Legislative summary

This is a summary list of bills (by bill number, lead sponsor and title) introduced through Monday in the 90th General Assembly, except for appropriation bills, which, along with other bills and resolutions, may be found at the legislative website: www.arkleg.state.ar.us

HOUSE

HB1523, Sullivan -- Concerning prison industries, prison-made goods, and department of correction procurement.

HB1524, Sullivan -- To amend the income tax laws concerning the depreciation and expensing of property.

HB1525, Gossage -- To amend provisions of the Arkansas Code concerning public school academic facilities.

HB1526, Gossage -- To amend provisions of the Arkansas Code concerning school improvement plans.

HB1527, Gossage -- To provide flexibility to school district in scheduling art, music, and physical education.

HB1528, Sullivan -- To expand the places a person who has a concealed carry license may carry a concealed handgun.

HB1529, Beck -- To create the Successor Corporation Asbestos-Related Liability Fairness Act.

HB1530, D. Meeks -- To prevent advertising for and providing activities involving or leading to trafficking of persons; and to prohibit human trafficking tourism.

HB1531, Vines -- To amend fee requirements for the Veterans of Foreign Wars motorcycle license plates and to make technical corrections.

HB1532, Vines -- Concerning the State District Court System.

HB1533, D. Ferguson -- To create the Arkansas Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment Act; and to provide for the use of a physician order for life-sustaining treatment form.

HB1534, D. Ferguson -- To require the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop an action plan to address the prevention of unplanned pregnancy.

HB1535, D. Douglas -- To create the Legislative Task Force on Economic Development.

HB1536, Eaves -- To authorize the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to transfer eligibility for payment for corrective actions regarding petroleum storage tanks when no owner is known.

HB1537, Baltz -- To amend the law concerning certain fees under the Arkansas Hazmat Emergency Management Act.

HB1538, Ballinger -- To repeal dower and curtesy rights; and to create the surviving spouse marital share.

HB1539, Della Rosa -- To provide for petition for early admission to kindergarten under certain circumstances; and to declare an emergency.

HB1540, Lundstrum -- To amend the definition of employment for the Department of Workforce Services Law.

HB1541, Tucker -- To ensure state-funded prekindergarten programs follow best practices, including without limitation family engagement and staffing qualifications.

HB1542, K. Hendren -- To require the Department of Higher Education to report tuition and mandatory fees, including changes, for each state-supported institution of higher education to the General Assembly.

HB1543, Neal -- Concerning county jail reimbursement for the housing of inmates by the Department of Correction or the Department of Community Correction.

HB1544, Sullivan -- To regulate the practices and procedures of pawnbrokers; and to help the rightful owner recover stolen property.

HB1545, Sabin -- To clarify that the teacher compensation schedule, not the state grade classification scale, and low-income school status are applicable to the C-step Program and the Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge Program.

HB1548, Jean -- An act to amend the Arkansas Revenue Stabilization Law of Arkansas.

HB1549, Lowery -- To allow a burial association with excess account funds to pay a member more than the face value of the burial policy.

HB1550, Magie -- To enhance the utilization of the immunization registry.

HB1551, D. Douglas -- To amend the exemptions of prohibited activities associated with nonhuman primates.

HB1552, House -- To establish the Succeed Scholarship Program for students with disabilities.

HB1553, Ratliff -- To create the Grain, Soybean, and Peanut Owner's Lien Act.

HB1554, Harris -- To amend the law concerning a child care facility.

HB1555, Harris -- To modify the definition of "prescription" under the Arkansas Pharmacy Act; and to ensure the protection of patients with mental illnesses.

HB1556, C. Douglas -- To prevent intersection gridlock on roadways; and to prohibit entering an intersection unless able to move continuously through traffic.

HB1562, D. Meeks -- To amend various sections of the law regarding massage therapists.

HB1564, C. Fite -- To encourage beautification of public and private property by encouraging the investigation and prosecution of persons engaging in illegal dumping.

HB1566, Miller -- To allow personal care attendants the option of working more than forty (40) hours per week under the Arkansas Medicaid Program.

HB1569, Vaught -- To require that captured feral hogs be killed; to provide for the disposition of fees and fines related to feral hogs; and to provide a resident hunting license to hunt feral hogs.

Notable Resolutions

HR1029, Lampkin -- Honoring Dr. H. Jackson Lassiter for his many contributions to the University of Arkansas at Monticello upon his retirement as Chancellor.

HR1030, Pitsch -- To honor the United States Marshals Service on its 225th Anniversary; and to express support for the continuing efforts to build the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

HR1031, G. Hodges -- To urge the United States Congress to propose the Regulation Freedom Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

SENATE

SB658, J. Hutchinson -- To amend the laws concerning distribution of spirituous and vinous liquor in the State of Arkansas; and to authorize the issuance of minimum wholesale liquor permits.

SB663, Hickey -- To prohibit the use of multidraw screen-based lottery games for the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery; and to declare an emergency.

SB667, D. Sanders -- To amend the law concerning the necessary authorization of a public utility's evidence of indebtedness.

SB680, A. Clark -- To clarify the Contractor Licensing Law and the amount of a subcontractor's contract.

SB681, A. Clark -- To modify the qualifications for a person to serve as the Commissioner of Education.

SB683, Files -- To create the Arkansas Broadband Infrastructure Incentive Act; and to amend the valuation methods and taxation of certain intangible personal property.

SB684, Files -- To amend the laws pertaining to taxes levied on tobacco products; to clarify that current law imposes an excise tax on all tobacco products sold in the state; and to declare an emergency.

SB687, Hester -- To amend the law concerning the membership of a city council.

SB688, Caldwell -- To amend the laws regarding maximum allowable cost lists; and to create accountability in the establishment of prescription drug pricing.

SB689, Teague -- An act to amend the Arkansas Revenue Stabilization Law of Arkansas.

SB690, Teague -- An act to amend the Revenue Classification Law of Arkansas; and for other purposes.

SB695, S. Flowers -- To amend the distribution of certain real property transfer tax revenue; and to provide a source of funding for land-grant match payments for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

SB696, Rice -- To amend the law pertaining to the Arkansas Historic Rehabilitation Income Tax Credit.

SB698, J. Hutchinson -- To grant certain law enforcement investigators access to the prescription drug monitoring program to enhance investigative capability.

SB701, Irvin -- To prohibit the use of certain risk factors by a healthcare payor to reimburse a physician under an alternative payment system.

SB715, Maloch -- To modify the funding formula model for universities.

SB716, J. Cooper -- To clarify that the Secretary of State is the custodian of certain records concerning ethics; to amend a portion of the law resulting from initiated Act 1 of 1999 and initiated Act 1 of 1996; and to declare an emergency.

SB717, Irvin -- To enhance the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Act.

SB723, Hickey -- To amend Arkansas law concerning the Division of Legislative Audit.

SB725, Files -- To amend the Arkansas Soft Drink Tax Act; and to amend the calculation of taxes on soft drink syrup and simple syrup.

SB726, Files -- To promote fair and equitable allocation of liability in construction contracts.

SB727, Rice -- To modify the regulation of public utilities by the Arkansas Public Service Commission; and to declare an emergency.

SB731, B. Pierce -- To modify the Military Family Relief Trust Fund and the Military Family Relief Check-Off Program; to provide members of the National Guard and Reserve with emergency financial assistance; and to declare an emergency.

Notable Resolutions

SR13, E. Cheatham -- Honoring Dr. H. Jackson Lassiter for his many contributions to the University of Arkansas at Monticello upon his retirement as Chancellor.

SR14, D. Johnson -- Commending the Junior League of Little Rock, Arkansas, for its ninety-three-year history of training community and civic leaders and continued service to the community of Little Rock.

SR15, L. Chesterfield -- To commend Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., for its service work and contributions to its communities; and to designate March 12, 2015, as Alpha Kappa Alpha Day at the Arkansas State Capitol.

SR16, Elliott -- To recognize Betty Flanagan Bumpers for her work to promote childhood immunization; and to encourage Arkansas families to consider seriously the importance of childhood immunization.

Metro on 03/03/2015

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