Daily Legislative Update
Thursday, April 9, 2009
88th Day of the 87th General
Assembly
TODAY AT THE CAPITOL—LAST DAY OF THE SESSION
House convenes at 10:00 a.m.
Senate convenes at 10:00 a.m.
No committees are scheduled to meet and the House and Senate calendars are very short. Both chambers should be done and heading home by noon. They will return on May 1 for the sine die adjournment of the 87th Arkansas General Assembly.
ISSUES
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
HJR 1004 was approved 93 to 0 yesterday afternoon by the House and will be considered this morning by the Senate. If the senate approves, it will be the third issue referred to the 2010 General Election.
HJR 1004 was amended Tuesday and Wednesday to incorporate issues that were originally filed as HJR1003, HJR1004, and SJR6. The State Chamber/AIA supported all three resolutions. HJR 1004 now addresses the following: (1) Interest rates on governmental bonds and loans; (2) Modifies the maximum lawful rate on loans not described in section 1 above; and (3) Make savings from performance-based energy efficiency projects revenue under the revenue bond statutes.
The other issues
referred are a proposal to establish the right to hunt and fish and a
proposal to amend Amendment 82 the economic development super project fund to
make it more useful in attracting new businesses to
HEALTH CARE MANDATE
SB 913 by Sen. Mary Anne Salmon that would have required health benefit plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders and prohibited insurers from terminating or refusing coverage solely because a person is diagnosed with an autism disorder, was pulled down in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee yesterday and is expected to be referred to interim study.
RENEWABLE ENERGY/CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION
HB 1663 by Rep. Kathy Webb would provide for the building and renovation of buildings owned by the state or institutions of higher education through sustainable, energy efficient methods. It passed the House yesterday by a vote of 90 to 0 and is on today’s Senate calendar.
HB 1796 by Rep. Fred Allen would create the Alternative Energy Commission to study bioenergy, ethanol, solar and wind power, and other energy sources identified by the commission. It passed the Senate unanimously yesterday and will now go to the Governor’s desk for his signature.
SB 959 by Sen. John Paul Capps would abolish dormant boards and commissions and to clarify the law concerning ongoing boards and commissions. Yesterday the Senate voted unanimously to concur in the House amendment. The bill will now go to the Governor for his signature.
STATE CHAMBER/AIA BILL TRACKING
This session the House filed 1275 bills and the Senate filed 1010 bills.
The State Chamber/AIA is tracking 537 bills and resolutions.
Please visit our tracking site here for the complete, searchable list of bills being tracked. The full text and an up to date status of each bill is also available at the site.
CONTACT INFORMATION
State Senators: 501-682-2902
State Representatives: 501-682-6211
State Chamber/AIA
Staff
Randy Zook, President/CEO:
rzook@arkansasstatechamber.com
Kenny Hall, Executive Vice President:
khall@arkansasstatechamber.com
Angela DeLille, Director of Governmental Affairs:
adelille@arkansasstatec hamber.com
State Chamber/AIA
phone: (501) 372-2222
