Lawmakers head back to Little Rock for final week; veto override, state budget in agenda A possible override of a veto on a 2nd Amendment-related bill and the stateâs budget will be major issues lawmakers will tackle as they head back to the Capitol Monday. (Source: ABC/NBC) By Region 8 Newsdesk | April 25, 2021 at 2:32 PM CDT - Updated April 25 at 2:42 PM
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) - A possible override of a veto on a 2nd Amendment-related bill and the stateâs budget will be major issues lawmakers will tackle as they head back to the Capitol Monday.
An attempt to override a veto of the Arkansas Sovereignty Act of 2021 is expected Monday after Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed the bill Friday.
Credit Michael Hibblen / KUAR News
The leaders of the two legislative chambers and Gov. Asa Hutchinson outlined expectations for the end of the 93rd Arkansas General Assembly, and it should be an unprecedented and lengthy adjournment.
Holding a joint press conference Thursday to review the Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA), which keeps the state’s budget balanced, the trio of leaders explained their plans for completing the session business and taking care of additional matters later this year.
Next Tuesday, legislators expect to recess until the fall. Normally, they would sine die, or formally adjourn, in about one month and the regular session would end. This year, lawmakers plan to “stay in session” until September, when they will return to take up legislative and Congressional redistricting, which has been delayed due to issues with the U.S. Census Bureau. After they approve redrawn district lines, they will sine die and soon thereafter be called into a special session by
Gov Hutchinson, legislative leadership discuss state budget; $700 million long-term reserve expected by June 30 kait8.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kait8.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Credit Arkansas Senate
The Arkansas Senate failed to pass appropriations for the Arkansas Department of Commerce s 2021-2022 fiscal year on Monday. Members of the Senate voted 20-8 with five members not voting, which was ultimately not enough to pass Senate Bill 132.
In speaking against the bill, Sen. Trent Garner, R-El Dorado, said he could not vote for any appropriation that would fund and pay for the head of the Department of Commerce, Sec. Mike Preston. I’ve lost confidence in his ability to lead that critical department, Garner said. We look over the last year, we look at how contracts went to out-of-state businesses like Carvana for economic development, putting our small businesses here in Arkansas at a competitive disadvantage. We look at how he has authorized $15 million dollars for grants during the height of the pandemic without approval from this body.
Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, presents House Bill 1671 to the Senate.
The Arkansas General Assembly has given final approval to a bill that would allow college athletes to enter into contracts and make money off their name and likeness.
The Senate voted 34-1 Tuesday to pass House Bill 1671, which establishes the Arkansas Student-Athlete Publicity Rights Act. Under the legislation, athletes at the collegiate level in the state will be able to enter into a contract and receive compensation for the use of their name, voice, signature, photograph or likeness.
Entering into such contracts would not impact a student’s scholarship eligibility, nor would collegiate athletes be paid to play their sport. Currently, states across the county are considering or have already passed similar legislation, including one in Florida that is set to go into effect this summer.