Governmental Affairs
84th General Assembly's Legislative Summary
By Kenneth R. Hall
Vice President for Governmental Affairs
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas, Inc., entered the 84th General Assembly with an aggressive agenda that included two priorities—to pass tort reform legislation and to support legislation that brings Arkansas’ education system into compliance with the state Constitution.
We were successful in passing a tort reform act that will play an important role in the economic future of the state. The legislature was not ready to fully address the state’s education needs but we did manage to pass some important pieces of the overall education package that the state must have to compete in the new world economy, and we blocked bills that were intended to maintain the status quo. We will have the opportunity to complete our agenda this fall when the legislature returns in a special session to specifically address education and compliance with the state Supreme Court order in the Lake View case.
The trend of increased bill filings—that started with the advent of term limits—continued. A total of 3,073 bills and resolutions were filed resulting in 1,816 new acts. Senators filed nine fewer bills than in 2001, but their 2003 filings were a 30 percent increase over 1997, the last session before term limits. Representatives continued an upward trend of bill filings that was 13 percent more than in 2001 and 47 percent more than in 1997. The State Chamber/AIA tracked 658 bills and resolutions, which was an 18 percent increase over 2001 and a 65 percent increase over 1999 (1997 tracking numbers are not available).
The State Chamber/AIA’s three full-time lobbyists used a multitude of resources to pull off a successful session. The daily Legislative Update was a key tool in keeping members informed and enlisting grass-roots support. Lobbyists from member companies and associations were also extremely helpful in forming coalitions to achieve positive results. Below are brief highlights of some of the most significant accomplishments.
Tort Reform: The State Chamber/AIA was a leading participant in the “Committee to Save Arkansas Jobs” coalition that successfully passed HB 1038 (Act 649), by Rep. Danny Ferguson, D-Forrest City, Rep. Marvin Parks, R-Greenbrier, and Sen. Bob Johnson, D-Morrilton. In addition to providing much-needed improvements in the medical malpractice area, Act 649:
Modifies joint and several liability as follows: defendants who are found to be 1 percent to 10 percent at fault will only be responsible for the percentage of damage they caused. Defendants who are found to be 11 percent to 50 percent at fault can be assessed an additional 10 percent if a co-defendant is unable to pay its share of a judgment. Defendants who are found to be 51 percent to 99 percent at fault can be assessed an additional 20 percent (not to exceed 100 percent) if a co-defendant is unable to pay its share of a judgment.
Caps punitive damages at the GREATER of $250,000 or three times compensatory damages not to exceed $1 million.
Caps appeal bond amount at $25 million.
Authorizes either party to request the separation of a trial into two parts, if requested in writing 10 days before trial.
Education: At least three important pieces of legislation became law with the State Chamber/AIA’s support. HB 2376 (Act 1332) by Rep. Robert White, D-Camden, provides a developmentally appropriate early care and education program for children ages three and four. HB 2697 (Act 1467) by Rep. Mary Beth Green, R-Van Buren, brings Arkansas into compliance with the federal “No Child Left Behind” legislation. SB 242 (Act 1272) by Sen. Jim Argue, D-Little Rock, requires all school districts to participate in public school choice. Two identical pieces of legislation were defeated that would have delayed significant change in the state’s education system—HB 1507 by Rep. Paul Weaver, D-Violet Hill, and SB 317 by Sen. Paul Miller, D-Melbourne.
Constitutional Issues: The State Chamber/AIA has opposed term limits since they were first introduced. We played a key role in the legislature’s referral of HJR 1006 by Rep. Travis Boyd, D-Piggott, to the November 2004 ballot. If approved by the voters, it would extend term limits to six two-year terms in the House and three four-year terms in the Senate. We also helped achieve the referral of HJR 1028 by Rep. Danny Ferguson, D-Forrest City, which would authorize the General Assembly to approve general obligation bonds for economic development projects. These were the only referrals made by the legislature. It was expected that a third measure would be referred that would provide help for education, but multiple proposals died at the sudden end to the session.
Economic Development: The State Chamber/AIA teamed with the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Executives and the Arkansas Economic Developers to form the Arkansas Partnership. This important coalition, which promotes economic development in Arkansas, was successful in passing HB 1179 (Act 182) by Rep. Danny Ferguson, D-Forrest City. Act 182 is a consolidated package of incentives developed by the Arkansas Department of Economic Development with the advice and consent of the Arkansas Partnership.
Act 182 combines six incentives—1) Enterprise Zone (Advantage Arkansas), 2) Economic Investment Tax Credit Act (InvestArk), 3) Arkansas Economic Development Act (AEDA), 4) Economic Development Incentive Act (Create Rebate), 5) Emerging Technology Development Act, and 6) Biotechnology Training and Development Act—into one law to provide uniform definitions for incentives and to consolidate the incentives’ administrative requirements. The act adds two new incentives, a transferable tax credit for targeted businesses and a research and development tax credit.
Special benefits for counties involved in Amendment 62, Section 9 regional industrial development compacts are included in Act 182. The act divides counties into four tiers, based on four factors: 1) poverty rate, 2) unemployment, 3) per capita income and 4) population growth. The act provides some knowledge-based incentives and promotes regionalism in seeking economic incentives.
Act 182 adopts five Fluor study recommendations: 1) using payroll-based incentives instead of number of jobs, 2) creating a county tier system, 3) allowing greater combinations of incentives, 4) separating incentives into categories (i.e., job creation, investment, etc.) and 5) broadening categories of targeted incentives.
The State Chamber/AIA helped block HB 2360 by Rep. Sam Ledbetter, D-Little Rock, in committee. It would have required the Department of Economic Development to contract with an outside entity that would prepare an annual report for the legislature verifying results from tax incentive and other development programs.
Workers' Compensation: Shortly after the session began, an agreement was reached between the AFL-CIO and the State Chamber/AIA to bring no workers’ compensation legislation and to oppose all bills proposing changes to the workers’ compensation laws. Acting in accordance with this agreement, three unwanted workers’ compensation proposals were defeated. HB 2250 and HB 2251 by Rep. David Haak, R-Texarkana, would have increased weekly benefits for death or permanent total disability and increased the limits on benefits paid by the employer. HB 1079 by Rep. John Verkamp, R-Greenwood, would have authorized parties to a joint petition settlement to waive the requirement for a hearing.
Healthcare: The usual assortments of good-natured but costly mandates were presented this session and most were either blocked or modified to harmless positions. However, an important plan to reduce the burden on healthcare costs caused by uninsured care was passed with the State Chamber/AIA’s support. HB 2413 (Act 1044) by Rep. Steve Napper, D-Little Rock, makes “safety-net” coverage available on a voluntary basis for the almost 400,000 working Arkansans whose employers cannot afford to offer health coverage. The imaginative plan was developed by Joe Thompson, M.D., at the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement with the help of several State Chamber/AIA members who served on a round table. It allows employers to voluntarily pay premiums to a state trust fund that can use the funds to leverage federal dollars at a three-to-one match rate.
Labor and Employment: The State Chamber/AIA led a large group that opposed and defeated HB 2301 by Rep. Lindberg Thomas, D-Grady, which would have eliminated Arkansas’ employment at-will laws. We helped block three union expansion proposals by Rep. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock. HB 1139 would have authorized limited collective bargaining for specified public employees. HB 1342 and HB 2364 would have mandated that specified public employers allow payroll deduction of union dues. Late in the session, SB 820 by Sen. Sue Madison, D-Fayetteville, which was similar to HB 1342 and HB 2364, became Act 1795 because it was disguised as a bill to authorize dues of university professors to a national association. Our lobbying efforts also blocked SB 35 by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett, that would have mandated employee leave time to attend parent-teacher conferences.
Taxation: Following up on our November 2002 ballot victory that maintained the state sales tax on food and groceries, the State Chamber/AIA again blocked attempts to exempt food legislatively by keeping SB 7 by Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle, SB 51 by Sen. Denny Altes, R-Fort Smith, and HB 2368 by Rep. Roger Smith, R-Hot Springs Village, from receiving committee approval. HB 2265 by Rep. Jan Judy, D-Fayetteville, which would have removed the retailers’ discount for prompt remission of sales tax collections, and HB 2322 by Rep. John Verkamp, R-Greenwood, which would have changed the laws on when a product comes to rest in Arkansas for tax purposes, also failed to receive committee approval. We also blocked or modified other attempts to “tweak” Arkansas tax laws.
The State Chamber/AIA facilitated modifications to SB 483 (Act 1273) by Sen. Jim Hill, D-Nashville. This important piece of legislation had support and opposition from the business community. With this legislation, Arkansas is one of the first 10 states nationally to make possible the collection of sales taxes on Internet and catalog sales.
The big tax issues during the session centered on how to overcome projected revenue shortfalls for the 2003-2005 biennium and fears about how high the price tag may be for education reform. Acting on its historic principals, the State Chamber/AIA Tax Committee drafted a letter to the legislature encouraging members to find funds that could be used to shore up the budget temporarily and then include revenue increases to pay back any borrowed funds with revenue enhancements expected to be considered in a fall special session. The House liked our suggestion and crafted a proposal that had 85 supporters. The Senate was fearful of using one-time funds to fix the budget and was determined to pass a permanent tax increase before the session ended. A $1 per pack increase in tobacco taxes was the Senate’s preferred revenue source. The State Chamber/AIA discouraged a 10 percent income tax surcharge, a 4 percent surcharge on utilities and the removal of significant tax exemptions. The Senate’s tobacco tax increase was killed in the House Rules Committee and the remaining proposals died when the House blocked a vote to extend the session.
Following the 84th General Assembly’s April 16 sine die adjournment, a special session was called to address the state’s budget shortfall. The tobacco tax increases, an income tax surcharge and a sales tax increase were the leading proposals presented as the special session convened May 5. The State Chamber/AIA asserted the position that we were opposed to a one-cent sales tax increase, but would not oppose the tobacco tax, a small temporary income tax surcharge or a small temporary sales tax increase. The legislature approved a 25-cent per pack increase on cigarettes, a 7 percent increase in smokeless tobacco taxes and a temporary 3 percent income tax surcharge.
The State Chamber/AIA has carefully exerted the position that it will only support significant tax increases in the anticipated fall special session IF substantial changes are made to the existing education system.
Unemployment Insurance: The State Chamber/AIA helped develop legislation that would protect the unemployment insurance trust fund and then helped pass SB 217 (Act 353) by Sen. Sharon Trusty, R-Russellville, to accomplish this. We also blocked two bills, HB 1348 by Rep. Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville, and HB 1189 by Rep. Jodie Mahony, D-El Dorado, that would have excessively burdened employers by requiring registration of new hires that included the hiring of independent contractors.
Transportation: The State Chamber/AIA supported the trucking industry by helping to pass HB 1030 (Act 551) by Rep. Don House, D-Walnut Ridge, which provides a sales tax exemption on the purchase of semi-tractors and trailers. This legislation is designed to help bring trucks back home to Arkansas that have been registering out-of-state. We also helped pass HB 1454 (Act 331) by Rep. Chris Thomason, D-Hope. It repeals onerous escort vehicle requirements, passed in 2001, for vehicles with lengths in excess of 90 feet.
Miscellaneous: The State Chamber/AIA worked with Attorney General Mike Beebe to develop a revised unfair practices act, HB 2720 (Act 1172) by Rep. Steve Napper, D-Little Rock, that helped the state without causing peril to the business community.
The State Chamber/AIA led the defeat of several dangerous legal proposals. The Fair Bargain Act, HB 1281 by Rep. Sam Ledbetter, D-Little Rock, would have greatly hampered the use of form contracts. HB 2573, also by Ledbetter, followed HB 1281, but was limited to poultry and livestock contracts. HB 2905 by Rep. Thomas Moore, D-Hot Springs, expanded damages and attorneys’ fees in unfair competition, deceptive act and deceptive trade practice cases. We helped modify HB 2732 (Act 1344) by Rep. Randy Rankin, D-Eudora, regarding automatically renewing contracts in a manner that was not harmful to the general business community.
We blocked HB 1402 by Rep. Paul Bookout, D-Jonesboro, that would have created burdensome retail price comparison laws. Our lobbying efforts also blocked HB 2432 by Rep. Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville, which had the potential to criminalize destruction of business records.
The State Chamber/AIA helped block two attempts—HB 2210 by Rep. Jan Judy, D-Fayetteville, and SB 822 by Sen. Sue Madison, D-Fayetteville—to charge a fee on beverage containers. We also helped defeat HB 2371 by Rep. Marvin Childers, R-Blytheville, which would have applied state freedom of information laws to many private entities. Our opposition also led to the modification of HB 2719 (Act 1714) by Rep. John Verkamp, R-Greenwood, which, as originally filed, would have eliminated the state Assessment Coordination Division.
We were part of a group that worked to defeat SB 231 by Sen. Jim Argue, D-Little Rock, which would have revised the state Pollution, Control and Ecology Commission. The State Chamber/AIA’s opposition defeated HB 1312 by Rep. Jim Lendall, D-Little Rock, on the House floor, which would have applied the federal “whistle blower” laws to almost every private business in the state.
TRACKED BILLS THAT BECAME LAW
Act 362 (HB 1193 by Rep. Marvin Childers) Revises the definition of "Federal reserve rate" for purposes of the Local Government Bond Act to be the "rate for primary credit, or its functional equivalent".
Act 554 (HB 1668 by Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson) Creates the Fair Mortgage Lending Act to provide licensing standards for mortgage brokers; repeals in part the Mortgage Loan Company and Loan Broker Act.
Act 1340 (HB 2598 by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Prohibits predatory lending in the home mortgage market.
Act 1346 (HB 2807 by Rep. Chris Thyer) Repeals Arkansas code 17-25-106, concerning the exemption from laws governing contractors for persons constructing grain bins on a farm.
Act 132 (HB 1149 by Rep. Keven Anderson) Repeals the requirement that members of the board of directors and the president of the Arkansas Development Finance Authority execute a surety bond conditioned upon the faithful performance of duties.
Act 182 (HB 1179 by Rep. Danny Ferguson) The Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003, providing various economic development incentives for creation of jobs.
Act 417 (HB 1373 by Rep. Doug Matayo) Requires the Science and Technology Authority to determine eligibility for funding from the Arkansas Research Matching Fund based on findings that proposed research is in fields having long term economic or commercial value to the state.
Act 857 (HB 1374 by Rep. Doug Matayo) Changes requirements for certifying qualified technology incubators, incubator clients, and technology-based enterprises for purposes of capital gain/loss consumption.
Act 1751 (HB 2228 by Rep. Sid Rosenbaum) Creates the "Arkansas General Obligation Economic Development Subprojects Bond and Project Funding Act".
Act 1160 (HB 2359 by Rep. Steve Napper) Establishes certain requirements to be met by institutions to be certified by the State Board of Workforce Education and Career Opportunities for the loan forgiveness programs for economic development.
Act 1814 (HB 2835 by Rep. Joyce Elliott) One Arkansas: The Arkansas Economic Development Expansion Act.
Act 104 (SB 84 by Joint Budget Committee) Reappropriates the unused balances of various prior appropriations to the Department of Economic Development.
Act 164 (SB 234 by Joint Budget Committee) Appropriates funds to the Department of Economic Development from the General Improvement Fund and other funds for grants, financial incentives, and infrastructure improvements.
Act 1289 (SB 501 by Sen. Percy Malone) Amends the authorized calculation of would-be property taxes for purposes of negotiation by cities and counties with for-profit entities for the lease or sale of property.
Act 64 (HB 1019 by Rep. Bill Stovall) Requires county treasurers to promptly transfer sales tax distributions received from the state to colleges for which the funds are designated.
Act 413 (HB 1040 by Rep. Linda Chesterfield) Requires the State Board of Education to administer a yearly assessment of reports and use the findings to reduce unnecessary paperwork.
Act 94 (HB 1115 by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Creates a temporary Joint Committee on Educational Adequacy, states its purpose, and provides for its dissolution on December 31, 2003.
Act 1309 (HB 1138 by Joint Budget Committee) Appropriates funds to the Department of Workforce Education for biennial operations and grants and aids to local school districts with special programs.
Act 603 (HB 1387 by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Requires public schools to create a parental involvement plan by Oct. 1, 2004.
Act 675 (HB 1439 by Rep. Joyce Elliott) Requires the State Board of Education to make rules requiring students grade 9-12 to schedule at least six hours of instructional time (a full day); provides for sanctioned off-campus programs to qualify; Provides for financial hardship.
Act 1738 (HB 1539 by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Prohibits local school boards, without approval of the State Board of Education, from entering contracts for: capital improvement exceeding $5,000, service exceeding 1 year or extending employment beyond June 30,2004, service raise over 5%.
Act 1746 (HB 2187 by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Creates the Critical Needs Minority Teacher Scholarship Program Commission, gives authority to the Higher Education Department to establish rules for the Program (formerly the Education Department), and changes scholarship eligibility requirements.
Act 1804 (HB 2352 by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Repeals the Emergency Secondary Education Load Program; creates the State Teacher Assistance Resource Program
Act 1761 (HB 2374 by Rep. Robert White) Provides for development of content standards and curriculum frameworks in the core academic areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, geography, and civics.
Act 1116 (HB 2375 by Rep. Robert White) Requires all courses offered by school districts be aligned with the Arkansas curriculum frameworks.
Act 1332 (HB 2376 by Rep. Robert White) Creates the Better Change for School Success Program to provide for a developmentally appropriate early care and education program for children ages 3 and 4 that would be mandatory for school districts in academic distress.
Act 1269 (HB 2511 by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Increases the amount of reduction allowed in the State Equalization Funding.
Act 1081 (HB 2535 by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Creates the Advisory Committee on Educational Access to Technology to review the technology needs of public schools and recommend a method to ensure that all school districts have substantially equal access to technology.
Act 1397 (HB 2608 by Rep. Will Bond) Requires a school district to encompass an area of at least 700 square miles but not more than 800 square miles in order to create a new district by detachment.
Act 1777 (HB 2657 by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Creates the Committee on Closing the Achievement Gap in Arkansas.
Act 1467 (HB 2697 by Rep. Mary Beth Green) The Omnibus Quality Education Act of 2003.
Act 1204 (HB 2714 by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Requires the Workforce Investment Board to study the integration of adult education services into their workforce centers system.
Act 1785 (HB 2775 by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Requires the Department of Education to define and publish academic standards and expected outcomes for students K-12.
Act 1399 (HB 2802 by Rep. Janet Johnson) Requires superintendents of each school districts provide to the State Board of Education a written statement that the district is in compliance with policies adopted by the personnel policy committee.
Act 1801 (HB 2842 by Rep. Robert White) Amends Arkansas code 6-17-2 to provide for an Interim Policies Committee in the event of consolidation or reorganization of the school districts in the state.
Act 1791 (HB 2844 by Rep. Robert White) Creates the Two-Year College and Technical Institute Study Committee to study and report to the legislature and the governor; requires the Department of Higher Education to staff the committee.
Act 609 (SB 190 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Amends the Arkansas Existing Workforce Training Act qualifications for companies and consortia; increases the maximum instructional hour rate from fifty to sixty dollars; precludes safety training from funding by grant or tax credit.
Act 1272 (SB 242 by Sen. Jim Argue) Requires all school districts to participate in public school choice.
Act 1181 (SB 307 by Sen. Shane Broadway) Creates the Joint Committee on Educational Facilities to establish assessment procedures, review, and make recommendations for cost, funding, and renovations of school facilities.
Act 1284 (SB 319 by Sen. Shane Broadway) Appropriates $700,000 to the Bureau of Legislative Research from the Department of Education Fund Account for study expenses of the Joint Committee on Educational Facilities.
Act 671 (SB 764 by Sen. Hank Wilkins) Requires a designated member of the school board to serve as primary board disbursing officer and requires both the member's signature and the district superintendent's signature on all warrants or checks.
Act 1192 (SB 812 by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Repeals the Distance Learning Demonstration Project Act of 1995 and replaces it with the Distance Learning Development Project Act of 2003.
Act 1796 (SB 882 by Sen. Shane Broadway) Creates the Workforce Improvement Grant Program.
Act 33 (HB 1062 by Joint Budget Committee) Appropriates supplemental funds to the Department of Finance and Administration for the payment of unemployment compensation claims.
Act 1341 (HB 2604 by Rep. Preston Scroggin) Authorizes the disclosure of information to the State Highway and Transportation Department from the files of the Arkansas Employment Security Department.
Act 486 (HB 1513 by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Authorizes the Department of Environmental Quality to institute civil action to forfeit a surety bond purchased by licensed installers or testers of underground storage tanks.
Act 1180 (SB 266 by Sen. Percy Malone) Provides an exception to the Pollution Control and Ecology Commission's charge to eliminate the source of pollution of a stream with more than 250 parts per million of chlorides when another standard is "provided for by law or regulation."
Act 745 (SB 268 by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Creates a position of floodplain administrator, to be designated by cities or counties to administer state, federal, and local laws related to management of flood-prone areas.
Act 179 (HB 1280 by Rep. Roger Smith) Amends the Arkansas Health Care Consumer Act to require health care benefit plan issued after the date of this act providing mastectomy benefits to conform with the requirements of the federal Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998.
Act 1358 (HB 1343 by Rep. Steve Napper) Amends the Small Employer Health Insurance Purchasing Group Act to delete the provision prohibiting health insurance purchasing groups from requiring contracts in excess of 12 month; deletes requirement of written rejection of state-mandated health care benefits for optional health benefit plans.
Act 1359 (HB 1344 by Rep. Steve Napper) Amends the Arkansas Health Insurance Consumer Choice Act to remove the requirement that accident and health insurers must obtain a written rejection of state-mandated health benefits from plan group members when the insurer offers an optional plan that does not provide state-mandated benefits.
Act 516 (HB 1753 by Rep. Gary Biggs) Authorizes the state Insurance Commissioner to exam and "investigate" and to issue cease and desist orders against unauthorized health care benefit providers and provide civil and criminal penalties.
Act 676 (HB 1773 by Rep. Cecile Bledsoe) Revises the Rural Medical Practice Student Loan Program to change the definition of primary care medicine and to extend the time to begin loan repayments.
Act 1392 (HB 2240 by Rep. Steve Napper) Creates the Joint Interim Committee on Health Insurance and Prescription Drugs to study health insurance coverage, drug pricing structures and cost containment, and the quality of healthcare in Arkansas.
Act 1035 (HB 2241 by Rep. Steve Napper) Requires the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement to maintain a program providing access to health data, including public health databases, health care use data, and financial data related to procure of health care.
Act 1327 (HB 2279 by Rep. Steve Napper) Requires hospitals to participate in the Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool by collecting 2% surcharge on services rendered, remitting the funds to the pool, and providing reports and other information as required.
Act 866 (HB 2286 by Rep. Jay Bradford) Requires prescriptions for contact lenses to be released without additional charge upon completion of the examination and fitting; requires registration of out-of-state contact lens vendors.
Act 1044 (HB 2413 by Rep. Steve Napper) Creates the Arkansas Safety-Net Benefit Fund consisting of revenues from voluntary employer payments.
Act 660 (SB 150 by Sen. Ed Wilkinson) Establishes a framework for community-based health care access programs, including community-based health cooperatives to administer a care access program for uninsured persons not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or similar programs.
Act 1440 (SB 609 by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Provides a tax credit for parents of infants with catastrophic metabolic disorders for up to $2,400 per child per year.
Act 1293 (SB 610 by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Requires newborn infants to be tested for sickle-cell anemia and other genetic disorders of metabolism; requires newborn insurance coverage to apply to all metabolic disorders.
Act 470 (SB 696 by Sen. Terry Smith) Requires the House and Senate interim committees on insurance and commerce to conduct a joint study of the feasibility of establishing a reinsurance pool for small employer group carriers of health insurance.
Act 860 (HB 1747 by Rep. Jimmy Milligan) Amends the Arkansas Capital Development Corporation Act to include additional business entities and to revise income tax credits.
Act 662 (SB 331 by Sen. Paul Miller) Prescribes calculation of the credit on Arkansas income tax for income tax paid to other states by a multi-state taxpayer.
Act 663 (SB 332 by Sen. Paul Miller) Makes various changes to Arkansas code to reflect the recent changes to the income tax provisions of the federal internal revenue code.
Act 1286 (SB 334 by Sen. Paul Miller) Requires a deduction for interest or intangible-related expenses paid by the taxpayer to a related party only be allowed if the interest or expenses are subject to income tax by a state government or qualifying foreign government.
Act 1183 (SB 336 by Sen. Paul Miller) Amends the Uniform Division of Income for Tax Purposes Act, clarifies who is taxable in another state for the purposes of allocation and apportionment.
Act 1718 (SB 340 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Makes provision for claiming an erroneously filed tax or tax overpayment by taxpayer not required to file a return; revises procedures for appealing a tax assessment after payment of the assessment.
Act 1287 (SB 363 by Sen. Jerry Bookout) The Biodiesel Incentive Act, creates an income tax credit for facilities and equipment related to the wholesale or retail distribution of advanced biofuels, to equal 5% of the equipment cost.
Act 774 (SB 432 by Sen. John Paul Capps) Changes the due dates for filing state income tax returns to match the due dates for federal income tax returns; revises schedule for payment of corporate and individual taxes for fiscal and calendar years, including estimated taxes.
Act 1017 (SB 555 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Authorizes employers to file an annual withholding tax return if the amount withheld from the wages of the employees is less than $1,000 (previously $200).
Act 1440 (SB 609 by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Provides a tax credit for parents of infants with catastrophic metabolic disorders for up to $2,400 per child per year.
Act 924 (HB 1099 by Rep. Wayne Nichols) Repeals the saw mill labor restriction concerning workday length.
Act 925 (HB 1100 by Rep. Wayne Nichols) Revises provisions for payment of employees to include payment by check or direct deposit.
Act 1309 (HB 1138 by Joint Budget Committee) Appropriates funds to the Department of Workforce Education for biennial operations and grants and aids to local school districts with special programs.
Act 1055 (HB 1598 by Rep. Jay Bradford) Authorizes the Board of Electrical Examiners to assess civil penalties against persons performing electrical work without a license.
Act 1750 (HB 2223 by Rep. Roger Smith) Provides regulation and licensure for professional employer organizations.
Act 289 (SB 50 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Repeals statute prohibiting conditions and conduct that are considered immoral from taking place in all-female workplaces.
Act 358 (SB 337 by Sen. Ed Wilkinson) Authorizes the Department of Labor to consider comparable mining testing in other jurisdictions to be sufficient to meet state hiring requirements for fire bosses, hoisting engineers, and mine foremen.
Act 601 (SB 651 by Sen. Steve Faris) Includes federal funds, property or manpower administered or controlled by a public employer in the Arkansas Whistle-Blower Act.
Act 1795 (SB 820 by Sen. Sue Madison) Amends the payroll deduction section of the General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law.
Act 1357 (SB 913 by Sen. Hank Wilkins) Amends Arkansas code 6-17-208 to allow all school employees the right to file grievances and have them heard; prohibits reprisals of any kind against any individual who files a grievance.
Act 1306 (SB 942 by Sen. Tracy Steele) Amends the transitional employment assistance program.
Act 32 (HB 1002 by Rep. Travis Boyd) Removes landlords' liens on crops from provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code; makes landlords' liens superior to all other liens on the same collateral, as had been the law before it was inadvertently changed by Act 1439 of 2002.
Act 649 (HB 1038 by Rep. Danny Ferguson) Creates "The Civil Justice Reform Act of 2003", revising allocation of liability, standards for assessing punitive damages, venue, appeal, and false pleadings.
Act 1471 (HB 1263 by Rep. Mike Hathorn) As Amended: Amends Act 649 of 2003 to specify the limits on punitive damage awards therein of the greater of $250,000 or three times compensatory damages not to exceed $1 million, applies for each plaintiff in an action.
Act 935 (HB 1326 by Rep. Jim Medley) Makes the actual discharge of a firearm by a person the proximate cause of damage or death in product liability actions, exempting manufacturers and distributors from liability for the "inherent capability" of the firearm.
Act 1315 (HB 1543 by Rep. LeRoy Dangeau) Repeals existing law related to procurement of professional services and adds requirements making professional services contracts comply with state procurement law and budgetary procedures.
Act 487 ( HB 1544 by Rep. LeRoy Dangeau) Amends various sections of state procurement law.
Act 1030 (HB 1983 by Rep. John Verkamp) Abolishes the Rule in Shelley's Case as it applies to any instrument or interest in real property.
Act 1473 (HB 2211 by Rep. Steve Napper) Makes various corrections to the Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated, addressing obsolete and incorrect language, etc.
Act 1162 (HB 2391 by Rep. Bill Stovall) Provides that long-term care facilities certified under Title XIX of the Social Security Act are subject to civil judgment and penalties and sets the statute of limitations at three years for civil action.
Act 1465 (HB 2580 by Rep. Mike Creekmore) Prohibits the displaying of fictitious or misleading names and telephone numbers on caller identification services.
Act 1172 (HB 2720 by Rep. Steve Napper) Revises the Unfair Practices Act and the subchapter on monopolies generally.
Act 1344 (HB 2732 by Rep. Randy Rankin) Prohibits contracts which automatically renew private security services.
Act 298 (SB 269 by Sen. Jim Hill) Establishes circumstances in which the state does not waive its sovereign immunity: entering into negotiations or communications relating to the possible settlement of "pending or threatened claims or litigation".
Act 610 (SB 303 by Sen. Jim Luker) Repeals provisions related to the right to disclaim interest in property and creates the "Disclaimer of Property Interest Act."
Act 342 (HB 1554 by Rep. Cecile Bledsoe) Amends the Joint County and Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize a sanitation authority to own and operate wastewater facilities and exercise eminent domain.
Act 1772 (HB 2476 by Rep. Bob Adams) Allows municipalities or other public instrumentalities to create jail boards, issue revenue bonds, and exercise eminent domain for purposes of construction or expansion of a jail.
Act 624 (SB 407 by Sen. Gilbert Baker) Creates the Affordable Housing Accessibility Act, establishing rules for municipal regulation of mobile homes and manufactured homes (construction, placement).
Act 1190 (SB 770 by Sen. Mary Anne Salmon) Authorizes cities of the first and second class to create criminal nuisance abatement boards, establishes appeal procedures.
Act 1191 (SB 771 by Sen. Mary Anne Salmon) Repeals Arkansas code 26-77-101, the limitation on the amount of penalty city councils or aldermen can assess for violation of city occupational tax and license requirements.
Act 750 (HB 1116 by Rep. Jay Martin) Prohibits the possession, use or distribution of urine or adulterants intended to alter urine or other body fluids, with the intent of defrauding drug tests.
Act 472 (HB 1453 by Rep. Steve Napper) Authorizes employers or "a trust" providing life, health, retirement, or similar benefits to employees to obtain an interest in the employees life insurance policy as a beneficiary or owner; establishes restrictions.
Act 494 (HB 1613 by Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson) Authorizes the Development Finance Authority to enter into an interest rate exchange agreement or similar contract, establishes rules.
Act 859 (HB 1622 by Rep. Steve Napper) Prohibits retroactive cancellation of group accident and health insurance policies due to nonpayment of premium by an employer earlier than 60 days before the date the insurer notifies the policyholder.
Act 1223 (HB 1635 by Rep. Michael Lamoureux) Amends various provisions of the Employment Security Law.
Act 1059 (HB 1652 by Rep. Preston Scroggin) Authorizes the Soil & Water Conservation Commission to train and certify persons to prepare nutrient management plans and to certify nutrient applicators, generally referring to the application of chicken litter to farmland.
Act 1060 (HB 1653 by Rep. Preston Scroggin) Authorizes the Soil & Water Conservation Commission to maintain a registry of poultry feeding operations for assistance in controlling non-point source pollution resulting from the disposal of chicken litter.
Act 1061 (HB 1654 by Rep. Preston Scroggin) Creates the Soil Nutrient Application and Poultry Litter Utilization Act, naming certain watershed areas as "nutrient surplus areas" and prohibiting use of named nutrients within that area without an approved nutrient management plan.
Act 1027 (HB 1800 by Rep. Jay Bradford) Amends the Solid Waste Management and Recycling Fund Act to reflect the most recent census findings for disposition of funds.
Act 964 (HB 1943 by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Amends provisions of Arkansas code 15-72-302 pertaining to well drilling units, Oil and Gas Commission authority, drilling locations, and waste prevention.
Act 1750 (HB 2223 by Rep. Roger Smith) Provides regulation and licensure for professional employer organizations.
Act 1114 (HB 2344 by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Increases the maximum payment for compensatory damages from the Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund form $1M to $1.5M dollars; allows owner/operators who are unable to expend the minimum for reimbursement eligibility to be eligible.
Act 1760 (HB 2363 by Rep. Phillip Jackson) Creates the Young and Beginning Farmer Advisory Board to advise agriculturally-related state agencies.
Act 1268 (HB 2406 by Rep. Bill Stovall) Requires cities and counties to compensate the owner for the taking, elimination, alteration or diminishment of a legally permitted outdoor advertising sign.
Act 1044 (HB 2413 by Rep. Steve Napper) Creates the Arkansas Safety-Net Benefit Fund consisting of revenues from voluntary employer payments.
Act 1287 (SB 363 by Sen. Jerry Bookout) Creates the Biodiesel Incentive Act, an income tax credit for facilities and equipment related to the wholesale or retail distribution of advanced biofuels, to equal 5% of the equipment cost.
Act 624 (SB 407 by Sen. Gilbert Baker) Creates the Affordable Housing Accessibility Act, establishing rules for municipal regulation of mobile homes and manufactured homes (construction, placement).
Act 466 (SB 424 by Sen. Gilbert Baker) Amends the Arkansas Captive Insurer law.
Act 1184 (SB 443 by Sen. Percy Malone) Increases the fees for boiler permits and for licensing and examination of boiler operators.
Act 1003 (SB 731 by Sen. Ed Wilkinson) Creates the Arkansas Soldiers' and Airmen's Civil Relief Act, allows soldiers and airmen of the Arkansas National Guard who are called into active military service of more than 180 days to terminate the lease for a primary residence.
Act 272 (HB 1200 by Rep. Ken Cowling) Provides for extension of the excise tax on beer beyond its former expiration date of June 30, 2003, effectively funding the Arkansas Better Chance Program of the Department of Education and subsidizing low-income child care.
Act 374 (HB 1614 by Rep. Steve Oglesby) Makes technical changes to the provisions for application of local taxes to items delivered outside of a city or county.
Act 965 (HB 1959 by Rep. Roger Smith) Requires state classification and taxation of limited liability companies and partnerships to be the same as federal.
Act 826 (HB 1982 by Rep. Steve Napper) Amends the setoff against state tax refund act, making the Employment Benefits Division a 'claimant agency' and authorizing it to penalize school districts and agencies that cause unreimbursed expenses to the trust funds.
Act 831 (HB 2198 by Rep. Phillip Jacobs) Gives the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration the power to recover and collect delinquent taxes, rather than the Attorney General.
Act 1792 (HB 2853 by Rep. Jay Martin) Authorizes cities or counties to levy an emergency telephone service charge of up to 10% to support emergency public safety communications centers.
Act 336 (SB 55 by Sen. Denny Altes) Provides for adoption of revised Internal Revenue Code provisions regarding deductibility from income of contributions to medical savings accounts.
Act 645 (SB 60 by Sen. Denny Altes) Repeals the estate tax.
Act 218 (SB 107 by Sen. Steve Faris) Adopts into state tax law recent changes to the retirement provisions of the federal Internal Revenue Code, including income tax treatment of deferred compensation and educational IRAs.
Act 993 (SB 154 by Sen. Ed Wilkinson) Creates $2.00 tax credit per ton of coal mined in Arkansas up to 50,000 tons in a tax year, and $3.00 per ton thereafter, provided it is mined in a month with an average price per ton exceeding $40.00 and the coal is sold.
Act 353 (SB 217 by Sen. Sharon Trusty) Increases the maximum level for various categories of remuneration that is not subject to employment security tax; sets a maximum weekly unemployment benefit of $345 per week.
Act 747 (SB 335 by Sen. Paul Miller) Clarifies that the limitation on the two percent (2%) discount for prompt payment of gross receipts tax does not apply to local gross receipts taxes and repeals outdated provisions of the code related to the two percent (2%) discount.
Act 1084 (SB 342 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Creates a penalty on taxpayer making incomplete payment of taxes, licenses, or fees by means of an electronic funds transfer.
Act 1086 (SB 346 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Clarifies that transfers of land between partnerships, limited liability companies, and other business entities as a result of a merger or reorganization are exempt from the real estate transfer tax.
Act 1191 (SB 771 by Sen. Mary Anne Salmon) Repeals Arkansas code 26-77-101, the limitation on the amount of penalty city councils or aldermen can assess for violation of city occupational tax and license requirements.
SCR 19 (by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Requests the House and Senate Interim Committees on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development study the economic development value of providing tax exemptions for energy used in the manufacturing process. Approved by the Governor.
Act 1376 (HB 1332 by Rep. Larry Prater) Allows a homestead owner up to 120 days after the date of a sale of tax-delinquent land to redeem his land if he did not receive actual notice of the sale.
Act 1026 (HB 1734 by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to compensate school districts that have a millage rollback attributable to Amendment 79 of the Arkansas Constitution for the biennium.
Act 1714 (HB 2719 by Rep. John Verkamp) Abolishes the Assessment Coordination Department and transfers its powers and duties to the Public Service Commission.
Act 646 (SB 159 by Sen. Jim Hill) Amends Arkansas code 26-26-1120 to change the definition of 'disabled person' for purposes of real property assessment and taxation to require that a person must have received permanent and total disability insurance benefits during the calendar year at issue.
Act 295 (SB 196 by Sen. Jerry Bookout) Revises description of county clerks duties related to preparing the county tax books; repeals various obsolete sections regarding county tax collections.
Act 214 (SB 238 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Allows the Revenue Division of the Department of Finance and Administration to send final notices of assessment to taxpayers by regular mail, rather than certified mail.
Act 1289 (SB 501 by Sen. Percy Malone) Amends the authorized calculation of would-be property taxes for purposes of negotiation by cities and counties with for-profit entities for the lease or sale of property.
Act 1354 (SB 560 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Increases the penalty for claiming more than one homestead property tax credit per year from 10% to 100% of the amount unlawfully claimed, and provides for repayment, appeal, and other procedures.
Act 1443 (SB 660 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Establishes responsibilities for entities levying new taxes or fees which the county is required to collect.
Act 1307 (HB 1076 by Rep. John Verkamp) Amends Arkansas code 18-28-403 to require all mineral proceeds which remain unclaimed for two (previously seven) years to be presumed abandoned.
Act 1030 (HB 1983 by Rep. John Verkamp) Abolishes the Rule in Shelley's Case as it applies to any instrument or interest in real property.
Act 610 (SB 303 by Sen. Jim Luker) Repeals provisions related to the right to disclaim interest in property and creates the "Disclaimer of Property Interest Act."
Act 1732 (HB 1151 by Rep. Mike Creekmore) Authorizes additional method of notification of insufficient funds under Arkansas' hot check law (affidavit of mailing).
Act 274 (HB 1269 by Rep. Mike Creekmore) Prohibits the printing of more than the last five digits of a credit card number on a transaction receipt, with exceptions.
Act 858 (HB 1525 by Rep. Keven Anderson) Requires retailers to segregate material harmful to minors in a manner that physically prohibits access to the material by minors.
Act 866 (HB 2286 by Rep. Jay Bradford) Requires prescriptions for contact lenses to be released without additional charge upon completion of the examination and fitting; requires registration of out-of-state contact lens vendors.
Act 1344 (HB 2732 by Rep. Randy Rankin) Prohibits contracts which automatically renew private security services.
Act 1082 (HB 2755 by Rep. Shirley Walters) Expands the definition of "state of emergency" regarding unfair pricing practices.
Act 1088 (SB 500 by Sen. Percy Malone) Increasing the amount a prosecuting attorney may charge for process of a hot check of an amount up to $100 from $5 to $15; provides for other forms of presentment in addition to check, order, and draft under the hot check law.
Act 1448 (SB 762 by Sen. Tracy Steele) The Arkansas Price Gouging Act of 2003, prohibits the sale of food, gasoline, emergency supplies, etc. for a price in excess of 10% over its usual price in the event of a state of emergency following an act of war or terror attack.
RULES-ETHICS, LOBBYING, VOTING
Act 248 (HB 1308 by Rep. Jim Lendall) Removes the requirement that for a candidate to accept contributions for an election race, his name must appear on the ballot for that election.
Act 195 (SB 19 by Sen. Steve Faris) Makes various changes to campaign finance and disclosure laws.
Act 551 (HB 1030 by Rep. Don House) Exempts from sales tax the proceeds from sale of tractor trucks in excess of $9150, and the proceeds from sale of semi-trailers in excess of $1000; forgives unpaid sales tax and penalties on purchase of trucks that were registered out of state.
Act 365 (HB 1412 by Rep. Travis Boyd) Revises the reference to "custom manufactured homes" for purposes of the sales and use tax exemption to "modular home."
Act 1112 (HB 1634 by Rep. Steve Napper) Specifies services provided by a health, fitness, or private club are not subject to sales tax unless the service itself is taxable; specifies that membership fees to such clubs are taxable.
Act 1751 (HB 2228 by Rep. Sid Rosenbaum) Creates the "Arkansas General Obligation Economic Development Subprojects Bond and Project Funding Act".
Act 1808 (HB 2453 by Rep. LeRoy Dangeau) Deletes from 4-75-709(b) the requirement that cigarette retailers must collect sales tax on the full selling price of the product before deducting manufacturer's coupons.
Act 335 (SB 54 by Sen. Denny Altes) Requires the Finance and Administration Department to notify cities and counties when it assesses additional mixed drink taxes against taxpayers within that jurisdiction.
Act 664 (SB 350 by Sen. Bobby Glover) Changes the reference period for determining if a sales tax reporter may be put on quarterly report basis from "the month of January 1990" to the average monthly tax liability during the previous fiscal year.
Act 665 (SB 351 by Sen. Bobby Glover) Requires retailers with average net sales of more than $200,000 per month to make prepayment of sales tax by electronic funds transfer.
Act 1273 (SB 483 by Sen. Jim Hill) Revises various provisions of sales and use tax law to allow Arkansas to join the multi-state Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement.
Act 1758 (HB 2327 by Rep. Joyce Dees) Provides that the Governor will make all appointments to the Workforce Investment Board.
Act 1714 (HB 2719 by Rep. John Verkamp) Creates a task force to study the Assessment Coordination Department.
Act 298 (SB 269 by Sen. Jim Hill) Establishes circumstances in which the state does not waive its sovereign immunity: entering into negotiations or communications relating to the possible settlement of "pending or threatened claims or litigation".
Act 1725 (SB 806 by Rep. Tracy Steele) Specifies certain limitations on the preparation of bills and resolutions for the General Assembly by the Bureau of Legislative Research.
Act 1019 (HB 1008 by Sen. Mike Creekmore) Prohibits the transmission of unsolicited commercial and sexually explicit electronic mail.
Act 551 (HB 1030 by Rep. Don House) Exempts from sales tax the proceeds from sale of tractor trucks in excess of $9150, and the proceeds from sale of semi-trailers in excess of $1000; forgives unpaid sales tax and penalties on purchase of trucks that were registered out of state.
Act 331 (HB 1454 by Rep. Chris Thomason) Repeals the requirement for all vehicles with length in excess of ninety feet to be accompanied by escort vehicle(s) when traveling on streets and highways.
Act 863 (HB 2184 by Rep. Don House) Authorizes public service and utility vehicles of any type to stop and park on the highway for the necessary amount of time to perform the service.
Act 1158 (HB 2325 by Rep. Jay Bradford) Amends the Regional Intermodal Facilities Act to change the definition of intermodal facility to include those with "one or more" modes of interconnected movement of freight, commerce, or passengers (previously "more than one").
Act 1117 (HB 2401 by Rep. Sid Rosenbaum) Repeals the requirement for a motor carrier engaged in interstate or intrastate commerce to file an annual report to the state and repeals the penalties for failure to file or filing a false report.
Act 849 (HB 2559 by Rep. Sandra Prater) Delegates authority to the State Highway Commission to regulate the transportation of explosives over the state highways.
Act 850 (HB 2560 by Rep. Sandra Prater) Increases the maximum legal length of buses and semi trailers allowed on highways and streets.
Act 1121 (HB 2758 by Rep. Sid Rosenbaum) Authorizes the inspection of bills of lading and other documentation under the Arkansas Motor Carrier Act.
Act 296 (SB 218 by Sen. Dave Bisbee) Revises the authority for the State Highway Commission related to the construction of turnpike projects and issuance of revenue bonds to finance turnpike projects.
Act 217 (SB 219 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Authorizes driver license exams to be taken outside the applicant's county; makes unlawful to fraudulently obtain or help another obtain a commercial driver license; repeals requirement for annual inspection of commercial vehicles.
Act 460 (SB 305 by Sen. Dave Bisbee) Authorizes the State Highway Commission to enter into design-build project contracts for highway construction.
Act 463 (SB 365 by Sen. Jerry Bookout) Makes technical changes regarding one-ton truck and van registration class; prescribes distribution of penalties for violations of the motor vehicle registration and licensing laws.
Act 854 (SB 391 by Sen. John Paul Capps) Authorizes the Office of Motor Vehicle to suspend or revoke the registration of commercial vehicles when the owner of a truck is not authorized to operate by the United States Department of Transportation due to safety-related violations.
Act 204 (HB 1114 by Rep. Steve Napper) Repeals the Electric Consumer Choice Act of 1999; limits and requires PSC approval of recovery of transition costs incurred by utilities in attempting to conform with the repealed act.
Act 111 (HB 1157 by Rep. Shirley Walters) Amends Arkansas code 12-10-318 to authorize governing authorities that levy emergency telephone service charges of up to 12% of the tariff rate to decrease the percentage rate to not less than 4% for customers of a telephone service with fewer than 200 access lines.
Act 174 (HB 1327 by Rep. Joyce Dees) Creates the Alternative Fuels Commission, comprised of six members from the oil, gas, and electric industries and one at-large member, all to be appointed by the Governor.
Act 366 (HB 1413 by Rep. Marvin Childers) Authorizes municipally owned electric utility systems entering into an interlocal agreement to create a separate legal entity known as a Municipal Electric Consolidated Authority; establishes requirements and regulations for consolidated authorities.
Act 1317 (HB 1571 by Rep. Steve Napper) Prescribes steps to be used to establish the value of property purchased by a public utility that is to be included in the utility's rate base.
Act 1764 (HB 2409 by Rep. Bill Stovall) Excludes charges for extended area services in determining rate increases under Arkansas code 23-17-412.
Act 1766 (HB 2441 by Rep. Bill Stovall) Amends the Arkansas Telecommunications Regulatory Reform Act.
Act 1788 (HB 2817 by Rep. Jeff Gillespie) Restructures the Arkansas Intrastate Carrier Common Line Pool to promote lower intrastate toll rates.
Act 120 (SB 173 by Sen. Tracy Steele) Establishes the Arkansas Weatherization Assistance Fund for use by the Dept of Human Services to supplement the weatherization program; establishes the Alternative fuels Fund for support of the Alternative Fuels Commission and research grants.
Act 668 (SB 723 by Sen. Paul Miller) Amends Arkansas Code 12-10-303 to prohibit telephone companies from including extended service area charges for emergency telephone service only if the service charge has been levied in a county and the quorum court's resolution included extended service area charges.
Act 1237 (HB 1965 by Rep. David Haak) Makes an adverse reaction to smallpox vaccine a compensable injury for purposes of workers' compensation.
Act 227 (SB 260 by Joint Budget Committee) Appropriates funds to the Workers' Compensation Commission for biennial operations.
Act 468 (SB 528 by Sen. Terry Smith) Provides for the waiver of the requirement for group self-insurers to maintain excess insurance, provided the Workers' Compensation Commission deems it to be financially stable; sunset clause of July 1, 2005.
SCR 28 (by Sen. Paul Miller) Requests a study of the desirability of exempting sole proprietors and partnerships from liability under workers' compensation laws. Approved by the Governor.
TRACKED BILLS THAT DID NOT BECOME LAW
HB 2776 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Prohibits predatory lending in the home mortgage market by limiting late payment charges. Died in House committee.
HJR 1009 (by Rep. Chris Thyer) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution making the maximum rate of interest on general loans 5% above the rate established by the Economic Development Commission, based on the then current Federal Primary Credit Rate. Died in House committee.
HJR 1018 (by Rep. Roger Smith) Proposes amendment to the Constitution setting the maximum rate of interest for consumer credit at 17% per annum and the maximum fixed rate as the current "formula rate" as defined. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 1103 (by Rep. Booker Clemons) Requires Highway Department employees and contractors to be responsible for monitoring signs and barricades to ensure that traffic is unimpeded. Died in House committee.
HJR 1001 (by Rep. Charles Ormond) Proposes amendment to the Constitution giving 4-year terms to city and county elected officers, circuit and district judges, and state representatives; allows either 10 or 12 years service for legislators. Died in House committee.
HJR 1005 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution that would prohibit the state from adopting by reference any portions of the federal Internal Revenue Code for purposes of Arkansas tax code. Died in House committee.
HJR 1007 (by Rep. Marvin Parks) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring a simple majority in each house to reduce a rate of tax or fee; requiring less than three-fourths to levy or increase fees that will generate less than $10,000,000 new revenue. Died in House committee.
HJR 1008 (by Rep. Chris Thyer) Proposes amendment to the Constitution providing for annual sessions of the General Assembly and establishing the official length of session at thirty days. Died in House committee.
HJR 1009 (by Rep. Chris Thyer) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution making the maximum rate of interest on general loans 5% above the rate established by the Economic Development Commission, based on the then current Federal Primary Credit Rate. Died in House committee.
HJR 1010 (by Rep. Charles Ormond) Proposes amendment to the Constitution changing the number of signatures required on initiative and referendum petitions to twenty-thousand (formerly a percentage of legal voters); establishes procedures for the Attorney General. Died in House committee.
HJR 1012 (by Rep. Gary Biggs) Proposes amendment to the Constitution to distribute half of the monies collected from the excise taxes levied under Amendment 75 to general revenue, thereby reducing the funding (but keeping the ratios) specified in the Amendment by 50%. Died in House committee.
HJR 1013 (by Rep. Mike Hathorn) Proposes amendment to the Constitution making technical changes to Amendment 35 and deleting requirements for appropriation of funds to and allocation of funds by the Game and Fish Commission. Died in House committee.
HJR 1014 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Proposes amendment to the Constitution deleting a provision requiring the millage rates for personal, utility, and regulated carrier property to be equal to the millage rate for real property, and deleting a provision for their equalization. Died in House committee.
HJR 1015 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring approval of the General Assembly by concurrent resolution or by a committee designated by the Assembly for valid regulations made by a state agency. Died in House committee.
HJR 1016 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Proposes amendment to the Constitution limiting the General Assembly to three proposed acts for referendum per regular session; establishes other referendum requirements. Died in House committee.
HJR 1017 (by Rep. Barbara King) Proposes amendment to the Constitution authorizing the General Assembly to establish a state lottery and requiring the net proceeds to be appropriated solely for educational programs and purposes. Died in House committee.
HJR 1018 (by Rep. Roger Smith) Proposes amendment to the Constitution setting the maximum rate of interest for consumer credit at 17% per annum and the maximum fixed rate as the current "formula rate" as defined. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HJR 1019 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to exempt from personal property tax all motor vehicles, boats, boat motors, and all-terrain vehicles. Died in House committee.
HJR 1020 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to repeal the 5% and 10% limitations on increases in real property assessment values. Died in House committee.
HJR 1021 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to repeal Amendment 47, which prohibits the state from levying ad valorem taxes. Died in House committee.
HJR 1022 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to limit the increase in property tax revenue in the year after reappraisal or reassessment to no more than 5%, excluding revenue from newly discovered or new construction and improvements. Died in House committee.
HJR 1023 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to change the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax for support of public school from 25 mills to 35 mills. Died in House committee.
HJR 1024 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to allow for a state property tax for support of public education. Died in House committee.
HJR 1025 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to change the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax for support of public schools from 25 mills to 30 mills. Died in House committee.
HJR 1026 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to allow the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax for support of public schools to be reduced by other revenue designated by the school district for maintenance and operation. Died in House committee.
HJR 1027 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to refer to voters the question of whether to issue bonds for construction and maintenance of public school facilities. Died in House committee.
HJR 1029 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes amendment to the Constitution authorizing the General Assembly to assess commercial property at a higher ration than noncommercial property for purposes of taxation. Died in House committee.
SJR 1 (by Sen. Steve Faris) Proposes amendment to the Constitution establishing the right of persons to hunt, fish, and harvest game in accordance with law and regulations. Died in Senate Committee.
SJR 3 (by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress) Proposes amendment to the Constitution authorizing limited home rule for municipalities, including authority to remove incumbents by petition, redefining "legal voters", and changing the number of voters required for local initiative. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 4 (by Sen. Shawn Womack) Proposes amendment to the Constitution providing for annual sessions of the General Assembly and establishing the official length of session at sixty days. Died on House floor.
SJR 5 (by Sen. Jerry Bookout) Proposes amendment to the Constitution providing for annual sessions of the General Assembly and limiting the agenda in even-numbered years to appropriating and restricting funds, raising or decreasing revenues, and emergencies. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 6 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring the state to assume all debt of public school districts; authorizes the state to levy a property tax for the sole purpose of school funding and the General Assembly to limit local school taxes. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 9 (by Sen. Bobby Glover) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution requiring a 3/5 vote of each house to remove a tax exemption, or to levy or increase any tax or fee that does not already require a 3/4 vote; allows tax decrease or tax exemption by majority vote. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 10 (by Sen. Dave Bisbee) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution revising the treatment of newly discovered real property, new construction, and improvements when calculating millage rollbacks under provisions of Amendment 59. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 11 (by Sen. Dave Bisbee) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to require adjustment of the assessed value upon sale of a homestead, based on the market value at the time of sale. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 12 (by Sen. Dave Bisbee) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to include excess debt service millage in the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax required for school districts. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 13 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution allowing the state to assume the capital improvement debt of public schools, to receive property tax proceeds pledged to the debt, and to issue bonds for future school capital improvements. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 14 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to increase the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax for support of public school from 25 mills to 28 mills. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 15 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to increase the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax for support of public school from 25 mills to 30 mills. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 16 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to increase the uniform ad valorem property tax for support of public schools from 25 mills to 32 mills. Died in House committee.
SJR 17 (by Sen. Dave Bisbee) Proposes Amendment to the Constitution giving the General Assembly exclusive authority to "determine by law any structure, governance, and costs" of public education, and making technical changes to Amendment 14. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 18 (by Sen. Paul Miller) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring that the amount and formulation of funding to school districts be determined by the General Assembly by law, not subject to review by any court of the state. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 19 (by Sen. Gilbert Baker) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring the gross receipts tax to be levied on proceeds derived from professional services, and providing for the exemption of any service or group of services from the tax. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 20 (by Sen. Jim Holt) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring public schools to be funded, maintained, and controlled by local school boards; authorizing the General Assembly to spend funds in support of local districts but without authority to supervise. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2762 (by Rep. Steven Jones) Requires minority subcontractors in all state contracts over $1,000,000. Died on House calendar.
HB 2824 (Rep. Roger Smith)
Provides limitations on damages related to construction defect claims. Died in House committee.
HB1954 (by Rep. Barbara King) Provides for nonprofit businesses to qualify for economic development incentives currently established. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 2280 (by Rep. Jimmy Milligan) Creates the Economic Development Super Project Fund for financing infrastructure or other needs to attract economic development projects which meet the requirements herein; authorizes a temporary sales tax increase for each project agreement. Died in House committee.
HB 2360 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Requires the Department of Economic Development contract an outside to entity to prepare its annual report to the Legislature related to results from its tax incentives and other development programs. Died in House committee.
HB 2369 (by Rep. Lindbergh Thomas) Extends through 2007 the period when the original purchaser of interest in county regional and industrial development companies can claim a credit against state income tax. Died in House committee.
HB 2381 (by Rep. Lindbergh Thomas) Repeals the County and Regional Industrial Development Company Act. Died in House committee.
HB 2673 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Allows additional time to repay economic development tax credits. Died in House committee.
HB 2794 (by Rep. Roger Smith) Establishes "Diamond Zones" in an effort to stimulate economic development. Died in House committee.
HB 2901 (by Rep. Eric Harris) Creates the Arkansas Diamond Zones to provide programs and special economic incentives for economically depressed areas of the state. Died in House committee.
SB 9 (by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress) Authorizes municipalities to enter into nondisclosure agreements with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration regarding the release of information concerning local sales and use tax collection. Died in Senate committee.
SB 208 (by Joint Budget Committee) Appropriates $7,800,000 to the Department of Economic Development from the General Improvement Fund for grants to cities and counties; $25,000,000 from the Economic Development Incentive Fund for incentives for new or expanding companies. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 288 (by Joint Budget Committee) Appropriates supplemental $1.5 million to the Department of Economic Development for grants to cities and counties. Died on House calendar.
SB 955 (by Sen. Tracy Steele) Makes not-for-profit businesses eligible for economic development incentives. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1023 (by Rep. LeRoy Dangeau) Requires re-appointment of State Board of Education effective Jan 2004, with 3 appointed by the Governor, 3 by the President Pro Tem, and 3 by the Speaker of the House; Education director to serve at the pleasure of the board. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1270 (by Rep. Betty Pickett) Provides for the division of the Department of Education into the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Department of Accountability. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1422 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Creates the "Commission on Closing the Achievement Gap in Arkansas", establishing its membership and duties; requires local school districts to develop personal education plans for students at risk of failure; provides for Local Task Force. Died on House floor.
HB 1435 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Repeals the authority of the State Board of Education to develop standards for accrediting public schools and places the standards for accreditation in the Arkansas Code, including curriculum for grades k-12. Died in House committee.
HB 1466 (by Rep. Joyce Elliott) Requires the State Board of Education to amend the standards for accreditation to require two units per year of physical education for each student K-12, and provides for religious and physical waivers/alternative instruction. Died in House committee.
HB 1496 (by Rep. Russ Bennett) Requires a parent who receives more than two written disciplinary notices during a school year to attend any conference which is requested by the school principal; provides for the suspension of the parent's drivers license as penalty. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 1507 (by Rep. Paul Weaver) Requires school districts comply with curriculum, facility, and teacher pay standards by 1/1/2004; authorizes voluntary consolidation; requires legislative approval of changes to standards; requires consolidation of noncompliers in 2006. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1566 (by Rep. Betty Pickett) Authorizes 21 existing school districts with more than 4,000 students each to continue; creates 56 "unified school districts board of education" to replace specified local school boards; creates local school councils. Died in House committee.
HB 1623 (by Rep. Michael Lamoureux) Requires the State Treasurer to transfer 50% of general revenue collected to the Department of Education Public School Fund Account. Died in House committee.
HB 1691 (by Rep. Charles Ormond) Creates an education certificate program for eligible students providing $4,000 for attendance to any private school in the state certified by the Department of Education. Died in House committee.
HB 1801 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Authorizes the Department of Education to provide incentive funding for school districts to encourage local millage on a pro-rata basis as funds are made available. Died in House committee.
HB 2191 (by Rep. Horace Hardwick) Changes the public school grading scale to require higher percentage scores for each letter grade. Died in House committee.
HB 2237 (by Rep. Betty Pickett) Increases the training requirement of newly-elected school board members from 6 to 30 hours. Died on Senate calendar.
HB 2238 (by Rep. Charles Ormond) Allows students assigned to a school not certified as meeting requirements to attend any certified school in the state. Died in House Committee.
HB 2271 (by Rep. Johnny Key) Amends the Public School Choice Act of 1989 to require participation by all school districts. Died in House committee.
HB 2303 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Creates the Division of Education Accountability of the General Assembly to audit the performance of school districts, institutions of higher education, departments of education, higher education, workforce education, etc. Referred to interim committee.
HB 2323 (by Rep. Michael Lamoureux) Levies $.15 per pack tax on cigarettes with revenue dedicated to teacher salaries; creates the Teacher Stabilization Fund. Died in House committee.
HB 2350 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Creates the Arkansas Teaching Challenge Scholarship Program for persons who receive Academic Challenge Scholarships and agree to teach for five years in critical fields or teacher shortage areas. Died in House committee.
HB 2351 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Requires school districts to increase minimum teacher salaries so that a teacher with no experience receives a minimum of $26,000, and the average district-wide teacher salary exceeds $33,386. Died in House committee.
HB 2354 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides definition of a general, suitable, and efficient system of free public schools as required by the Arkansas constitution, based on the "Rose Standards" developed by the State of Kentucky. Died in House committee.
HB 2355 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides awards through the Academic Challenge Program to applicants intending to teach in critical needs areas. Died in House committee.
HB 2356 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Requires the removal of superintendents and principals of school districts deemed by the Education Department to be in academic distress. Died in House committee.
HB 2400 (by Rep. Johnny Key) Creates the 2003 Comprehensive Education Reform Act. Died in House committee.
HB 2510 (by Rep. Russ Bennett) Requires parents to attend school conferences concerning disciplinary problems with their child; authorizes a school principal to file a family in need of services petition if a parent does not attend conferences. Died in House committee.
HB 2513 (by Rep. Janet Johnson) Creates the Delta Student Success Plan to address academic disparities in the Arkansas Delta. Died in Senate Committee.
HB 2515 (by Rep. Linda Chesterfield) Prohibits the creation of a school district by detachment before January 1, 2007. Died in House Committee.
HB 2528 (by Rep. Horace Hardwick) Requires the Department of Education to establish a system of testing and accountability, maintain management information databases for all schools, more. Died in House Committee.
HB 2539 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Conforms Arkansas Code to comply with the recent Arkansas Supreme Court decision in the Lake View case. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2540 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Provides for substantially equal teachers salaries in public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2562 (by Rep. Robert White) Provides for the funding of public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2563 (by Rep. Robert White) Provides substantially equal curricula for public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2565 (by Rep. Robert White) Conforms Arkansas Code to comply with the Lake View decision of the Supreme Court. Died in House committee.
HB 2566 (by Rep. Robert White) Amends the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act regarding attorney fee recovery. Died in House committee.
HB 2567 (by Rep. Robert White) Changes concurrent enrollment procedures for high school students. Died in House committee.
HB 2572 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Requires the State Board of Education to establish a uniform accounting system for the public school districts. Died in House committee.
HB 2581 (by Rep. Johnny Key) Reorganizes the Department of Education. Died in House committee.
HB 2582 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides for equal curricula in public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2583 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Authorizes the State to invest in the debt obligations of school districts. Died in House committee.
HB 2584 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides for the reorganization of Arkansas public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2585 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Conforms Arkansas Code to comply with the Lake View ruling. Died in House committee.
HB 2586 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides for an amount of expenditure per student to provide equal educational opportunity. Died in House committee.
HB 2587 (by Rep Jodie Mahony) Provides funding for public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2588 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides for substantially equal equipment for public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2589 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Sets forth the determination of the General Assembly of what constitutes an adequate education. Died in House committee.
HB 2590 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides a system to assess, monitor, and evaluate education to provide equal educational opportunity. Died in House committee.
HB 2591 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Increases compensation for educators. Died in House committee.
HB 2592 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides for the efficient operation of public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2593 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides for the costs of an adequate education, considering various variables statewide. Died in House committee.
HB 2600 (by Rep. Johnny Key) Creates the Arkansas Association To Improve Education and Community Involvement. Died in House committee.
HB 2605 (by Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson) Requires school districts to examine all outstanding bond issues to determine whether refinancing could result in savings; requires refinancing if savings are possible. Died in House committee.
HB 2616 (by Rep. Dwayne Dobbins) Sets standards for schools, including longer school days and years, and provides for the cost of education. Died in House committee.
HB 2625 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Provides for a system to monitor, assess, and evaluate education to provide equality. Died in House committee.
HB 2626 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Provides for the efficient operation of public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2627 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Sets forth standards for equality of educational opportunity. Died in House committee.
HB 2628 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Provides for substantially equal teachers salaries. Died in House committee.
HB 2629 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Provides for the reorganization of the public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2630 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Sets forth the determination of what constitutes an adequate education. Died in House committee.
HB 2637 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Sets forth standards to provide educational equality, curricular requirements, teacher salaries, facilities, and equipment necessary for adequate education. Died in House committee.
HB 2640 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Provides for substantially equal teachers salaries. Died in House committee.
HB 2649 (by Rep. Daryl Pace) Requires local school districts to pay for the cost of remediation for graduates. Died in House committee.
HB 2651 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Creates a system of accountability for public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2653 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Requires local Workforce Investment Boards' membership to reflect the ethnic minorities percentages in the local workforce areas of the board. Died in House committee.
HB 2661 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Requires local school districts to pay for remediation of graduates. Died in House committee.
HB 2689 ( by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Creates incentives to encourage school districts to enhance curricula through outsourcing and collaborative agreements. Died in House committee.
HB 2695 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides a system of accountability to ensure school districts' curricula align with state curriculum frameworks and other standards. Died in House committee.
HB 2708 (by Rep. Mary Beth Green) Creates and imposes on schools a uniform financial accounting and reporting system. Died in House committee.
HB 2711 (by Rep. Mary Beth Green) Limits the salaries of superintendents of school districts to a reasonable amount consistent with districts of similar size throughout the state. Died in House committee.
HB 2713 (by Rep. Mary Beth Green) Repeals the original distance learning demonstration project act and creates the Distance Learning Development Project Act. Died in House committee.
HB 2724 (by Rep. Betty Pickett) Provides a salary increase for teacher, with an annual cost of living raise. Died in House committee.
HB 2735 (by Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson) Authorizes a special election for approval of a tax increase to fund education. Died in House committee.
HB 2736 (by Rep. Betty Pickett) Sets forth the General Assembly's determination of what constitutes an adequate education in Arkansas. Died in House committee.
HB 2737(by Rep. Betty Pickett) Provides for funding of public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2738 (by Rep. Betty Pickett) Conforms Arkansas Code to the Lake View decision. Died in House committee.
HB 2741 (by Rep. Betty Pickett) Creates the Commission on Closing the Achievement Gap in Arkansas. Died in House committee.
HB 2745 (by Rep. Lindbergh Thomas) Supplements funding for school teacher salary increases. Died in House committee.
HB 2748 (by Rep. Betty Pickett) Provides for substantially equal curricula in schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2753 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Requires 50% of federal or Arkansas Workforce Investment Act funds provided to local workforce investment areas be spent on training services. Died in House committee.
HB 2754 (by Rep. Linda Chesterfield) Provides for equity in hiring practices among reorganized school districts. Died in House committee.
HB 2768 (by Rep. Michael Lamoureux) Repeals the authority of the State Board of Education to require statewide benchmark exams. Died in House committee.
HB 2788 (by Rep. Horace Hardwick) Amends testing requirements and school district services to home school students. Died in House committee.
HB 2793 (by Rep. Roger Smith) Allows school districts to participate in concurrent enrollment programs, allowing students to earn both college and high school credit for taking college courses. Died in Senate Committee.
HB 2834 (by Rep. Kevin Penix) Makes various changes relating to local school boards, non-traditional licensure, school busing, and funding. Died in House committee.
HB 2841 (by Rep. Robert White) Provides for substantially equal facilities for public schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2843 (by Rep. Robert White) Provides for a uniform reduction in force policy for schools. Died in House committee.
HB 2851 (by Rep. Ken Cowling) Provides incentives for voluntary consolidation of school districts. Died in House committee.
HB 2865 (by Rep. Mary Beth Green) Requires state-supported post-secondary educational institutions to charge no more than 50% of tuition rate for credit hours in remedial courses to be eligible to participate in state-supported scholarship programs. Died in House committee.
HB 2866 (by Rep. Mary Beth Green) Sets standards for achievement of equality of educational opportunity. Died in House committee.
HB 2873 (by Rep. Doug Matayo) Requires the General Assembly to fund education before funding any other state program or service. Died in House committee.
HB 2881 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Creates a unified district curriculum coordinator and a unified district curriculum board to provide partnership curricula through sharing teachers, facilities, technology, internet courses, and other means of delivering high school courses. Died in House committee.
HB 2889 (by Rep. Steve Oglesby) Repeals consolidation provision that requires consolidated school districts to be geographically contiguous. Died in House committee.
HB 2891 (by Rep. Janet Johnson) Creates the Professional Educators Standards and Practices Board. Died in House committee.
HB 2894 (by Rep David Haak) Conforms Arkansas Code with the Lake View decision. Died in House committee.
HB 2897 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Establishes teacher recruitment and retention plans. Died in House committee.
HB 2898 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Changes the policy on alternative learning environments for public schools and state purposes. Died in House committee.
SB 3 (by Sen. Kim Hendren) Appropriates $80 million to the Department of Education to fund the unpaid portion of the $3,000 salary increase for teachers that was not fully funded during the prior biennium. Died in Senate committee.
SB 35 (by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress) Requires employers to allow parents unpaid leave time to attend parent-teacher conferences; provides penalty for violators. Died on Senate calendar.
SB 186 (by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress) Creates the "School-Based Teacher Loan Program Act of 2003", providing for local school districts to grant scholarships for teacher education in exchange for future service to the school district. Died in Senate Committee.
SB 317 (by Sen. Paul Miller) Requires school districts to meet certain accreditation and other standards by 1/1/2004; authorizes incentive funding for districts that voluntarily consolidate; requires consolidation in 2006 of schools not in compliance. Died in Senate committee.
SB 418 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Appropriates $80,000,000 to the Department of Education for expansion of the Pre-Kindergarten Program. Died in Senate committee.
SB 707 (by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Requires full compliance with the standards of accreditation of Arkansas public schools in order for any school district to participate in post-season interscholastic activities. Died in Senate committee.
SB 726 (by Sen. Jim Hill) Creates a uniform, maximum teachers salary schedule; requires annual raises until on schedule; prohibits salaries in excess of schedule (with exceptions); prescribes annual 2.7% increase to maximum schedule. Died in Senate committee.
SB 747 (by Sen. Hank Wilkins) Creates the Public School Employment Relations Act, specifies employer and employee rights, prohibits strikes by public school employees or employee organizations. Died in Senate committee.
SB 758 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Provides for reorganization of the public education system. Died on Senate calendar.
SB 768 (by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Levies a tax of 15% on the retail sales of tobacco products, with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to specified health, human service, and education programs and 57.5% to general revenue. Died on House calendar.
SB 803 (by Sen. Tracy Steele) Requires cooperative agreements between school districts, two-year colleges, and technical institutes within a region to provide expanded course offerings. Died in Senate committee.
SB 831 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Provides for the funding of Arkansas public schools and educational improvement. Died in Senate committee.
SB 833 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Creates a system of accountability for Arkansas public schools. Died in Senate committee.
SB 836(by Sen. Shane Broadway) Conforms the Arkansas Code to comply with the Supreme Court decision in the Lake View case. Died in Senate committee.
SB 837 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Provides a system or method to assess, evaluate, and monitor public education in order to provide equal educational opportunity. Died in Senate committee.
SB 841 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Creates standards for facilities for Arkansas public schools as necessary to provide an adequate education. Died in Senate committee.
SB 843 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Provides for incentive pay for critical shortage area/subject teachers; allows experience from outside school districts for purposes of salary and benefits; provides for certain instructors, guidance counselors, and librarians to qualify. Died in Senate committee.
SB 848 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Sets forth standards to provide equality of educational opportunity, including requirements for curricula, teacher salaries, facilities, and equipment necessary to adequate education. Died in Senate committee.
SB 849 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Provides for substantially equal teachers salaries in public schools. Died in Senate committee.
SB 850 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Provides for substantially equal curricula in public schools. Died in Senate committee.
SB 851 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Provides for the reorganization of public schools. Died in Senate committee.
SB 857(by Sen. Steven Bryles) Provides that any school district reorganized by an action of the General Assembly or the Department of Education will be allowed to maintain separate extra-curricular activities in the Arkansas Activities Association. Died in Senate committee.
SB 887 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Sets forth the General Assembly's determination of what constitutes an adequate education. Died in Senate committee.
SB 888 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Provides for substantially equal curricula in the public schools. Died in Senate committee.
SB 889 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Provides for substantially equal facilities for the public schools. Died in Senate committee.
SB 892 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Revises provision related to the millage levied by local school districts for maintenance and operation in excess of the uniform rate of tax. Died on House floor.
SB 893 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Amends the teacher salary schedule to allow pay deferential for certain factors. Died in Senate committee.
SB 901 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Provides for transfer of excess funds in the Property Tax Relief Fund to the General Revenue Fund. Died in House committee.
SB 902 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Repeals the Public School Educational Cooperative Act, the enabling law for school cooperatives; authorizes the State Board of Education to establish resource centers for school districts. Died in Senate committee.
SB 930 (by Sen. Jim Holt) Provides for equality of educational opportunity. Died in Senate committee.
SB 932 (by Sen. Jim Holt) Provides for the funding of public schools. Died in Senate committee.
SB 933 (by Sen. Jerry Bookout) Requires approval of any school district reorganization plan by the 85th General Assembly; allows current districts one year to meet standards; creates a new distance learning act; more. Died in Senate committee.
SB 934 (by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Provides a comprehensive system of testing for Arkansas students. Died in Senate committee.
SB 943 (by Sen. Bobby Glover) Requires each public school to establish a parent advisory council. Died in Senate committee.
SB 951 (by Sen. Gene Jeffress) Permits transfer of students from one school district to another district within 8 miles of the district boundary. Died in Senate committee.
SB 958 (by Sen. Steven Bryles) Sets standards to provide equality of educational opportunity. Died in Senate committee.
SB 961 (by Sen. Steven Bryles) Provides for the efficient operation of public schools. Died in Senate committee.
SB 962 (by Sen. Steven Bryles) Conforms the Arkansas Code to comply with the Arkansas Supreme Court decision in the Lake View school case. Died in Senate committee.
SB 963 (by Sen. Steven Bryles) Creates a system of accountability for public schools. Died in Senate committee.
SB 964 (by Sen. Steven Bryles) Provides for substantially equal teacher salaries. Died in Senate committee.
SB 965 (by Sen. Steven Bryles) Provides for funding of the public schools. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 6 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring the state to assume all debt of public school districts; authorizes the state to levy a property tax for the sole purpose of school funding and the General Assembly to limit local school taxes. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 12 (by Sen. Dave Bisbee) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to include excess debt service millage in the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax required for school districts. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 13 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution allowing the state to assume the capital improvement debt of public schools, to receive property tax proceeds pledged to the debt, and to issue bonds for future school capital improvements. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 17 (by Sen. Dave Bisbee) Proposes Amendment to the Constitution giving the General Assembly exclusive authority to "determine by law any structure, governance, and costs" of public education, and making technical changes to Amendment 14. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 18 (by Sen. Paul Miller) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring that the amount and formulation of funding to school districts be determined by the General Assembly by law, not subject to review by any court of the state. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 20 (by Sen. Jim Holt) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring public schools to be funded, maintained, and controlled by local school boards; authorizing the General Assembly to spend funds in support of local districts but without authority to supervise. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2309 (by Rep. Mark Pate) Revises delivery and postmark requirements for delivery of petitions for review of decisions of the Employment Security Department by the Court of Appeals. Died in House committee.
HB 1078 (by Rep. John Verkamp) Authorizes the Oil and Gas Commission to adopt noise standards and rules governing the collection, storage, and distribution of natural gas. Died in House committee.
HB 1309 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to implement new rules and regulations related to the use, handling, and disposal of mercury. Died in House committee.
HB 2348 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Employs an energy and environmental rating system to provide minimum requirements for state agency building projects and certain state and private partnerships. Died in committee.
HB 2451 (by Rep. Stephen Bright) Regulates the location of sand and gravel dredging and storage operations on the Arkansas River under permitting by the Department by Environmental Quality. Died in House committee.
HB 2787 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Makes the Department of Environmental Quality and the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission independent of any other state agency. Died on House calendar.
HB 2804 (by Rep. Cecile Bledsoe) Creates the Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund to be administered by the Department of Environmental Quality for redevelopment of abandoned industrial, commercial, and agricultural sites. Died in House committee.
HB 2805 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Deletes requirement the member appointed to the Advisory Committee on Petroleum Storage Tanks representing a company with expertise regarding environmental protection be made from nominees submitted by the Environmental Federation. Died in House committee.
HB 2806 (by Rep. Jan Judy) Prescribes technical qualifications required for certain employees of the Department of Environmental Quality. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 231 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Revises the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission membership, removing the six seats filled by Department Directors. Died on Senate floor.
SB 761 (by Sen. Steve Faris) Requires financial assurance guarantees from persons undertaking remedial actions ordered by the Department of Environmental Quality to address a hazardous substance site, if the action will take a minimum of two years or $1M to complete. Referred to interim study.
SB 938 (by Sen. Tracy Steele) Creates the Air Quality Incentive Plan Advisory Board. Referred to interim study.
HB 1213 (by Rep. Jeff Gillespie) Creates a liability insurance pool for nursing home patients and provides court and administrative procedures for personal injury claims against nursing homes. Titled the Fair Care and Treatment Act. Died on House calendar.
HB 1310 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Prohibits hospitals from restricting physicians ability to communicate to patients regarding the patients' coverage and other information related to health care plans, and certain other restrictions. Died on House calendar.
HB 1316 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Prohibits health care facilities form requiring employees to work overtime; authorizes the Department of Labor to investigate complaints of violations. Died in House committee.
HB 1322 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Prohibits health insurance plans that provide benefits for prescription drugs or devices from excluding or restricting benefits to covered persons for any prescription contraceptive drug or device. Died in House committee.
HB 1414 (by Rep. Stephen Bright) Titled the "Fair Care and Treatment Act." Creates a liability insurance pool for payment of claims or judgments against participating nursing homes. Died in House committee.
HB 1424 (by Rep. Will Bond) Titled the "Nursing Home Liability Reform Act." Creates a liability insurance pool for payment of personal injury claims against participating nursing homes; sets punitive damage award limits based on net worth of the defendant. Died in House committee.
HB 1531 (by Rep. Tommy Roebuck) Requires health insurers to include reconstructive surgery in coverage plans, not to apply to Medicare or Medicare supplements and certain other plans and policies. Referred to interim committee.
HB 2574 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Requires the Arkansas State Medical Board to post in its website the names of physicians who have been the subject of malpractice complaints, settlements, and verdicts. Died in House committee.
HB 2766 (by Rep. Jay Bradford) Bans the smoking of tobacco products in food service establishments. Died in House committee.
HB 2870 (by Rep. Barbara King) Creates the Pharmacy Benefits Management Therapeutics and Drug Utilization Evaluation Committee. Referred to interim study.
HB 2875 (by Rep. Barbara King) Requires the Department of Human Services and any other state agency dealing with pharmacy benefits managers to preclude the acceptance of fees or payments of any kind by consultants to a public entity. Referred to interim study.
HB 2876 (by Rep. Barbara King) Creates the Arkansas Pharmacy Benefits Management Agency to administer public drug programs. Referred to interim study.
HB 2890 (by Rep. Janet Johnson) Creates the Prescription Drug Fair Price Program to provide oversight of prescription drug pricing and assistance with the purchase of costly drugs. Referred to interim study.
SB 31 (by Sen. Ruth Whitaker) Creates the Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer Early Detection Program Act, requiring health insurance coverage for mammography and prostate screenings. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 313 (by Sen. Percy Malone) Provides for the licensing and regulation of pharmacy benefit managers. Died in House committee.
SB 435 (by Sen. Steve Faris) Increases from $100 to $1000 the annual license fee for each subunit of home health care services agencies. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 677 (by Sen. Percy Malone) Requires health benefit plans to provide coverage for hospital charges and anesthesia or dental procedures performed on children and persons with serious physical or mental conditions where general anesthesia is appropriate. Died in House committee.
SB 768 (by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Levies a tax of 15% on the retail sales of tobacco products, with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to specified health, human service, and education programs and 57.5% to general revenue. Died on House calendar.
SB 864 (by Sen. Percy Malone) Creates the pharmacy reimbursement program wherein pharmacies may request that required payment to the program be offset against any Medicaid payment due to the pharmacy. Referred to interim study.
SB 971 (by Sen. Randy Laverty) Levies a quality assurance fee on ten-bed ICF/MR facilities, calculated to produce an annual fee equal to 6% of the annual gross receipts. Referred to interim study.
HB 1004 (by Rep. Larry Prater) Exempts the first $500 of bonus pay annually from state income tax; effective January 1, 2003. Referred to interim study.
HB 1006 (by Rep. Larry Prater) Exempts the first $500 of bonus pay annually and all compensation for overtime from state income tax. Referred to interim study.
HB 1083 (by Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson) Creates an income tax credit for public school teachers, librarians, principals, and counselors. Died in House committee.
HB 1086 (by Rep. Bob Mathis) Increases from $6000 to $8000 the amount of individual retirement account and disability benefits exempt from state income tax. Died in House committee.
HB 1108 (by Rep. Johnny Key) Creates an income tax exemption for classroom teachers and home school parents for classroom supplies purchased. Died in House committee.
HB 1318 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Adds a 10% surcharge on income tax levied against individuals, trusts, and estates, beginning with tax year 2004. Died in House committee.
HB 1467 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Creates an income tax deduction, not to exceed $5000, for cost and installation of renewable energy equipment, including but not limited to solar, wind, small-scale hydro, and biomass equipment. Died in House committee.
HB 1468 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Creates an income tax deduction, not to exceed $2,000, for purchase and installation of energy-saving equipment, including insulation, storm doors or windows, non-power vents, renewable energy equipment, solar heating/cooling equipment, etc. Died in House committee.
HB 1526 (by Rep. Chaney Taylor) Adopts the federal income tax deduction for qualified tuition programs, allowing a maximum deduction of $8,000 in a tax year. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1586 (by Rep. Tommy Roebuck) Repeals the federal Social Security (OASDI) tax credit, also known as the working taxpayer credit. Died in House committee.
HB 1607 (by Rep. Kevin Penix) Creates a tax credit of up to $10 million to taxpayers who contribute to an organization that provides scholarships to students to private schools or to public schools outside the student's resident district, grades k-12. Died in House committee.
HB 1640 (by Rep. Doug Matayo) Adopts the federal income tax deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers; repeals the income tax credit for certain political contributions by individuals. Died in House committee.
HB 1989 (by Rep. Roger Smith) Provides nonresident members of pass-through entities options for reporting and paying Arkansas income tax. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2546 (by Rep. Boyd Hickinbotham) Levies a 10% surcharge on income tax beginning with tax year 2003. Died on House floor.
HB 2575 (by Rep. Lindbergh Thomas) Repeals certain tax credits. Died in House committee.
HB 2613 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Requires a flat sales tax of 6.5% on the entire net income of a corporation with a net income exceeding $100,000, notwithstanding ACA 26-51-205(b)(1). Died in House committee.
HB 2621 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies a flat tax of 6.5% on corporations with a total net income exceeding $100,000; levies a 10% income tax surcharge on personal income taxes. Died in House committee.
HB 2622 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies a 10% income tax surcharge on personal income taxes. Died in House committee.
HB 2634 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies a four percent privilege tax on gross receipts of sellers of electricity , natural gas, cable or satellite television services, telecommunications services, and propane and butane in lieu of the corporation income tax. Died in House committee.
HJR 1005 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution that would prohibit the state from adopting by reference any portions of the federal Internal Revenue Code for purposes of Arkansas tax code. Died in House committee.
SB 53 (by Sen. Denny Altes) Increases the exemption from state income tax for individual capital gains from 30% to 65% of net gains, effective 1/1/2003. Referred to interim study.
SB 61 (by Sen. Shawn Womack) Increases the amount of individual retirement account and disability benefits exempted from state income tax from $6000 to $7500 the first year, and to $9000, $12000, and by 3% each respective year thereafter. Died in Senate committee.
SB 73 (by Sen. Denny Altes) Creates an income tax exemption for 25% of total cost of tuition, books, and lab fees for parents of children K-12. Referred to interim study.
SB 214 (by Sen. Denny Altes) Grants a tax credit up to $1,000 to persons with a dependent under four years of age whose income is less than $32,000 and whose spouse is unemployed and not a full time student, effective January 1, 2006. Referred to interim study.
SB 341 (by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Removes the reference to federal law in the state law regarding filing of corporate consolidated income tax returns. Died in Senate committee.
SB 366 (by Sen. Jerry Bookout) Amends definitions regarding the tax credit for biotechnology facilities to include biodiesel. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 395 (by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Provides a tax credit for certain employers that pay tuition for employee training or courses; requires documentation that the employee successfully completed the course. Died in Senate committee.
SB 430 (by Sen. John Paul Capps) Amends the Multistate Tax Compact, changing the definition of 'business income' for income tax purposes to be "all" income that is apportionable under the Constitution of the U.S. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 778 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Imposes a tax of 6.5% on the entire net income of corporations having total net income over $100,000. Died in Senate committee.
SB 782 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Levies a 10% surcharge on income tax. Died on Senate calendar.
SB 801 (by Senate Revenue and Tax Committee) Imposes a 6.5% flat tax on corporation with total net income exceeding $100,000. Died in Senate committee.
SB 975 (by Sen. Bobby Glover) Provides for taxing out-of-state owners of oil and gas royalties. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 1139 (by Rep. Joyce Elliott) Creates the State Employee Limited Public Employment Relations Act and the Public Employment Relations Board, establishes public employee rights to organize and collectively bargain, and directs employer functions through the Office of the Governor. Died on House floor.
HB 1189 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Requires that independent contractors be listed in the State New Hire Registry; requires employers to report newly engaged contractors by submitting a 1099-MISC form. Referred to interim study.
HB 1311 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Requires the State of Arkansas and all agencies of the state to pay employees a minimum of 100% of the poverty level for a family of four or the state minimum wage, whichever is greater. Died in House committee.
HB 1312 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Expands the definition of "public employer" for purposes of whistle-blower protection to include employees of any entity receiving public funds in whatever form, including grants, loans, and subsidies. Died on House floor.
HB 1316 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Prohibits health care facilities form requiring employees to work overtime; authorizes the Department of Labor to investigate complaints of violations. Died in House committee.
HB 1342 (by Rep. Joyce Elliott) Requires counties and municipalities to withhold dues for union or professional association membership from employee paychecks upon request. Died on House floor.
HB 1348 (by Rep. Michael Lamoureux) Requires employers to provide new hire information to the Office of Child Support Enforcement (exactly as now required provided to the Employment Security Department). Died in House committee.
HB 1479 (by Rep. Jay Martin) Creates a payroll deduction option for prepaid legal insurance purchased by state employees. Died on House calendar.
HB 1496 (by Rep. Russ Bennett) Requires a parent who receives more than two written disciplinary notices during a school year to attend any conference which is requested by the school principal; provides for the suspension of the parent's drivers license as penalty. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 2202 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Allows the state, municipalities and counties to accept electronic signatures to authorize employee payroll deductions. Died on Senate calendar.
HB 2301 (by Rep. Lindbergh Thomas) Abolishes the common law doctrine of "employment-at-will" and creates the Wrongful Employment Termination Act, requiring employers who terminate an employee not contracted for a term of service to state in writing the cause for discharge. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 2364 (by Rep. Joyce Elliott) Requires counties and municipalities to withhold membership dues from pay for their members upon request. Died in House committee.
HB 2493 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Provides that a person has the rights to privacy and protection with regard to genetic information and deoxyribonucleic acid samples as for any other part of the body. Died on House floor.
HB 2510 (by Rep. Russ Bennett) Requires parents to attend school conferences concerning disciplinary problems with their child; authorizes a school principal to file a family in need of services petition if a parent does not attend conferences. Died in House committee.
HB 2554 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Prohibits noncompete clauses in employment contracts with broadcast employers. Died in House committee.
HB 2561 (by Rep. Steve Oglesby) Amends provisions regarding criminal background checks on employees, licensees, and others. Died in House committee.
HB 2566 (by Rep. Robert White) Amends the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act regarding attorney fee recovery. Died in House committee.
SB 35 (by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress) Requires employers to allow parents unpaid leave time to attend parent-teacher conferences; provides penalty for violators. Died on Senate calendar.
SB 840 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Requires minimum six hours of continuing education per year for electricians license renewal. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1213 (by Rep. Jeff Gillespie) Creates a liability insurance pool for nursing home patients and provides court and administrative procedures for personal injury claims against nursing homes. Titled the Fair Care and Treatment Act. Died on House calendar.
HB 1273 (by Rep. Steve Oglesby) Amends the Freedom of Information Act to exclude from disclosure the home addresses of non-elected city and county employees; specifies that "ongoing" law enforcement investigations are not open to inspection (was "undisclosed" investigations. Died in House committee.
HB 1281 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Allows a consumer, borrower, tenant, grower, franchisee, or employee to revoke a rights enforcement disabling provision in a standard form contract; certain exception provided. Titled as the Fair Bargain Act of 2003. Died in House committee.
HB 1402 (by Rep. Paul Bookout) Titled the Retail Price Comparison and Savings Claims Act, setting standards retailers must meet for fair disclosure to prospective buyers when making price comparisons and claims of savings in advertising and promotion. Died in House committee.
HB 1414 (by Rep. Stephen Bright) Titled the "Fair Care and Treatment Act." Creates a liability insurance pool for payment of claims or judgments against participating nursing homes. Died in House committee.
HB 1424 (by Rep. Will Bond) Titled the "Nursing Home Liability Reform Act." Creates a liability insurance pool for payment of personal injury claims against participating nursing homes; sets punitive damage award limits based on net worth of the defendant. Died in House committee.
HB 1479 (by Rep. Jay Martin) Creates a payroll deduction option for prepaid legal insurance purchased by state employees. Died on House calendar.
HB 2248 (by Rep. Buddy Blair) Creates a Class D felony offense for second and subsequent cruelty to animals violations. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2318 (by Rep. Chaney Taylor) Prohibits actions against landlords or owners of real property or their agents for injury occurring on the landlord's premises, except as provided by written agreement. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2419 (by Rep. Jeff Gillespie) Defines "long-term care facility" and "resident care"; sets the statute of limitations for resident care actions at two years; provides for long-term care facilities to recover costs when frivolous actions are brought against them. Died in House committee.
HB 2432 (by Rep. Michael Lamoureux) Allows a court to consider spoliation of evidence within three years of date on which the spoliation occurred or was discovered. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2502 (by Rep. Bob Adams) Creates authorization for interception and use of wire, oral, or electronic communications; limits possession and use of intercepting devices to the Arkansas State Police; sets expiration date of 9/1/07. Died in House committee.
HB 2503 (by Rep. Scott Sullivan) Authorizes the use of pen registers, trap and trace devices, access to stored communications, and mobile tracking devices; gives subpoena authority to prosecutors to access records of customers of electronic communication services. Died on Senate calendar.
HB 2573 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Creates the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Growers Protection Act regulating livestock and poultry contracts. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2677 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Authorizes the Arkansas Supreme Court to review popular names and ballot titles for initiative and referendum petitions after the petitions are filed. Referred to interim study.
HB 2827 (by Rep. Mike Hathorn) Makes changes regarding false claims made against the state and its officers, employees, agents, contractors, grantees, or other. Died in House committee.
HB 2831 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Creates an Office of Administrative Hearings within the Department of Finance and Administration. Died in House committee.
HB 2874 (by Rep. Mary Beth Green) Requires the Secretary of State to notify business owners of new laws that would affect the owner's business. Died in House committee.
HB 2905 (by Rep. William Moore) Provides recovery for damages, costs, and attorney's fees for loss caused by another engaging in unfair competition, a deceptive act, or deceptive trade practice. Died in House committee.
SB 201 (by Sen. Jim Luker) Creates the "Arkansas Tort Reform Act of 2003," limiting punitive damages, setting standards for award of punitive damages, and providing a portion of any award go to the Disease and Injury Prevention Fund for use by the Department of Health. Died in Senate committee.
SB 301 (by Sen. Sue Madison) Creates the Arkansas Nursing Home Tort Reform Act of 2003. Referred to interim study.
SB 411 (by Sen. Jim Holt) Provides for challenge of a materialmen's lien on basis of fraud, extortion, or worthlessness of the underlying claim; provides for expedited hearing; repeals the requirement for surety bond in double the amount of the lien in challenges. Died in House committee.
HB 1520 (by Rep. Marvin Childers) Authorizes municipalities to enter into contracts employing a variety of means of achieving an effective interest rate on its revenue bonds, including investment contracts, interest rate swap agreements, etc. Died in House committee.
HB 1728 (by Rep. Betty Pickett) Authorizes certain counties and cities of the first-class to conduct local option elections to decide the issue of allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages in restaurants, hotels, and large attendance facilities. Died in House committee.
HB 2335 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Allows local governments and public agencies to create regional parks districts; authorizes the parks districts to levy a tax to support revenue bonds to fund parks and recreation programs. Died in House committee.
HB 2492 (by Rep Jim Lendall) Changes from 10% to 5% the preference for work centers for the disabled in the purchase of "products" by state purchasing agencies. Died in House committee.
HB 2557 (by Rep. Booker Clemons) Authorizes counties and municipalities to levy sales or use tax increases to fund preventative programs for juveniles. Died in House committee.
HB 2733 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Authorizes counties and municipalities to adopt increases in the maximum for single-transaction sales tax. Died in House committee.
HB 1356 (by Rep. Scott Sullivan) Requires agricultural contractors to permit the producer under contract to rebuild facilities damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster to their previous standard, including the use of salvaged material and repairable foundations. Died on House calendar.
HB 1529 (by Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson) Amends the Arkansas Securities Act to include variable annuity contracts in the definition of "security"; provides exception to notice filings for variable annuity contracts issued by or representing a debt of an insurance company. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2182 (by Rep. Tommy Roebuck) Defines "severed mineral interest" and provides for the determination and cancellation of unused severed mineral rights. Referred to interim study.
HB 2188 (by Rep. Steve Napper) Creates a Class D felony for animal cruelty with a prior offense within five years; creates the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class D felony, excluding routine livestock practices, the taking of game or fish, and animal research. Died in House committee.
HB 2210 (by Rep. Shirley Borhauer) Requires prepayment for beverage container disposal fees by manufacturers and distributors of beverages, labeling of containers, and a return value of at least 5 cents per container. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 2263 (by Rep. Daryl Pace) Prohibits the mining of coal or other mineral within 100 feet of the boundary of any cemetery or other burying place, and other actions that desecrate cemeteries; reserves fine revenue from violations for upkeep of abandoned cemeteries. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2285 (by Rep. Boyd Hickinbotham) Requires members of the board of directors of Area Agencies on Aging to be confirmed by the quorum court of the county from which appointed. Died in House committee.
HB 2300 (by Rep. Gary Biggs) Specifies the Arkansas Franchise Practices Act does not apply to business relations, actions or franchises subject to or licensed and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Died in House committee.
HB 2379 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Prohibits the nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in food-producing animals. Died in House committee.
HB 2412 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Requires cities and counties to compensate the owner for the taking, elimination, alteration or diminishment of a legally permitted outdoor advertising sign. Died on Senate calendar.
HB 2611 (by Rep. Will Bond) Provides requirements for approval of insurance rates, disclosure of information, public notice and consumer participation regarding insurance coverage. Died in House committee.
HB 2774 (by Rep. Charles Ormond) Restructures various state agencies into a Department of Agriculture. Died on House floor.
HB 2777 (by Rep. Mary Beth Green) Authorizes the Department of Environmental Quality to provide loans and grants for assessment and cleanup of abandoned industrial, commercial, and agricultural sites. Died in House committee.
HB 2808 (by Rep. Calvin Johnson) Provides additional protection and preservation for cemeteries. Died in House committee.
HB 2858 (by Rep. Preston Scroggin) Creates a Division of Agricultural Promotion and Marketing within the Department of Economic Development. Died in House committee.
HB 2874 (by Rep. Mary Beth Green) Requires the Secretary of State to notify business owners of new laws that would affect the owner's business. Died in House committee.
HB 2880 (by Rep. Jeff Gillespie) Creates the Poultry House Collapse Insurance Pool funded by $1000 per house insured. Died in House committee.
HJR 1010 (by Rep. Charles Ormond) Proposes amendment to the Constitution changing the number of signatures required on initiative and referendum petitions to twenty-thousand (formerly a percentage of legal voters); establishes procedures for the Attorney General. Died in House committee.
HJR 1016 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Proposes amendment to the Constitution limiting the General Assembly to three proposed acts for referendum per regular session; establishes other referendum requirements. Died in House committee.
SB 309 (by Sen. Ed Wilkinson) Authorizes the state Oil and Gas Commission to periodically audit the books of oil and natural gas producers to determine if royalties are being paid correctly; authorizes royalty owners to request the audit. Referred to interim study.
SB 312 (by Sen. Irma Hunter Brown) Authorizes the state Insurance Commissioner to require insurers file one-time reports containing rates and supporting information; requires the Commissioner to submit a summary report to the legislative leadership, governor, attorney general. Referred to interim study.
SB 361 (by Sen. Steve Higginbothom) Creates the Arkansas Board of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers; requires minimum 12 vehicles sold per year for licensure; increases licensure fee from $100 to $250, and fees for additional licenses from $25 to $125 each; specifies revenue purposes. Died in House committee.
SB 366 (by Sen. Jerry Bookout) Creates an income tax credit for facilities and equipment related to the wholesale or retail distribution of advanced biofuels, to equal 5% of the equipment cost. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 411 (by Sen. Jim Holt) Provides for challenge of a materialmen's lien on basis of fraud, extortion, or worthlessness of the underlying claim; provides for expedited hearing; repeals the requirement for surety bond in double the amount of the lien in challenges. Died in House committee.
SB 504 (by Sen. Terry Smith) Creates "The Horse Racing and Greyhound Racing Franchisee Electronic Games of Skill Wagering Act." Died on Senate calendar.
SB 718 (by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Prohibits the use of the General Improvement Fund for any nonstate-related local or private project, program or activity until determined by resolution of both houses that all infrastructure needs of state agencies and programs have been met. Died in Senate committee.
SB 769 (by Sen. Mary Anne Salmon) Revises the definition of common nuisance as it applies to leased premises. Died in Senate committee.
SB 810 (by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress) Repeals the authority of agents of humane societies to make arrests and seize animals for violations of animal abuse law. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 822 (by Sen. Sue Madison) Creates the Beverage Container Litter Reduction Act, placing return values on containers of at least five cents. Referred to interim study.
SB 823 (by Sen. Sue Madison) Requires the Department of Environmental Quality deny any permit which has been denied a certificate of need by any regional board, and repeal the provisions for appeal; prescribes restrictions on the location of Class I landfills. Referred to interim committee.
SB 903 (by Sen. Terry Smith) Prohibits officer or agent of animal protection societies to enter or trespass on property without a search warrant or permission of the landowner or lease holder. Referred to interim study.
SB 966 (by Sen. Jim Holt) Prohibits regional solid waste management boards from placing solid waste landfills within certain described geologic sites and within two miles of certain waterways in the Illinois and White River watersheds. Died in Senate committee.
SB 967 (by Sen. Jim Holt) Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to deny a solid waste landfill or transfer station permit if the regional board denies a certificate of need. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1319 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Revises the rate of severance tax on natural gas from $.003 per one thousand cubic feet to 5 percent of market value at time and point of severance. Died in House committee.
HB 1522 (by Rep. Mike Hathorn) Reduces hunting and fishing license fees and levies an excise of 20% on the purchase of licenses, with revenue from the tax dedicated to the Education Enrichment and Distance Learning Fund and the County Emergency Search and Rescue Fund. Died in House committee.
HB 1606 (by Rep. Kevin Penix) Exempts municipal airport commissions from state taxation; declares property owned by a municipal airport commission to be public property, declares bonds and other evidence of indebtedness of the commission to be public instrumentalities. Died in House committee.
HB 1756 (by Rep. Jan Judy) Levies additional tax of $2.50 per thousand cigarettes sold ($.05 per pack) with no exemptions, with proceeds to Veterans' Affairs Dept, Aging/Adult Services Division, and Developmental Disabilities Services Division. Died in House committee.
HB 2224 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Revises the state estate tax. Died in House committee.
HB 2281 (by Rep. Wayne Nichols) Provides that any increase in the tax on tobacco will subsequently result in an increase in the beer and liquor taxes by the same percentage. Died in House committee.
HB 2323 (by Rep. Michael Lamoureux) Levies $.15 per pack tax on cigarettes with revenue dedicated to teacher salaries; creates the Teacher Stabilization Fund. Died in House committee.
HB 2367 (by Rep. Roger Smith) Creates the Division of Retirement Relocation within the Department of Parks and Tourism. Died in House committee.
HB 2438 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Allows counties authorized to levy a tax equal to a city tax of 2% on hotels and restaurants in the county to exclude "similar establishments" from the tax. Died in House committee.
HB 2468 (by Rep. Bob Mathis) Increases from $2.50 to $3.00 the tax on a gallon of spirituous liquor. Died in House committee.
HB 2469 (by Rep. William Moore) Prohibits the repeal or extension of a specific expiration date in a law by a later act of the General Assembly. Died in House committee.
HB 2620 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies a 1% wholesale excise tax on sales of motor fuel by position holders and importers. Died in House committee.
HB 2632 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Increases the wholesale vending tax; requires all vending machine operators to obtain both a sales tax permit and a decal. Died in House committee.
HB 2634 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies a four percent privilege tax on gross receipts of sellers of electricity , natural gas, cable or satellite television services, telecommunications services, and propane and butane in lieu of the corporation income tax. Died in House committee.
HB 2673 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Allows additional time to repay economic development tax credits. Died in House committee.
HB 2676 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Increases the insurance premium tax from 2.5% to 3.0%. Died in House committee.
HB 2682 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Increases the severance tax on natural gas from .3% per mcf to 6% of the wellhead price, with revenue earmarked as special funds for the Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund. Died in House committee.
HB 2684 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Increases the tax on soft drinks from $2 to $2.57 per gallon of syrup and from $.21 to $.27 per gallon of bottled soft drinks. Died in House committee.
HB 2691 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Increases the severance tax on stone, sand, gravel, and pine timber. Died in House committee.
HB 2692 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levys an additional severance tax on natural gas of $.30 per thousand cubic feet, with the revenue credited to the General Revenue Fund. Died in House committee.
HB 2733 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Authorizes counties and municipalities to adopt increases in the maximum for single-transaction sales tax. Died in House committee.
HB 2734 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Reinstates taxes that were eliminated or reduced in the past six years. Died in House committee.
HB 2735 (by Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson) Authorizes a special election for approval of a tax increase to fund education. Died in House committee.
HB 2780 (by Rep. Jay Bradford) Reinstates the capital gains tax as it existed in 1998. Died in House committee.
HB 2831 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Creates an Office of Administrative Hearings within the Department of Finance and Administration. Died in House committee.
HB 2832 (by Rep. Barbara King) Increases the wholesale vending tax; requires all vending machine operators obtain both a sales tax permit and a decal. Died in House committee.
HB 2840 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Authorizes cities to levy an additional $1.00 fee on the rental of hotel and motel rooms to be used for public transit and transportation. Died in House committee.
HB 2861 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Increases the tax on salt water used in bromine production from $2.45 to $10.50 per thousand barrels, with proceeds earmarked as special revenues for the Public School Fund. Died in House committee.
HJR 1007 (by Rep. Marvin Parks) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring a simple majority in each house to reduce a rate of tax or fee; requiring less than three-fourths to levy or increase fees that will generate less than $10,000,000 new revenue. Died in House committee.
HJR 1009 (by Rep. Chris Thyer) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution making the maximum rate of interest on general loans 5% above the rate established by the Economic Development Commission, based on the then current Federal Primary Credit Rate. Died in House committee.
HJR 1012 (by Rep. Gary Biggs) Proposes amendment to the Constitution to distribute half of the monies collected from the excise taxes levied under Amendment 75 to general revenue, thereby reducing the funding (but keeping the ratios) specified in the Amendment by 50%. Died in House committee.
HJR 1013 (by Rep. Mike Hathorn) Proposes amendment to the Constitution making technical changes to Amendment 35 and deleting requirements for appropriation of funds to and allocation of funds by the Game and Fish Commission. Died in House committee.
HJR 1017 (by Rep. Barbara King) Proposes amendment to the Constitution authorizing the General Assembly to establish a state lottery and requiring the net proceeds to be appropriated solely for educational programs and purposes. Died in House committee.
HJR 1019 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to exempt from personal property tax all motor vehicles, boats, boat motors, and all-terrain vehicles. Died in House committee.
HJR 1021 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to repeal Amendment 47, which prohibits the state from levying ad valorem taxes. Died in House committee.
SB 58 (by Sen. Denny Altes) Applies motor fuel border-tax exemption to all areas of those border cities which contain a border-tax area. Died in House committee.
SB 715 (by Sen. Jim Argue) Increases the severance tax on natural gas from 3/10 of 1 cent per mcf to 5% of the wellhead price. Died in Senate committee.
SB 783 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Levies an additional severance tax on natural gas of $.30 per thousand cubic feet. Died in Senate committee.
SB 784 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Increase the severance tax rate on crushed stone, construction sand and gravel, and pine timber. Died in Senate committee.
SB 786 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Levies a wholesale excise tax of 1% on motor fuel. Died in Senate committee.
SB 800 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Increases the wholesale vending tax and requires vendors to obtain a sales tax permit as well as a vending decal. Died in Senate committee.
SB 826 (by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Increases various taxes and licensing fees on wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, and wineries who sell alcoholic beverages. Died in Senate committee.
SB 900 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Revises the exemptions from sales and use taxes. Died in Senate committee.
SB 901 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Provides for transfer of excess funds in the Property Tax Relief Fund to the General Revenue Fund. Died in House committee.
SB 910 (by Sen. Irma Hunter Brown) Authorizes counties and cities to levy a fee on occupied hotel rooms per day with revenue earmarked for their local public transit authorities. Died on House floor.
SB 978 (by Sen. Mary Anne Salmon) To conform the Advertising and Promotion Commission laws to certain provisions of the Tax Procedure Act. Died on Senate calendar.
SJR 9 (by Sen. Bobby Glover) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution requiring a 3/5 vote of each house to remove a tax exemption, or to levy or increase any tax or fee that does not already require a 3/4 vote; allows tax decrease or tax exemption by majority vote. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1005 (by Rep. Larry Prater) Extends from 30 to 120 days after the date of sale of tax delinquent property by the Land Commissioner the period during which owners of record may tender taxes and other costs to redeem ownership. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 1323 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Provides that $30 million be taken from the Property Tax Relief Trust Fund each year and credited to certain funds and fund accounts for the Department of Human Services - Medicaid Relief Expansion Programs. Died in House committee.
HB 1609 (by Rep. Mike Kenney) Creates the "Property Tax Relief for the Elderly Act". Died in House committee.
HB 1680 (by Rep. Shirley Borhauer) Changes the deadline for payment of property taxes from October 10 to July 1. Died in House committee.
HB 2658 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Provides for the transfer of excess funds from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the General Revenue Fund. Died in House committee.
HB 2685 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Increases the maximum percentage of actual or market value of property the Public Services Commission may use to determine appraisal value from 20% to 30%. Died in House committee.
HB 2721 (by Rep. Michael Lamoureux) States public policy of the state is to exempt from property taxes those HUD apartment complexes that are owned by private nonprofit corporations and serve low income, elderly, and disabled tenants. Died in House committee.
HJR 1014 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Proposes amendment to the Constitution deleting a provision requiring the millage rates for personal, utility, and regulated carrier property to be equal to the millage rate for real property, and deleting a provision for their equalization. Died in House committee.
HJR 1020 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to repeal the 5% and 10% limitations on increases in real property assessment values. Died in House committee.
HJR 1022 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to limit the increase in property tax revenue in the year after reappraisal or reassessment to no more than 5%, excluding revenue from newly discovered or new construction and improvements. Died in House committee.
HJR 1023 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to change the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax for support of public school from 25 mills to 35 mills. Died in House committee.
HJR 1024 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to allow for a state property tax for support of public education. Died in House committee.
HJR 1025 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to change the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax for support of public schools from 25 mills to 30 mills. Died in House committee.
HJR 1026 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to allow the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax for support of public schools to be reduced by other revenue designated by the school district for maintenance and operation. Died in House committee.
HJR 1029 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes amendment to the Constitution authorizing the General Assembly to assess commercial property at a higher ration than noncommercial property for purposes of taxation. Died in House committee.
SB 188 (by Sen. Paul Miller) Requires payments from the Real Property Reappraisal Fund to counties and professional reappraisal companies be based on a reappraisal plan and taxable parcel count approved by the Assessment Coordination Department. Died in House committee.
SB 697 (by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Levies a fee of $2.75 on the owner of taxable real property, with 60% to the county and 40% to the Geographic Information System Fund under the management of the State Land Information Board to coordinate land record data development. Referred to interim study.
SB 774 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Requires unified reporting of property tax reductions and abatements so that the General Assembly will know how local property tax revenue and local school funding is impacted by property tax exemption, abatements, and reductions. Died on House calendar.
SB 802 (by Senate Revenue and Tax Committee) Raises from 20% to 30% the percentage of true and full market or actual value that the Public Service Commission may use to determine the appraisal value of property. Died in Senate committee.
SB 901 (by Senate Revenue and Tax Committee) Provides for transfer of excess funds in the Property Tax Relief Fund to the General Revenue Fund. Died in House committee.
SJR 10 (by Sen. Dave Bisbee) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution revising the treatment of newly discovered real property, new construction, and improvements when calculating millage rollbacks under provisions of Amendment 59. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 11 (by Sen. Dave Bisbee) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to require adjustment of the assessed value upon sale of a homestead, based on the market value at the time of sale. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 14 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to increase the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax for support of public school from 25 mills to 28 mills. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 15 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to increase the uniform rate of ad valorem property tax for support of public school from 25 mills to 30 mills. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 16 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to increase the uniform ad valorem property tax for support of public schools from 25 mills to 32 mills. Died in House committee.
HB 1078 (by Rep. John Verkamp) Authorizes the Oil and Gas Commission to adopt noise standards and rules governing the collection, storage, and distribution of natural gas. Died in House committee.
HB 1851 (by Rep. John Verkamp) Excludes local agents for service of process for nonresident owners of rental property from liability to the city in any action related action by the city, so long as the agent timely sends the service of process to the owner. Died on House calendar.
HB 1876 (by Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson) Defines the damages to which a prevailing plaintiff is entitled in a breach of contract action concerning the sale and purchase of real estate. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 2230 (by Rep. Stan Berry) Allows federal agencies to use Arkansas' statutory foreclosure process. Referred to interim study.
SB 17 (by Sen. Kim Hendren) Requires the mortgagee or trustee to post notice of default and intention to sell upon the premises prior to a foreclosure sale; voids the sale of a property if all persons entitled to notice are not notified of the sale. Referred to interim study.
HB 1402 (by Rep. Paul Bookout) Titled the Retail Price Comparison and Savings Claims Act, setting standards retailers must meet for fair disclosure to prospective buyers when making price comparisons and claims of savings in advertising and promotion. Died in House committee.
HB 1754 (by Rep. Eric Harris) Requires cigarette wholesalers and retailers to retain invoices for three years, to contain certain information, and available for examination by the Tobacco Control Board. Died in House committee.
HB 1755 (by Rep. Eric Harris) Requires cigarette and tobacco product wholesalers to obtain a wholesale cigarette and/or tobacco product license and to secure a permit for each location operated under the license. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2541 (by Rep. Jan Judy) Authorizes convenience centers to serve as alternative collection sites for household, business, and industrial waste. Died on Senate floor.
HB 2766 (by Rep. Jay Bradford) Bans the smoking of tobacco products in food service establishments. Died in House committee.
HJR 1018 (by Rep. Roger Smith) Proposes amendment to the Constitution setting the maximum rate of interest for consumer credit at 17% per annum and the maximum fixed rate as the current "formula rate" as defined. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 385 (by Sen. Denny Altes) Requires an advertising label and an opt-out option in electronic mail solicitations; requires the Attorney General operate a database of persons who do not want to receive e-mail solicitations; makes violations a deceptive act. Died in Senate committee.
SB 713 (by Sen. Gilbert Baker) Requires the suspension of driving privileges for any violation of the Hot Check Law at the time a warrant for arrest is issued. Died in House committee.
SB 950 (by Sen. Jim Holt) Increases the penalties for hot check offenses. Died on House floor./p>
RULES-ETHICS, LOBBYING, VOTING
HB 2216 (by Rep. Jeff Gillespie) Reduces the statute of limitations for filing a complaint with the Ethics Commission from four to two years, (one year if concerning the failure to file a report or the filing of an incorrect report. Died on Senate calendar.
HB 2558 (by Rep. Booker Clemons) Amends the Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and State and Local Officials, excluding school district superintendents from the definition of "public employee". Died in House committee.
HB 2722 (by Rep. Chris Thyer) Allows "approved political action committee" to receive contributions from organized political parties and other PACs. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2849 (by Rep. Gary Biggs) Amends the disclosure laws relating to lobbyists and state and local officials. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 5 (by Sen. Ruth Whitaker) Requires bills introduced before either house of the General Assembly to contain a statement of legislative intent. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 6 (by Sen. Gilbert Baker) Requires the General Assembly to recess after the opening of the regular session while the Joint Budget Committee holds budget hearings for agencies funded from general revenue; cash fund agencies' budgets to be reviewed pre-session. Died in committee.
SB 883 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Adds definition of "Specific governmental body or identifiable groups of public servants" as relates to disclosures by lobbyists. Died on House floor.
HB 1003 (by Rep. Larry Prater) Provides an exemption from sales tax for clothing and footwear purchases during the first weekend of August each year. Referred to interim study.
HB 1130 (by Rep. Jeff Gillespie) Exempts from state sales tax the sale of new or used commercial trucks and semi-trailers; increases the registration fee for same by 20%. Died on House floor.
HB 1317 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Repeals the exemption from gross receipts tax of the proceeds from sales of advertising space in newspapers, publications, and billboard advertising, effective January 4, 2004. Died in House committee.
HB 1346 (by Rep. Shirley Walters) Increases from $2500 to $5000 the tax exemption amount for gross receipts and compensating use tax on the sale of a motor vehicle. Died in House committee.
HB 1528 (by Rep. Michael Lamoureux) Levies additional 4% tax on sale of alcoholic beverages, with proceeds funding emergency management academic programs and scholarships to that program; creates the Emergency Management Higher Education Scholarship Program. Died in House committee.
HB 1600 (by Rep. Mary Beth Green) Allows transfer of a motor vehicle from a dealer to persons or entities other than a franchise dealer of the same make vehicle without payment of sales or use tax, so long as the sale is reflected on the statement of origin. Died in House committee.
HB 1681 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Increases the sales and use taxes by five-eighths of one percent effective July 1, 2003. Died in House committee.
HB 2243 (by Rep. Eric Harris) Exempts food and clothing purchased by active duty military personnel and their dependents from the sales or use tax. Died in House committee.
HB 2257 (by Rep. Gary Biggs) Levies an additional excise tax of 3/8ths of 1% on taxable sales of property and services and on property subject to the compensating use tax. Died on House calendar.
HB 2259 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Repeals all exemptions to sales and use taxes effective January 1, 2004. Died in House committee.
HB 2265 (by Rep. Jan Judy) Reduces the discount for prompt payment of gross receipts tax from $1,000 to $100 per month; directs one-third of one percent of all gross receipts and compensating taxes to programs for at-risk children and their families. Died in House committee.
HB 2266 (by Rep. Jan Judy) Levies a three percent excise tax on numerous professional services; repeals exemptions from excise tax for advertising and for services performed by temporary or leased employees. Died in House committee.
HB 2282 (by Rep. Wayne Nichols) Defines and levies a one percent tax on junk food; requires distributors and manufacturers to obtain licenses for the sale of junk food. Died in House committee.
HB 2322 (by Rep. John Verkamp) Eliminates the requirement that property come to rest in the state or become commingled with property in the to be subject to use tax. Died in House committee.
HB 2368 (by Rep. Roger Smith) Provides for incremental reduction in .5% steps when revenue receipts and forecast meet certain standards. Died in House committee.
HB 2377 (by Rep. Preston Scroggin) Allows a sales or use tax credit on the purchase or license of computer software and software maintenance for qualified computer-related businesses. Died in House committee.
HB 2490 (by Rep. Janet Johnson) Increases the sales and use tax by one-fourth of one percent (1/4 of 1%). Died in House committee.
HB 2557 (by Rep. Booker Clemons) Authorizes counties and municipalities to levy sales or use tax increases to fund preventative programs for juveniles. Died in House committee.
HB 2612 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Repeals the sales tax exemption for publications sold through subscription. Died in House committee.
HB 2623 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies sales tax on sewer services, sanitation services, garbage collection, an d solid and liquid waste collection and disposal. Died in House committee.
HB 2624 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies sales tax on bank and financial institution service charges, investment counseling services, and brokers fees. Died in House committee.
HB 2633 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies sales tax on all auction and consignment sales unless specified. Died in House committee.
HB 2639 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies sales tax on the initial installation of various goods and equipment. Died in House committee.
HB 2646 (by Rep. Daryl Pace) Requires all revenues derived from local sales taxes on aviation fuel, with exceptions, to be remitted directly to the regional airport. Died in House committee.
HB 2664 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies a sales tax on advertising space and time on radio, television, print, and billboards. Died in House committee.
HB 2665 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies sales tax on software and software licenses, and computer servicing/consultation. Died in House committee.
HB 2667 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies sales tax on service or boarding of horses. Died in House committee.
HB 2668 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies sales tax on security services, security guard services, and alarm monitoring services; exempts security services performed by off-duty police/fire personnel. Died in House committee.
HB 2669 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies sales tax on mini-storage facilities and boat storage or docking. Died in House committee.
HB 2688 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Imposes the sales tax on real estate commissions, management fees, title, abstract, and settlement fees, and real estate closing fees. Died in House committee.
HB 2693 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Imposes the gross receipts tax on the services of attorneys. Died in House committee.
HB 2799 (by Rep. Phillip Jackson) Authorizes municipalities that levy a 2% hotel and restaurant tax to levy an additional 1% for capital improvements for a period of up to 60 months. Died in House committee.
HJR 1012 (by Rep. Gary Biggs) Proposes amendment to the Constitution to distribute half of the monies collected from the excise taxes levied under Amendment 75 to general revenue, thereby reducing the funding (but keeping the ratios) specified in the Amendment by 50%. Died in House committee.
SB 7 (by Sen. Bobby Glover) Exempts all food purchases from state sales tax, to be phased in over six years beginning July 1, 2006. Died in Senate committee.
SB 9 (by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress) Authorizes municipalities to enter into nondisclosure agreements with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration regarding the release of information concerning local sales and use tax collection. Died in Senate committee.
SB 51 (by Sen. Denny Altes) Exempts food purchases from state (not local) sales tax, reducing tax by 50% in 2004 and providing total exemption effective 7/1/05; exempts food purchases from the 1/8% excise tax levied by Amendment 75. Referred to interim study.
SB 74 (by Sen. Denny Altes) Creates an exemption from sales tax for clothing and footwear items of less than $75 value each bought on the first Saturday of August each year. Referred to interim study.
SB 383 (by Sen. Gilbert Baker) Exempts from sales tax the purchase of personal property by Tech Serve International, Inc. for projects for humanitarian purposes outside the United States. Died in Senate committee.
SB 708 (by Sen. Irma Hunter Brown) Creates the "Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Act", levying a 5% sales tax on direct broadcast service and directing proceeds to cities and counties for road and public transit improvement. Referred to interim study.
SB 768 (by Sen. Brenda Gullett) Levies a tax of 15% on the retail sales of tobacco products, with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to specified health, human service, and education programs and 57.5% to general revenue. Died on House calendar.
SB 781 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Includes wrecker and towing services as taxable services. Died in Senate committee.
SB 785 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Extends the sales tax to real estate commissions, management fees, title, abstract, settlement fees, and closing fees. Died in Senate committee.
SB 787(by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Extends the gross receipts tax to dry cleaning and laundry services. Died in Senate committee.
SB 789 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Levies a 4% privilege tax on the gross receipts of sellers of electricity, natural gas, cable and satellite television services, telecommunications services, propane and butane, which will be in lieu of the corporate income tax. Died in Senate committee.
SB 790 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Makes initial installation charges subject to sales tax. Died in Senate committee.
SB 794 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Extends the sales tax to service charges of banks and other financial institutions. Died in Senate committee.
SB 796 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Makes service charges of banks and other financial institutions, and investment counseling charges subject to the gross receipts tax. Died in Senate committee.
SB 797 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Makes services of attorneys subject to the gross receipts tax. Died in Senate committee.
SB 824 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Repeals the exemption from sales tax for advertising space in newspapers and billboard services; levies tax on advertising space including television and radio time and outdoor advertising. Died in Senate committee.
SB 825 (by Sen. Revenue and Tax Committee) Levies sales tax on licenses to use software, and services relating to software/computer consultation and service. Died in Senate committee.
SB 844 (by Sen. Shane Broadway) Prescribes the levy of a temporary additional sales tax if a fiscal emergency is declared. Died in Senate committee.
SB 878 (by Sen. Jerry Bookout) Increases the rate of gross receipts tax on rental of video cassettes, games, gaming equipment, and other video medium. Died in Senate committee.
SB 908 (by Sen. Kim Hendren) Requires person selling an asset in Arkansas to pay Arkansas taxes on the proceeds form the sale. Died in Senate committee.
SB 970 (by Sen. Jack Critcher) Levies an additional 9% excise tax of 9% on short-term rental of videotapes, digital video discs, and other tangible recorded compilations. Died in Senate committee.
SJR 19 (by Sen. Gilbert Baker) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring the gross receipts tax to be levied on proceeds derived from professional services, and providing for the exemption of any service or group of services from the tax. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1013 (by Rep. Wayne Nichols) Creates the Arkansas Agriculture Department and provides for transfer to that department of a number of agriculture-related boards and commissions. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 1029 (by Rep. Phillip Jackson) Prohibits state agencies and institutions from spending more in the new fiscal year than was spent in the previous year, except for Public School Fund, Department of Correction, Medicaid, and mandated expenditures. Died in House committee.
HB 1199 (by Rep. Wayne Nichols) Creates the Arkansas Agriculture Department and provides for transfer to that department of a number of agriculture-related boards and commissions. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1742 (by Rep. Denny Sumpter) Requires the House and Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs to conduct a study of the feasibility of reorganizing state government for greater efficiency. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2371 (by Rep. Marvin Childers) Makes organizations that are authorized in law to appoint or nominate for appointment members of a public board or commission are subject to provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Died in House committee.
HB 2636 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Requires the Joint Budget Committee to conduct budget hearings during four weeks of the regular session; limits final action by the General Assembly during this period. Died in House committee.
HB 2803 (by Rep. Steve Napper) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution changing limit on service in the House to six 2-year terms; limits Senate service to 12 years, excepting partial terms. Died in House committee.
HB 2826 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Makes the Public Service Commission independent of any other state agency. Died in House committee.
HB 2874 (by Rep. Mary Beth Green) Requires the Secretary of State to notify business owners of new laws that would affect the owner's business. Died in House committee.
HCR 1002 (by Rep. Wayne Nichols) Limits the number of non-appropriation bills which may be filed by a member during any one session (Representatives held to seven; Senators to eight). Died in House committee.
HCR 1031 (by Rep. Marvin Parks) Urges the General Assembly to give the Governor exclusive control over distribution of the General Improvement Fund. Died in House committee.
HJR 1008 (by Rep. Chris Thyer) Proposes amendment to the Constitution providing for annual sessions of the General Assembly and establishing the official length of session at thirty days. Died in House committee.
HJR 1015 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Proposes amendment to the Constitution requiring approval of the General Assembly by concurrent resolution or by a committee designated by the Assembly for valid regulations made by a state agency. Died in House committee.
HJR 1016 (by Rep. Herschel Cleveland) Proposes amendment to the Constitution limiting the General Assembly to three proposed acts for referendum per regular session; establishes other referendum requirements. Died in House committee.
HJR 1027 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to refer to voters the question of whether to issue bonds for construction and maintenance of public school facilities. Died in House committee.
SB 5 (by Sen. Ruth Whitaker) Requires bills introduced before either house of the General Assembly to contain a statement of legislative intent. Withdrawn from further consideration.
SB 6 (by Sen. Gilbert Baker) Requires the General Assembly to recess after the opening of the regular session while the Joint Budget Committee holds budget hearings for agencies funded from general revenue; cash fund agencies' budgets to be reviewed pre-session. Died in Senate committee.
SB 45 (by Sen. Bob Johnson) Reorganizes state agencies into ten Departments and specifies the agencies and other entities in each. Died in House committee.
SB 239 (by Sen. Bobby Glover) Makes appointees of the Governor to serve as secretary of any department of state government subject to confirmation of the Senate. Died in House committee.
SB 804 (by Sen. Tracy Steele) Requires state agencies to include in requests for proposals language that encourages minority participation in each request. Died in Senate committee.
SB 880 (by Sen. Percy Malone) Would enhance various revenue sources to general additional funds for the state - styled as the "Revenue Investment Act." Died in Senate committee.
SJR 4 (by Sen. Shawn Womack) Proposes amendment to the Constitution providing for annual sessions of the General Assembly and establishing the official length of session at sixty days. Died on House floor.
SJR 5 (by Sen. Jerry Bookout) Proposes amendment to the Constitution providing for annual sessions of the General Assembly and limiting the agenda in even-numbered years to appropriating and restricting funds, raising or decreasing revenues, and emergencies. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1010 (by Rep. Preston Scroggin) Prohibits hauling of litter, trash, or garbage in any uncovered vehicle (now applies only to commercial haulers). Died in House committee.
HB 1024 (by Rep. Cecile Bledsoe) Requires all persons to wear protective headgear when operating or riding a motorcycle on public streets and highways. Died in House committee.
HB 1127 (by Rep. Booker Clemons) Requires finished lumber and ladders to be secured to trucks' beds. Died in House committee.
HB 1130 (by Rep. Jeff Gillespie) Exempts from state sales tax the sale of new or used commercial trucks and semi-trailers; increases the registration fee for same by 20%. Died on House floor.
HB 1493 (by Rep. Kevin Penix) Prohibits use of a cellular telephone by the driver of a motor vehicle unless the telephone is equipped for hands-free operation. Died in House committee.
HB 1647 (by Rep. Charles Ormond) Creates a limit liability limit of $10,000,000 for incidents or accidents involving a for-profit passenger excursion train. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2785 (by Rep. Steven Jones) Exempts farm trucks from overweight penalties if the farm truck is moving products from the field to storage. Died in House committee.
SB 29 (by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress) Prohibits local law enforcement officials from using unmanned, automated enforcement devices to enforce traffic laws, except in school zones and at railroad crossings. Died in Senate committee.
SB 95 (by Sen. Hank Wilkins) Authorizes law enforcement officials to conduct an inspection of a motor vehicle specifically for seat belt compliance without authorizing further searches; prohibits the use of a seat belt law violation to suspend a drivers license. Referred to interim study.
SB 281 (by Sen. Tim Wooldridge) Increases the maximum height of vehicles on streets and highways from 13'6" to 14 feet. Died in Senate committee.
SB 728 (by Sen. John Paul Capps) Revises the Motor Vehicle Commission Act related to warranty and termination of franchise of auto dealers. Died on House calendar.
SB 935 (by Sen. Tracy Steele) Creates a trust fund for reimbursement of owners and operators that install vapor recovery systems at facilities that dispense motor fuel. Referred to interim study.
SB 968 (by Sen. Jerry Bookout) Limits the sales or use tax on the purchase of a truck tractor to $600. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 1282 (by Rep. Sam Ledbetter) Requires the shielding of certain outdoor night lighting fixtures; allows public utilities to recover costs for any required accelerated replacement of fixtures in rates approved by the Public Service Commission. Died in House committee.
HB 1319 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Revises the rate of severance tax on natural gas from $.003 per one thousand cubic feet to 5 percent of market value at time and point of severance. Died in House committee.
HB 1467 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Creates an income tax deduction, not to exceed $5000, for cost and installation of renewable energy equipment, including but not limited to solar, wind, small-scale hydro, and biomass equipment. Died in House committee.
HB 1468 (by Rep. Jim Lendall) Creates an income tax deduction, not to exceed $2,000, for purchase and installation of energy-saving equipment, including insulation, storm doors or windows, non-power vents, renewable energy equipment, solar heating/cooling equipment, etc. Died in House committee.
HB 2267 (by Rep. Jan Judy) Amends the Renewable Energy Development Act to require electric utilities to provide net-metering contracts that allow for customers who generate a net excess of electricity to carry the excess forward as a credit month-to-month. Withdrawn from further consideration.
HB 2407 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Imposes a per-line limit on recovery of lost revenue from the Universal Services Fund by telecommunications providers. Died in House committee.
HB 2408 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Requires telecommunications carriers to provide annual verification of eligibility to recover lost revenue from the Universal Services Fund. Died in House committee.
HB 2410 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Imposes a per-line limit on the amount of reduced revenue a telecommunications carrier may recover and requires the total recovery to be less than the net reduction. Died in House committee.
HB 2411 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Sets the rate of Carrier Common Line Pool charges at $.33 per retail billed minute of use. Died in House committee.
HB 2435 (by Rep. Michael Lamoureux) Amends the Arkansas Telecommunications Regulatory Reform Act of 1997. Died in House committee.
HB 2602 (by Rep. Jeff Gillespie) Amends the Telecommunications Regulatory Act of 1997. Died in House committee.
HB 2634 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Levies a four percent privilege tax on gross receipts of sellers of electricity , natural gas, cable or satellite television services, telecommunications services, and propane and butane in lieu of the corporation income tax. Died in House committee.
HB 2685 (by Rep. Jodie Mahony) Increases the maximum percentage of actual or market value of property the Public Services Commission may use to determine appraisal value from 20% to 30%. Died in House committee.
HB 2752 (by Rep. Paul Bookout) Requires penalties under ACA 23-15-2216 be credited as general revenues. Died in Senate committee.
HB 2869 (by Rep. Marvin Parks) Requires telephone service or commercial mobile radio service providers to register with the clerk of each political subdivision in which it provides service. Died on House calendar.
HJR 1014 (by Rep. Bill Stovall) Proposes amendment to the Constitution deleting a provision requiring the millage rates for personal, utility, and regulated carrier property to be equal to the millage rate for real property, and deleting a provision for their equalization. Died in House committee.
SB 813 (by Sen. Barbara Horn) Amends the Telecommunications Regulatory Act of 1997 to delay the Public Service Commission's authority to implement a phase-in reduction of intrastate common carrier line charges. Died in Senate committee.
HB 1079 (by Rep. John Verkamp) Authorizes parties to a joint petition for final settlement of a workers' compensation case to waive hearing provided they are represented by counsel. Died on Senate floor.
HB 2250 (by Rep. David Haak) Requires an annual increase of weekly benefits for death or permanent total disability under workers' compensation by the same percentage as any increase in the state average weekly wage. Referred to interim study.
HB 2251 (by Rep. David Haak) Requires an annual increase in the limitations on workers' compensation benefits paid by the employer or insurance carrier by the same percentage as any increase in the state average weekly wage. Referred to interim study.
HB 2813 (by Rep. Gary Biggs) Makes corrections and conforms the Insurance Code to federal laws. Died on House calendar.
SB 212 (by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress) Requires insurers to execute an audit within 30 days of cancellation or renewal of a general liability or workers' compensation policy to determine whether a refund of excess premiums is due; requires refund be made within 30 days of audit completion. Died in Senate committee.
