House Committee

January 30, 2023  

Rep Shepherd: I invite the members, staff, press, and guests in the galleries to stand and be led in prayer by Matt Duran, lead pastor, Indian Springs Baptist Church of Bryant, 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. Cast up the ballot, Madam Clerk. With 98 members present, the Chair sees a quorum. Are there any requests for leave? Representative Fortner, for what purpose? You’re recognized.

Rep Fortner: Leave for Deborah Ferguson.

Rep Shepherd: Is leave granted for Representative Deborah Ferguson. So Noted. Representative Ken Ferguson, for what purpose?

Rep Ferguson: Leave.

Rep Shepherd:  You’re recognized. 

Rep Ferguson: Leave for Representative David Whitaker.

Rep Shepherd:  Is leave granted for Representative Whitaker? 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? Read the reports, Madam Clerk.

Madam Clerk: Mr. Speaker, we your committee on Public Retirement and Social Security Programs to whom was referred, House Bill numbers 1110 and 1111, beg leave to report that we have signed it under consideration and here in term with the recommendation that it do pass.

Rep Shepherd: Are there any reports from standing committees? Is there any unfinished business? Any executive communications? Members, our doctor today is Dr. Theresa Wyrick of Little Rock. And our nurse of the day is Miss Sherry Bernard. Our Arkansas State Troopers with us this week, both from the Training Division, are Corporal Jesse Woodham and Sergeant Shawn Mason. Morning hour has ended. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1082.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1082 by Representative [Cochington?], to establish the occupational therapy licensure compact in Arkansas.

Rep Shepherd: All right. We’re going to pass over House Bill 1082. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1208.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1208 by Representative Dalby. To amend the law concerning probation year and parolee restricted driving permits.

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

Rep Wardlaw: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope y’all don’t make me look bad. I was trying to help Carol. She went to make sure you guys get notices on all your judiciary bills. Carol passed a bill a few sessions ago – or we did – that gave people driver’s licenses that were on probation. Or in that funny period in their sentence. Well, some troopers came to her and some of these folks were getting temporary driver’s licenses for up to 10 years. And that’s a problem. So what this bill does is brings that in to about a one-year period and lets them re-evaluate it at that point to move forward. So it kind of tightens that up a little bit and puts a little more safety in it and makes it better for our constituents. Appreciate a good vote.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Wardlaw has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Wardlaw has closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1208. 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 has passed. Madam Clerk, please read House Bill 1143.

Madam Clerk: House Bill 1143 by Representative Charlene Fite. To define the homestead for purposes of the property tax exemption for disabled veterans, surviving spouses of disabled veterans, and minor dependent children of disabled veterans.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Fite, you are recognized to explain the bill.

Rep C Fite: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, House Bill 1143 was brought to me by the Arkansas Collectors Association. This bill defines what a homestead is for our disabled veterans across the state. There are a few definitions of what a homestead is in code; however, it was not defined for the disabled veterans’ property tax exemption. This bill clearly defines what a homestead is and what will be tax exempt. Almost all county collectors already use this method; however, there are a few counties that do not. And this would standardize it across our state. And our county collectors saw a need for that. Any property owned by the disabled veteran, surviving spouse, or minor dependent children will be exempt if the property is contiguous to their principle place of residence. And I added an amendment to clarify that commercial property does not qualify for this exemption. So I would appreciate a good vote.

Rep Shepherd: Representative Fite has explained the bill. Would anyone like to speak against the bill? Would anyone like to speak for the bill? Representative Fite has closed for the bill. The question before the House is the passage of House Bill 1143. 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. Representative Meeks, for what purpose? Let’s hear your motion.

Rep Meeks: After the announcement, readings of the bills, transferring the bills, placing the calendars on the desk, members amending their own bills with 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 tomorrow afternoon. 

Rep Shepherd: That’s a proper motion. It’s not debatable. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Members, before we go to announcements, I know there’s been a lot of questions about the weather and will that affect our schedule. Now that we’re here, we’re going to just take it day by day. For our chairs determining committee meetings, we’ll leave that to individual chairs unless there’s a decision across the House that we’re going to shut down everything. But that’s something you may want to coordinate with your chairs as far as any scheduling issues you may have, as far as getting witnesses down here for committee meetings, or any other issues related to that. But, again, since we’re here – as far as the House and the operations here – we’ll just continue to monitor that throughout the afternoon into the evening and then tomorrow as well. And if we are going to make a decision as far as House sessions go, we’ll try to let you know as early as possible. But I would also say that we do cover the whole state. We have a limited number of days that we’re allowed to be here to do business, so we try to get our business done. But for any of you individually, if you have individual travel issues and it’s unsafe for you to be here, we understand that. You can let us know. If we need to pair votes, if we need to ask for leave, we can work with you on that. But as far as now that we’re here, we’re going to be looking at the weather here in Central Arkansas as far as getting here to the capitol for our meetings, all right? Any other announcements? Representative Wing, for what purpose?

Rep Wing: Announcement.

Rep Shepherd:  You’re recognized.

Rep Wing: House Management will meet immediately upon adjournment today, so in just a few minutes down in Room 138 – House Management 138.

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

Rep Gramlich: First, [inaudible], I ask everyone to wear a bow tie to commemorate that day, so thank you.

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

Rep Rose: We’re doing a bible study at 7:00 AM on Tuesdays in the old supreme court and you can wear a tie there I guess, too, if you’d like. But it’s with Capitol Ministries and I’m hosting it. All are welcome.

Rep Shepherd:  Representative Lundstrum, for what purpose?

Rep Lundstrum: Announcement.

Rep Shepherd:  You’re recognized.

Rep Lundstrum: Northwest Arkansas Chamber’s Night Out will not happen tonight, but it will be rescheduled.

Rep Shepherd:  Representative Holcomb, for what purpose?

Rep Holcomb: Announcement.

Rep Shepherd:  You’re recognized.

Rep Holcomb: Public Transportation will not meet until Thursday. Thank you.

Rep Shepherd:  Representative Hawk, for what purpose?

Rep Hawk: Announcement.

Rep Shepherd:  You’re recognized.

Rep Hawk: If you ordered a basketball jersey and you haven’t paid for it, today’s the last day. If you don’t get your money in today then you will not get a basketball jersey. We are putting district numbers on the jerseys. Go by and see Amber and Izzy, they are handling it all. Just make sure before you leave today, go by and check to see if you’re paid up.

Rep Shepherd:  Representative Berry, for what purpose?

Rep S Berry: Announcement.

Rep Shepherd: You’re recognized.

Rep S Berry: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As of right now, unless you get an email, Judiciary will meet in the morning at 10 o’clock, Room 149. Watch for an email.

Rep Shepherd:  That’s a good reminder. Everybody watch your emails. Also check in at the ArkLeg website for scheduling issues as well. Representative Evans, for what purpose?

Rep Evans: Announcement.

Rep Shepherd: You’re recognized.

Rep Evans: House Education will meet 10:00 AM tomorrow morning, Room 138, unless you get an email stating otherwise.

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