The Most Powerful Little Committee (That You’ve Never Heard Of)
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uring a recent trip to Little Rock earlier this summer, I attended several legislative committee meetings and wrote the title of this article in the margin of my notes. I was listening to the second-ever meeting of the Administrative Rules and Regulations Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council. That’s a big name for a new subcommittee that now has a lot to say about how Arkansas state government affects you and your business. “The Administrative Rules and Regs Committee”, as it is now commonly known within the walls of the Capitol, was actually created by you, the voting public. In the 2013 legislative session, the legislature referred three amendments to be placed on the ballot for consideration in the 2014 election. Proposed Issue Number 1 of the 2014 election passed with almost 60 percent approval of the voters last year. It may have looked like it authorized just an extra step in the rulemaking process, but it could be a slippery step if you are not paying attention. What did you actually approve with this ballot measure granting new legislative authority? What does this truly mean for your business in Benton County and rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas? It means a lot, and here’s what you should be aware of when this new subcommittee begins to meet regularly. Before passage of Issue No. 1 last year, when a state agency, board, or commission passed an admin-
istrative rule, regulation, or policy that drew attention from legislators, agency directors could possibly be questioned by various committees or by the Legislative Council. Members could call agency directors on the carpet before a committee over policy disagreements, but they really had no constitutional authority to deny rules or policies from being implemented by an executive agency or commission if the legislature had previously granted that authority to the agency or commission. After passage of Issue No. 1, legislators now have the authority to deny policies and rules passed by agencies of the executive branch. Business leaders statewide have traditionally relied on established relationships, and were already familiar with the governor, agency directors, and governor-appointed commission members, who regulated their industries and businesses. Passage of Issue No. 1 last year placed an enormous amount of power in the hands of the legislative branch. This brings me to the overall point I want to make with this submission. No one in Arkansas will argue the fact that currently the most productive economic engine and region of the state are Benton and Washington Counties in Northwest Arkansas. This is very important, because as it stands now, there is only one state senator and no state representative from these two counties serving on this very important subcommittee, which will only grow to be even more powerful as time passes.
When it comes to the business of Northwest Arkansas, this is the one committee in Little Rock on which we really need to be well represented. Remind the current legislators, and want-to-be legislators, as they approach you for your support in this election season, that representation on this subcommittee for Northwest Arkansas is vitally important to you and essential to the continued growth of our region.
Jon Moran, Vice President of Government Affairs with the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Night at the Rogers School Board of Education | October 20
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ere’s your opportunity to meet and visit with members of the Rogers School Board of Education at the 9th annual Chamber Night reception held during the Rogers School Board of Education meeting. It’s a great way for the Chamber’s members to learn more about how the Rogers School District works. The superintendent will also present a “State of the District” address starting at 6:00 p.m. Chamber Night at the Rogers School Board was designed to provide Chamber members the opportunity to not only learn more about our schools but also to confirm our business community’s support for elected and school officials. Chamber Night at the Rogers School Board of Education reception is free and open to all members, with no registration required. It is held at the District Administration Office, 500 W. Walnut St. in Rogers. The reception starts at 5:00 p.m. and light refreshments will be served.
“Chamber Night receptions expose Chamber members to our community leaders and inspire members to become interested and more involved in the community.”
~ Raymond Burns, Chamber President/CEO
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RogersLowell.com | OCTOBER2015
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