April 26
With a vote of 94-2, the House passed HB1949, an Act to Amend the Revenue Stabilization Law.
This bill outlines general revenue distribution for Fiscal Year 2021. While decreasing state spending overall, the bill does provide increases for education, Medicaid, and corrections.
The House also passed the following:
SB673-This bill amends the Statutory Foreclosure Act of 1987. It states that any claims or defenses for a violation of the compliance requirements shall be asserted within 30 days of the foreclosure sale to ensure the finality of sales.
HB1943-This bill reduces the sentence classification from a felony to a misdemeanor for certain offenses concerning altering an identification document.
SB612-This bill would allow children to testify remotely by video conferencing in certain court cases.
SB615-This bill states that a state agency or a state or local official shall not require an individual to use a vaccine passport in this state for any purpose. It also states the use of a vaccine passport shall not be a condition for entry, travel, education, or services.
The House will convene on Tuesday at 10 am.
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April 27
The House is now in an extended recess. We will return in the fall to address redistricting.
House members returned to the chamber shortly after midnight to concur in an amendment to HB1957.
HB1957 states all acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations of the United States Government that were enacted on or after January 1, 2021, that infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, § 5, are invalid in this state, shall not be recognized by this state, are specifically rejected by this state, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this state. The amendment helped to clarify exceptions.
On Tuesday, the House passed the following: SJR14- This is a proposed constitutional amendment titled the “Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment”. It state government may burden a person’s freedom of religion only if the government demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is in furtherance of a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.
SB691-This bill states that any advertisement using the image of an elected official appearing in any newspaper, television, radio, or electronic medium which is paid by taxpayer funds shall clearly contain the words “Paid advertisement” or “paid ad” and the name of the state entity, county, or constitutional officer that paid for the ad.
SB336-This bill creates an exemption from the sales and use tax for coins, currency, and bullion.
SB484-This bill states that a nonresident individual who is paid a salary, lump sum payment, or any other form of payment that encompasses work performed both inside and outside of Arkansas shall pay Arkansas income tax only on the portion of the individual’s income that reasonably can be allocated to work performed in Arkansas.
SB693-This bill would abolish the state and public school life and health insurance board and transfer the duties to the state board of finance.
I will continue to update you during the interim.
