Daily Legislative Update

Friday, February 20, 2009

40^th Day of the 87^th General Assembly

*   *   *   CALL TO ACTION   *   *   *

MANUFACTURERS SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR UTILITY USAGE

Prior to 2007, Arkansas manufacturers paid the full state sales tax rate of 6 percent on their energy costs. During the 2007 session, we filed a bill seeking a full sales tax exemption for all manufacturers on all fuel types used. We were able to negotiate a reduction in the sales tax rate to 4 percent for manufacturers in NAICS codes 31, 32 and 33 on their electricity and natural gas used directly in the manufacturing process. In comparison, Missouri , Tennessee , Louisiana , Texas and Oklahoma charge no sales tax and Mississippi charges only 1 percent.

 

Very soon, we will be filing a bill similar to last session and will be working on getting the largest reduction possible for as many manufacturers as possible. In the meantime, you can help by visiting with your legislators over the weekend. The best information you can provide them is a report on how much sales tax you are paying on your electricity and natural gas used directly in the manufacturing process. Then consider and explain to your legislators how the savings would enhance your operation, save or increase jobs, improve competition, etc.

 

 

TODAY AT THE CAPITOL

House convenes at 10:00 a.m.

The Senate does not meet.

 

Committee Meetings:

JOINT

None listed. 

 

HOUSE

	9:00 AM	ROOM 428	CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE- HOUSE	Agenda
	9:00 AM	Room 151	STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS- HOUSE	Agenda
	9:00 AM	Room 149	INSURANCE & COMMERCE- HOUSE	Agenda
	9:00 AM	130	AGING, CHILDREN AND YOUTH, LEGISLATIVE & MILITARY AFFAIRS- HOUSE	Agenda
	9:00 AM	ROOM 138	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- HOUSE	Agenda

 

SENATE

None listed.

 

ISSUES

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

HB 1362, the agreed bill between the State Chamber/AIA and the AFL-CIO, is on this morning’s agenda in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee and Rep. Mike Burris tells us it is ready to go.

 

 

STATE CHAMBER/AIA BILL TRACKING 

To date, the House has filed 561 bills and the Senate has filed 437 bills.

The State Chamber/AIA is tracking 227 bills and resolutions. 

 

New bills added to the State Chamber/AIA tracking today:

 

	HB 1544	Harrelson	Creates the Uniform Limited Cooperative Association Act, authorizing persons to enter into a jointly owned enterprise that allows combination of ownership, financing and receipt of benefits by the members.
	HB 1549	Moore	Prescribes the time limitations for filing for refund of state income taxes when an overpayment is discovered after a correction or change in the taxpayer's federal income tax return.
	HB 1550	Sample	Requires the expiration of state identification cards issued to noncitizens be the earliest of the period provided for under 27-16-805(b), the date on the applicant's INS document I-94, or the last legal date for the applicant to be in the U.S.
	HB 1551	Maxwell	Creates the Blue Ribbon Committee on Highway Finance to define an equitable system to finance highway, road and street improvements; includes legislators and members from the public, the Highway Commission, other stakeholders.
	HB 1552	Smith, L. Madison	Requires employers to provide unpaid break time each day to an employee who needs to express breast milk for her child in order to maintain milk supply, and to make a reasonable effort to provide a private and sanitary room for her to do so.
	HB 1553	Bradford Wilkins, H.	Allows construction of motor vehicle racing facilities in counties with population between 80,000 and 90,000 if the facility is more than two miles from an interstate highway, any school or church facility in place at the time of permit.
	SB 429	Steele	Revises various provisions of Department of Workforce Service law with respect to employment, discharge, recovery of overpayments, other clean-up and technical changes.

 

 

Please visit our tracking site here for the complete, searchable list of bills being tracked. The full text of each bill is also available at the site.

 

 

NEXT WEEK AT THE CAPITOL

Committee Meetings for Monday, February 23, 2009

JOINT

	10:00 AM	Room 272	JBC-CLAIMS	Agenda
	11:00 AM	Room 130	PUBLIC RETIREMENT & SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS-JOINT	Agenda

 

HOUSE

None listed.

 

SENATE

	10:00 AM	ROOM 171	TRANSPORTATION, TECHNOLOGY & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS - SENATE	Agenda
	Upon Adjournment	Room 207	EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE	Agenda
	Upon Adjournment	Room 171	INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE	Agenda

 

ISSUES

FOOD TAX

SB 88 by Sen. Bobby Glover would reduce the sales tax on food and food ingredients by 1 percent. This is a priority item for Governor Beebe. The bill remains on the House Revenue and Taxation Committee agenda. 

 

 

YESTERDAY AT THE CAPITOL

ISSUES

SCRAP METAL

HB 1479 by Rep. Darrin Williams received a Do Pass from the House Judiciary Committee yesterday and will now be considered by the full House. It would create a Class D felony for the offense of damaging wires and other fixtures of telephone, cable and electric power companies or any line that could result in physical injury. It also adds new restrictions and requirements on scrap metal dealers. This bill, which has been the subject of negotiations over the past few weeks, was filed as an agreed bill by the parties in interest. The State Chamber/AIA supports this bill to reduce the outbreak of copper theft in Arkansas .

 

NURSING HOMES

HB 1232 by Rep. George Overbey and Sen. Barbara Horn passed the Senate yesterday by a vote of 34-0. It will now go to the Governor for his signature.

 

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

State Senators: 501-682-2902
State Representatives: 501-682-6211
State Chamber/AIA Staff
Randy Zook, President/CEO: rzook@arkansasstatechamber.com
Kenny Hall, Executive Vice President: khall@arkansasstatechamber.com  
Angela DeLille, Director of Governmental Affairs:adelille@arkansasstatec hamber.com
State Chamber/AIA phone: (501) 372-2222
State Chamber/AIA web site: www.arkansasstatechamber.com