House Rules Committee

February 1, 2023

Rep Vaught: Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to Rules Committee. First on the agenda, without objection we’re going to take it out of order, Senate Concurrent Resolution 1. I do believe that Representative Les Eaves is here to present the bill. You’re welcome to join the table. State your name for the record, please.

Rep Eaves: Representative Les Eaves here to present SCR1, and with that, I would be happy to let Mr. Buddy Johnson give you the explanation.

Rep Vaught: Please state your name for the record and then you may begin.

Parliamentarian: Buddy Johnson, House Parliamentarian. Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the Committee, Representative Eaves. I’m honored to present this. The joint rules in SCR1 are virtually identical to the joint rules that we’ve been operating under. There are three changes, one on page six establishes a bill filing deadline for lottery-funded scholarships. 

On page 17 it adds a section about interim committee meetings and it restricts interim committees from meeting during Legislative Council week. Now, this would not restrict Legislative Council subcommittees from meeting during that week but it would restrict other committees. They would need the approval of the Speaker of the House, President Pro Tem of the Senate, or both of them if it’s a joint committee to meet during that during that week.

And the third change is it adds the procedural requirements for consideration of lottery-funded scholarship proposals during session. Another change that was made in the Senate before they passed it was amended to change language in here, pronouns for the governor which had been he, now is he and she. So that’s the extent of changes in SCR1.

Rep Vaught: Are there any questions? Seeing no questions, there’s no one signed up to speak for or against the bill. Is there anybody that wants to speak for or against the bill? Seeing none, what is the will of the Committee? I have a motion do pass. All in favor say aye. Opposed no. Your bill has passed, thank you– or your resolution has passed. Next up, I’m just warning you they’re kind of a little feisty up here today. So next up is Representative Lee Johnson, House Bill 1177, please state your name for the record and then you may begin. 

Rep L Johnson: Representative Lee Johnson, District 47. Members, this bill– so currently in the state of Arkansas if you’re a private club licensed to sell alcoholic beverages in a dry county there’s a prohibition on using advertising media to promote the selling and consumption of alcohol and a prohibition on the placing the pricing of alcohol in a public place where people can see it. There’s been some question over time about the interpretation of the term advertising and there’s been some who have interpreted that to mean just visually seeing a patron of a restaurant or club consuming alcohol through the window. This bill is intended to clarify that seeing someone drinking a beverage through a window would not be considered advertising.

So right now there have been restaurants who have had to spend quite a bit of money to tint their windows just so that they can avoid the perception of advertising. And again this is to clarify that intent of the law. And I’d be happy to answer any questions.

Rep Vaught: Are there any questions? Seeing no questions, is there anyone that signed up to speak for or against the bill? No one signed up to speak for or against the bill. Is there anyone in the audience that wants to speak for or against the bill? Seeing no one, you’re welcome to close for your bill.

Rep Johnson: I’m closed for my bill.

Rep Vaught:  All right, what is the will of the Committee? All in favor say aye. Opposed no. Congratulations, the feisty group let your bill out.

Rep L Johnson: Thank you, Madam Chair and Committee members, appreciate that.

Rep Vaught: Seeing nothing else on the agenda, we’re adjourned.