[2:10] is he back here don't know

[2:15] right members if you could go

[2:16] ahead and grab your seat we're

[2:17] going to get started

[2:51] right members are calling this

[2:52] meeting to order

[2:55] good morning good morning

[2:56] members at this time I want to

[2:59] recognize senator Stone for a

[2:59] morning prayer. Senator Stone

[3:11] Thank you praise your holy name

[3:13] dear Lord. I just pray that

[3:14] everything that's said and done

[3:15] here in this committee meeting

[3:17] today will bring glory and honor

[3:18] to you thelord let just let us

[3:20] be mindful just ask that you be

[3:21] with our country and our

[3:23] nation's leadership dearlord we

[3:25] just ask these things in Jesus'

[3:26] name amen

[3:31] thank you senator and members

[3:32] in your packet is an

[3:35] minutes from the last meeting I

[3:37] need a motion to adopt those we

[3:38] have a motion second all those

[3:41] in favor say aye opposed ayes

[3:42] have it and at this time we're

[3:43] gonna recognize Doctor

[3:45] Carlossilva for the presentation

[3:47] of the August 2026 revenue

[3:48] report Doctorsilva if you would

[3:48] please you're recognized.

[3:57] Thank Mr Charman carlossilva

[3:58] Burereau of legislative Reearch

[3:59] today I'm here to present the

[4:02] August 2026 monthly revenue

[4:03] report we thought gross

[4:05] collections for this month at

[4:08] $1.34 billion there's up50

[4:10] million dollars from the last

[4:12] fiscal each day those first two

[4:12] months of the last fiscal years

[4:13] around

[4:17] uh3.9% above there as we start

[4:18] looking down the line and we we

[4:19] take it all those off the tops

[4:22] you're gonna have a1.8 bill $18

[4:24] billion for this first two

[4:25] months of the fiscal year that

[4:27] is57 million dollars above

[4:29] fiscal year today and that

[4:33] is5.1% above those those first

[4:34] two months where we're gonna see

[4:35] here in the bottle we have

[4:36] include unemployment rate and

[4:37] labor force participation is the

[4:39] latest numbers we have at the

[4:40] time this report has been put it

[4:42] out as we look into the second

[4:42] page we're gonna see

[4:45] our accumulative deviation from

[4:48] the F andA latest forecast we

[4:49] have a a slight increase there

[4:52] of4.5 million dollars above

[4:53] forecast for this month

[4:54] continuing that that positive

[4:57] trend but if you look into

[4:58] just the month we're gonna have

[5:02] $14.1 million from the august to

[5:04] August difference as we're

[5:05] looking through our page three

[5:07] and page4 we're gonna have our

[5:09] general revenue collections

[5:11] our first page as we we talked

[5:12] about last month the cigarette

[5:12] paper tax you're gonna see that

[5:13] that that

[5:15] difference there we had last

[5:16] month was a a positive

[5:17] difference now we have negatives

[5:19] just the adjustment last month

[5:21] we have the overpayment if

[5:23] you want to think about this on

[5:24] on that specific account now has

[5:25] been ad addressed if looking to

[5:27] the ear today you're not gonna

[5:29] see that the large difference

[5:31] and then as we're moving on

[5:31] should should the other pages

[5:33] you're gonna continue to see the

[5:35] large difference on the dW

[5:37] wiring statement fees and fines

[5:39] and penalties due to the change

[5:42] by Ac 969 of2025 with the

[5:45] I will take any further

[5:45] questions related to this report

[5:51] we have a couple of questions

[5:52] here. Senator Hester you

[5:52] recognized

[5:57] thank you on on page four line

[5:58] three

[6:00] the real estate transfer tax it

[6:03] it looks like from 2005 to2006

[6:06] like they're consistent the

[6:07] market may not feel that way but

[6:09] our numbers are showing they're

[6:10] consistent do you know if that's

[6:13] is it consistent like

[6:15] residenttially or maybe big

[6:16] corporate things are selling do

[6:19] you have any breakdown on that?

[6:20] get it gets capped if you want

[6:23] to think about it there if

[6:24] you look into those tru months

[6:25] difference we eventually gonna

[6:27] reach that that the number of $2

[6:29] million but I do not have any

[6:31] sight right now specific for the

[6:33] real estate but I'll be happy to

[6:34] talk to you later on ok thank

[6:34] you

[6:37] thank you senatorpresentative

[6:38] wooten you're recognized

[6:40] thank you Mr Chairman. Do on the

[6:45] inflation, how much you

[6:47] know gasoline's dollar quarters

[6:49] a gallon more groceries are

[6:51] higher food higher

[6:55] utilities are increasing what

[6:59] how much how much of the five

[7:02] point 1% increaseries do you

[7:02] think is due to inflation

[7:06] we do not have any breakdown

[7:07] specific to the inflation

[7:09] again if there's something that

[7:10] you would like us to look into

[7:11] what how much of that is

[7:13] inflation but definitely there's

[7:14] inflationary pressures that

[7:15] would feel part of this report

[7:18] but there's no specific breakout

[7:19] as we need to break out specific

[7:20] regions and and how that's been

[7:21] working on but yes sir I'll be

[7:23] happy to look at that if that's

[7:24] we like it

[7:26] thank you thank you Mr Chairman.

[7:28] all right thank youpresentative

[7:31] members seeing no other

[7:31] questions Doctor Silva, thank

[7:33] you for the report. Reember that

[7:35] takes us down to item E, the

[7:37] executive subcommittee I'm going

[7:38] to recognize my co-chair Senator

[7:38] Boy

[7:41] Thank you Mr Chair

[7:44] the executive subcommittee met

[7:47] Tuesday, September 15th and took

[7:48] the following actions

[7:50] recommended adoption by the full

[7:53] ALc of interim resolution

[7:56] 2025-009 by Senator Missy Irvin

[7:57] which is attached to this report

[7:59] and approved a motion to

[8:01] authorize payment of per diem in

[8:03] mileage to members elect for

[8:05] atten attendance at interim

[8:06] legislative committee meetings

[8:07] following the special or general

[8:09] election in which the member

[8:10] elect successfully ran

[8:14] in addition the subcommittee

[8:15] heard the following announcement

[8:17] concerning the October ALC

[8:18] meeting schedule due to the

[8:19] schedule for fall budget

[8:21] hearings the ALc subcommittee

[8:23] meetings for October will be

[8:25] canceled with the exception of

[8:27] peer review and administrative

[8:29] rules which may meet concerning

[8:31] imminent need items on Monday,

[8:33] October 12th and in the

[8:35] afternoon on Thursday, October

[8:36] 15th.

[8:38] mattertters normally submitted

[8:39] to to the other subcommittees

[8:41] that have been determined by the

[8:43] ALc co-chairs of an imminent

[8:45] need such that they cannot wait

[8:47] until November Alc subcommittee

[8:49] meetings may be added to the

[8:51] calendar or taken up directly by

[8:53] the full ALC at itsoctober 16

[8:56] meeting aggency imminent need

[8:58] requests for October should be

[8:59] submitted to the appropriate

[9:01] subcommittee staff who will

[9:02] convey it to the Alc co-chairs

[9:03] through Director Garrty.

[9:07] Reports and requests for action

[9:08] usually submitted for

[9:09] consideration by the full ALc

[9:11] should be provided torector

[9:13] Garrty as usual

[9:19] I move adoption of the report

[9:20] including adoption of the

[9:21] interim resolution.

[9:23] all right members any questions

[9:24] on this item

[9:27] seeing none do we have a motion

[9:28] or we have a motion from Senator

[9:29] Boy in a second. all those in

[9:31] favor say aye oppose the ayes

[9:32] have it

[9:35] thank you senator. It takes us

[9:37] down to administrative rules

[9:37] uhpresentative Shepherd

[9:38] you're recognized

[9:43] thank you Mr Chairman. the

[9:43] administrative rules

[9:45] subcommittee met on Thursday,

[9:47] September 17,2026 the

[9:49] subcommittee received agency

[9:50] updates on outstanding

[9:53] rulemaking from the 2023 and2025

[9:55] regular sessions all rules were

[9:57] reviewed and approved as noted

[9:58] in the report. I would also

[10:00] mention since we we have a

[10:01] number of agencies here today

[10:05] that Senator deeses reminded

[10:07] the agency to get their

[10:09] reports in by the first of the

[10:10] month so that those

[10:13] can be properly included by

[10:15] staff and just as when to make

[10:17] that reminder here today. So I

[10:18] would move adoption of the

[10:18] report

[10:20] thank you Representative

[10:21] shepherd.embers any questions on

[10:22] this item?

[10:23] all right seeing none we have a

[10:26] mos and degree second we have a

[10:27] second all those in favor excuse

[10:29] me any discussion, excuse me.

[10:31] all right seeing none all those

[10:32] in favor say aye oppose the ayes

[10:33] have it

[10:37] item three claims review. I'm

[10:38] going to recognize senator

[10:38] dotson

[10:39] thank you Mr Chair

[10:43] The claimsview litigation

[10:45] reports oversight subcommittee

[10:46] met on Monday, September

[10:46] 14,2026.

[10:49] the subcommittee reviewed 11

[10:51] litigation reports and approved

[10:53] one litigation settlement. One

[10:55] claim was held by the

[10:56] subcommittee pending receipt of

[10:57] further information from the

[10:58] claims commission

[11:00] the subcommittee affirmed the

[11:01] decision of the claims

[11:02] commission as to all other

[11:03] claims on the agenda. I move

[11:04] adoption of the report

[11:07] Thank you, Senator. M members

[11:08] any questions on this item?

[11:09] all right seeing none we have a

[11:11] motion. can I get a second? It

[11:13] was second any discussion seeing

[11:14] none all those in the paper say

[11:14] aye

[11:15] opposed ayes have it

[11:19] down to uhame and fish state

[11:20] police and recognize Senator

[11:20] Urban at this time?

[11:23] thank you Mr Chair.

[11:25] The game and fish statelice

[11:27] subcommittee met on Monday. we

[11:28] heard testimony from the

[11:29] Arkansasame and Fish Commission

[11:31] regarding enforcement protocols

[11:32] and I move adoption of the

[11:33] report

[11:37] all right thank you senator

[11:38] members any questions on this

[11:38] item?

[11:41] seeing none we have a motion.

[11:42] Can I get a second? the second

[11:43] in the discussion seeing none

[11:45] all those in favor say aye

[11:46] oppose guysy have it.

[11:50] I'm gonna recognize Senator

[11:51] Bryant for the hospitals

[11:53] medicaid andvelopmental

[11:54] disability study.

[11:56] good morning Mr chair. The

[11:57] hospital Medicaid and

[11:58] Developmental Disability St

[11:59] studyies subcommittee met on

[12:01] Monday to hear testimony on the

[12:02] following items an update on the

[12:03] reimbursement rates under Living

[12:05] Choices Assisted Living waiver

[12:08] by DHS and presentation onorked

[12:09] consulting and workforce

[12:10] advisory group recommendations.

[12:13] the subcommittee met again on

[12:14] Thursday to adopt the attached

[12:16] enema report which is F7 in your

[12:18] binder on recommendations

[12:19] concerning the Arkansas

[12:20] legislative study on workforce

[12:20] and social reform

[12:25] to meet October 1st,26 deadline.

[12:26] An additional update will be

[12:27] provided at the final ALC

[12:29] meeting of 2026 to inform ALC of

[12:31] further progress. Mr Chair, I

[12:32] move adoption of the report.

[12:35] all right thank you senator. Any

[12:36] any questions on this side of

[12:36] members?

[12:38] all right seeing none we have a

[12:40] motion. Can I get a second? No

[12:42] second any discussion? right

[12:43] seeing none all those in favor

[12:44] say aye oppose the ayes have it

[12:49] at this time recognized

[12:49] Senator Wallace for the

[12:51] occupational licensing review

[12:52] report you recognize.

[12:54] thank you Mr chairir

[12:56] Mr Chair the occupational

[12:58] licensing revieweittee met on

[13:00] Thursday and we received reports

[13:01] on various occupational

[13:03] authorization entities in group

[13:05] one. I move adoption of this

[13:06] report.

[13:08] all right thank you senator

[13:09] members any questions on this

[13:10] item?

[13:11] all right seeing no we have a

[13:14] motion. can I get a second? Any

[13:15] discussion seeing none all those

[13:17] in favor say aye opposed the

[13:18] ayes have it

[13:21] and would recognizepresentative

[13:22] Wardlaw for the peer report

[13:25] you Mrir of the peer

[13:27] subcommittee met on Tuesday,

[13:29] September 15th. the subcommittee

[13:30] reviewed reports reviewed

[13:31] requests and approved the

[13:33] following various temporation

[13:34] temporary appropriations

[13:35] American rescuelan Act

[13:37] appropriations infrastructure

[13:39] investment and Jobs Act

[13:40] appropriations

[13:42] and appropriation transfers and

[13:43] restricted reserve fund

[13:44] transfers. I movedoption of the

[13:44] report

[13:47] all right thank you

[13:49] Representative Bordlaw. we have

[13:50] a couple of questions. Senator

[13:51] Tucker you re you're

[13:51] recognized

[13:53] thank you Mr Cha. I just have a

[13:55] couple of questions for someone

[13:56] from AdE on the on the learns

[13:56] money.

[13:57] all right

[13:59] let me get some of them for the

[14:00] department up here please

[14:17] or ning when you get settled in

[14:18] just introduce yourself for the

[14:18] record and we'll get on to the

[14:19] questions.

[14:22] Good morning Courtneyallisfod

[14:22] chief of staff department of

[14:23] Education.

[14:25] greg rogers department

[14:26] ofducation.

[14:28] Darrell Smith Department of

[14:29] Education.

[14:32] right thank you Mr Chair. I

[14:34] just, I really have we not the

[14:35] first time y'all sat at that

[14:36] table in this meeting and I

[14:37] really have very similar

[14:39] questions to what I've I've had

[14:41] before the first man is for this

[14:43] 2627 school year how many

[14:46] approved students we have on

[14:47] the private school side and then

[14:48] the homeschool side.

[14:51] thank you so right now we're

[14:53] looking at just over 28,000

[14:55] students in private schools and

[14:57] just over 21,000 homeschools so

[15:01] about49,000 approved overall and

[15:03] then you know a question I've

[15:05] asked before and we had had a

[15:08] little conversation about his is

[15:10] comparing the costs and I guess

[15:11] I'm curious from both the

[15:13] budgetary perspective and a cost

[15:15] incurred perspective of

[15:17] a student who's going to private

[15:18] school as opposed to a student

[15:19] who's going

[15:21] to homeschool if we've run any

[15:23] analysis about what the

[15:24] budget should be for a

[15:25] homeschool student relative to a

[15:27] private school student and then

[15:29] second that kind of forward

[15:30] looking and then also backward

[15:32] looking for the costs incurred

[15:34] how much those students in

[15:37] homeschool actually pay out

[15:38] compared to students in private

[15:38] school.

[15:41] right so as you know the law

[15:43] provides for 90% of foundation

[15:45] funding to be in an EFA account

[15:47] regardless of whether they're

[15:48] private school or homeschool.

[15:49] so we have not looked

[15:51] specifically at what is the cost

[15:53] of of an average say homeschool

[15:55] student versus private school

[15:56] student because the law allows

[15:58] the equal amount for for each.

[16:00] um, I can say though that

[16:01] very soon probably within the

[16:03] next few weeks the

[16:05] University of Arkansas is

[16:07] putting out a report looking at

[16:08] all of the past expenses so

[16:10] and it will have it broken down

[16:11] by like how much was used for

[16:13] tuition and fees how much it was

[16:15] used for curriculum and so I

[16:17] think that will give us a good

[16:18] idea of where the majority of

[16:20] funding is going and and it'll

[16:21] be good information for you all

[16:23] to have if you wanted to look

[16:25] at putting any limits on

[16:27] anything that are not already in

[16:29] statute. OK that's helpful.

[16:30] thank you and so I understand

[16:32] that the law authorizes the same

[16:32] amount for both. Does it direct

[16:33] that

[16:36] does it mandate that? Yes it

[16:37] provides that anyone who is

[16:39] approved for an EFA account gets

[16:41] 90% of foundation funding

[16:43] because of course the full

[16:44] amount I think it makes sense

[16:45] not to give the full amount

[16:47] since you're not having

[16:47] buildings and overhead and

[16:49] things like a public school does

[16:51] but yes so as long as they

[16:54] are submitting eligible expenses

[16:57] so the the curriculum fees,

[16:59] tuition, supplies things like

[17:01] that they can spend up to that

[17:02] full 90% amount. OK. all right

[17:03] thank you very much

[17:05] thank you senator Representative

[17:07] Wooten, is your question for

[17:08] this department?

[17:09] all right you're recognized

[17:11] thank you chairman

[17:17] how much how much is the70

[17:22] million in addition to the379

[17:25] million or is it all how much

[17:27] money are you asking for? I know

[17:29] you ask you got70 million here

[17:32] but how many wants the total

[17:32] amount

[17:37] right so with the addition of

[17:39] the70 million it's379 million

[17:42] total yes sir so just short

[17:42] of400 million

[17:46] how how much

[17:49] each one of them gets 90%

[17:55] of foundation foundation money

[17:57] OK. what's the total amount of

[17:58] foundation money this year

[17:59] not not per student

[18:07] oh per student it's or the total

[18:09] in public school fund so the

[18:10] total amount per student this

[18:12] year is $8,034 how much

[18:22] $8000 last year it was 8020re0

[18:23] last year

[18:27] so there's a reduction in the

[18:29] amount of money that we're

[18:30] paying

[18:34] and we we're picking up the

[18:35] health insurance, correct?

[18:36] Correct.

[18:41] yeah the foundation funding went

[18:42] down just because we are pick

[18:44] the state is picking up 100% of

[18:47] the employer portion of the

[18:49] state of the teacher insurance

[18:52] how much what is the national

[18:53] average for public education

[18:56] on the foundation money

[19:01] don't don't know it's $12,000.

[19:05] what is ours 8084 that's just

[19:07] foundation funding if you

[19:09] include the categoricals and

[19:09] everything else we get close to

[19:11] the 15 I know exactly what it is

[19:17] it's $8084 per student in the

[19:21] national average is 12,000 and

[19:23] we're spending400 million. can

[19:27] you can you justify that once

[19:28] again would say that

[19:29] that the governor supports they

[19:31] can you justify that can you

[19:35] justify400 million dollars going

[19:37] to private education and

[19:39] we're4,000 dollars per student

[19:40] chart below

[19:42] the national average for

[19:42] foundation money

[19:45] Representative Wooton, the

[19:47] question for us today is the

[19:48] transfer of that70 million

[19:49] dollars we're not relitigating

[19:50] loans at this point if you want

[19:51] to do that offline you're

[19:53] welcome to realize that Chairman

[19:55] but I think it needs the fact it

[19:59] needs to be an explanation given

[20:02] to this body why we can spend400

[20:03] million dollars on a

[20:04] recommendation

[20:06] and asked for70 million more

[20:09] because the legislature approved

[20:10] that with the Learns Act.

[20:16] well they're biased but that's

[20:17] that's all we've got to say

[20:18] about it

[20:24] Senator hickey you're recognized

[20:25] I'm assuming this is not the

[20:27] group you're looking for right

[20:28] you

[20:29] you guys are excused thank you I

[20:31] believe we're gonna need

[20:33] Secretaryhudson and someone

[20:35] from DHS is that rightsenator

[20:36] that's correct

[20:38] just to kind of give everybody

[20:41] an explanation I in no way

[20:42] believe that we need to stop

[20:43] this of course I think we all

[20:45] know all know that we did I sit

[20:46] on the pier and I take full

[20:48] responsibility that we didn't

[20:49] discuss this. I think a lot of

[20:51] us knew what was going on. I

[20:52] literally walked out of here,

[20:53] went to lunch and thought you

[20:56] know we just took over a

[20:57] quarter of a billion dollars out

[20:59] of restricted reserve and didn't

[21:00] have any discussion for the

[21:01] public to know so that's my

[21:03] intent here today. so appreciate

[21:05] you you all both being down here

[21:06] if you would please just

[21:06] introduce

[21:07] yourselves so we have it on

[21:08] record and then we'll get to the

[21:10] questions you bet Jimhutson

[21:10] secretary DFfa.

[21:13] good morning Janet Mayn

[21:16] Secretary DHS I'll try to roll

[21:18] pretty quick. first of all

[21:20] though I'm on a guest for Miss

[21:21] mann. so

[21:25] and and Mrhudson so I went back

[21:27] and looked and we know that the

[21:28] trust fund's been higher but at

[21:29] the beginning of Fy26 we're

[21:31] at492 million thereabouts

[21:35] so in the report that you always

[21:37] do that we have you to do to

[21:38] come out with with the medicaid

[21:38] trust fund

[21:41] it's showing that we're about

[21:41] 120 million

[21:42] this month

[21:45] Now one question I have for

[21:47] Misss mann is this I went back

[21:49] and tried to tried to see have

[21:51] we paid the hospital assessment

[21:52] out of that that we normally pay

[21:52] quarterly

[21:55] because it looked like to me the

[21:56] last one we had done was May.

[22:00] yes sir we are current on the

[22:02] hospital assessment. We pay

[22:03] it every quarter. Matter of

[22:05] fact, this quarter's payment

[22:07] will occur next week. OK, so

[22:08] it's not out but it's not out of

[22:09] the 12ies is what I'm trying to

[22:10] say.

[22:11] So,

[22:15] so the 120 may be a little bit

[22:16] high because what is that nor

[22:17] normally30 or35 million?

[22:21] it's what it looks like look

[22:23] like yes sir the total payment

[22:25] for the entire year on the

[22:27] access payments to the hospitals

[22:30] is around400 million. so the

[22:31] state's share is around

[22:36] 120 total so it would be about30

[22:38] million dollars a quarter so it

[22:39] looks like that we're a little

[22:40] high because I believe their

[22:41] funds have already came into the

[22:44] fund and we just haven't sent

[22:45] them back out. so it appears

[22:46] like to me

[22:48] that we should we're probably

[22:48] around 90 million

[22:53] on the hospital on the hospital

[22:56] fund they keep a quarter in in

[22:57] their funds so that they can we

[22:59] can draw it and pay it and then

[23:03] they will reimburse or pay back

[23:04] their assessment the following

[23:07] quarter. so it's it's an inflow

[23:08] and an outflow yes sir. So do

[23:09] you think the true net amount

[23:10] right now is still 120 million

[23:11] or are we closer to 10re0?

[23:15] as of august 1st we were at 120.

[23:17] I I can't tell you what it is

[23:19] today I think it's probably

[23:21] supposed to be around 90 is the

[23:22] way I say 90 to100 because we

[23:23] haven't paid that out because

[23:25] we, I had the bureau staff and

[23:25] stuff to look so

[23:27] and

[23:29] unless you tell me that you all

[23:31] paid it and it just showed up

[23:33] somewhere else but it I just

[23:35] know that it has not been paid.

[23:36] not

[23:37] not been paid for this quarter

[23:39] but it is current yes sir and

[23:41] I'm not trying to say it's

[23:41] behind I'm just trying to I'm

[23:42] just trying to say that we're

[23:43] show

[23:45] ing 120 the last one we made was

[23:46] in May.

[23:49] but I would say you know, enator

[23:50] hickey we provide

[23:53] you know this committee every

[23:55] single month the snapshot on it

[23:56] and so I want to be very careful

[23:57] about trying to pick a

[23:59] particular day in the month and

[24:01] try to you know say here's the

[24:04] balance as of today so let's

[24:05] mean I think we can work off

[24:05] what the end the end of the

[24:07] month reporting is that we send

[24:09] to y'all that shows you all the

[24:11] cumulative activity for the

[24:13] trust fund in that month. OK

[24:14] again I'm I'm I'm just trying to

[24:16] make sure that we've got about

[24:18] what it is because like I say we

[24:20] started and and I'm going back a

[24:20] little bit further like I say

[24:21] the

[24:24] at 26 we had492 so now we're

[24:24] about 100 million

[24:29] you know is isish yeah we all

[24:30] know how this thing moves it's

[24:33] so big also for DHS there's been

[24:35] some talk of course and I think

[24:37] we all know this that we have

[24:37] some other accounts that you all

[24:39] have had and historically

[24:41] they've showed like some higher

[24:43] balances have we also been

[24:47] paying those down and if so, and

[24:49] I'd have to have you to come up

[24:50] and I'm just asking for round

[24:50] numbers

[24:53] approximately how much have we

[24:54] used of that

[24:57] sayy in the last year or

[24:59] biennial and I'm not I'm just

[25:00] wanting to know I'm not saying

[25:02] if it's 12 million or if it's

[25:03] 100 million you know don't know

[25:07] for the past year if that really

[25:08] has been much of a of an issue

[25:11] you know we really worked hard

[25:13] two fiscal years ago to make

[25:16] sure those paying accounts did

[25:19] not maintain a high balance that

[25:20] you know we kept it in the trust

[25:21] fund until it was actually

[25:22] needed and then move it into the

[25:25] paying account. So I don't, I

[25:25] don't think there's an issue of

[25:27] having other funds out there

[25:28] that are holding large account

[25:29] balances that we're separately

[25:30] spending on it's it really

[25:30] should be a clearing account at

[25:31] this point.

[25:36] that's not exactly exactly what

[25:37] I asked but I'm sure it's

[25:39] because I wasn't clear so

[25:41] historically though it appears

[25:42] like we've always carried a

[25:43] balance there and now we're not

[25:45] carrying those balances and I

[25:46] assume that we've

[25:49] we've transferred that and used

[25:51] that no fault of your own. I

[25:53] mean we understand costs are up

[25:55] so it's it is what it is at this

[25:57] point. So do we know what those

[25:58] other accounts that we've spent

[26:00] down like historically have we

[26:00] kept

[26:03] a certain dollar amount in there

[26:05] and now they're down cumulative

[26:08] total to a lower amount and if

[26:08] so about how much?

[26:13] I'm just trying to come up give

[26:17] a balance or a dollar amount we

[26:19] we did work with the DFNA over

[26:21] the past 24 months. we started

[26:23] with the paying accounts that

[26:25] had balances to make sure that

[26:27] we were spending those and also

[26:28] working to make sure that those

[26:29] were state and federal funds

[26:31] paying those bills appropriately

[26:33] for the matching principle, then

[26:36] we do have some funds that we

[26:38] use every year. We use pharmacy

[26:39] rebates, we use provider fees

[26:43] we use a few other accounts

[26:45] that are in the operating

[26:47] process of of medicaid every

[26:49] year. I mean we would have to go

[26:51] back and scrub those to tell you

[26:53] exactly what was spent again

[26:54] I'll make sure we're we're we're

[26:55] talking about you know the right

[26:57] things here because sometimes we

[26:59] use the term fund we're

[27:01] referring to traditional funds

[27:05] that all agencies have for them

[27:07] it really is reflected in that

[27:09] medicaid trustst report that has

[27:10] multiple funds in it

[27:13] their temporary paying accounts

[27:16] really were funds that would

[27:17] accounts that would receive fund

[27:19] transfers from the trust fund in

[27:21] order to pay their obligations

[27:25] those accounts historically had

[27:27] had higher balances we thought

[27:28] that they should stay in the

[27:29] trust fund until they were

[27:31] actually needed held for a

[27:33] minimum amount of time in the

[27:35] temporary paying accounts just

[27:36] to clear the obligations but

[27:37] don't keep you know an average

[27:39] balance in there. I think it's

[27:40] better to have all the money

[27:42] in one place so you can see

[27:42] really what's in there

[27:45] and we've done that work over

[27:46] the past couple of years. I

[27:49] don't I I totally, I totally

[27:49] agree with your logic on what

[27:51] you're saying. And again, I know

[27:52] budget hearings are coming up so

[27:53] we can kind of get into that but

[27:56] what I'm saying is is that if

[27:57] those were carrying a balance

[28:00] and yes we went ahead and paid

[28:01] them down. we're not seeing

[28:02] where it come out of the trust

[28:03] fund. it may have had some

[28:05] balances and we used them to pay

[28:07] so we've actually spent more so

[28:09] that's all I was after but I

[28:11] agree with your thought process

[28:12] as long as we do that from now

[28:12] and all the way in the future

[28:16] that we don't start maintaining

[28:18] balances in them then yes I

[28:20] would rather do that it's since

[28:21] I've been secretary that's been

[28:23] my approach. OK? and again and

[28:25] the next question for you

[28:27] Mr.hudson I already you and I've

[28:29] already discussed this of this

[28:32] 200 million, you know what my

[28:33] understanding was is that we

[28:35] think that it is going to be

[28:37] used by the end of the calendar

[28:38] year or maybe

[28:40] just a little bit after is what

[28:43] we discussed we will use the 200

[28:47] million in this fiscal year and

[28:49] it it will get us into you know

[28:50] calendar year you know,2027.

[28:53] I can't really give you a date

[28:55] at this point but you know it

[28:56] will be it will not get us to

[28:57] the end of the fiscal year let

[28:59] me say that well the other day

[29:01] or two days ago it was my

[29:03] understanding that we're we're

[29:03] fully talking about calendar

[29:05] year that we think we're going

[29:06] to spend this $200 million

[29:09] in this calendar year. or or

[29:11] maybe into January so that's

[29:12] that I think again what I just

[29:13] said is that I think it will get

[29:16] us into early 2027. I can't tell

[29:18] you what the exact exact date is

[29:19] don't expect you and I can't

[29:20] tell you what the exact need

[29:22] would be beyond that

[29:23] but that was my next question

[29:25] I guess that's my next question

[29:27] then. so we're not going to have

[29:29] very much money left in the in

[29:31] the trust fund we're gonna

[29:33] pretty much have used up the the

[29:34] 200 million right here

[29:38] so we have to anticipate that

[29:39] we're going to have the rest of

[29:41] the fiscal year which you

[29:43] know, ends June30th.

[29:44] so

[29:47] what what all are you going to

[29:48] be asking for you think to

[29:49] finish out that fiscal yeargain

[29:51] I I think as you already noted

[29:53] we're going to go into the

[29:54] budget hearings next month

[29:57] the governor's going to present

[29:59] her balanced budget in November.

[30:00] you know, I think when she

[30:01] presents that she'll address all

[30:03] the needs that are required you

[30:04] know to be able to fund state

[30:05] programs. I'm not going to get

[30:07] ahead of her on that. My

[30:08] commitment though is this

[30:11] I think there are three things

[30:12] that we have to be looking at

[30:14] one we need to make sure that

[30:15] medicaid is adequately funded

[30:17] for its current operational

[30:19] obligations to get us through

[30:21] the fiscal year. I think we have

[30:23] to look at what are the

[30:25] recurring revenue needs in

[30:27] medicaid there are some that we

[30:28] need to address in the fy 28

[30:29] budget and then thirdly we need

[30:31] to look at the trust fund and

[30:33] make sure the trust fund is

[30:35] adequately capitalized to deal

[30:37] with any you know, surprises

[30:37] that occur in the future. Those

[30:38] three things I think are things

[30:41] that we need to be focused on as

[30:44] we get into budget today we're

[30:45] talking about the 200 million

[30:47] that will is the immediate need

[30:48] but those other things need to

[30:49] get talked about too at the

[30:51] right time. I just can't speak

[30:52] to the particulars at this

[30:53] stage. OK I just know that we're

[30:55] gonna have to address it though

[30:56] since we're not towards the end

[30:58] of the fiscal year so I I'll

[30:59] quit asking my questions and

[31:00] just kind of say this

[31:03] and and I think this is what you

[31:05] said but I want to make sure. so

[31:07] it's going to be our intent of

[31:08] course the way that we've been

[31:08] doing this with

[31:12] this by taking out these

[31:14] restricted reserves and whatever

[31:16] has been in the trust fund of

[31:17] course that hasn't run through

[31:18] RSa or our budget

[31:21] so the thing is is it's really

[31:22] not a true p picture out there

[31:23] of the public because you know

[31:25] whenever we say that state

[31:27] government's only grown x%

[31:30] actually it's more because this

[31:30] stuff for recurring

[31:33] expenses and I think we're all

[31:36] gonna say that medicaid is

[31:37] recurring

[31:37] so

[31:41] is it going to be our intent to

[31:42] try to get a very true pitcher

[31:43] during budget hearings

[31:47] to make sure that we're totally

[31:49] running all of this in RSA into

[31:50] the future

[31:52] And I under and I heard what you

[31:53] said about the trust fund

[31:56] but that would just be for

[31:57] surprises so this time next year

[32:01] we're not sitting here and

[32:02] saying well we've used all that

[32:02] up

[32:05] we put extra money into the

[32:06] trust fund at

[32:08] I think you and I are thinking

[32:11] $250 to300 million I don't know

[32:11] what everybody else here is

[32:13] thinking, but we're still

[32:15] thinking that our goal is is

[32:17] just to maintain that running

[32:19] balance of that 300 in there at

[32:21] all times and not and not put

[32:23] any more money in if we can. I

[32:24] think we ought to strive for a

[32:27] stable balance in the trust fund

[32:28] that it would have some

[32:29] oscillations in it but largely a

[32:31] stable balance that's that's

[32:33] something I'd love to see us be

[32:35] able to do it but I do want to

[32:36] challenge the premise

[32:36] respectfully

[32:40] now seriously because I mean

[32:41] this this is this is a good

[32:42] conversation it's a serious

[32:45] conversation but the the the

[32:45] idea that 100%

[32:48] of the state's share

[32:51] for medicaid should be in the

[32:53] RSA would be a novel proposition

[32:56] because I look back 10 years in

[32:59] the past 10 years not a single

[33:00] year

[33:04] have we put 100% of the state's

[33:07] share in the RSA and if we were

[33:09] to do that and we had a very hot

[33:10] year, I mean it's a hot year in

[33:12] general temperature wise but it

[33:13] was really a hot year for

[33:17] Medicaid for F-26 and the spend

[33:18] increased400 million. we really

[33:20] are talking about from a cash

[33:21] flow perspective more of an

[33:23] expenditure issue then we're

[33:24] talking about a revenue issue

[33:29] 40 $0 million in 19% increase in

[33:31] one year the previous three

[33:32] years combined4%.

[33:37] so we shed a lot of cash in that

[33:39] one year. Now if I would have

[33:40] come to you when we were doing

[33:42] budget hearings for Fy26 and I

[33:44] would say to you you know

[33:45] there's a chance we may need400

[33:47] million dollars for the state's

[33:50] share. let's increase DHS's

[33:51] budget by400 million dollars. I

[33:53] y'all would have thrown things

[33:54] at me

[33:56] I don't, I just don't think that

[33:59] we can really view what is a $10

[34:02] billion insurance company as

[34:04] something that we fund 100%

[34:05] through ourA we've never done

[34:08] that we don't do that with Ebd

[34:09] we don't do that with retirement

[34:11] plans there needs to be a

[34:13] component to this that is

[34:15] recurring revenue in please hear

[34:17] me be in agreement with you that

[34:19] we do need to look at increasing

[34:21] the recurring revenue to

[34:23] medicaid. there needs to be a

[34:24] piece of it as well that

[34:26] is just in reserves and we have

[34:27] to have adequate reserves to

[34:29] deal with that too the

[34:31] conversation as to the relative

[34:32] mix of that I think is

[34:34] appropriate for budget there's

[34:35] another category we haven't

[34:36] talked about it is the expense

[34:36] side

[34:39] and I said that two or three

[34:40] times during during fiscal

[34:43] session this cannot just be a

[34:45] conversation about revenue it

[34:46] needs to be a conversation about

[34:48] our expenses as well just one

[34:49] more comment I know we've got to

[34:50] go

[34:53] that's your analogy of that's

[34:54] fine but this is what I'll say

[34:56] and maybe it requires

[34:59] legislation and and and DHS

[35:00] you're not the only one we can

[35:01] sit here and talk about the

[35:03] freedomccos because if we take

[35:04] those out of restricted reserve

[35:05] and it appears that they're

[35:08] going to be recurring those

[35:11] those also are making it

[35:12] whenever we say state government

[35:13] hasn't grown as much that it

[35:14] really has.

[35:16] so maybe it's something that we

[35:17] need to look at as this

[35:19] legislature that if there are

[35:21] things like that and like the

[35:23] trust fund that if we are taking

[35:25] things out of restricted reserve

[35:26] for what we all know is

[35:31] recurring stuff that whenever we

[35:33] report those numbers out there

[35:35] to the public about how much

[35:36] state government's grown that we

[35:38] need to include those. I think

[35:39] that's the most fair and

[35:42] transparent way, because we

[35:45] all know that it should be an

[35:46] RSA but maybe there are certain

[35:47] times but at least we need to

[35:49] report that and put that

[35:50] percentage in there that that

[35:50] took it up another

[35:54] whatever it whatever it does so

[35:54] anyway thank you sir

[35:57] thank you senator thank you

[35:59] senator members we've got about4

[36:01] members in the queue. I would

[36:01] like to remind you that the

[36:03] question we're really debating

[36:05] today is the transfer of this

[36:07] 200 million so Senator Flippo

[36:08] you're recognized

[36:11] thank you Mr. Chairman and if

[36:13] you'll forgive my informalities

[36:14] Jim Janet you know I like you

[36:15] guys you've always been very

[36:17] honest with me. I'm not nearly

[36:18] as smart as ent hickey but I'm a

[36:19] little bit more in line with

[36:23] brevity so I'll get to it on

[36:25] a scale of 1 to10,10 being the

[36:28] most healthy how healthy is our

[36:29] Medicaid trust fund currently?

[36:33] you know our medicaid trust fund

[36:33] needs to be plussed up

[36:37] it needs to be plussed upive me

[36:38] a number to t

[36:40] that's going to be in the budget

[36:41] process this is the governor's

[36:44] budget you know is it healthy?

[36:44] Is it sick

[36:48] Is it knocking on won't put a

[36:49] healthy or sick label on it this

[36:50] is math

[36:51] right? I think what we have to

[36:53] look at is the total resources

[36:55] that we have available as a

[36:56] state to meet meet our

[36:59] obligations and we have adequate

[37:00] more than adequate resources to

[37:00] be able to do that

[37:02] I'll take that as a4 or5.

[37:10] Senatoreyton, you're recognized

[37:11] thank you Mririr

[37:16] Mrhudson I hope I can articulate

[37:16] this well but

[37:19] I think I heard you say

[37:22] that we knew this was coming

[37:27] and planned on pulling it rather

[37:28] than including it in the budget

[37:32] so in regards to the two00

[37:33] million dollars transfer

[37:37] is that something that we knew

[37:39] was coming and just decided to

[37:43] not mention it during the budget

[37:44] process

[37:47] that sorry senator that's not

[37:49] accurate. We we actually had the

[37:51] $200 million you know approved

[37:53] in the budget process we talked

[37:55] about the $200 million during

[37:57] fiscal session that there would

[37:59] be a need and I said at the

[38:01] table multiple times there would

[38:03] be a need to infuse cash in

[38:05] medicaid in this fiscal year.

[38:07] Now what I will say is different

[38:09] is they actually ran as I said

[38:11] earlier they ran a little hotter

[38:13] in terms of their expenses and

[38:13] so they had a tremendous

[38:15] amount of expense that we do not

[38:16] foresee

[38:19] for fy 26 that is part of the

[38:20] issue that we have going on here

[38:23] so when you talk about looking

[38:24] back for 10 years and that

[38:28] we have depended on the trust

[38:28] fund

[38:32] or other means rather than

[38:33] include in RSA

[38:37] that's it's a mixture of both

[38:39] sir it's it's both you know they

[38:40] get 1.8

[38:42] billion roughly let me get my

[38:43] question out

[38:45] so the question I've got

[38:49] is whether or not those upcoming

[38:51] transfers

[38:53] are known or unknown

[38:57] during the RsA and budget

[39:01] process I mean if if we're if we

[39:03] hold money and reserve and trust

[39:06] accounts that's smart expecting

[39:07] that there's something's gonna

[39:09] happen and we're gonna need that

[39:10] money or we might need extra

[39:10] money

[39:13] but if we know that there's an

[39:14] expense coming

[39:16] and we're ignoring that in Rsa

[39:19] and not including it in the

[39:20] budget

[39:23] then I think we need to take a

[39:25] real close look at that practice

[39:28] that's all and I think that if

[39:29] if we would know exactly what

[39:30] our claims experience was going

[39:31] to be

[39:33] and we could plan that like if

[39:35] we're buying staples or or paper

[39:37] clips it would be much easier

[39:39] but we don't know until after

[39:40] the fact

[39:43] you know what the claims are you

[39:44] know what the acuity of the

[39:46] claims are the number of claims

[39:48] you know we have trends but the

[39:51] recent trends did not point to

[39:52] a400 million dollars increase

[39:56] for fy 26 so you're saying

[39:57] mostly this was kind of

[39:58] unexpected

[40:00] in terms of the claim side of it

[40:01] there was a little bit of drop

[40:03] off in revenue from the FM map

[40:04] rate changing the federal F

[40:06] mapping rate changing but that's

[40:07] not the bulk of it the bulk of

[40:09] it is we we had an unfavorable

[40:11] year in terms of experience Well

[40:13] thank you I I may have

[40:14] misunderstood what you stated

[40:16] earlier but I appreciate you

[40:17] saying you was probably a poor

[40:19] communicator sir. so I'll just

[40:20] take the the responsibility for

[40:21] that. right thank yousenator we

[40:23] have one last remaining question

[40:24] and I'm going to give this to

[40:25] Representative wooten if you

[40:25] would please keep your remarks

[40:29] based on this $200 million

[40:30] transfer we're talking about to

[40:31] the Medicaidrustund if you would

[40:33] please sir you're recognized

[40:35] thank you Mr Chairman and I'll

[40:36] maintain that advice

[40:42] did I understand you correctly

[40:43] that the 200 million

[40:45] will be out of reserve funds

[40:51] will you pay that out of reserve

[40:55] funds the 200 million is in a

[40:56] set aside in restricted reserve

[40:57] the general assembly approved

[40:59] that during the fiscal session

[41:01] this would transfer that money

[41:03] to the medicaid program to be

[41:04] able to use for their current

[41:07] obligations. yes sir. So give us

[41:08] the definition of where you're

[41:09] occurring. what what what

[41:13] reoccurring is that in other

[41:13] words it's not in the RSA

[41:17] when I said we need to look at

[41:19] increasing recurring revenue

[41:20] for Medicaid

[41:23] that that would be a place to

[41:27] put that in RSA for medicaid the

[41:31] question I had I have is it's

[41:33] not shown in RSA how how much

[41:35] money is offsa

[41:39] how much money is in there

[41:41] that's not not should that we

[41:43] actually don't see because I

[41:46] asked for a report on money

[41:46] outside of RsA

[41:51] how how many millions are we

[41:53] talking about and and is that

[41:56] basically surplus money no sir

[41:59] the the bulk of state government

[42:00] is funded outside of RSA.

[42:05] it is a combination of special

[42:07] revenue and federal revenues RSA

[42:09] does not fund the majority of

[42:11] state expenses and I think you

[42:13] know that really but what is the

[42:14] total dollar amount

[42:15] of what of reoccurring

[42:20] in the whole state budget that's

[42:20] out of ourS a

[42:25] must the total amount of

[42:26] expenditures

[42:31] 667 billion is the RSA budget

[42:33] for Fy27

[42:35] so

[42:41] the 200 million that you're that

[42:44] we approved that is not

[42:47] considered a part of RSA, ir. if

[42:49] you look at the act this general

[42:50] assembly passed

[42:53] the todddily act is the revenue

[42:53] stabilization actct.

[42:57] that is where it's at. now is it

[42:59] it's not in the RSA allocation

[43:01] for Medicaid but this general

[43:03] assembly when it approved the

[43:04] balanced budget for the state of

[43:06] Arkansas approved that $200

[43:07] million set aside. Y'all voted

[43:08] for that

[43:09] it's there

[43:13] Well I recognize it's there but

[43:15] is it going to be a reoccurring

[43:19] expenditure as indicated the

[43:22] the the governor will present

[43:23] her balanced budget. it's not my

[43:24] balanced budget it's her

[43:26] balanced budget she will present

[43:28] that according to statute in

[43:30] November what she's proposing to

[43:33] do for all RSa and then that'll

[43:34] be you know subject for debate

[43:34] obviously as we get into session

[43:39] thank you thank

[43:41] youpresentativeooten members

[43:42] seeing no other questions thank

[43:42] you for coming down.ppreciate

[43:43] it.

[43:46] hang on just a second. Senator

[43:46] rice did you have a question

[43:49] all right just a second

[43:59] Senator rice we have a motion to

[44:01] adopt this report do you have a

[44:02] substitute motion?

[44:02] right

[44:03] yeah there you go

[44:07] Thank you Mr chairir. I

[44:09] appreciate the discussion on the

[44:11] medicaid and I think it shows

[44:12] budget

[44:14] hearings coming up that we've

[44:15] got some serious things to talk

[44:19] about my request is on the EFA's

[44:23] ond2 a lot of people our

[44:25] whole goal is to educate kids

[44:27] and we want to find the best way

[44:29] a lot of concern that we need

[44:31] to tap the brakes and come up

[44:35] with some parameters so I

[44:37] would ask that d2 on the EFAs be

[44:38] pulled out for a separate vote

[44:39] my motion

[44:55] right so the motion is to pull

[44:57] out the item d2 for the EFAs for

[44:59] a separate vote that we'll also

[45:01] include the the adoption of

[45:03] the report is that correct

[45:04] right

[45:05] all right members you've heard

[45:08] that motion we have a 2nd 2nd

[45:10] all those in favor signify by

[45:13] saying aye all those opposed

[45:15] knows habitpresentative Wardlaw

[45:17] has the original motion to

[45:19] approve the entire report

[45:20] including the album we just

[45:21] mentioned. do you have a second?

[45:24] right you have a second in

[45:25] discussion seeing none all those

[45:26] in favor say aye opposed

[45:29] the ayes have it. right. thank

[45:31] you members that takes us down

[45:32] to item 12. we're going to

[45:32] recognize Senator Mcee at this

[45:33] time.

[45:36] Thank you Mr Chairman. The

[45:37] revenue subcommittee met on

[45:39] Tuesday and reviewed methods of

[45:41] finance alternative delivery

[45:42] method procurements

[45:43] discretionary grants one

[45:46] ratification RfQ approvals

[45:48] service contracts and received

[45:50] reports all items were reviewed.

[45:51] I moved the adoption of the

[45:52] report

[45:53] all right thank you senator

[45:55] members any questions on item 12

[45:59] seeing none we have a motion we

[46:01] have a 2nd 2nd any discussion

[46:03] seeing none all those in favor

[46:04] say aye oppose the ayes have it

[46:07] I'm gonna recognize Senator

[46:09] Petty for the state insurance

[46:10] programme's report. you

[46:12] recognize. Thank you Mr chairir.

[46:13] The city insurance programmes

[46:14] oversight subcommittee met on

[46:16] Wednesday and they reviewed the

[46:17] employee benefits division

[46:19] contract amendment with Navidus

[46:21] Health Solutions Lllc

[46:22] subcommittee also heard a

[46:23] presentation from Doctor Wayne

[46:25] Weingarten with Pacific Research

[46:27] Institute. I may I move for

[46:28] adoption of this report.

[46:30] all right members you heard the

[46:31] report. many questions?

[46:33] seeing none we have a motion.

[46:33] Can I get a second? I have a

[46:35] second any discussion saying

[46:37] none all those in favor say aye

[46:38] opposed the ayes have it

[46:41] senator Davis you're

[46:41] recognized for the personnel

[46:42] report

[46:45] Mr Chair the personnel

[46:47] subcommittee met Wednesday

[46:48] September 16th and reviewed the

[46:49] request and reports listed as

[46:51] items 1 through7 on the

[46:53] personnel committee report, I'll

[46:54] take any questions and have a

[46:55] motion for adoption at the

[46:56] proper time.

[46:59] all right members you've heard

[46:59] the report any questions?

[47:03] seeing none we have a motion.

[47:04] Can I get a second? we have a

[47:05] second. any discussion seeing

[47:07] none all those in favor say aye

[47:09] opposed the ayes have it members

[47:10] if you would please turn

[47:11] to page two of your agenda we

[47:13] have some review of

[47:14] communications there's no action

[47:16] to be taken on these so if

[47:18] there are no questions on any of

[47:18] those items

[47:22] I'd like to recognize Senator

[47:23] Urvin for a moment.

[47:27] you're recognized

[47:33] so members a part of the

[47:35] executive subcommittee report

[47:37] if you look at that report

[47:39] attached to that is a resolution

[47:41] the resolution was passed to

[47:43] executive subcommittee level.

[47:45] the resolution has to deal with

[47:47] our duck population there was

[47:49] a change at the federal level to

[47:51] a proposed change to some

[47:53] rules at the federal level that

[47:55] would have devastated the duck

[47:57] population to thanks to the

[47:58] good work of

[47:59] our director of the Arkansas

[48:01] Game and Fish, our game and fish

[48:02] commission and I think also the

[48:04] governor's office and others

[48:07] may have helped in this but

[48:09] to basically say no don't change

[48:10] the language because it will be

[48:11] devastating to the state of

[48:14] Arkansas. so this interim of

[48:16] this resolution is really our

[48:17] opportunity as a legislature to

[48:19] also speak to that and be part

[48:20] of the public record at the

[48:21] federal level so that if these

[48:23] changes are considered in the

[48:25] future to that federal rule

[48:27] change then we are on record as

[48:28] to saying that we

[48:29] agree with our Arkansas game and

[48:31] fish commission and Arkansasame

[48:33] andish director that we need

[48:37] to keep the rule intact and

[48:39] and make sure that conservation

[48:41] and our duck population can be

[48:43] as strong as possible because

[48:44] as you know that's very

[48:45] important to the economy of the

[48:47] state of Arkansas. so that is a

[48:49] that's the purpose of the

[48:52] resolution and I can take

[48:53] any questions but this was a

[48:54] report that came out of our

[48:55] subcommittee and I felt like it

[48:57] was a good thing for the

[48:58] legislature to also speak to

[48:59] this and be part of the federal

[49:01] public record thank you thank

[49:03] you Senator Irvin. Members,

[49:03] there is no other business for

[49:05] this committee. thank you for

[49:06] your participation we are

[49:06] adjourned

Arkansas Legislative Council

Agenda

Transcript