The Legislature is still going strong in Little Rock. As sessions go, this one is unique: It’s been one of our busiest and one of the slowest at the same time.
What do I mean? Well here’s the deal: When I first started lobbying, there were lawmakers at the Capitol who had been in office for decades, and they knew how to roll out legislation as quickly as possible. That changed after term limits went into effect and new lawmakers started getting elected in larger numbers. This year we have one of the biggest batches of new lawmakers I’ve ever seen, and they’re on a steep learning curve. As a result, new legislation has been slow in coming, and that means the last few weeks of the session could be a mad sprint to the finish as everyone files their bills at once.
That doesn’t mean nothing has happened, though. I said this has been one of our busiest sessions, and I mean it. Yesterday, I counted 23 pieces of legislation that we are either working on or closely monitoring. To put that into perspective, the first time I ever lobbied the Legislature, we only tracked one issue the entire time the Legislature met. Even though it’s been a slow start, we’re looking at a record year for legislation we’re working on.
Let me give you a few highlights from the session so far.
Accomplishments
- The Taxpayers’ Protection Amendment is doing well. SJR4 by Senator Jason Rapert would require a ¾ vote of both chambers of the Legislature in order to raise taxes, but it only requires a simple majority to lower taxes or change tax breaks and exemptions. This is a good piece of legislation that is enjoying a lot of support out at the Capitol, but it is not without opposition. If you haven’t already, be sure to call your lawmakers, and ask them to support SJR4 when it comes up for a vote.
- The reduction in the used car tax is passing. Currently, any used car sold for more than $2,500 is taxed by the State of Arkansas. SB274 by Senator Gilbert Baker raises that amount from $2,500 to $5,000, meaning that if you’re able to get a used car for under $5,000, you won’t owe the State a dime in sales tax. SB274 has passed the Senate, and we’re confident it can pass the House.
- A back-to-school tax-free holiday may be coming. HB1369 by Rep. Matthew Shepherd creates a back-to-school tax-free holiday the first Saturday and Sunday of every August. If this bill passes, Arkansans will be able to buy all kinds of back-to-school supplies every year, without paying any money in sales tax. The bill has passed the House, and is on its way to the Senate.
Defeats We’re Working to Overcome
- HB1053 failed in committee. Early in the session, the House Public Health Committee voted down a bill that would have prevented Arkansans for being penalized for refusing to purchase government-approved health insurance under the new federal healthcare law. Rep. Meeks’ bill, HB1053, would have been a good step toward ensuring the healthcare law doesn’t hurt Arkansans who choose not to buy insurance they don’t want or don’t need, but it failed to get the votes necessary to make it out of committee.
- Rep. Wardlaw successfully placed an unconstitutional amendment on SB113. The same House Public Health Committee that voted down HB1053 stopped another good bill, SB113. SB113 would have opted Arkansas out of paying for abortions with taxpayer dollars under the new federal healthcare law. Rep. Wardlaw successfully added a “poison pill” amendment to bill that rendered SB113 unconstitutional, effectively killing it in committee.
- HB1369 could be in trouble. The back-to-school tax-free holiday bill has successfully passed the House, but it may be headed for a roadblock in the Senate. There’s a rumor that Senators on the Senate Revenue and Tax Committee may have already decided to vote against the bill simply because some of the power brokers at the Capitol have decided Arkansans don’t need any more tax breaks. Well, we disagree. That’s why we’re encouraging you to call your Senator, and ask him or her to vigorously support HB1369, the bill to create an annual back-to-school tax-free holiday.
These are just some of the highlights from the Capitol. Every day we go to the Legislature to meet with lawmakers, observe discussions in committees, lobby for good legislation, and oppose bad legislation. Needless to say, our team is very hard at work.
If you want to follow us around the Capitol each day, check out Family Council on Facebook and Twitter. We routinely post photos and updates, and keep all our followers in the loop about the latest news out at the Capitol.
Thank you for your tireless support, your kind words, and your prayers. Please let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you.