Week 10 Summary of Conduit Bill Analysis (see Details Below):
OPPOSE
HB1598 – Campaign Contributions to Candidates Given to other Candidates – OPPOSE
HB1628 – Prohibiting Private Contract Rights for Covenants Not to Compete – OPPOSE
SUPPORT
HB1595 – No Annual Renewal Registrations for PACs – SUPPORT
HB1599 – Increased Free Speech Contribution Limits – SUPPORT
HB1615 – Conscience Protection Act – SUPPORT
HB1616 – Publication Notices Allowed Online – SUPPORT
HB1661 – Full Repeal of Sales Tax on Food – SUPPORT
SB442 – Return of Court Costs/Fees to those found Not Guilty – SUPPORT
Bill Details:
HB1595 – No Annual Renewal Registrations for PACs – SUPPORT
By: Rep. David Ray
This bill would remove the requirement for new registrations annually for a PAC and instead allow already registered PACs to remain registered and only new PACs required to register. This will avoid unnecessary regulations and confusing filing requirements for PACs to engage in the political process and express their free speech rights.
HB1599 – Increased Free Speech Contribution Limits – SUPPORT
By: Rep. David Ray
This bill would allow increased contribution limits to PACs from $5,000 per person to $10,000 per person. This will allow increased ability to engage in free speech through the elections process for all persons, including corporations who are prohibited from donating directly to candidates. Disclosure requirements remain in place.
HB1615 – Conscience Protection Act – SUPPORT
By: Rep. Robin Lundstrum & Sen. Gary Stubblefield
This bill would protect the conscience rights of persons against government overreach that would try and require them to violate the sincerely held religious beliefs or the conscience of persons. The bill would ensure there is protection for everyone whether an individual or if people form entities to engage in business or otherwise. Government could only require burdens on a person’s conscience if it is essential to further a compelling government interest and done so through the least restrictive means possible, effectively giving the highest protection of strict scrutiny against government laws, rules, and government actions.
Although it may have been more prudent to set out the following in a separate bill, this bill would also protect the religious beliefs of those fostering kids, those getting government contracts, people holding licenses from the government, those getting degrees, certifications, licenses, etc. from government schools or entities. Also, those people who believe in science and hold a religious belief that there are only two genders/sexes could not be discriminated against by the government. This would also apply to people who hold religious beliefs in the Biblical definition and definition used by Jesus Christ of marriage being between one man and one woman.
This bill would not only protect the conscience and religious rights of people but also protect the rights that flow out of that when they want to have a business, practice their profession, or otherwise engage in the economy.
HB1616 – Publication Notices Allowed Online – SUPPORT
By: Rep. Fran Cavenaugh & Sen. Scott Flippo
This bill is a 59-page omnibus to address the posting of public notices required by law. Currently, most notices are required to be placed in newspapers or similar publications. This bill shifts newspaper publication notices to website publication notices for items such as the sale of property, notices of elections, court notices, apportionment, delinquent taxes, liens filed, property records, city and county government actions, and other public notices commonly seen in newspapers. This will allow cities, counties, and other government entities to save money and ensure an increase of distribution of the notices as a major shift away from newspaper subscriptions to use of the internet.
The Arkansas Press Association and newspapers oppose the change as they rely heavily on the government mandated notice revenues.
HB1661 – Full Repeal of Sales Tax on Food – SUPPORT
By: Rep. Kendon Underwood
This bill would fully repeal the sales tax on food and food ingredients. This bill is likely dead on arrival because it will also be opposed by lower government lobbyists such as the Municipal League and Association of Counties, as this bill would take away a big source of revenue from cities and counties since their taxes now include food.
However, passing this bill would move the state in the right direction away from being one of the most highly taxed states in the Union.
SB442 – Return of Court Costs/Fees to those found Not Guilty – SUPPORT
By: Sen. Greg Leding & Rep. Richard Womack
This bill would require a refund of the court costs and fees paid by a defendant if that defendant is later acquitted or found not guilty. This would include all costs and fees paid to a government entity or a third party responsible for remitting the payment to the government, such as a bail bondsman. This will provide additional incentives for prosecutors in seeking charges and going to trial on those only likely to result in a guilty plea or jury/judge decision of guilty.
By: Rep. David Ray
This bill would allow additional options for the use of campaign contributions that are left over after an election. In addition to current options to donate to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and others, this bill would also allow donations to 501(c)(4) nonprofit social welfare organizations which are organized to bring about civic betterment and social improvement such as Conduit for Action, Inc., the chambers of commerce nonprofits; and in particular to PACs, Independent Expenditure Committees (IECs), and ballot question committees.
This would basically allow a candidate to take funds donated to his or her campaign by the supporters and use them to acquire power through funding campaigns of other via his or her own PACs (donations.) This would effectively allow the re-direction of donations to candidates which may not have been the intended target of such funds by the original donor. This bill ultimately results in the similar outcome as its sister bill HB 1598, which we also oppose.
HB1598 – Campaign Contributions to Candidates Given to other Candidates – OPPOSE
By: Rep. David Ray
This bill would allow campaign contributions to an individual candidate for a specified office to then direct that contribution to another candidate for a separate office. This could be abused as a work-around on campaign contribution limits and would likely benefit incumbents, currying favor and payback for those who re-direct the funds. A better approach would be to remove or increase contribution limits if people want to get increased contributions to their candidates of choice rather than funneling them through other campaigns.
HB1628 – Prohibiting Private Contract Rights for Covenants Not to Compete – OPPOSE
By: Rep. Stephen Meeks & Sen. Mark Johnson
This bill would repeal the current provisions of law allowing for private contract rights for covenants not to compete under certain conditions and instead expressly prohibit them from employment agreements. It would protect the current customers of an employer from being solicited by a former employee, but that former employee would be allowed to directly compete against the former employer even if they privately agreed in a contract to not do so and even if they were compensated as consideration to prevent that as part of a buyout or severance package. This is bad policy that impedes on the private contracting of people in a free-market economy and undermines business decisions and investments made by a business.
Status of Bills Tracked by Conduit on Weekly Scorecard Reports:
OPPOSE
HB1087 – Increased Speeding Tickets + Required Community Service – OPPOSE
STATUS: Withdrawn by Author
HB1189 – New Licensure Regulations/Penalties on Behavior Analysts – OPPOSE
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Referred to Senate Committee
HB1237 – Increased Regulations and Costs for Ridesharing – OPPOSE
STATUS: Referred to Committee;
HB1275 – Banning Access to Paper Medical Records if Online Access Provided – OPPOSE
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Referred to Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee;
SB207 – Increased Franchise Taxes; Banning Businesses from Doing Business – OPPOSE
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote); Passed House (Vote);
SB233/SB234/SB235 – Promoting Election Fraud and Cheating – OPPOSE
STATUS: Referred to Senate Committee;
HB1422 – Special Tax Credits for Healthcare Professionals – OPPOSE
STATUS: Referred to House Committee; Amended 3/9.
SB290 – 10% Pay Increase for Elected County Officials – OPPOSE
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote); Passed House (Vote); Sent to Governor
SB298 – Price Fixing for Government Nursing Faculty – OPPOSE
STATUS: Amended, re-referred to Senate committee.
SB306 – Increasing Welfare Dependency with Expansion of Food Stamp Eligibility – OPPOSE
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote); Referred to House committee
HB1522 – Massive Raises for District Court Personnel Across the State – OPPOSE
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Referred to Senate committee.
HB1537 – Promoting Voter Fraud; Electronic Voter Registration – OPPOSE
STATUS: Referred to committee;
HB1538 – Regulations on Professional Development for Private School Teachers – OPPOSE
STATUS: Amended. Referred to committee;
HB1540 – Holding Down Intellectually Advanced Kids Going to Public Schools – OPPOSE
STATUS: Referred to committee;
HB1544/HB1545 – Changing Definitions to Increase Government Loans/Scholarships Exclusively for Medical Students – OPPOSE
STATUS: Passed House HB1544 (Vote); Passed House HB1545 (Vote);
SUPPORT
HB1012 – Increased Standard Deduction – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Committee; On Deferred Agenda
HB1016 – Standard Deduction Increased by Inflation; No Cap – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Committee; On Deferred Agenda
HB1026 – Prohibits Cities Enacting a Local Income Tax – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Passed Senate (Vote) Signed into law – Act 96 of 2023
HB1027 – Required Voter Approval for New/Increased A&P Taxes – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Passed Senate (Vote). Signed into law – Act 190 of 2023.
HB1032 – Increased Homestead Property Tax Credit – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Passed Senate (Vote); Sent to Governor
HB1067 – No Residency Requirement for Firefighters – SUPPORT
STATUS: Heard in committee; Failed on voice vote – Rep. Carol Dalby & Municipal League helped kill. Amended 3/14 & 3/16.
SB5 – Telehealth for Vets – SUPPORT
STATUS: Heard on 1/24/23 in Committee; Opposition from out of state academics, cattle related associations; no vote taken. Amended 2/6, 2/8, 2/20, 3/0; Passed Committee. Failed Senate (Vote); Expunged vote on which bill failed.
SB42 – Deregulation on Licensed Counselors – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote); Passed House (Vote); Signed into Law – Act 78 of 2023
HB1045 – Repeal of the “Throwback Rule” – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Committee; On Deferred Agenda.
HB1082 – Occupational Therapist Licensing Compact – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Amended 3/1; Passed Senate (Vote); Signed into Law – Act 257 of 2023
HB1149 – Prohibit Gifts from Lobbyists to Executive Branch Cabinet Secretaries – SUPPORT
STATUS: Withdrawn by the Author (1/25/23)
HB1155 – Increased Childcare Access – At-Home Childcare Providers – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Passed Senate (Vote); Signed into Law – Act 60 of 2023
SB80 – Exempt Capital Gains Tax from Property Conveyed via Eminent Domain – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Committee; Amended 3/14.
HB1196 – Part Time Work Requirement for Public Housing Benefits – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Passed Senate (Vote); Signed into law – Act 160 of 2023.
HB1207 – Fast Track for Local Permits – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Committee; Amended 2/20; Hearing scheduled 3/13.
HB1239 – Repeal of Annual Franchise Tax on Businesses – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Committee; on Deferred agenda.
SB90 – Occupational Licenses Streamlined for Out of State Equivalents – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote); Passed House (Vote);
SB125 – Increased Free Speech Protections on College Campuses – SUPPORT
STATUS: Presented in Committee, Pulled by Sponsor due to lack of support. Amended 2/8/23; Re-Referred to Committee. Amended 3/14 & 3/15; Re-Referred to Committee.
HB1345 – Increased Tax Deduction for Teacher Classroom Expenses – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Committee; On deferred agenda.
SB134 – Tax Cut on Used Vehicles, Trailers, Semi-Trailers – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Committee; Amended 2/15; No hearing scheduled
HB1360 – Electrician Services Deregulation – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Amended 3/2; Passed Senate (Vote);
HB1382 – Tax Credits for Re-Entry to Work – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House committee; amended 2/27; on deferred list.
HB1399 – Publication Requirements Reform for Cities and Counties – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to Committee; Amended 2/13 & 3/1;
SB197 – Protection of Private Property Rights Against Local Regulations – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote); Referred to House committee; Amended.
SB206 – Partisan School Board Elections at General Elections with 2-Year Terms – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to committee; no hearing scheduled.
SB231 – Cooling Off Period for Legislators to Become Lobbyist-Consultants – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to committee; Amended 3/6;
HB1401 – Reduction in Cash Welfare Program – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Passed Senate (Vote); Signed into Law – Act 266 of 2023
HB1407 – Improving Election Integrity – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Referred to Senate committee; Amended 3/14.
HB1410 – Let Youth Work – No Government Certificate for Employment – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Passed Senate (Vote); Signed into law – Act 195 of 2023.
SB255 – No Outside Funding of Elections – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote); Passed House committee. Amended 3/8; Passed House (Vote); Sent to Governor
SB258 – No Absentee Drop Boxes for Elections – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote); Amended 3/8; Passed House (Vote); Sent to Governor.
HB1457 – Poll Watchers Bill of Rights – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House committee; Amended 2/27 & 3/8. Passed House (Vote); Referred to Senate Committee;
HB1491 – No New Tax Assessments without Legislative Review – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House committee.
SB294 – AR LEARNS Act – Educational Freedom Accounts – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote); Passed House (Vote); Signed into law – Act 237 of 2023.
SB304 – Capping Superintendent Buyout Packages – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed by Senate committee; Withdrawn by Author.
HB1510 – Special Election Reform – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed House (Vote); Passed Senate (Vote); Sent to Governor.
HB1516 – Allowing Businesses to Educate Students for School Credit – SUPPORT
STATUS: Referred to House committee; Amended 3/14.
HB1532 – Reducing Government Filing Regulations for Non-Profits – SUPPORT
Status: Passed House (Vote); Passed Senate (Vote); Sent to Governor
SB278 – Ending AR Works – Obamacare Program; Shift to Fee for Service Program – SUPPORT
Status: Referred to Senate committee; no hearing scheduled. Fiscal Impact Issued – Total Spending Reduction of $867.4 million; Estimated tax cut of $80.4 million.
SB338 – Deregulation on Marketing Eggs – SUPPORT
STATUS: Passed Senate (Vote); Referred to House committee.
