Week 10 Summary of CFA Bill Analysis (see Details Below):
OPPOSE
SB410 – Changing Name of Obamacare Medicaid Expansion – OPPOSE
SB494 – Immunity from Lawsuits for Campus Police Departments – OPPOSE
SUPPORT
SB483 – Repeal of the Throwback Rule (Taxes) – SUPPORT
SB498 – Challenged Election Results to State Election Commission – SUPPORT
SB522 – Reducing Individual Income Taxes to Zero Percent – SUPPORT
SB525 – Returning Franchise Tax Filings to Secretary of State – SUPPORT
HB1667 – Universal Licensing Recognition for Military Spouses – SUPPORT
Bill Details
SB410 – Changing Name of Obamacare Medicaid Expansion – OPPOSE
By: Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View)
This bill would change the name of the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion program from Arkansas Works to Arkansas Home. It would keep Obamacare Medicaid Expansion in this state.
SB483 – Repeal of the Throwback Rule (Taxes) – SUPPORT
By: Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R – Beebe)
This bill would repeal the “throwback rule” that seeks to grab taxable income from remote sales for multistate businesses. Arkansas is one of 22 states with a throwback rule. When a business has sales in a state in which they do not have a nexus/presence, then that results in “nowhere income” as the state with no nexus does not have the jurisdiction to tax those sales. States came up with “throwback rules” which throws back the sales into the home state to apportion and tax those sales and capture more revenue for the state. Based on a fiscal impact in 2018, repealing this rule would reduce revenue flowing to the state by $24.5 million.
SB494 – Immunity from Lawsuits for Campus Police Departments – OPPOSE
By: Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton)
This bill would provide legal immunity, meaning you cannot sue, law enforcement agencies for and certified law enforcement officers employed by a public or private institute of higher education. Effectively this is giving carte blanche immunity to campus police departments on both public and private college campuses regardless of their conduct. We should protect the ability of people to sue their government and its actors when those actors hurt people, not shield them for all types of liability. We can support police while also making them responsible for their actions against people.
SB498 – Challenged Election Results to State Election Commission – SUPPORT
By: Sen. Mark Johnson (R – Little Rock)
This bill would require that complaints about election law violations or irregularities would be reported to the State Board of Election Commissioners for evaluation, rather than county clerks and local prosecuting attorneys.
SB522 – Reducing Individual Income Taxes to Zero Percent – SUPPORT
Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado)
This bill would reduce all state individual income taxes to 0 percent. Currently, Arkansas has a top individual income tax rate of 5.9%. This is higher than Missouri, Oklahoma, and Mississippi’s income taxes with neighboring states of Tennessee and Texas having no state income tax at all.
This bill would have immediate impact for all taxpayers and provide a boost for the state economy. No fiscal impact statement has been prepared but individual state income taxes totaled over $3.4 billion for the 2020 fiscal year. Imagine billions more in the private economy instead of government coffers.
SB525 – Returning Franchise Tax Filings to Secretary of State – SUPPORT
By: Sen. Bill Sample (R – Hot Springs)
This bill would return the filing and collection of franchise taxes back to the Secretary of State rather than the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). There has been much pushback against this change that came out of the 2019 session. Chief among complaints is that DFA is trying to force extra disclosure of private businesses than what is allowed under state law.
HB1667 – Universal Licensing Recognition for Military Spouses – SUPPORT
By: Rep. Tony Furman (R – Benton)
This bill would provide for universal licensing recognition between states for military spouses. If a person has a license in another state, they could then move to Arkansas and get a similar license to work. If another state does not require a license but Arkansas does then work experience in the other state can be used to obtain a license here in Arkansas to be able to work.
Week 9 Summary of CFA Bill Analysis (see Details HERE):
OPPOSE
SB351 – Regulating Ride-Share Companies at Airports – OPPOSE
SB418 – Increased Fees for State Parks Use – OPPOSE
SUPPORT
SB379 – Legislative Oversight over Emergency Declarations – SUPPORT
SB453 – Special Election Reform (Retry) – SUPPORT
HB1354 – Prohibiting Gifts from Lobbyists to Cabinet-Level Department Secretaries – SUPPORT
HB1367 – E-Notary Allowed – SUPPORT
HB1642 – Child Support Cooperation in Public Housing – SUPPORT
Week 8 Summary of CFA Bill Analysis (see Details HERE):
OPPOSE
HB1517 – New Electronic Voter Registration – OPPOSE
STATUS: Passed out of the House, undergoing review before Senate Committee
SUPPORT
SB192 – Political Freedom for Public Employees – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Senate State Agencies Committee
SB194 – Allowing Photographing of Public Records – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote Breakdown); Passed House (Vote Breakdown); Sent to Governor
SB195 – Private Foundations with Government Purpose Subject to FOIA – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Senate State Agencies Committee
SB196 – Attorney’s Fees Awarded for Getting Public Records During Litigation – SUPPORT
STATUS: Failed for lack of 2nd on Motion to Pass
SB197 – Civil Asset Forfeiture Changes to Criminal Proceedings – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB301 – Returning of Fees Paid for Violations of COVID19 Orders – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote Breakdown); Referred to House Public Health, Welfare, Labor Committee
HB1512 – Promoting Work in Food Stamps – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House Committee, Sent to House Floor
Week 6 Summary of CFA Bill Analysis (see Details HERE):
OPPOSE
SJR9 – Legislative Rulemaking Authority Over Courts) – OPPOSE
STATUS: Referred to Senate State Agencies
SUPPORT
SB295 – Welfare Program Integrity – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Committee; Heard on Senate Floor (2/25), Pulled for Amendment
HB1439 – Volunteer Health Care Act Expansion to Therapists – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House Public Health, Welfare, Labor Committee
HB1447 – Special Election Reform for Tax Elections – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House Revenue and Tax Committee
HB1460 – Workforce Freedom – Uniform Licensing Rules Across the State – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House Public Health, Welfare, Labor Committee
HJR1019 – Election of Judges on a Partisan Basis – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House State Agencies
Week 5 Summary of CFA Bill Analysis (see Details HERE):
OPPOSE
SB217 – Promoting Election Fraud Opportunities – OPPOSE
STATUS: Referred to Senate State Agencies
SB230 – Unlimited Assistance by Third Party Persons in Voting– OPPOSE
STATUS: Referred to Senate State Agencies
SUPPORT
SB231 – Stripping Felons of State Retirement Benefits – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Joint Committee on Public Retirement
SB252 – Prohibiting an Office in China for Economic Development – SUPPORT
STATUS: There are special interests’ groups, including Tyson Foods, Farm Bureau, the Governor’s office, and AEDC, who oppose this bill and were successful last week in killing it in committee with the “No” votes of Senators Cecile Bledsoe, Jane English, Breanne Davis, and Clark Tucker. Senators Trent Garner, Bob Ballinger, and Jason Rapert supported the bill.
HB1368 – Special Election Reform – SUPPORT
STATUS: Failed AGAIN on House Floor. Clincher Motion Adopted. Vote Breakdown:
Republicans Voting “No”:
Stan Berry
Frances Cavenaugh
Craig Christiansen
Bruce Coleman
Bruce Cozart
Carol Dalby
Marsh Davis
Gary Deffenbaugh
Brian Evans
Charlene Fite
Lanny Fite
Michelle Gray
Delia Haak
David Hillman
Joe Jett
Lee Johnson
John Maddox
Ron McNair
Johnny Rye
Stu Smith
Les Warren
Danny Watson
Jim Wooten
Republicans Refusing to Vote:
Ken Bragg
Les Eaves
Jack Fortner
Spencer Hawks
Lane Jean
Matthew Shepherd (*Speaker)
Dwight Tosh
HB1371 – School Choice Tax Credit Scholarships – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB1428 – Repeal of Arkansas Works, Transition to Medicaid Fee for Service – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House Public Health Welfare Labor Committee
HB1431 – Increased Sales Tax Exemption for Used Cars – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House Tax and Revenue Committee
HB1416 – Work from Home Freedom – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House City County Local Committee
HB1403 – Reducing the Top Income Tax Rate – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House Revenue and Tax Committee
SJR3 – Allowing the State to be Sued – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Senate State Agencies
Week 4 Summary of CFA Bill Analysis (see Details HERE):
OPPOSE
None this week.
SUPPORT
HB1254 – APRN as Primary Care Provider within Medicaid Program – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote Breakdown); Referred to Senate
HB1231 – Rejecting the 1619 Project in Public Schools – SUPPORT
STATUS: FAILED in House Education Committee
HB1227 – No Minimum Wage While Off Duty for Truck Drivers – SUPPORT
STATUS: Signed by the Governor, Now Act 91
SB208 – Updated “Meeting” Definition for FOIA; Updated Groups Subject to FOIA – SUPPORT
STATUS: Heard in Committee Meeting; No Vote Taken
SB205 – Transparency for the Rainy-Day Fund – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote Breakdown), Passed House (Vote Breakdown), Sent to Governor
HB1316 – Phasing Out and Ending the Soft Drink Tax – SUPPORT
STATUS: WITHDRAWN BY THE AUTHOR
SB186 – No Collaborative Practice Agreement for APRNs after 1,000 Hours – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Senate Public Health, Welfare, Labor Committee
Week 3 Summary of CFA Bill Analysis (see Details HERE):
OPPOSE
HB1030 – Ensuring Increases in Gas Tax Revenue – OPPOSE
STATUS: WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR
HB1038 – Internet Sales Tax on Delivery Charges – OPPOSE
STATUS: WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR
HB1045 – Defines Cigarette Paper to Include Vaping Products – OPPOSE
STATUS: WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR
SB141 – Granting Power Over Election Changes to the Secretary of State During an Emergency – OPPOSE
STATUS: Referred to Senate State Agencies Committee
SUPPORT
HB1211 – Religious Freedom Protected During Emergencies – SUPPORT
STATUS: Signed by the Governor, Now Act 94
HB1215 – Full Practice Authority for Nurse Midwives – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote Breakdown); Referred to Senate
SB153 – Waiving of License, Permit, and Filing Fees for New Businesses – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Senate Public Health, Welfare, Labor Committee
SB176 – Allowing Pharmacists to Treat Certain Health Conditions – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Senate Public Health, Welfare, Labor Committee
Week 2 Summary of CFA Bill Analysis (see bill Details HERE):
OPPOSE
HB1139 – FOIA Exemption for Funeral Home Investigations – OPPOSE
STATUS: Withdrawn by the Author
SB132 – Corporate Welfare Appropriation of $75 Million – OPPOSE
STATUS: In Joint Budget Committee
SUPPORT
HB1112 – Voter Integrity in Provisional Ballots – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed the House (Vote Breakdown), Passed the Senate (Vote Breakdown); SIGNED by Governor – Act 249.
HB1157 – Increased Deduction for Teacher Expenses – SUPPORT
STATUS: In Revenue and Tax Committee
HB1160 – Sales Tax Exemption for Used Cars Increased – SUPPORT
STATUS: In Revenue and Tax Committee
HB1189 – No Special Interest Pay for Government Workers – SUPPORT
STATUS: In State Agencies Committee
HB1190 – Cost of Living Adjustments for Standard Deduction – SUPPORT
STATUS: In Revenue and Tax Committee; Heard but no Vote Taken
HB1191 – Increase of Standard Deduction – SUPPORT
STATUS: In Revenue and Tax Committee
HB1198 – Amending Supervision Requirements for Nurse Anesthetists – SUPPORT
STATUS: In Public Health Committee
SB117 – Hybrid Car $100 Fee Removed – SUPPORT
STATUS: In Transportation Committee
Week 1 Summary of CFA Bill Analysis (see bill Details HERE):
OPPOSE
SB2 – Massive Tax Increase for Redistribution of Wealth Scheme – OPPOSE
STATUS: In Senate Revenue and Tax Committee
SB10 – Redistribution of Wealth through EITC – OPPOSE
STATUS: In Senate Revenue and Tax Committee
SUPPORT
SB9 – Repealing of Car Wash Water Usage Tax – SUPPORT
STATUS: Heard in Committee, No Vote Taken. In Senate Revenue and Tax Committee
SB15 – Emergency Powers Duration Limited – SUPPORT
STATUS: In Senate Judiciary Committee
SB17 – Liability Immunity Against COVID19 Lawsuits – SUPPORT
STATUS: In Senate Public Health Committee
SB23/HB1055 – Self-Regulation for CO-OP Organizations – SUPPORT
STATUS: In House Insurance and Commerce Committee
HB1011 – Repeal of Income Taxes for Those Making Under $22,000 – SUPPORT
STATUS: In House Revenue and Tax Committee
HB1063 – Expansion of Telemedicine to Phone Calls – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote Breakdown); Sent to Senate
HB1064 – Price Transparency for Medical Services – SUPPORT
STATUS: In House Insurance and Commerce Committee
HB1066 – Beer Shipping Direct to Consumers – SUPPORT
STATUS: In House Rules Committee
HB1068 – Expanded Telemedicine Use – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed the House (Vote Breakdown), Sent to the Senate
