92nd Arkansas General Assembly explained

92nd Arkansas General Assembly
Meeting Place:	Arkansas State Capitol Jack Stephens Center (House, special session)
Before:	91st
After:	93rd
Website:	https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/
Chamber1 Image:	Arkansas Senate 2019.svg
Chamber1 Image Caption:	Senate party standings
Chamber1:	Arkansas Senate
Membership1:	35 (26 R, 9 D)
Control1:	Republican Party
Chamber1 Leader1 Type:	President of the Senate
Chamber1 Leader1:	Tim Griffin (R)
Chamber1 Leader2 Type:	President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Chamber1 Leader2:	Jim Hendren (R)
Chamber1 Leader3 Type:	Majority Leader
Chamber1 Leader3:	Bart Hester (R)
Chamber1 Leader4 Type:	Minority Leader
Chamber1 Leader4:	Keith Ingram (D)
Chamber2 Image:	Arkansas State House of Representatives (76 Republicans, 24 Democrats).svg
Chamber2 Image Caption:	House party standings
Chamber2:	House of Representatives
Membership2:	100 (76 R, 24 D)
Control2:	Republican Party
Chamber2 Leader1 Type:	House Speaker
Chamber2 Leader1:	Matthew Shepherd (R)
Chamber2 Leader2 Type:	Speaker pro Tempore
Chamber2 Leader2:	Jon Eubanks (R)
Chamber2 Leader3 Type:	Majority Leader
Chamber2 Leader3:	Marcus Richmond (R)
Chamber2 Leader4 Type:	Minority Leader
Chamber2 Leader4:	Fredrick Love (D)
Session1 Start:	January 14, 2019
Session1 End:	April 24, 2019
Session2 Start:	March 26, 2020
Session2 End:	March 28, 2020
Session3 Start:	April 8, 2020
Session3 End:	April 24, 2020

The Ninety-Second Arkansas General Assembly is the legislative body of the state of Arkansas in 2019 and 2020. In this General Assembly, the Arkansas Senate and Arkansas House of Representatives were both controlled by the Republicans. In the Senate, 26 senators were Republicans and 9 were Democrats. In the House, 76 representatives were Republicans, 24 were Democrats. A special session was called in March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sessions

• The Regular Session of the 92nd General Assembly opened on January 14, 2019. It adjourned sine die on April 24, 2019.^[1]
• Governor Asa Hutchinson called for a special session to begin March 26, 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2] Due to social distancing recommendations, the 35 senators met in the 100-seat House chamber, and the House met in the Jack Stephens Center basketball arena on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus.^[3]
• The Fiscal Session began April 8, 2020 and concluded April 24.

Major events

Vacancies

• Representative John Walker (D-34th) died on October 28, 2019.^[4] The Democratic primary to fill the seat was held January 14, resulting in a runoff between Joy Springer and Ryan Davis. The runoff appeared to end in a tie until a ballot arrived from Sweden, giving Springer the one-vote win.^[5] She defeated independent candidate Roderick Talley on March 3 and was sworn March 18, 2020 to fill the seat for the remainder of the term.^[6]
• Representative Mickey Gates (R-22nd) made national news in 2018 for failing to pay taxes for 15 years, but had resisted calls for his resignation.^[7] The House voted to expel Gates in October 2019, leaving his seat vacant until a special election.^[8] Richard McGrew (R) won a special election on March 3 to fill the seat for remainder of the term. He was sworn in on March 18, 2020.

Legislative summary

The legislature was prolific during the regular session, considering 684 Senate bills and 986 House bills. A total of 1,091 bills become law; Governor Asa Hutchinson did not veto any bills.

• The governor's priority, state government reorganization, merged state agencies from 42 to 15 under the Transformation and Efficiency Act of 2019.
• Act 182 cuts Arkansas's top individual income tax rate from 6.9 percent to 5.9 percent over two years.

In the special session, both chambers unanimously sent identical COVID-19 relief-related bills enabling the creation of a $173 million COVID-19 Rainy Day Fund from previously unallocated reserves.^[9] By the start of the fiscal session, three lawmakers had tested positive for COVID-19.^[10] A short fiscal session met to pass an annual budget, revised lower due to lower revenue forecasts, and reauthorized Arkansas Works, Arkansas's Medicaid expansion.^[11] Lawmakers and staff were provided with cloth masks sewed by friends and family of Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R-87th).^[12]

Lawmakers produced a $5.89 billion general revenue budget in the fiscal session by votes of 35-0 and 98-0 and sent it to the governor on April 16.^[13]

Senate

Leadership

Officers

Office	Officer	Party	District
President/Lieutenant Governor	Tim Griffin		Republican
President Pro Tempore of the Senate	Jim Hendren		Republican	2
Assistant Presidents pro tempore	John Cooper		Republican	21
	Kim Hammer		Republican	33
	Mathew Pitsch		Republican	8
	Stephanie Flowers		Democratic	25

Floor Leaders

Office	Officer	Party	District
Majority Leader	Bart Hester		Republican	1
Majority Whip	Scott Flippo		Republican	17
Minority Leader	Keith Ingram		Democratic	24
Minority Whip	Will Bond		Democratic	32

Source: Arkansas Senate^[14]

Senators

District	Name^[15]	Party	Residence	First elected	Seat up	Term-limited
1	Bart Hester		Rep	Cave Springs	2012	2020	2028
2	Jim Hendren		Rep	Gravette	2012	2020	2028
3	Cecile Bledsoe		Rep	Rogers	2008	2020	2020
4	Greg Leding		Dem	Fayetteville	2018	2020
5	Bob Ballinger		Rep	Berryville	2018	2020
6	Gary Stubblefield		Rep	Branch	2012	2020	2028
7	Lance Eads		Rep	Springdale	2016	2020	2032
8	Mathew Pitsch		Rep	Fort Smith	2018	2020
9	Terry Rice		Rep	Waldron	2014	2020	2024
10	Larry Teague		Dem	Nashville	2008	2020	2020
11	Jimmy Hickey Jr.		Rep	Texarkana	2012	2020	2028
12	Bruce Maloch		Dem	Magnolia	2012	2020	2028
13	Alan Clark		Rep	Lonsdale	2012	2020	2028
14	Bill Sample		Rep	Hot Springs	2010	2020	2020
15	Mark Johnson		Rep	Little Rock	2018	2020
16	Breanne Davis		Rep	Russellville	2018 (special)	2020
17	Scott Flippo		Rep	Mountain Home	2014	2020	2030
18	Missy Irvin		Rep	Mountain View	2010	2020	2026
19	James Sturch		Rep	Batesville	2018	2020
20	Blake Johnson		Rep	Corning	2014	2020	2030
21	John Cooper		Rep	Jonesboro	2014 (special)	2020	2032
22	Dave Wallace		Rep	Leachville	2016	2020	2026
23	Ron Caldwell		Rep	Wynne	2012	2020	2028
24	Keith Ingram		Dem	West Memphis	2012	2020	2024
25	Stephanie Flowers		Dem	Pine Bluff	2010	2020	2020
26	Eddie Cheatham		Dem	Crossett	2012	2020	2022
27	Trent Garner		Rep	El Dorado	2016	2020	2032
28	Jonathan Dismang		Rep	Beebe	2010	2020	2024
29	Ricky Hill		Rep	Cabot	2018 (special)	2020
30	Linda Chesterfield		Dem	Little Rock	2010	2020	2020
31	Joyce Elliott		Dem	Little Rock	2008	2020	2020
32	Will Bond		Dem	Little Rock	2016	2020	2020
33	Kim Hammer		Rep	Benton	2018	2020
34	Jane English		Rep	North Little Rock	2012	2020	2026
35	Jason Rapert		Rep	Conway	2010	2020	2026

House of Representatives

Leadership

Officers

Office	Officer	Party	District
Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives	Matthew Shepherd		Republican	6
Speaker pro tempore	Jon Eubanks		Republican	74
Assistant Speaker pro tempore	Ken Bragg		Republican	15
	Michelle Gray		Republican	62
	Fred Allen		Democratic	30
	Jon Payton		Republican	64

Floor Leaders

Office	Officer	Party	District
Majority Leader	Marcus Richmond		Republican	21
Majority Whip	Brandt Smith		Republican	58
Minority Leader	Fredrick Love		Democratic	29
Minority Whip	LeAnne Burch		Democratic	9

Source: Arkansas House of Representatives^[16]

Representatives

District	Name	Party	First elected	Term-limited
1			Rep	2016	2032
2			Rep	2010	2026
3			Rep	2016	2032
4			Rep	2014	2030
5			Dem	2010	2026
6			Rep	2010	2026
7			Rep	2016	2032
8			Rep	2010	2026
9			Dem	2016	2032
10			Rep	2012	2028
11			Dem	2018	2034
12			Dem	2012	2028
13			Rep	2012	2028
14			Rep	2016	2032
15			Rep	2012	2028
16			Dem	2014	2030
17			Dem	2014	2030
18			Rep	2012	2028
19			Rep	2014	2030
20			Rep	2016	2032
21			Rep	2014	2030
22			Rep	2014	2030
23			Rep	2014	2030
24			Rep	2011†	2028
25			Rep	2016	2032
26			Rep	2014	2030
27			Rep	2016	2032
28			Rep	2018	2034
29			Dem	2010	2026
30			Dem	2016	2032
31			Rep	2012	2028
32			Rep	2014	2030
33			Dem	2018	2034
34			Dem	2010	2026
35			Dem	2018	2034
36			Dem	2019†	2034
37			Dem	2018	2028
38			Rep	2016	2032
39			Rep	2012	2028
40			Rep	2012	2028
41			Rep	2014	2030
42			Dem	2018	2034
43			Rep	2018	2034
44			Rep	2018	2034
45			Rep	2018	2034
46			Rep	2014	2030
47			Rep	2018	2034
48			Dem	2010	2026
49			Rep	2016	2032
50			Dem	2014	2030
51			Dem	2012	2028
52			Rep	2014	2030
53			Rep	2014	2030
54			Rep	2016	2032
55			Dem	2012	2028
56			Rep	2012	2028
57			Rep	2016	2032
58			Rep	2014	2030
59			Rep	2014	2030
60			Rep	2016	2032
61			Rep	2018	2034
62			Rep	2014	2030
63			Rep	2018	2034
64			Rep	2012	2028
65			Rep	2014	2030
66			Rep	2012	2028
67			Rep	2010	2026
68			Rep	2018	2034
69			Rep	2016	2032
70			Rep	2018	2034
71			Rep	2018	2034
72			Dem	2012	2028
73			Rep	2014	2030
74			Rep	2012	2028
75			Rep	2018	2034
76			Rep	2018	2034
77			Rep	2014	2030
78			Dem	2018	2034
79			Rep	2010	2026
80			Rep	2012	2028
81			Rep	2016	2032
82			Rep	2016	2032
83			Rep	2018	2034
84			Dem	2018	2034
85			Dem	2012	2028
86			Dem	2018	2034
87			Rep	2014	2030
88			Rep	2016	2032
89			Dem	2018	2034
90			Rep	2014	2030
91			Rep	2012	2028
92			Rep	2018	2034
93			Rep	2012	2028
94			Rep	2014	2030
95			Rep	2016	2032
96			Rep	2014	2030
97			Rep	2018	2034
98			Rep	2014	2030
99			Rep	2016	2032
100			Rep	2014	2030

See also

• List of Arkansas General Assemblies

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wickline . Michael R. . Capitol session wraps up this week . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Little Rock, AR . April 22, 2019 . 1060-4332 . March 31, 2020 .
2. Web site: Arkansas governor says he plans to call special session on Thursday . Michael R. . Wickline . March 24, 2020 . . . 1060-4332 . March 31, 2020 .
3. Web site: State lawmakers meet — Senate in its chambers, House in basketball arena — to weigh covid-19 fund . John . Moritz . Michael R. . Wickline . March 27, 2020 . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Little Rock . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. . 1060-4332 . March 31, 2020 .
4. Web site: Michael R. . Wickline . Nyssa . Kruse . State legislator, civil-rights attorney John Walker dies at 82 . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Little Rock . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. . 1060-4332 . March 31, 2020 .
5. Web site: John . Moritz . Ballot from Sweden breaks House-race tie . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Little Rock . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. . 1060-4332 . 1B, 3B . February 22, 2020 . March 31, 2020 .
6. Web site: Wickline . Michael R. . Two state lawmakers sworn into office - Filling vacancies in the House, both will face challengers in November . March 18, 2020 . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Little Rock . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. . 1060-4332 . March 31, 2020 .
7. News: Arkansas lawmaker accused of filing no taxes for 15 years arrested . Fox News . June 28, 2018 . Paulina . Dedaj . July 1, 2018 .
8. Web site: Glisovic . Marine . Rep. Mickey Gates expelled from Arkansas House in historic vote . KATV . ABC7 . October 11, 2019.
9. Web site: Lawmakers pass 'rainy-day' funding - $173M put on tap for budget holes . John . Moritz . Michael R. . Wickline . March 28, 2020 . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Little Rock . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. . 1060-4332 . May 17, 2020 .
10. Web site: 3rd state House member tests positive for covid-19 . John . Moritz . April 7, 2020 . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . 9, 11 . Little Rock . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. . 1060-4332 . May 17, 2020 .
11. Web site: Arkansas lawmakers OK budget, ending session amid pandemic . . April 16, 2020 . Little Rock . Newsbank . May 17, 2020 .
12. News: April 22, 2020 . Volunteers Create Masks For State Legislators, Staff . Rice . Maylon T. . Washington County Enterprise-Leader . Farmington . Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, LLC . 8A .
13. Web site: Arkansas House, Senate OK budget bills, wrap up fiscal session. Michael R. . Wickline . April 16, 2020 . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. . Little Rock . 1060-4332 . December 27, 2020 .
14. Web site: Staff of the Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research . Leadership . 2019 . Arkansas Senate . Little Rock . March 31, 2020 .
15. Web site: Staff of the Arkansas General Assembly . Legislators List . 2020 . Arkansas General Assembly . March 31, 2020 .
16. Web site: Staff of the Arkansas House of Representatives . Leadership . 2019 . Arkansas House of Representatives . Little Rock . March 31, 2020 .