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In this upcoming session, House members will no longer be using paper to follow bills in committee rooms. Instead they will be using computer tablets. On the tablets, members will be able to view every bill being discussed and follow presentations. There were 1,230 House bills filed in the last regular session. Members also filed […]

This week, I am in the process of a bitter-sweet task as I pack up my belongings from the office of the Speaker of the House. The new Speaker will need this space to prepare for the challenging session that lies ahead. The Speaker’s office is on the third floor of the Capitol. The window […]

Members-elect of the 89th General Assembly voted Rep. Davy Carter (R-Cabot) to serve as Speaker-elect. Rep. Carter will preside over the House during the next Regular Session.  52 votes were cast for Rep. Carter. 45 were cast for nominee Rep. Terry Rice. “I’m committed to working with a diverse membership to accomplish what is best […]

Arkansas House Speaker Robert S. Moore, Jr. passed the gavel to Speaker-elect Davy Carter Monday morning in the House Chamber. Carter is now presiding over the Legislative Institute which helps to orientate incoming members before the next Regular Session. In his final remarks before the assembly, Speaker Moore emphasized the importance of working together. "When […]

Department of Finance and Administration Director Richard Weiss presented the Governor's proposed balanced budget before the Arkansas Legislative Council and Joint Budget Committee on Thursday morning. The proposal calls for a 4.4% increase in spending for Fiscal Year 2013. It calls for a 3.7% increase in spending for Fiscal Year 2014. The Governor is proposing […]

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – SENIORITY LIST 11/9/12 Rank Elig. 2013    Terms    Dist.    Name 1                 3                    96             Baird, Duncan 2                 3                    94             Hobbs, Debra M. 3                 3                   16              Word, James L. 4                 3                   71              Lea, Andrea 5                 3                   90              Carnine, Les "Skip" 6                 3                   59              Wilkins, Butch 7                 3                   21              Rice, Terry 8                 3                   42              Perry, Mark 9                 3                   87              […]

LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING COMMITTEE 2013 – 2014 MEMBERSHIP LIST (11/9/12)   Representative __________, Co-Chairperson Representative __________, Co-Vice Chairperson HOUSE Caucus                             First                         Second Dist.   Member                Alternate                 Alternate 1           Walls McCrary              John Payton                   Scott Baltz 1           Homer Lenderman       Butch Wilkins                  Joe Jett 1           Frederick Smith            Monte Hodges               Mark McElroy 1           John K. Hutchison         Wes Wagner                Mary Broadaway 1          Harold Copenhaver        Marshall […]

The Arkansas Legislative Council and Joint Budget Committee heard more details about the expected shortfall in Medicaid on Tuesday morning. DHS Director John Selig and Medicaid Director Andy Allison told committee members the agency is expected to have a $138 million Medicaid shortfall for fiscal year 2014. The $138 million projection is after the agency […]

Below is a list of committee membership for members-elect of the 89th General Assembly.                 HOUSE STANDING COMMITTEES 88TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY (2012 – 2014) (11/09/12)                             CLASS "A"                                   EDUCATION                            , Chairperson                         ,Vice Chairperson   Hobbs, Debra M.                Lenderman, Homer Carnine, Les, “Skip”           Deffenbaugh, Gary Dale, Robert E.                  Eubanks, Jon S.        Hopper, […]

Representative Kathy Webb presented her study on Women’s Social and Economic Status in Arkansas Thursday to the Joint City, County, and Local Affairs Committee. The study examined a variety of factors that affect women, including healthcare, education, human trafficking, and the economic status of women. Results from the study reveal that there is still much […]

Legislative Council and Joint Budget Committee began hearings Tuesday morning on budget request for state agencies for fiscal years 2014 and 2015. Members spent the first half of the day reviewing the rules and procedures. Since 220 state board, commission, and agency budgets must be reviewed, legislators have routinely started the process months before they […]

In 2011, there were 1000 fewer revocations of probation and paroles in Arkansas than the previous year. The Director of the Department of Community Correction, David Eberhard, informed the Task Force on Substance Abuse Treatment of the decline in a committee meeting Friday morning. Eberhard also added his agency has seen a decrease in all levels of […]