Even though this legislative session hasn’t seen as much legislation filed so far as others I’ve lobbied, there is still a lot going on at the Capitol. Here’s a quick look at some of the highlights from this past week.
Rep. Hubbard Suffered a Mild Heart Attack. Representative John Hubbard suffered what doctors believe to be a mild heart attack over last weekend. Thankfully, he is alright, and all reports indicate doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
Back-to-School Tax Holiday Voted Down. One of the tax-relief bills we supported was an annual sales-tax holiday for back-to-school supplies. Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi all have annual back-to-school tax holidays, and we had hoped Arkansas would follow in their footsteps. The bill was voted down by the Senate Revenue & Tax Committee, however. It is unclear whether the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Shepherd, will try to run it a second time.
Conservative Caucus Meeting. A meeting for conservative lawmakers and activists was held Thursday to provide updates and information about current events at the Capitol. Meetings like this are a great way for those of us who spend a lot of time at the Legislature to keep up with which legislative plates other folks are spinning.
Sales Tax Cut on Used Cars Tabled. A bill to eliminate the state sales tax on used cars sold for less than $5,000—a bill we support—was tabled by the House Revenue and Tax Committee. It is unclear whether the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Gilbert Baker, will try to run the bill a second time.
New Lottery Amendment Gaining Momentum. HJR1005 by Rep. Ann Clemmer would require the Arkansas Lottery to allocate at least 35 percent of its gross revenue for college scholarships. Right now, the law doesn’t require the Lottery to set aside any money, and as a result, the Lottery only allocates 21.5 percent—the lowest in the nation, according to a recent story by KARK 4 News. By contrast, Louisiana’s lottery allocates 35 percent for education; took in $100 million less than Arkansas’ lottery last year; but still paid out nearly $30 million more in education funding than Arkansas’ lottery did for scholarships. Rep. Clemmer’s amendment would change that. It would set the Lottery’s priorities straight, and would help ensure that if Arkansas is going to be stuck with a lottery for the time being, it is at least a lottery that makes good on its promise to send as many kids to college as it can.
