Click on any bill number and name to see update
HB 1119: A bill to prohibit cohabiting couples from adopting children or serving as foster parents.
HB 1079: Child abuse for pregnant women who use illegal drugs.
HB 1033: Parental consent for abortions.
HB 1768: The Drivers License Suspension for Minor DWI
HB 1488: To authorize the “In God We Trust” License Plate
HB 1265: Enhanced penalties for illegal drug possession by pregnant women.
SB 11: Tax credits for stay-at-home parents
SB 316: A bill to raise the death penalty age from 16 to 18
Senate Bill 316: A bill to raise the death penalty age from 16 to 18
Bill Number & Popular Name: Senate Bill 316: A act to exempt juveniles who were sixteen or seventeen years of age at the time the offense was committed from receiving the death penalty.
Summary of the Bill: Current law prevents the execution of person under age 16. This law would raise the age to 18.
Family Council Position on the Bill:
Bill Status:
Passed the Senate Judiciary Committee
Passed the Senate
Assigned to the House Judiciary Committee
Action Items: Contact your State Representative and ask him to vote for Senate Bill 316, the bill to raise the death penalty age to 18.
Primary Sponsor (s) By: Sen. Bryles & Rep. Pace
Other Sponsors:
Senators: Madison, Altes, Argue, Brown, Capps, Hill, Laverty, Luker, Miller, Salmon, T. Smith, Steele, Whitaker, Wilkins
Representatives: Pace, Goss, Blair, Blount, Borhauer, Bradford, Chesterfield, Clemons, Dangeau, Davenport, Elliott, Flowers, Hardy, Jackson, Jeffrey, J. Johnson, Ledbetter, Mahony, Pickett, Rainey, Rankin, Saunders, L. Smith, Willis, Wood
House Committee: Judiciary
Chair:
Representative John Paul Verkamp
Vice Chair:
Representative Mark Pate
Representative Jeremy Hutchinson
Representative Wayne Nichols
Representative Bob Adams
Representative Randy Rankin
Representative Booker T. Clemons
Representative Marvin Childers
Representative Will Bond
Representative Chris Thomason
Representative Doug Matayo
Representative Chris Thyer
Representative Michael Lamoureux
Representative Bruce Maloch
Representative Rick Green
Representative David Johnson
Representative Robert Thompson
Representative J. R. Rogers
Representative Timothy Hutchinson
Representative Frank Glidewell
House Committee Vote:
Comments on House Committee
House Vote
Senate Committee: Judiciary
Chair:
Senator Ed Wilkinson
Vice Chair:
Senator Jim Luker
Senator Kim Hendren
Senator Sue Madison
Senator Irma Hunter Brown
Senator Mary Anne Salmon
Senator Jerry Taylor
Senate Committee Vote: This bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee
Senate Committee Comments
Senate Vote
Yeas: 24
Altes
Argue
Baker
Bookout
Broadway
Brown
Bryles
Capps
Higginbothom
Hill
Horn
G. Jeffress
J. Jeffress
B. Johnson
Laverty
Luker
Madison
Malone
Salmon
Steele
Trusty
Whitaker
Wilkins
Wilkinson
Nays: 9
Bisbee
Critcher
Faris
Glover
Hendren
Holt
Taylor
Womack
Wooldridge
Not Voting: 2
Miller
T. Smith
Concurrence in Amendments
Signed into Law by Governor
Senate Bill 114: Drug Abuse and Unborn Children
Bill Number & Popular Name: Senate Bill 114: Garret’s Law: To provide services to a newborn child born with an illegal substance present in the child’s system.
Summary of the Bill: If this law passes, a baby born with illegal drugs in its system could be considered a victim of child abuse. The attending physician would be required to notify the Department of Human Services and child abuse proceedings could begin against the mother and medical assistance provided for the child.
Family Council Position on the Bill: Support
Bill Status:
Passed the Senate Public Health Committee
Passed the Arkansas Senate
Assigned to the House Judiciary Committee
Action Items:
Contact your State Representative and ask him to vote for Senate Bill 114, Garretts Law.
Primary Sponsor (s): Sen . Wooldridge
Other Sponsors:
House Committee: Judiciary
Chair:
Representative John Paul Verkamp
Vice Chair:
Representative Mark Pate
Representative Jeremy Hutchinson
Representative Wayne Nichols
Representative Bob Adams
Representative Randy Rankin
Representative Booker T. Clemons
Representative Marvin Childers
Representative Will Bond
Representative Chris Thomason
Representative Doug Matayo
Representative Chris Thyer
Representative Michael Lamoureux
Representative Bruce Maloch
Representative Rick Green
Representative David Johnson
Representative Robert Thompson
Representative J. R. Rogers
Representative Timothy Hutchinson
Representative Frank Glidewell
House Committee Vote:
Comments on House Committee
House Vote
Senate Committee: Public Health Committee
Chair:
Senator Jack Critcher
Vice Chair:
Senator Jerry Bookout
Senator Percy Malone
Senator Barbara Horn
Senator Steve Faris
Senator Bob Johnson
Senator Shawn Womack
Senate Committee Vote: This bill passed the Senate Public Health Committee
Senate Committee Comments
Senate Vote: Senate Bill 114, Garret’s Law
Yeas: 30
Altes
Argue
Baker
Bisbee
Bookout
Broadway
Bryles
Capps
Critcher
Faris
Glover
Hendren
Higginbothom
Hill
Holt
Horn
G. Jeffress
J. Jeffress
B. Johnson
Laverty
Malone
Miller
T. Smith
Steele
Taylor
Trusty
Whitaker
Wilkinson
Womack
Wooldridge
Not Voting: 4
Brown
Luker
Madison
Salmon
Excused: 1
Wilkins
Concurrence in Amendments
Signed into Law by Governor
Senate Bill 207: Liquor Permits in Dry Counties
Bill Number & Popular Name: Senate Bill 207: An act to require private club permit applications to obtain the approval of the city or county governing body.
Summary of the Bill: This bill would require the county quorum court or a city council to approve a request for a permit to sell alcohol in a dry county. If approved, the request for the permit could be sent to the State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for their consideration. If approval of both the local governing body and the ABC Board would be required before a permit to sell alcohol in a dry county could be issued.
Family Council Position on the Bill: Support
Bill Status:
This bill has been assigned to the Senate Committee on City, County, and Local Affairs.
Action Items: Call your State Senator and ask him to vote for SB 207, the bill requiring local approval for the issuance of liquor permits in dry counties.
Primary Sponsor (s): Sen. Critcher
Other Sponsors:
House Committee:
House Committee Vote:
Comments on House Committee
House Vote
Senate Committee: City County Local
Chair:
Senator Irma Hunter Brown
Vice Chair:
Senator Jerry Taylor
Senator Dave Bisbee
Senator Kim Hendren
Senator Shawn Womack
Senator Sue Madison
Senator Tracy Steele
Senate Committee Vote:
Senate Committee Comments
Senate Vote
Concurrence in Amendments
Signed into Law by Governor
Bill Number & Popular Name: Senate Bill 74, the fetal pain bill
Summary of the Bill: Women seeking abortions past the 12th week of pregnancy would have to be informed by the doctor that studies have shown that unborn babies beyond this stage of development feel pain.
Family Council Position on the Bill: Support
Bill Status:
Assigned to the Senate Public Health Committee
Action Items:
Contact your State Senator and ask him to support Senate Bill 74, the fetal pain bill.
Primary Sponsor (s): Sen. Womack
Other Sponsors:
House Committee:
House Committee Vote:
Comments on House Committee
House Vote
Senate Committee: Senate Public Health
Chair:
Senator Jack Critcher
Vice Chair:
Senator Jerry Bookout
Senator Percy Malone
Senator Barbara Horn
Senator Steve Faris
Senator Bob Johnson
Senator Shawn Womack
Senate Committee Vote:
Senate Committee Comments
Senate Vote
Concurrence in Amendments
Signed into Law by Governor
Senate Bill 11: Tax Credits for Stay at Home Parents
Bill Number & Popular Name: Senate Bill 11: An act to provide an income tax credit for a parent who chooses to stay at home with his or her young child.
Summary of the Bill: This bill provides a $1,000 tax credit for families earning less than $32,000 per year who have a child under age 4 and one parents stays at home with the child.
Family Council Position on the Bill: Support
Bill Status:
Assigned to the Senate Revenue and Tax Committee
Action Items:
Contact your State Senator and ask him to vote for SB 11, the stay at home tax credit.
Primary Sponsor (s): Sen. Altes
Other Sponsors:
House Committee:
House Committee Vote:
Comments on House Committee
House Vote
Senate Committee: Senate Revenue and Tax
Chair:
Senator Tim Wooldridge
Vice Chair:
Senator Bobby Glover
Senator Jim Hill
Senator Paul Miller
Senator Sharon Trusty
Senator Terry Smith
Senator Steve Higginbothom
Senate Committee Vote:
Senate Committee Comments
Senate Vote
Concurrence in Amendments
Signed into Law by Governor
HB 1136
Summary of the Bill: This bill was introduced as a bill to prohibit schools from adopting textbooks containing any definition of marriage that is contrary to the Arkansas Constitution.
Family Council Position on the Bill: Strongly Support
Bill Status:
Passed the House Education Committee
Passed the House of Representatives
Assigned to the Senate Education Committee
Failed to Pass the Senate Education Committee
May be brought up again in the Senate Education Committee
Action Items: This bill failed to pass the Senate Education Committee on February 16. It may be brought up again.
Primary Sponsor (s): Rep. Ragland & Senator Whitaker
Other Sponsors:
House Committee:
Chair:
Representative Joyce Elliott
Vice Chair:
Representative Dwight Fite
Representative LeRoy Dangeau
Representative Jodie Mahony
Representative Linda Chesterfield
Representative Jeff Wood
Representative Robert Jeffrey
Representative Betty Pickett
Representative James Norton
Representative Tommy Dickinson
Representative Shirley Walters
Representative Mike Kenney
Representative Marilyn Edwards
Representative Curren Everett
Representative Bill Abernathy
Representative Nancy Duffy Blount
Representative Mark Martin
Representative Rick Saunders
Representative David Rainey
Representative David Cook
House Committee Vote: For HB 1136: Wood, Jeffery, Norton, Dickinson, Walters, Kenney, Everett, Abernathy, Martin, Cook, and Fite
Against HB 1136: Dangeau, Mahony, Chesterfield, Pickett, Edwards, Blount, Saunders, Rainey, Elliott
Comments on House Committee: This bill passed the House Education Committee on a voice vote. The House of Representatives voted to return the bill to the committee. The committee debated the bill a second time and a role call vote was taken. The bill passed by a vote of 11 to 9.
House Vote
Yeas: 61
Abernathy
Adams
Adcock
Anderson
Berry
Bolin
Bright
Burris
Childers
Cook
Cooper
Creekmore
Davenport
Davis
Dickinson
Dobbins
D. Evans
L. Evans
Everett
Fite
George
Glidewell
Green
Hardwick
Harris
J. Hutchinson
T. Hutchinson
Jackson
Jeffrey
Kenney
Key
Lamoureux
Mack
Maloch
J. Martin
M. Martin
Matayo
Maxwell
Medley
Nichols
Norton
Ormond
Overbey
Petrus
Prater
Pritchard
Pyle
Ragland
Rogers
Rosenbaum
Sample
Schulte
Scroggin
Sullivan
Thompson
Thyer
Verkamp
Walters
Wells
Wood
Wyatt
Nays: 34
Blair
Blount
Bond
Borhauer
Boyd
Bradford
Chesterfield
Clemons
Dangeau
Dunn
Edwards
Elliott
Flowers
Hardy
Harrelson
D. Johnson
J. Johnson
Kidd
Ledbetter
Lewellen
Mahony
McDaniel
Pate
Pickett
Rainey
Rankin
Reep
Roebuck
Saunders
L. Smith
Sumpter
Thomason
Willis
Wills
Present: 3
Cowling
Goss
Mathis
Not Voting: 2
Pace
Mr. Speaker
Senate Committee: Senate Education Committee
Chair:
Senator Jim Argue
Vice Chair:
Senator Jimmy Jeffress
Senator Dave Bisbee
Senator Steve Bryles
Senator Hank Wilkins, IV
Senator Shane Broadway
Senator Gene Jeffress
Senate Committee Vote: For HB 1136: Jimmy Jeffress, Dave Bisbee, Gene Jeffress, Against HB 1136: Jim Argue, Shane Broadway, Steve Bryles
Senate Committee Comments: The bill was substantially amended at the beginning of the committee meeting. The amendment changed the focus on the bill from banning new textbooks that contain a definition of marriage that is contrary to the Arkansas Constitution, to prohibiting schools form promoting any definition of marriage that is contrary to the Arkansas Constitution. The ACLU spoke against the bill. Jerry Cox with Family Council spoke for the bill. Sen. Hank Wilkins, a member of the committee, was in the hospital and not able to attend the meeting.
Senate Vote
Concurrence in Amendments: If this bill passes the Senate, it will have to return to the House for concurrence in amendments.
Signed into Law by Governor
BACK TO TOP
HB 1119
Bill Number & Popular Name: HB 1119: To protect the children who are most vulnerable by clarifying the public policy of the state of Arkansas regarding the placement of children with an adoptive or foster parent.
Click for a copy of HB 1119: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/HB1119.pdf
Summary of the Bill: Makes it illegal for couples who cohabit (live together out of wedlock) to adopt children or serve as foster parents.
Family Council Position on the Bill: Strongly Support
Bill Status:
Passed the House Aging Children and Youth Committee,
Passed the House of Representatives
Failed to pass the Senate Judiciary Committee (the bill isn’t dead. We’ll make another attempt to run it later in the session)
Action Items: The Senate Judiciary Committee failed to pass this bill on Wednesday, March 2. Voting against the bill were Sen. Jim Luker (D-Wynne), Sen. Irma Hunter-Brown (D-Little Rock), Sen. Sue Madison (D-Fayetteville), and Sen. Mary Anne Salmon (D-Little Rock).
Supporting the bill were Sen. Jerry Taylor (D-Pine Bluff), Sen. Kim Hendren (R-Gravette) and Sen. Ed Wilkinson (D-Fort Smith)
Primary Sponsor (s): Representative Adams & Senator Holt
Other Sponsors:
House Committee: House Aging Youth and Military Affairs
Chair:
Representative Buddy Blair
Vice Chair:
Representative Johnny Key
Representative Tommy G. Roebuck
Representative Sam Ledbetter
Representative Jay Bradford
Representative Shirley Borhauer
Representative Jay Martin
Representative R. Dwayne Dobbins
Representative Arnell Willis
Representative Rick Green
Representative Pam Adcock
Representative Stephanie Flowers
Representative Gregg Reep
Representative Dawn Creekmore
Representative Otis Davis
Representative Robbie Wills
Representative J. R. Rogers
Representative John Paul Wells
Representative David Cook
Representative Timothy Hutchinson
House Committee Vote: The bill passed the committee on a voice vote, no role call was requested
Comments on House Committee: There was lengthy testimony on both sides of the issue. John Thomas, assistant director of Family Council testified on behalf of the bill. Martha Adcock assisted Rep. Adams in explaining the bill to the committee. Rep. Joyce Elliott attended the meeting and spoke against the bill.
House Vote
Yeas: 78
Abernathy
Adams
Adcock
Anderson
Berry
Bolin
Borhauer
Boyd
Bright
Burris
Childers
Cook
Cooper
Cowling
Creekmore
Dangeau
Davenport
Davis
Dickinson
Dunn
D. Evans
L. Evans
Everett
Fite
George
Glidewell
Green
Hardwick
Harrelson
Harris
J. Hutchinson
T. Hutchinson
Jeffrey
Kenney
Key
Kidd
Lamoureux
Lewellen
Mack
Maloch
J. Martin
M. Martin
Matayo
Mathis
Maxwell
McDaniel
Medley
Nichols
Norton
Ormond
Overbey
Pace
Pate
Petrus
Prater
Pritchard
Pyle
Ragland
Rainey
Rankin
Reep
Roebuck
Rogers
Rosenbaum
Sample
Schulte
Scroggin
Sullivan
Sumpter
Thomason
Thompson
Thyer
Verkamp
Walters
Wells
Wills
Wood
Wyatt
Nays: 13
Blair
Blount
Bond
Bradford
Elliott
Hardy
Jackson
D. Johnson
J. Johnson
Ledbetter
Mahony
Saunders
L. Smith
Present: 3
Clemons
Flowers
Goss
Not Voting: 6
Chesterfield
Dobbins
Edwards
Pickett
Mr. Speaker
Willis
Senate Committee: Senate Judiciary Committee
Chair:
Senator Ed Wilkinson
Vice Chair:
Senator Jim Luker
Senator Kim Hendren
Senator Sue Madison
Senator Irma Hunter Brown
Senator Mary Anne Salmon
Senator Jerry Taylor
Senate Committee Vote: See above
Senate Committee Comments: We gave the committee strong evidence on the instability of cohabiting households, yet they chose to vote against the evidence and common sense.
Senate Vote: See above
Concurrence in Amendments
Signed into Law by Governor
HB 1079
Bill Number & Popular Name: HB 1079: An act to create the offense of child abuse by prenatal exposure to a controlled substance.
Summary of the Bill: This bill makes it a felony for a woman beyond the 12th week of pregnancy to use illegal drugs.
Family Council Position on the Bill: Support
Bill Status: Assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. No vote has been taken. This bill is not likely to pass.
Action Items: Let the members of the House Judiciary Committee know that you want them to vote for this bill.
Primary Sponsor (s): Representative T. Hutchinson
Other Sponsors:
House Committee: House Judiciary Committee
Chair:
Representative John Paul Verkamp
Vice Chair:
Representative Mark Pate
Representative Jeremy Hutchinson
Representative Wayne Nichols
Representative Bob Adams
Representative Randy Rankin
Representative Booker T. Clemons
Representative Marvin Childers
Representative Will Bond
Representative Chris Thomason
Representative Doug Matayo
Representative Chris Thyer
Representative Michael Lamoureux
Representative Bruce Maloch
Representative Rick Green
Representative David Johnson
Representative Robert Thompson
Representative J. R. Rogers
Representative Timothy Hutchinson
Representative Frank Glidewell
House Committee Vote:
Comments on House Committee
House Vote
Senate Committee:
Senate Committee Vote:
Senate Committee Comments
Senate Vote
Concurrence in Amendments
Signed into Law by Governor
BACK TO TOP
HB 1033
Bill Number: HB 1033
Popular Name: An act to require parental consent before performing an abortion on a minor.
Action Point: No Action Necessary at This Time. HB 1033 has passed both the House and the Senate. After the House concurs in some Senate amendments to the bill, it will be sent to Governor Hucakbee to be signed into law.
Review the list of lawmakers who voted both for and against this bill. If your legislator voted for the bill, please thank him or her. If your legislator voted against this bill, contact them as ask why?
Primary Sponsor (s): Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson & Sen. Jack Critcher
Other Sponsors:
Representatives: Lamoureux, Rosenbaum, T. Hutchinson, Anderson, Borhauer, Boyd, Bright, Cooper, D. Creekmore, Dickinson, Fite, Hardwick, Harris, Kenney, Key, Mack, Maloch, M. Martin, Matayo, Medeley, Norton, Pace, Ragland, Sample, Walters, Willis, Petrus
Senators: Critcher, Womack, Altes, Baker, Bisbee, J. Bookout, Bryiles, Capps, Faris, Glover, Hendren, Holt, Horn, J. Jeffress, G. Jeffress, Laverty, J. Taylor, Trusty, Whitaker, Wooldridge
Summary of Bill:
This bill requires parental consent before an abortion can be performed on a girl under the age of 18. It makes exception for emergencies and it contains a judicial bypass for girls who do not wish to secure permission from a parent. In that case, a judge would stand in for the parent and grant or not grant permission for the abortion. This bill is virtually identical to a similar bill that would have passed the Arkansas Legislature in 2003 if the House of Representatives had not abruptly adjourned. Since 1989, Arkansas law has required to parental notification, but not consent for a girl under age 18 to obtain an abortion.
Status:
Passed House Public Health Committee
Passed Arkansas House of Representatives
Passed Senate Public Health Committee
Senate Vote likely on or after 2-15-05
Names of House Committee where bill is assigned (click on their name to e-mail)
Chair:
Representative Jay Bradford
Vice Chair:
Representative Stephen D. Bright
Representative Tommy G. Roebuck
Representative Bill Pritchard
Representative Shirley Borhauer
Representative Kevin Goss
Representative Stan Berry
Representative Sandra Prater
Representative Johnny Key
Representative Denny Sumpter
Representative Janet Johnson
Representative Daryl Pace
Representative Jay Martin
Representative Jim Medley
Representative Arnell Willis
Representative Roy Ragland
Representative Willie Hardy
Representative Stephanie Flowers
Representative Gregg Reep
Representative Dustin McDaniel
Notes about House Committee
This bill has already passed the House Committee
House Vote on HB 1033
Yeas: 83
Abernathy Adams Adcock Anderson Berry Bolin Bond Borhauer Boyd Bright
Burris Childers Cook Cooper Cowling Creekmore Dangeau Davenport Davis Dickinson
Dobbins Dunn Edwards D. Evans L. Evans Everett Fite George Glidewell Goss Green
Hardwick Hardy Harrelson Harris J. Hutchinson T. Hutchinson Jackson Jeffrey J. Johnson Kenney Key Kidd Lamoureux Mack Maloch J. Martin M. Martin Matayo
Mathis Maxwell McDaniel Medley Nichols Norton Overbey Pace Pate Pickett
Prater Pritchard Pyle Ragland Rainey Rankin Reep Roebuck Rogers Rosenbaum
Sample Schulte Scroggin Sullivan Sumpter Thomason Thompson Thyer Verkamp
Walters Wells Wills Wood Wyatt
Nays: 13
Blair Blount Bradford Chesterfield Clemons Elliott Flowers D. Johnson
Ledbetter Lewellen Mahony Saunders L. Smith
Not Voting: 4
Ormond Petrus Mr. Speaker Willis
Names of Senate Committee where bill is assigned (click on their name to e-mail)
Chair:
Senator Jack Critcher
Vice Chair:
Senator Jerry Bookout
Senator Percy Malone
Senator Barbara Horn
Senator Steve Faris
Senator Bob Johnson
Senator Shawn Womack
Notes about Senate Committee
This bill has already passed the Senate Public Health Committee
Senate Vote on HB 1033
Yeas: 27
Altes
Baker
Bisbee
Bookout
Broadway
Bryles
Capps
Critcher
Glover
Hendren
Higginbothom
Hill
Holt
Horn
G. Jeffress
J. Jeffress
B. Johnson
Laverty
Malone
T. Smith
Steele
Taylor
Trusty
Whitaker
Wilkinson
Womack
Wooldridge
Nays: 3
Brown
Madison
Salmon
Not Voting: 4
Argue
Faris
Luker
Miller
Excused: 1
Wilkins
House Concurrence in Amendments
Clarifying amendments were added to this bill in the Senate. It must return to the House for concurrence in these amendments. No significant opposition to this bill is expected in the House. If it passes the House it will move on to Governor Huckabee’s desk to be signed into law.
Senate Concurrence in Amendments
Signed into Law By Governor
Watch this site for information about a bill signing seremony with Governor Huckabee at the State Capitol.
BACK TO BILL LIST
HB 1265: Enhanced Penalties for Illegal Drug Possession by Pregnant WomenBill Number & Popular Name: HB 1265: An act to provide enhanced penalties for possession of a controlled substance by a pregnant person.
Summary of the Bill: This bill enhances criminal penalties if a pregnant woman is in possession of illegal drugs.
Family Council Position on the Bill: Support
Bill Status:
Assigned to the House Judiciary Committee
Action Items:
Contact your State Representative and ask him to vote for HB 1265, the bill that enhances penalties for pregnant women who possess illegal drugs.
Primary Sponsor (s): Timothy Hutchinson
Other Sponsors:
House Committee: Judiciary
Chair:
Representative John Paul Verkamp
Vice Chair:
Representative Mark Pate
Representative Jeremy Hutchinson
Representative Wayne Nichols
Representative Bob Adams
Representative Randy Rankin
Representative Booker T. Clemons
Representative Marvin Childers
Representative Will Bond
Representative Chris Thomason
Representative Doug Matayo
Representative Chris Thyer
Representative Michael Lamoureux
Representative Bruce Maloch
Representative Rick Green
Representative David Johnson
Representative Robert Thompson
Representative J. R. Rogers
Representative Timothy Hutchinson
Representative Frank Glidewell
House Committee Vote:
Comments on House Committee:
House Vote:
Senate Committee:
Senate Committee Vote:
Senate Committee Comments:
Senate Vote:
Concurrence in Amendments:
Signed into Law by Governor:
HB 1262 is a bill to require ethics disclosure for groups working to disqualify ballot measures.Bill Number & Popular Name: House Bill 1262, An act to amend certain Arkansas ethics laws concerning disclosure for matters referred to voters.Summary of the Bill: This bill addresses a loophole in the law. Arkansas law requires individuals or organizations working to pass or defeat proposed constitutional amendments or other ballot measures to file reports with the Arkansas ethics commission. These are primarily financial disclosure reports that enable the public to know who is funding these efforts. In the summer of 2004, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to remove the Arkansas Marriage Amendment from the ballot. The Arkansas Ethics Commission did not require the ACLU to register or file any reports because they were not tying to defeat the amendment, they were trying to disqualify it. This law simply requires anyone trying to disqualify an ballot measure to file the same ethics reports as groups trying to qualify or pass the measure.
Family Council Position on the Bill: Strongly Support
Bill Status:
Passed the House Rules Committee on a voice vote. No role call was taken.
Passed the House of RepresentativesReferred to Senate State Agencies CommitteeAction Items: Call your State Senator and ask him to vote for HB 1262 , the ballot issue ethics disclosure bill.
Primary Sponsor (s): Representative Sid Rosenbaum
Other Sponsors:
House Committee: Rules Committee
Chair:
Representative Ken Cowling
Vice Chair:
Representative Betty Pickett
Representative Wayne Nichols
Representative Charles L. Ormond
Representative Bob Mathis
Representative LeRoy Dangeau
Representative Shirley Borhauer
Representative Travis Boyd
Representative David Evans
Representative Denny Sumpter
Representative Mark Pate
Representative Rick Saunders
Representative Gregg Reep
Representative Otis Davis
Representative Robbie Wills
House Committee Vote: The bill passed on a voice vote. No role call was taken.Comments on House Committee: The bill passed without discussion or opposition.House VoteYeas: 92
Abernathy
Adams
Adcock
Anderson
Berry
Blair
Blount
Bolin
Bond
Borhauer
Boyd
Bradford
Bright
Burris
Chesterfield
Clemons
Cook
Cooper
Cowling
Creekmore
Dangeau
Davenport
Davis
Dickinson
Dobbins
Dunn
Edwards
Elliott
D. Evans
L. Evans
Everett
Flowers
George
Glidewell
Green
Hardwick
Hardy
Harrelson
J. Hutchinson
T. Hutchinson
Jackson
Jeffrey
D. Johnson
J. Johnson
Kenney
Key
Kidd
Lamoureux
Ledbetter
Lewellen
Mahony
Maloch
J. Martin
M. Martin
Matayo
Mathis
Maxwell
Medley
Nichols
Norton
Ormond
Overbey
Pace
Pate
Petrus
Pickett
Prater
Pritchard
Pyle
Ragland
Rainey
Rankin
Reep
Rogers
Rosenbaum
Sample
Saunders
Schulte
Scroggin
L. Smith
Sullivan
Sumpter
Thomason
Thompson
Thyer
Verkamp
Walters
Wells
Willis
Wills
Wood
Wyatt
Not Voting: 8
Childers
Fite
Goss
Harris
Mack
McDaniel
Roebuck
Mr. Speaker
Senate Committee: State Agencies
Chair:
Senator Steve Faris
Vice Chair:
Senator Hank Wilkins, IV
Senator Jim Argue
Senator Jack Critcher
Senator Gilbert Baker
Senator Ed Wilkinson
Senator Shane Broadway
Senate Committee Vote:
Senate Committee Comments
Senate Vote
Concurrence in Amendments
Signed into Law by Governor
Bill Number & Popular Name: House Bill 1768; An act to provide for an administrative suspension of a drivers license for the offense of possession of alcohol by a minor.Summary of the Bill: Intoxicated drivers under age 21 would have their license suspended up to one year for certain DWI offenses.Family Council Position on the Bill: SupportBill Status:
Assigned to the House Rules CommitteeAction Items: Contact your State Representative and ask him to vote for HB 1768, the DWI driver license suspension law for minors.Primary Sponsor (s): Rep. Key & Sen. WomackOther Sponsors:House Committee: House RulesChair:
Representative Ken Cowling
Vice Chair:
Representative Betty Pickett
Representative Wayne Nichols
Representative Charles L. Ormond
Representative Bob Mathis
Representative LeRoy Dangeau
Representative Shirley Borhauer
Representative Travis Boyd
Representative David Evans
Representative Denny Sumpter
Representative Mark Pate
Representative Rick Saunders
Representative Gregg Reep
Representative Otis Davis
Representative Robbie WillsHouse Committee Vote:
Comments on House Committee:House Vote:
Senate Committee:Senate Committee Vote:
Senate Committee CommentsSenate VoteConcurrence in Amendments
Signed into Law by Governor
HB 1488: In God We Trust License Plate
Bill Number and Popular Name: HB 1488; To authorize the in God we trust license plate.
Summary of the Bill: This bill allows the issuance of a specialty license plate containing the national motto, “In God We Trust.”Family Council Position on the Bill: SupportBill Status:
Passed the House Transportation Committee
Passed the House of Representatives
Assigned to the Senate Transportation CommitteeAction Items: Call your State Senator and ask him to vote for HB 1488, the In God We Trust License Plate bill.Primary Sponsor (s): Rep. Frank GlidewellOther Sponsors:
House Committee: House Public TransportationChair:
Representative Johnnie Bolin
Vice Chair:
Representative Sid Rosenbaum
Representative Lenville Evans
Representative Susan Schulte
Representative David Wyatt
Representative George Overbey
Representative Wilhelmina Lewellen
Representative Pam Adcock
Representative Beverly Pyle
Representative Monty Davenport
Representative Dawn Creekmore
Representative Otis Davis
Representative Lindsley Smith
Representative Mike Burris
Representative Bill Sample
Representative Robbie Wills
Representative Nathan George
Representative Ray Kidd
Representative John Paul Wells
Representative Steve HarrelsonHouse Committee Vote: The bill passed the committee on a voice voteComments on House Committee:
House Vote
Yeas: 73
Abernathy
Adams
Adcock
Anderson
Berry
Blount
Bolin
Borhauer
Boyd
Bradford
Burris
Chesterfield
Childers
Clemons
Cook
Cooper
Cowling
Creekmore
Davenport
Davis
Dobbins
D. Evans
L. Evans
Everett
Fite
Flowers
George
Glidewell
Green
Hardwick
Harrelson
Harris
J. Hutchinson
T. Hutchinson
Jackson
Jeffrey
J. Johnson
Kenney
Kidd
Lamoureux
Lewellen
Mack
J. Martin
M. Martin
Matayo
Maxwell
McDaniel
Medley
Nichols
Norton
Overbey
Pace
Petrus
Prater
Pyle
Ragland
Rainey
Rankin
Roebuck
Rogers
Rosenbaum
Sample
Schulte
Scroggin
Sullivan
Sumpter
Thomason
Thompson
Verkamp
Wells
Wills
Wood
WyattNays: 9
Blair
Elliott
Hardy
D. Johnson
Ledbetter
Mahony
Pickett
L. Smith
ThyerPresent: 6
Bond
Edwards
Maloch
Pate
Pritchard
Saunders
Not Voting: 12
Bright
Dangeau
Dickinson
Dunn
Goss
Key
Mathis
Ormond
Reep
Mr. Speaker
Walters
WillisSenate Committee: Senate Public TransportationChair:
Senator Tracy Steele
Vice Chair:
Senator Jim Holt
Senator Ruth Whitaker
Senator Gilbert Baker
Senator Denny Altes
Senator Randy Laverty
Senator John Paul CappsSenate Committee Vote:
Senate Committee Comments:
Senate Vote:
Concurrence in Amendments:
Signed into Law by Governor: