Transcript Highlights:

• When we really had this debate last session with the State Employee Pay Plan, what we realized is that
• state employee pay plan.
• were not included in the state employee pay plan.
• When we really had this debate last session with the State Employee Pay Plan, what we realized is that
• are under the higher ed budget, so they were not included in the state employee pay plan.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee first received a report on the executive protection detail, which was filed without questions. Members were then given a long advance list of House and Senate bills ready for consideration, followed by several amendment requests from agencies. The committee adopted amendments for the Auditor of State to increase special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and several other items including local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, and local law enforcement funding. It also held one amendment on House Bill 1034 and moved a Northwest Arkansas Community College cash fund increase tied to tornado-related campus repairs. The committee then considered a series of member amendments and appropriation items, including increases for the Public Defender Commission and deputy prosecuting attorneys to cover higher bar license fees, and a $12 million federal appropriation-only item. A lengthy discussion followed on a proposal from Senator Wallace and Representative Tosh to fund a pilot program for prison cell-phone detection/jamming technology at two correctional facilities. Sponsors and Department of Corrections officials said the system would target illegal contraband phones, would be procured through an RFP, and would be a two-year pilot; members raised questions about legality, cost, scope, data, and whether the department should use existing budget authority. The committee ultimately advanced the item by motion. The committee also took up an amendment from Senator Caldwell for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, seeking a $4 million appropriation increase. Testimony emphasized that the division’s extension offices and research functions are underfunded, that salaries are not competitive, and that the request would help with staffing and flexibility; other members questioned why the division needed more appropriation authority when it already had room under current limits and noted that the request exceeded the higher education board’s recommendation. The amendment was adopted after extended debate. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a $150 million increase to the homestead property tax credit, a $23,000 reallocation for the Insurance Department’s conference costs, $100,000 for property appraisal review work, $1.5 million for career and technical education professional development, $300,000 for DFA regulatory federal spending, $5 million for Inspector General fraud investigations, a consolidation of appraiser/abstractor/home inspector appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee readiness center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation for corrections capital projects that would add special language restricting use of the $73.7 million prison-expansion reappropriation. The committee also heard a summary of a supplemental appropriations package involving fund transfers for pregnancy resource centers, senior centers, assistance grants, used tires, and UAMS pregnancy/stroke programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• state highways, approximately $48 million to state agencies for the maintenance and repair of state
• and retirees enrolled in the state employee health plan for plan year 2027, and states the legislature
• This is a program that covers health insurance for all state employees and retirees, and it is not healthy
• And I can tell you, right now, state employees who are contributing to the Health Insurance Trust Fund
• The state is required to, and every state is required to.

Transcript Highlights:

• May we continue to lead our great state.
• So, um, authority to the state agency.
• </c> existing statute that allows employees existing statute that allows employees to<00:53:19.040><c
• </c> by avoiding the cost of employee a sub. by avoiding the cost of employee a sub.
• President. teachers and school employees. Our teachers and school employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• belongings without the supervision of a cleared employee.
• just state, just to get this on the record, you know, state law requires when rejecting a rule that
• So I would just state that for the record. As you, Mr.
• So I would just state that for the record. As you, Mr.
• Some of these entities have facilities across the United States.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• , and you know, I support it, ...despite a state law that guaranteed the state to produce 50% of the
• clearly defined in state law.
• clearly defined in state law.
• </c> to a $11,000 fine per day per employee to a $11,000 fine per day per employee is<00:41:18.960><c
• It's the largest jail in our state, the most populated jail in our state.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• In the 18 years I've been in the legislature, we have required state employees to testify as co-chairs
• employees to testify as co-chairs a joint performance review representative employees to testify as
• employee.
• They are non-employees as of yet. They're trying to recruit these people to the state.
• They're non-employees as of yet. They're trying to recruit these people to the state.

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee took up several budget and personnel items, first approving revised requests from the Auditor’s Office and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. The Auditor’s request lowered its salary-and-match increases to 10 percent, with operations and UCP amounts reduced to $245,490 and $109,711. The Lieutenant Governor’s revised request kept positions at line-item maximums and sought $99,876 in regular salary and match appropriations, or 17.43 percent. Both items were approved without objection. The main discussion centered on a member amendment from Senator Rice to Senate Bill 30 affecting the Governor’s Office. The amendment would eliminate one senior advisor position, reduce authorized positions from 59 to 58, and cut salaries and matching funds by a total of $264,895. Senator Rice argued the reduction was warranted because of concerns about former Corrections Secretary Joe Profury’s handling of corrections-related matters, including the Franklin County land purchase, transparency issues, and his refusal to appear before Joint Performance Review. Several members questioned the relevance of the testimony and noted the Governor could still hire him in another role if she chose. After discussion, a roll call vote was taken and the amendment failed. The committee then approved two routine items: OPM’s request to reinstate a labor market rate at the crime lab so it can offer up to $300,000 to recruit two medical examiners, and Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for 11 positions tied to the new veterinary medicine school. Both requests were approved, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 169 increases the amount of longevity award to state employees by 50% across all service
• What we do know is that our state employees are being paid below market.
• What we do know is that the average salary of state employees is significantly lower than comparable
• As a child of a state employee, I want to give a shout-out to all the state employees.
• What we're doing here today, members, is looking to encourage experienced employees here in the state

Bills: SB1627 , SB227 , SB366 , SB1193 , SB1433 , SB1450 , SB1481 , SB1749 , SB1810 , SB1812 , SB1921 , SB1948 , SB2044 , SB2178 , SB169 , SB1877 , HB1409 , SB1266 , SB1432

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered prayer, and recognized several guests, doctors, nurses, pages, student shadows, and visitors in the gallery. Members also adopted a motion to request the House’s consent for the Senate to adjourn for more than three days, with Senator Hicks opposing the motion because of the number of bills still available for consideration. The motion passed. The chamber then considered several bills. Senate Bill 1627, a cleanup measure to eliminate duplicate criminal code sections and clarify the law for legal research, passed 45-0 and was advanced as an emergency. Senate Bill 227, dealing with gross production tax and ad valorem taxation on oil and gas means of production, drew extensive questioning and debate over possible revenue impacts, county assessors, schools, and economically at-risk wells; it passed 37-9. Senate Bill 366, which gives charter schools a first right of refusal to buy or lease public school buildings sold or leased by districts, also generated debate over local control and lack of resale guardrails, and passed 40-6 as an emergency. Later, Senate Bill 1193 to remove general fund carryover caps for school districts passed 46-0 as an emergency after supporters argued it would reduce “use it or lose it” spending and allow more local flexibility, while opponents questioned fiscal effects and accountability. Senate Bill 1433, the Guidance Transparency Act requiring agencies to publicly disclose guidance documents in a searchable database, passed 37-7 after concerns about attorney-client privilege, administrative burden, and whether guidance could function like law. Senate Bill 1450, expanding relief from fines, fees, and court costs for certain people in the criminal justice system, was advanced and passed unanimously; Senate Bill 1481, increasing minimum recess time for K-5 students from 20 to 40 minutes, was advanced as an emergency measure; Senate Bill 1810, allowing expert testimony in human trafficking cases, passed 45-0; Senate Bill 1812, requiring school districts to make benchmark testing information available to parents, passed 46-0 as an emergency; Senate Bill 1921, increasing OSBI background-check fees, passed 39-7; and Senate Bill 1948, updating fireworks laws and limiting county restrictions on private outdoor consumer fireworks displays, was taken up with significant safety and local-control questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Midwestern State University... led by Dr. Stacey Haney.
• preservation board for certain traffic areas near the state capitol for the Committee on State Affairs
• The United States enrolled in public school and requesting reimbursement from the United States government
• University and expected effects of future climate change in the state and the preparedness of the state
• , refer to the Committee on State Affairs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> one-wing state? one-wing state?
• within the state.
• In the U.S., we employ about 65,000 employees in 45 states.
• in the state?
• </c> state and local government. state and local government.

Summary: The task force met on October 14, confirmed a quorum, and adopted the September 16, 2025 minutes. Members then received a Kentucky Air National Guard 101 briefing from Brigadier General Bruce Bancroft, commander of the Kentucky Air National Guard, who described the Guard’s structure, missions, and statewide role. He emphasized that Kentucky is a single-wing state centered at Louisville’s 123rd Airlift Wing and highlighted several unique capabilities, including the Contingency Response Group, critical care air transport teams, medical detachment for chemical environments, explosive ordnance disposal, fatality search and recovery, and special tactics personnel. General Bancroft also discussed staffing and readiness, saying the Guard has 1,273 authorized positions, with a mix of AGR, Title 32, and Title 5 personnel. He noted that AGR positions are funded at about 96 percent, while technician positions are funded at about 53 percent, leaving the organization to operate at roughly 75 percent of authorized manpower overall. He said the wing converted from the C-130H to the C-130J in 2021 and completed the transition in about 2.5 years, ahead of the original three-year timeline. The briefing further covered the Guard’s operational tempo and community role. Bancroft said the unit has earned 21 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, has deployed about 500,000 days since 9/11 across 45 countries, and routinely supports federal and domestic missions. He described the C-130J’s tactical airlift, airdrop, and blacked-out operations as directly useful for disaster response in Kentucky, and he pointed to strong ties with UPS and other aviation employers. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Was this like an unauthorized employee of the district? No.
• Just as you stated, schools are improving. Yes.
• About $130, $125, $125 an employee? About $130, $125 an employee? Possibly. Yeah. All right.
• Okay, and final question: Did you invite your state representative or state senator there to this party
• Did you invite your state representative or state senator there to this party?

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Transcript Highlights:

• one state.
• Contracts among states.
• Across state lines.
• states.
• You pay a fee in a compact state, a remote state.

Committees: House Economic Development , House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up is the standing committee on state agencies, and I believe Senator McKee is going to recognize
• The Department of Human Services reported instances of improper benefit payments to employees from the
• Subsequent to an investigation by the Arkansas State Police and the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting
• Due to the cessation of the program, all employees materially involved in the program, including the
• They were custodian of the funds and the director and other employees of the program were employees of

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Summary: The Legislative Joint Audit Committee met on February 13, 2026, and first adopted the January 9, 2026 minutes. It then received and adopted reports from the Executive Committee, the Standing Committee on Counties and Municipalities, the Standing Committee on Education Institutions, the Standing Committee on State Agencies, and the Medicaid Subcommittee. Those reports covered audit follow-up items, delinquent private water and sewer audits, municipal accounting compliance issues, education audit findings, state agency audit findings, and a Medicaid oversight presentation. Several reports were filed after discussion, and in multiple cases agencies or local officials were present to answer questions about repeat findings or compliance concerns. Among the notable audit matters, the committee reviewed a Cleburne County library audit that found more than $80,000 in unauthorized or questionable disbursements, including purchases that appeared personal in nature and improper fuel expenses. The library director had been placed on leave, later charged with felony theft of property and abuse of office, and the matter was referred to the prosecuting attorney and Attorney General. The committee also heard a special report on the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, which found scholarship ineligibility issues and numerous disbursement-processing exceptions, while noting that the program had ended in 2024 and remaining funds were returned to the school districts. During the state agency report, Legislative Audit described findings at DHS, Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, Corrections, and Veterans Affairs, including improper benefit payments, a cashed warrant by someone other than the intended payee, missing receipts, unauthorized fuel card purchases, and payroll and overtime issues. The committee filed that report after agency representatives responded to questions. The meeting ended with the filing of the Cleburne County and Donaldson Scholars Academy reports, and the next committee meeting was announced for March 12-13, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are here in conference room 430 at the State Capitol.
• Uh, this measure would create a uniform state standard, which would apply to members of the judiciary
• or staff or employees of the judiciary, as well as members of the legislative branch, including, for
• And if so, how would it affect existing employees? everybody. everybody.
• </c> how would it affect existing employees? how would it affect existing employees?

Bills: SB2661

Committee: House Legislative Management

Summary: The Legislative Management committee met to hear Senate Bill 2661 SD1, which addresses nepotism. The bill’s sponsor said it would create a uniform state standard covering the judiciary, legislative branch, and related offices such as the Ombudsman, Auditor, and State Ethics Commission, and would include a good-cause exception to allow for unique circumstances, especially in rural areas. The sponsor emphasized the value of a consistent public standard and said the measure was intended to be transparent and broadly applicable. A member asked whether the bill would apply prospectively and how it would affect current employees. The sponsor responded that it would apply prospectively but would still affect existing supervisory relationships involving related or household members, unless a good-cause exception or grandfathering provision were added. The sponsor noted that the current bill does not contain a grandfather clause and described how, in the executive branch, similar situations were handled by changing supervision or temporarily delaying enforcement to work through transitions. The committee then moved to decision-making and recommended passing SB 2661 SD1 with amendments, including changing the effective date to July 1, 3000. The acting chair, vice chair, Representative Morikawa, and Representative Matsumoto voted in favor; Representative Quinlan was excused. The recommendation was adopted and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> many carriers do we have in the state? many carriers do we have in the state?
• employees.
• 1700 members in the state. represent? 1700 members in the state.
• </c><01:24:32.960><c> when</c> include a state-by-state breakdown when include a state-by-state breakdown
• </c> of the states in the northeast. of the states in the northeast.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Next slide just to highlight some of the major items in state government: the Public Employees Retirement
• An average means state employees; the average state employee makes about $60,000. So...
• So for state employees, the average raise is $1,794. So if you make $20,000, you get that amount.
• is the employee share?
• Employees' premiums go up to 3%. The average employee will see a rate increase of about $106.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're the city employees. You don't have any further city employees? No.
• But that's the only other employee we have.
• And you said there was one other employee. Does that employee get mileage per the IRS, but...
• Whether it's employee, does that employee get mileage per the IRS mileage rate, or how are they coming
• And I want the state to look at the whole—I mean, you guys look at the whole state.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Summary: The committee approved the prior minutes and then received a series of audit and compliance updates. Staff reported on delinquent private water and sewer reports, delinquent 2013-2023 water reports, and several municipal accounting code noncompliance cases. Denning and Gum Springs were recommended to be removed from the 60-day clock after staff visits showed improved records, while Fargo, Lead Hill, Almy, Jericho, Haynes, Biggers, Gilmore, and Holly Grove were discussed for repeat findings involving missing audits, poor bookkeeping, unpaid or misapplied street funds, deficit balances, and other accounting deficiencies. Several of these entities were given additional time or had reports filed without objection, while others were deferred for later review. Fargo’s mayor said the town had been understaffed and was working to improve its accounting systems; the committee voted to defer the matter to the August meeting. Lead Hill’s mayor described efforts to complete overdue water audits and improve office procedures, and the committee also postponed action for 60 days. Almy’s mayor and recorder-treasurer were present, and the committee placed the town on the 60-day clock for repeat accounting issues. Biggers and Gilmore both acknowledged long-running audit problems and said they were working with auditors and the IRS; their reports were filed. Holly Grove’s treasurer said she had only recently taken the position, and that report was filed as well. The committee spent considerable time on the street-fund misuse cases for Jericho and Haynes. Jericho was found to have exceeded the statutory threshold tied to fines and costs, with staff noting the town had since become current on its repayment plan; the committee deferred the report to September. Haynes was also behind on its repayment plan for street funds, with staff saying the town had recently made up the shortfall and was current as of the meeting, but the committee still deferred the report to September. Members and staff also discussed how the speed-trap law is applied, whether certain fines and costs count toward the threshold, and the role of the prosecuting attorney in deciding whether to take further action. The committee then reviewed a special report on the Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District, which had six findings involving board approval of payroll and contracts, credit card documentation, vehicle and cell phone use, competitive bidding, electronic funds controls, and unusually high advertising spending. District Director Craig Douglas said the board had delegated some authority, that receipts were missing during a temporary staffing gap, and that advertising was needed to educate the public; he also defended the sale of trailers and other equipment as a way to exit the trailer business. Several members questioned the explanations and the low resale value of equipment, but the committee ultimately deferred the report to September. The meeting also included a recognition of accounting students interning with audit staff and a final set of actions on deferred water and sewer reports: 11 were filed, seven were deferred for lack of proper responses, and a private report on Shannon Hills Water, Sewer, and Fire Department was noted as involving misappropriation by an office manager and inadequate internal controls.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's referred to the committee on natural resources and energy. state lands used for hunting and state
• lands used for hunting and state lands used for hunting and fishing. fishing. fishing.
• S295, an act relating to group membership in the state employees retirement system. referred to 290.
• </c><00:12:58.399><c> employees</c> S295, an act relating to group membership in the state employees
• Listen to the first reading of the bill. >> S295, an act relating to group membership in the state employees

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a process for our state employees, and normally, you know, and it... employees, and normally,
• employees versus education employees.
• But in this situation, we have something for our state employees if they are injured on the job, but
• And then, the good news is, again, when we compare to the state health employees, you know there...
• I don't know if that's to make it consistent with the state employees' situation, but that's something

Bills: SJR 1 , SB 9 , SB 40 , SJR 36 , SJR 1 , SJR 5 , SB 9 , SB 40 , SR 61 , SR 91 , SR 97 , SR 103 , SR 104 , SR 112 , SR 115 , SR 116 , SCR 16 , SB 26 , SB 26

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1623 is an update to the state charter for state-regulated credit unions.
• Businesses in our state have choices about how they work with their employees, individually and collectively
• Businesses in our state have choices about how they work with their employees, individually and collectively
• major employer in our state whose prescription drug costs to cover its employees is $26.5 million a
• states.

Bills: SB65 , SB248 , SB330 , SB378 , SB844 , SB1330 , SB1410 , SB1475 , SB1476 , SB1565 , SB1618 , SB1623 , SJR39 , SJR47 , SB2084 , SB1655 , SB1679 , SB2174 , SB1775 , SB1873 , SB1204 , SB1884 , SB1916 , SB1937 , SB1447 , SB1500 , SB2007 , SB2074 , SB1944 , SB2018 , SB1984 , SB2026 , SB2045 , SB2049 , SB2062 , SB2112 , SB2118 , SB2127 , SB2134 , SB2135 , SB2139 , SB2154 , SB1195

Summary: The Senate first considered Senate Bill 1623, a measure updating the state charter for state-regulated credit unions to make them more competitive with federal credit unions. Two amendments were adopted: one changing certain board authority language from “shall” to “may,” and another restoring the title. Supporters said the bill was the product of years of negotiation with bankers and credit unions and would not affect national banks; after questions about membership expansion and census-tract service areas, the bill passed 44-0. The chamber then took up Senate Joint Resolution 39, which would send to voters a constitutional amendment lowering annual caps on assessed-value growth for homestead and agricultural property from 3% to 1%, and for other property from 5% to 3%. Proponents argued it would slow property-tax growth, help seniors and fixed-income homeowners stay in their homes, and not reduce government revenue but only slow future growth; opponents warned it would reduce local revenue growth for schools, counties, infrastructure, and bonding capacity, and would disproportionately benefit higher-value property owners. The resolution passed 38-8, and the special-election referral also passed 38-8. Senate Joint Resolution 47, which would place current voter ID requirements into the Constitution, also advanced and passed 39-8, with the special-election provision passing by the same margin. Supporters said it simply constitutionalized existing law requiring proof of identity and would preserve election security; critics said Oklahoma already has voter ID rules, the measure was unnecessary, and the language could create uncertainty for absentee voters and future changes. Debate also touched on provisional ballots, military and overseas voting, and whether the measure would make future adjustments harder. Later, Senate Bill 2084 passed 35-7 and as an emergency measure. The bill limits wrongful-termination settlements for faculty members at higher education institutions to two times annual salary, including pay and accrued benefits. Supporters said it would provide certainty for universities and regents; questions focused on tenure, free-speech claims, and how the cap would interact with existing tort limits. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1655 unanimously to allow Oklahoma Complete Health’s Children’s Specialty Program to contact adoptive parents and offer continued voluntary services for post-adoption children, and Senate Bill 1679 was introduced as the “Preserving Oklahoma Values Act,” aimed at codifying adherence to the U.S. and Oklahoma Constitutions and rejecting foreign law, with debate beginning over its enforcement and scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 561, by the State Affairs Committee, regarding State Affairs.
• House Bill 575, by the State Affairs Committee, regarding the State Controller.
• House Bill 561, by the State Affairs Committee, regarding State Affairs.
• We are a law-and-order state. We follow laws in the state.
• Or what about a disgruntled employee? This is a right-to-work state. We can fire people at will.