in our statute. So the Land Commissioner no longer handles errors in this way. This bill was written back in 1947. I don’t think anybody was born in 1947. But anyway, this was back in 1947 when the statute was in place, the Land Commissioner no longer handles errors in this way. So we’re just deleting obsolete language. Any questions? Thank you.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Bentley has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Bentley is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1164. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With a vote of 96 yea, zero nay, and zero present, the bill has passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1014.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1014 by Representative Watson. To allow online training for county coroners, to provide for additional training courses for county coroners, and to provide that a person with a felony conviction is not eligible to be a deputy coroner.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Watson, you’re recognized to explain the bill.

Rep Watson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, I come back again to address some misapprehensions in reference to 1014, the coroner bill. Section 2 of the bill provides that a person convicted of a felony are not eligible to be a deputy coroner. The same is true – I want everybody to understand this – the same is true for law enforcement officers, and jailers in the State of Arkansas. Neither law enforcement officers or jailers can be– in Arkansas can they serve in the positions and be convicted of a felony.

Coroners and deputy coroners, like law enforcement officers, are positions of trust. Positions of trust has to mean something. Coroners and deputy coroners are entrusted with gathering evidence and investigating the cause and manner of deaths. Some deaths are suspicious deaths, and some are part of criminal investigations. Coroners and law enforcement officers are both subject to cross-examination as witnesses as to the evidence they gather during an investigation. And they are handled as a part of chain of custody. I have been involved in chain of custody many times and it is critical. It will make or break a case, believe me.

Also, coroners and deputy coroners are authorized to assess crime scenes, which are in private residences, and also in places of business. They are charged with responsibility to confiscate drugs under a prescription and illicit drugs at the scenes of deaths or crimes. I hope this will answer some questions of why the utmost standards. Again they’re the same as a commission-certified police officer. I would appreciate a good vote.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Watson has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Richmond, you’re recognized to speak for the bill.

Rep Richmond: If you’ll recall, last time I come down spoke against the bill because again I do believe that at some point if you paid your price to society that you should get somewhat a clean start. But I do understand why. Now, we talked to the Coroner Association and he explained why, and it’s because this individual, this deputy, may very well end up on the stand testifying.

And one question, one question that a good trial lawyer will ask would be, have you ever been convicted of a felony? The moment that happens, whoever the individual is, the defendant that is trying to defend himself, the responsibility and the person on trial is going to switch to that deputy coroner when he answers yes, I have been convicted of a felony. And because of that, I can understand why they go ahead and do it the way that they’re doing saying we can’t take that chance. We can’t take and allow the possibility of a serial killer walking because the jury gets distracted by the fact that they have somebody that’s had a problem in their past. And so I now support this bill. I support it because I realized that the actual problem as it usually is, begins with the lawyers. So thank you. [laughter]

Rep Shepherd: Representative Richmond has spoken for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Watson is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1014. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 84 yeas, 11 nays, and zero present, the bill has passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1040.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1040 by Representative Ray. To repeal the Arkansas Legal Insurance Act.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Ray, you’re recognized to explain the bill.

Rep Ray: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, this bill repeals the Arkansas Legal Insurance Act. This is an act that was written in the 1970s and really refers to today what are known as legal plans. These are not insurance in the way that we typically think about insurance, these are legal plans. The way they operate is they’re subscription-based prepaid legal plans that you pay a monthly fee for. And in exchange you can access a local law firm that will provide a predetermined set of services like document review, a basic consultation, they’ll prepare a will, things of that nature.

Individuals purchase these plans much like you’d purchase a roadside hazard membership from AAA or businesses will sometimes purchase these plans and provide it as a benefit to their employees. Also under the act, the sales associates for these companies have to have a license from the state. But it’s not a license in the way we think about licensure, there’s no education or training requirements. The only requirement is that they pay a fee to the state.

There’s 33 States that never licensed this or that never regulated in this manner in the first place, and of those states that did, the majority of those have repealed their requirements in the years since. So what the bill does is it changes Arkansas law to conform with how most states regulate this area, which is not at all. And it eliminates an occupational licensing requirement that really doesn’t serve any purpose. The Insurance Department does not have any concerns with the bill and there’s no known opposition. Thank you, would appreciate a good vote.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Ray has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Ray is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1040. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 97 yeas, zero nay, and zero present, the bill has passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1147.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1147 by Representative Vaught. To amend the Real Estate License Law and to create an exemption for Arkansas licensed residential construction companies.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Eubanks, you’re recognized to explain the bill.

Rep Eubanks: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. DeAnn asked me if I could run this bill for her today and I thought it was a good idea at the time. [laughter] That may not be the case but anyway, I’m sure that a lot of people in here have been contacted since the bill ran in Insurance and Commerce yesterday. It really is a fairly simple bill. It allows licensed home builders to sell their own property. And it allows them to have employees to sell that property from their inventory, brand new homes, never been lived in. But it allows them to do so without having a real estate license.

Now, Representative Vaught had this bill two years ago, didn’t get out of Committee. And she and Senator Hester have worked for the last two years trying to get an agreement by which there could be some agreement and passed, and it did in the House Committee. Now, I know when people say there’s an agreed-upon bill there’s always members of different associations that don’t necessarily agree with the decision that has been made. But this bill was drafted in cooperation with the Arkansas Real Estate Commission and the Board of Realtors Legislative Committee. And obviously, there’s a lot of people in the state that are Realtors, and I think we may hear from some today that don’t necessarily agree with this bill. But I think it just stands to reason that if you’re a business owner.

Well, let me back up. If I built the house myself, I wouldn’t have to have a real estate license to put it on the market and sale by owner. But only thing we’re doing here is we’re allowing a licensed home builder who builds homes to be able to do the same thing. So I don’t know that I can answer any of the questions that many of you may have but I’ll attempt to. I should have left sooner.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Brown, for what purpose?

Rep Brown: Question.

Rep Shepherd: You’re recognized for a question.

Rep Brown: Representative Eubanks, is it not also true that that homebuilder must have an employee or himself be a licensed registered broker within the State of Arkansas by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission?

Rep Eubanks: That is correct.

Rep Brown: Thank you.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Flowers, for what purpose?

Rep Flowers: Representative Eubanks, isn’t–

Rep Shepherd: You’re recognized.

Rep Flowers: Oh, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Eubanks, isn’t this bill this time – and this is my second time serving on Insurance and Commerce and I know that a couple of years ago it was very contentious and divided – but isn’t this time a compromise bill and it’s agreed upon by stakeholders involved from last time?

Rep Eubanks: That was my understanding, yes.

Rep Flowers: Okay, I’m happy.

Rep Eubanks: Yes. Thank you. DeAnn would appreciate a good vote.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Eubanks has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Berry, you’re recognized to speak for the bill.

Rep M Berry: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And Colleagues, I hope you have a wonderfully blessed weekend. Just one thing. To touch on what my colleague Representative Flowers said, the definition of compromise is an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions. That’s exactly what we had between both sides. Senator Hester and Representative Vaught has worked with both sides, and they reached a compromise. And I would ask that you support this bill and give it a good vote, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Berry has spoken for the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Eubanks is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1147. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 87 yeas, 10 nays, and zero present, the bill has passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1180.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1180 by Representative Wing. An act for the Arkansas House of Representatives staff appropriation for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Wing, you’re recognized to explain the bill.

Rep Wing: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This bill is simply our annual appropriation for the next fiscal year. What we passed previous to this was the appropriation for the session expenses, those are the temporary ones but this is for the actual full-scale operations of the House. Just by way of information, it’s flat from last year, so we’re not increasing any appropriations at all. And in fact, before that, we had four consecutive years where we had decreased the appropriation. So we’re trying to be leaner and meaner. I’d appreciate a good vote. Thank you.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Wing has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Wing is closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1180. Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Voting on the bill and the emergency clause, has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With a vote of 98 yeas, zero nay, and 1 present, the bill and emergency clause have passed. Representative Jean, you’re recognized to present the budget calendar.

Rep Jean: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, we’re going to try to do this in two votes today. Senate Bill 13, which is the Arkansas Ethics Commission. We’re going to pull that out for one vote. It is funded by GR but the only increases are for insurance and cost of living. Any questions on this? Your one vote is for the bill and the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker, have the Clerk read the bill a third time.

Rep Shepherd: Madam Clerk, please read the bill for the third time.

Madam Clerk: Senate Bill 13. 

Rep Shepherd: Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Voting on the bill and the emergency clause. Has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With a vote of 94 yeas, 3 nays, and 1 present, the bill and emergency clause are passed. Representative Jean, you’re recognized.

Rep Jean: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, we’re going to batch Senate Bill 14, Senate Bill 19, Senate Bill 21, Senate Bill 28, Senate Bill 63. Senate Bill 14 is the Judicial Discipline Commission. It does have GR but the only increases are to insurance and the cost of living. Senate Bill 19, Department of Commerce has a no GR. Senate Bill 21 and 28, which is the Minority Health Initiative and also the ops bill, they are funded out of tobacco settlement, no GR. And Senate Bill 63, Department of Energy and Environmental, the Liquefied Petroleum Board, it’s funded out of cash, no GR. Do I need to pull any of these out of the batch for any reason? Do we have any questions on any of these bills? Seeing none, your one vote is for the batched bills and the emergency clause. Mr. Speaker, have the Clerk read the bill a third time.

Rep Shepherd: Madam Clerk, please read the bills for the third time

Madam Clerk: Senate Bill 14, Senate Bill 19, Senate Bill 21, Senate Bill 28, Senate Bill 63.

Rep Shepherd: Prepare the machine, Madam Clerk. Voting on the bills and the emergency clauses, has everyone voted? Has everyone voted? Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With a vote of 97 yeas, 1 nay, and zero present, the bills and emergency clauses have passed. Representative Meeks, for what purpose?

Rep Meeks: Motion, please.

Rep Shepherd: Let’s hear your motion.

Rep Meeks: After the announcements, reading of the bills, transferring of the bills, placing the calendars on the desk, members amending their own bills, their own amendments, members withdrawing their own bills, finalizing resolutions, reading communications, and any remaining committee reports, I move that we adjourn until 1:30 on Monday afternoon.

Rep Shepherd: That’s a proper motion. It’s not debatable. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Are there any announcements? Representative Dalby, for what purpose?

Rep Dalby: Announcement.

Rep Shepherd: You’re recognized.

Rep Dalby: Tomorrow is the last day to file retirement bills.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Eaves, for what purpose?

Rep Eaves: Announcement.

Rep Shepherd: You’re recognized.

Rep Eaves: Capitol Hill Apartments has some of the best barbecue you’re going to eat in your life from a local restaurant in Searcy called Knight’s Fire Barbecue. You don’t want to miss it.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Beck, for what purpose? You’re recognized.

Rep Beck: The Joint Energy Committee will be meeting Monday at 10 o’clock. That should be in Conference room B over in Big Mac, but check your calendar to make sure. Thanks, bye.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Evans, for what purpose?

Rep Evans: Announcement.

Rep Shepherd: You’re recognized.

Rep Evans: House Education will reconvene from recess in 15 minutes of adjournment.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Meeks, for what purpose?

Rep Meeks: Announcement. Please.

Rep Shepherd: You’re recognized. 

Rep Meeks: Advanced Communication Information Technology Committee will have our organizational meeting on Monday at noon in room 151.

Rep Shepherd: Any other announcements? If not, the desk will remain open as needed for the reading of the bills, and upon completion of the items named in the adjourn resolution, the House will be adjourned until 1:30 pm Monday.