92nd Arkansas General Assembly

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.

92nd Arkansas General Assembly
←91st 93rd→
Arkansas State Capitol (2009)
Overview
Meeting placeArkansas State Capitol
Jack Stephens Center (House, special session)[1]
TermJanuary 14, 2019 (2019-01-14) –
Websitehttps://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/
Arkansas Senate
Senate party standings
Members35 (26 R, 9 D)
President of the SenateTim Griffin (R)
President Pro Tempore of the SenateJim Hendren (R)
Majority LeaderBart Hester (R)
Minority LeaderKeith Ingram (D)
Party controlRepublican Party
House of Representatives
House party standings
Members100 (76 R, 24 D)
House SpeakerMatthew Shepherd (R)
Speaker pro TemporeJon Eubanks (R)
Majority LeaderMarcus Richmond (R)
Minority LeaderFredrick Love (D)
Party controlRepublican Party
Sessions
1stJanuary 14, 2019 – April 24, 2019
2ndMarch 26, 2020 – March 28, 2020
3rdApril 8, 2020 – April 24, 2020

Sessions

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.[6]

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

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

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[15] Party First elected Term-limited
1 Carol Dalby Rep 2016 2032
2 Lane Jean Rep 2010 2026
3 Danny Watson Rep 2016 2032
4 DeAnn Vaught Rep 2014 2030
5 David Fielding Dem 2010 2026
6 Matthew Shepherd Rep 2010 2026
7 Sonia Eubanks Barker Rep 2016 2032
8 Jeff Wardlaw Rep 2010 2026
9 LeAnne Burch Dem 2016 2032
10 Mike Holcomb Rep 2012 2028
11 Don Edward Glover Dem 2018 2034
12 Chris Richey Dem 2012 2028
13 David Hillman Rep 2012 2028
14 Roger Lynch Rep 2016 2032
15 Ken Bragg Rep 2012 2028
16 Ken Ferguson Dem 2014 2030
17 Vivian Flowers Dem 2014 2030
18 Richard Womack Rep 2012 2028
19 Justin Gonzales Rep 2014 2030
20 John Maddox Rep 2016 2032
21 Marcus Richmond Rep 2014 2030
22 Mickey Gates[Note 1] Rep 2014 2030
23 Lanny Fite Rep 2014 2030
24 Bruce Cozart Rep 2011† 2028
25 Les Warren Rep 2016 2032
26 Laurie Rushing Rep 2014 2030
27 Julie Mayberry Rep 2016 2032
28 Jasen Kelly Rep 2018 2034
29 Fredrick Love Dem 2010 2026
30 Fred Allen Dem 2016 2032
31 Andy Davis Rep 2012 2028
32 Jim Sorvillo Rep 2014 2030
33 Tippi McCullough Dem 2018 2034
34 John Walker[Note 2] Dem 2010 2026
35 Andrew Collins Dem 2018 2034
36 Denise Ennett Dem 2019† 2034
37 Jamie Aleshia Scott Dem 2018 2028
38 Carlton Wing Rep 2016 2032
39 Mark Lowery Rep 2012 2028
40 Douglas House Rep 2012 2028
41 Karilyn Brown Rep 2014 2030
42 Mark Perry Dem 2018 2034
43 Brian Evans Rep 2018 2034
44 Cameron Cooper Rep 2018 2034
45 Jim Wooten Rep 2018 2034
46 Les Eaves Rep 2014 2030
47 Craig Christiansen Rep 2018 2034
48 Reginald Murdock Dem 2010 2026
49 Steve Hollowell Rep 2016 2032
50 Milton Nicks Dem 2014 2030
51 Deborah Ferguson Dem 2012 2028
52 Dwight Tosh Rep 2014 2030
53 Dan Sullivan Rep 2014 2030
54 Johnny Rye Rep 2016 2032
55 Monte Hodges Dem 2012 2028
56 Joe Jett Rep 2012 2028
57 Jimmy Gazaway Rep 2016 2032
58 Brandt Smith Rep 2014 2030
59 Jack Ladyman Rep 2014 2030
60 Frances Cavenaugh Rep 2016 2032
61 Marsh Davis Rep 2018 2034
62 Michelle Gray Rep 2014 2030
63 Stu Smith Rep 2018 2034
64 John Payton Rep 2012 2028
65 Rick Beck Rep 2014 2030
66 Josh Miller Rep 2012 2028
67 Stephen Meeks Rep 2010 2026
68 Stan Berry Rep 2018 2034
69 Aaron Pilkington Rep 2016 2032
70 Spencer Hawks Rep 2018 2034
71 Joe Cloud Rep 2018 2034
72 Stephen Magie Dem 2012 2028
73 Mary Bentley Rep 2014 2030
74 Jon Eubanks Rep 2012 2028
75 Lee Johnson Rep 2018 2034
76 Cindy Crawford Rep 2018 2034
77 Justin Boyd Rep 2014 2030
78 Jay Richardson Dem 2018 2034
79 Gary Deffenbaugh Rep 2010 2026
80 Charlene Fite Rep 2012 2028
81 Bruce Coleman Rep 2016 2032
82 Sarah Capp Rep 2016 2032
83 Keith Slape Rep 2018 2034
84 Denise Garner Dem 2018 2034
85 David Whitaker Dem 2012 2028
86 Nicole Clowney Dem 2018 2034
87 Robin Lundstrum Rep 2014 2030
88 Clint Penzo Rep 2016 2032
89 Megan Godfrey Dem 2018 2034
90 Jana Della Rosa Rep 2014 2030
91 Dan Douglas Rep 2012 2028
92 Gayla McKenzie Rep 2018 2034
93 Jim Dotson Rep 2012 2028
94 Rebecca Petty Rep 2014 2030
95 Austin McCollum Rep 2016 2032
96 Grant Hodges Rep 2014 2030
97 Harlan Breaux Rep 2018 2034
98 Ron McNair Rep 2014 2030
99 Jack Fortner Rep 2016 2032
100 Nelda Speaks Rep 2014 2030
  1. Expelled from office October 11, 2019.[8] Richard McGrew (R) sworn March 18, 2020.[6]
  2. Died in office October 28, 2019.[4] Joy Springer (D) sworn March 18, 2020.[6]

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