To Amend The Rules Of The House Of Representatives Of The Ninety-fifth General Assembly; To Require That A Member Of The House Of Representatives Be Selected As A Designated Survivor.
Summary
HR 1012 is a House resolution that would amend the Arkansas House Rules to require the Speaker of the House to designate one House member as a “designated survivor” before any joint meeting of the House and Senate at which all legislators and constitutional officers are invited. The designated survivor would be a House member who meets specified eligibility criteria, including being in the top one-third of House seniority and being constitutionally qualified to serve as Governor under the Arkansas Constitution.
The resolution sets out procedures for the designated survivor to leave the State Capitol at least one hour before the joint meeting and remain at least five miles away until one hour after the meeting ends. It also requires the Speaker to notify the Division of Emergency Management and coordinate an appropriate location for the member. If the Speaker and a majority of House members are unable to serve due to death, illness, incapacity, or other inability, the designated survivor would temporarily serve as Speaker until the vacancy or inability is resolved. The resolution further provides that the designated survivor is counted as present for quorum purposes and is eligible for mileage and per diem for the day of the joint meeting.
Impact
If adopted, the resolution would change the internal rules of the Arkansas House of Representatives rather than the state’s general statutory law. It would create a formal succession and safety protocol for joint legislative gatherings, define eligibility and logistics for the designated survivor, and authorize administrative coordination with emergency management. The practical effect would be to add a continuity-of-government safeguard for the House Speaker’s office during high-attendance events.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the measure faced more opposition than support. On January 30, 2025, the resolution was read and failed of adoption by a vote of 39 yeas to 31 nays. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate broader consensus or detailed support arguments. The vote outcome indicates the proposal was considered but did not gain enough backing to be adopted.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to have been whether the House should formally require a designated survivor procedure and the related security and succession arrangements. Potential concerns include the need for the rule, the practicality of removing a member from the Capitol during a joint meeting, and whether the eligibility requirements and temporary succession provisions were too prescriptive for an internal House rule. Supporters likely viewed it as a prudent emergency-preparedness measure, while opponents appear to have been sufficient in number to block adoption.