From the State House of Representatives From the State Senate

When the House reconvenes on Monday, members will likely be entering the last week of the 2023 Regular Session. Currently, the General Assembly is expected to adjourn on April 7.

Before members adjourn, they will be addressing education funding, tax cuts, and amending the Revenue Stabilization Act which prioritizes spending for the next fiscal year.

On Thursday, the House Education Committee advanced HB1688. This bill amends public school funding. It increases per-pupil funding from the current amount of $7,413 to $7,618 for the 2023-2024 school year. The bill would increase the amount to $7,771 for the 2024-2025 school year. This bill will now go to the full House for a vote.

Also on Thursday, several legislators and the Governor announced the introduction of a proposed tax cut. SB549 would reduce the state’s top income tax rate from 4.9% to 4.7%. It would also reduce the corporate income tax rate from 5.3% to 5.1%. The reductions would be retroactive to January 1, 2023. SB549 will be before the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee on Monday.

One of the last items of legislation before House members every session is the Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA). The RSA outlines general revenue spending. Once a proposal for the budget is released, it will be posted at arkansashouse.org.

Meanwhile, the House passed a number of bills during the 12th week of the session including the following:

SB248-This bill creates the Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship Program. The bill states that a student is eligible to receive an

John Maddox

Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship if the student receives the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship and demonstrates financial need as determined by FASFA. The Plus Scholarship would be awarded in $1,000 increments per student per academic year.

HB1503-This bill creates the offense of operating a chop shop and makes the offense a Class C felony.

HB1468-This bill prohibits requiring employees of public schools and state-supported institutions of higher education to use a person’s preferred pronoun, name, or title without parental consent.

HB1610-This bill amends the law relating to public meetings under the Freedom of Information Act. It defines a public meeting as onethird or more of the members of a governing body of all municipalities, counties, townships, school districts, boards, bureaus, or commissions of the State of Arkansas.

SB377-This bill creates a misdemeanor offense concerning initiative petitions if a person knowingly changes a signature on a petition, erases or destroys a signature, pays a person in exchange for not signing a petition, or misrepresents the purpose and effect of the petition.

HB1617-This bill would require an autopsy in the case of a suspected drug overdose.

HB1502-This bill creates the offense of sexual solicitation of a minor and classifies the offense as a Class B felony.

The House will convene on Monday, April 3, at 1:30 p.m. You can watch all committee meetings and House floor proceedings at arkansashouse.org.

John Boozman

1120 Garrison Ave. Suite 2B

Fort Smith, AR 72901

Phone: (479) 573-0189

Fax: (479) 575-0553

Bruce Westerman

101 Reserve St. Suite 200

Hot Springs, AR 71901

Phone: (501) 609-9796

Fax: (501) 609-9887

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved legislation that lengthens prison sentences for violent offenders and requires prison inmates to work harder to qualify for parole.

The legislation is Senate Bill 495. One goal is to provide juries in criminal trials with more accurate information about the length of time that convicted criminals are truly going to serve behind bars after their sentencing.

Criminals convicted of rape and capital murder would serve 100 percent of their sentences. The 100 percent sentence requirement also will apply to aggravated robbery, human trafficking, Internet stalking of a child and more serious categories of aggravated residential burglary.

Offenders would serve 85 percent of their sentence after conviction for a long list of violent felonies, including second degree murder, negligent homicide, manslaughter, encouraging someone to commit suicide, first degree battery, first degree sexual assault and sexual indecency with a child.

Other felonies on the list include permitting abuse of a minor, serious categories of arson, advocating overthrow of the government, treason, making a terrorist threat, arming a terrorist and exposing the public to toxic, chemical or radioactive substances.

Making offenders serve longer sentences would bring Arkansas sentencing guidelines more in line with those used by federal prisons, where people convicted of federal crimes serve almost all of their sentence.

The sponsor of SB 495 told senators on the Judiciary Committee about inmates being released after serving only a sixth of their sentence because of Arkansas laws.

In some cases, they were released before completing drug rehabilitation or other programs designed to help them transition back to the outside world.

A goal of SB 495 is to create incentives for inmates to complete rehabilitation, anger management, skills training and other courses that improve their chances of success in society. Instead of automatically earning “good time” just for being in prison, they would not begin to accumulate credits for early release until they complete rehabilitation programs.

The bill creates a task force to work on recidivism, and expands mental health treatment for inmates.

Along with SB 495, the legislature will consider appropriations to pay for an additional 3,000 prison beds and the hiring of additional security officers and prison staff. One goal is to put a stop to the “revolving door” that allows dangerous offenders to be released early due to lack of prison capacity. Those new beds will be in addition to the 400 beds recently approved by prison officials.

Another goal is to free up space in county jails, which house convicted offenders when there is no space in state prisons. Sheriffs have told legislators that conditions are becoming more dangerous for jail staff and minimum security prisoners, as county jails fill up with serious offenders.

A growing number of people charged with misdemeanors are being released because county jail space has to be reserved for dangerous felony offenders. By making space available again in county jails, supporters of SB 495 say they want to re-establish the importance of punishing misdemeanors.

Representatives of prosecuting attorneys and county sheriffs told senators that they support SB 495.

Robin Lang

Robin Lang (MAC USN RET), age 76, begat to Alden Dame (US Army WW1 Vet) and Myrtle Wright Dame on Tuesday, July 23, 1946, in Lynn, Massachusetts, went to her eternal home on Saturday, April 1, 2023, while in Chi St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

As one of the pioneers for women in the United States Navy for 20 years, Robin enjoyed places such as Italy, Hawaii and several US states. She has only missed visiting two states (Alaska and Maine). Her Naval career began in the field of communications as radioman (RM), and then changed to law enforcement (Master-at-arms - MAA). Although born in Massachusetts, she was easily attracted to Mena in 1994, when searching for a permanent home. After settling here, she also simultaneously enjoyed her mountain cabin home in the Kiamichi Wilderness near Moyers, Oklahoma.

After retirement the Navy Chief became an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs football team. Robin was a member of many organizations such as the Girl Scouts, WWI Auxiliary, Fleet Reserve Association, American Legion, Ouachita Humane Society, Special Olympics volunteers, Queen Wilhelmina branch of the Good Sam RV Club, and Christ’s Church at Mountain Fork. The chief was also proud to be able to serve as a member of the Polk County Honor Guard. Some activities of special interest to her were camping, RV travel, fishing, crafts, bowling, artwork, gardening, church activities and riding around in her blue BMW convertible.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bill Gutierrez; one brother, Lynwood Dame; and one sister, Margaret Grant.

Robin is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Shirley Lang of Mena; two brothers, Alvin Dame of Florida and Ernest Dame of New Jersey; three grandchildren, Leah Johnson, Alicia Lang, and Donnie Lang; seven great-grandchildren, Brady Johnson, Lacie Johnson, Lincoln Johnson, Eli Lang, Emmett Lang, Kaylie Lang, and Jordyn Lang; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Memorial Services for Robin Lang will be announced at a later date. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home.

In Lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made to the Ouachita Humane Society.

John Kenneth Vaughn

John Kenneth “Ken” Vaughn, 82, of Fort Smith, AR, passed away on Friday, March 24, 2023 in Fort Smith. He was born July 27, 1940, in Antlers, OK. He was a retired from the U.S. Navy and a veteran of the Vietnam Era, an electronics technician for Martin Marietta and a member of the Cavanaugh United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his mother Ollie Kate Vaughn and one son, Michael Vaughn.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years Dee; two daughters Deanna Marie Vaughn of Lawton, OK and Melissa Anne McArthur of Idaho Springs, CO; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 11 :30 AM Wednesday March 29, 2023, at Cavanaugh United Methodist Church with burial in U.S. National Cemetery with full Military Honors under the direction of Ocker-Putman Funeral Home of Fort Smith.

Pallbearers will be Nathen Vaughn, Andy Clark, Ben Pacheco, Doug Kelly, Mike Thopham and Ken Norton.

Viewing will be from 11 :00 AM until 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Christopher Daniel Brown

Christopher

Daniel Brown, 39, of Mena, Arkansas passed away on Monday, March 27, 2023, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born on December 11, 1983, in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Daniel Brown and Vickey Smiley.

Christopher was known as the Grill master by everyone who was privileged to have his BBQ. He loved being outdoors, fishing, camping, and playing his guitar. He also loved music, but what he loved most was his family and his friends. He had one of the biggest hearts and was very humble in nature.

He is survived by one sister, Kizzie (Aaron) Brandon, from Mena, Arkansas; one niece, Janice Gonzalez; and a host of relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Jeremiah Brown.

Funeral services for Christopher are tentative at this time, but will be at Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Mena, Arkansas, with Zack Johnson officiating. Interment will be at Boardcamp Cemetery in Boardcamp, Arkansas.

Pallbearers will be Rodney Brown, Shane Brown, Justin Davis, Deirek Davis, and Aaron Brandon. Online obituary and guestbook at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

Matchmaking event for minority- and women-owned businesses to be held May 18

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (April 4, 2023) – The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) will host its annual matchmaking event in partnership with the Arkansas District Office of the Small Business Administration and the Arkansas APEX Accelerator (formerly Arkansas PTAC) on Thursday, May 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ron Robinson Theater in Little Rock. Registration for the event is now open to owners of minority- and women-owned businesses and to vendors.

Business owners will have 15-minute scheduled matchmaking appointments with various private and public sector vendors to discuss possible contracts for their goods and services. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with other local business owners and listen to a variety of guest speakers at the event. Edward “Ted” James, the SBA Regional Administrator for Region 6 – South Central, will be the keynote speaker.

“The Matchmaking Event is the Minority and Women-Owned Business Division’s signature event,” said Esperanza Massana Crane, director of AEDC’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Division. “Last year, we were fortunate to host more than 200 meetings between buyers and sellers, creating many opportunities for small businesses to expand their networking base.”

By promoting networking opportunities and pre-arranging one-oneone “speed-dating style” appoint- ments, the annual Matchmaking Event can serve as a useful tool for both businesses and vendors seeking to secure contracts. Business owners are matched with buying representatives based on information provided during the registration process.

“Minority and women-owned businesses bring significant value to our state’s economy, creating new jobs and opportunities throughout Arkansas,” said AEDC Executive Director Clint O’Neal. “The Matchmaking Event provides a great opportunity for these business owners and for procurement leaders from the public and private sectors to expand their networks and learn from the excellent lineup of speakers at the event.”

Select buyers include Arkansas Children’s Hospital; Arkansas Department of Health; Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism; Central Arkansas Water; Pulaski County Government; Tyson Foods, University of Central Arkansas; and USACE Little Rock District.

Sponsors include lunch sponsor Minority Business Development Agency, presenting sponsor Arkansas Capital Corporation, and the workshop sponsors: Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Little Rock Regional Chamber, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority, and the National Institute for Government Procurement (NIGP).

Click here to register: www.arkansasedc.com/matchmaking2023.