Arkansas House of Representatives

The Arkansas State House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the state. Each district has an average population of 29,159 according to the 2010 federal census. Members are elected to two-year terms and, since the 2014 Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution, limited to sixteen years cumulative in either house.[1]

Arkansas House of Representatives
94th Arkansas General Assembly
House of Representatives seal
Seal
Type
Type
Term limits
16 Years (both houses)
History
FoundedJanuary 30, 1836 (1836-01-30)
New session started
January 9, 2023
Leadership
Matthew Shepherd (R)
since June 15, 2018
Speaker pro tempore
Jon Eubanks (R)
since January 12, 2015
Majority Leader
Marcus Richmond (R)
since January 9, 2023
Minority Leader
Tippi McCullough (D)
since January 11, 2021
Structure
Seats100
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (82)

Minority

Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle 8, Section 2,
Arkansas Constitution
Salary$39,399.84/year + per diem
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
November 8, 2022
(100 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(100 seats)
RedistrictingArkansas Board of Apportionment
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Arkansas State Capitol
Little Rock, Arkansas
Website
Arkansas House of Representatives

The Arkansas House of Representatives meets annually, in regular session in odd number years and for a fiscal session in even number years, at the State Capitol in Little Rock.[2]

History

Arkansas House members in 1893, the four known African American members are segregated to the bottom right

During the Reconstruction era that followed the American Civil War, the Federal government passed the Reconstruction Acts and African Americans were enfranchised with voting rights. African Americans were elected and served in the Arkansas House although the numbers eventually declined as the Democrats retook control and were able to restore white supremacy. By the start of the 20th century African Americans were largely barred from holding in the Arkansas House and across the southern states.

Leadership of the House

The Speaker of the House presides over the body and is elected by the membership every two years. Its duties include the supervision and directing the daily order of business, recognizing members to speak, preserving order in the House, deciding all questions of order and germaneness, certifying all measures passed, assigning committee leadership, and naming members to select committees. In the Speaker's absence, the Speaker Pro Tempore presides.

Officers

Office Officer Party District
Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives Matthew Shepherd Republican 97
Speaker Pro Tempore Jon S. Eubanks Republican 74
Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 1st District Jack Ladyman Republican 32
Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 2nd District Fred Allen Democratic 77
Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 3rd District Charlene Fite Republican 24
Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 4th District DeAnn Vaught Republican 87

Floor Leaders

Office Officer Party District
Majority Leader Marcus E. Richmond Republican 52
Majority Whip Jon Milligan Republican 33
Minority Leader Tippi McCullough Democratic 74
Minority Whip Vivian Flowers Democratic 65

Current composition

82 18
Republican Democratic
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Ind Green Vacant
End of the 90th General Assembly 68 31 1 0 100 0
Beginning of the 91st General Assembly 76 24 0 0 100 0
End of the 91st General Assembly 76 24 0 0 100 0
Current 82 18 0 0 100 0
Latest voting share 82% 18%

Current membership

District Name Party First elected Term-limited
1 Jeremy Wooldridge Rep 2022 2034
2 Trey Steimel Rep 2022 2034
3 Stetson Painter Rep 2022 2034
4 Jack Fortner Rep 2016 2032
5 Ron McNair Rep 2014 2030
6 Harlan Breaux Rep 2018 2034
7 Brit McKenzie Rep 2022 2034
8 Austin McCollum Rep 2016 2032
9 DeAnna Hodges Rep 2022 2034
10 Mindy McAlindon Rep 2022 2034
11 Rebecca Burkes Rep 2022 2034
12 Hope Hendren Duke Rep 2022 2034
13 Scott Richardson Rep 2022 2034
14 Grant Hodges Rep 2014 2030
15 John Carr Rep 2020 2036
16 Kendon Underwood Rep 2020 2036
17 Delia Haak Rep 2014 2030
18 Robin Lundstrum Rep 2014 2030
19 Steve Unger Rep 2022 2034
20 Denise Garner Dem 2018 2034
21 Nicole Clowney Dem 2018 2034
22 David Whitaker Dem 2012 2028
23 Kendra Moore Rep 2022 2034
24 Charlene Fite Rep 2012 2028
25 Chad Puryear Rep 2022 2034
26 Mark H. Berry Rep 2020 2036
27 Steven Walker Rep 2022 2034
28 Bart Schulz Rep 2022 2034
29 Rick McClure Rep 2020 2036
30 Frances Cavenaugh Rep 2016 2032
31 Jimmy Gazaway Rep 2016 2032
32 Jack Ladyman Rep 2014 2030
33 Jon Milligan Rep 2020 2036
34 Joey Carr Rep 2022 2034
35 Milton Nicks Jr. Dem 2014 2030
36 Johnny Rye Rep 2016 2032
37 Steve Hollowell Rep 2016 2032
38 Dwight Tosh Rep 2014 2032
39 Wayne Long Rep 2022 2034
40 Shad Pearce Rep 2022 2034
41 Josh Miller Rep 2012 2028
42 Stephen Meeks Rep 2010 2026
43 Rick Beck Rep 2014 2030
44 Stan Berry Rep 2018 2034
45 Aaron Pilkington Rep 2016 2032
46 Jon S. Eubanks Rep 2010 2026
47 Lee Johnson Rep 2018 2034
48 Ryan Rose Rep 2022 2034
49 Jay Richardson Dem 2018 2034
50 Zack Gramlich Rep 2022 2034
51 Cindy Crawford Rep 2018 2034
52 Marcus Richmond Rep 2014 2030
53 Matt Duffield Rep 2022 2034
54 Mary Bentley Rep 2014 2030
55 Matt Brown Rep 2022 2034
56 Steve Magie Dem 2012 2028
57 Cameron Cooper Rep 2022 2034
58 Les Eaves Rep 2014 2030
59 Jim Wooten Rep 2018 (special) 2034
60 Roger Lynch Rep 2016 2032
61 Jeremiah Moore Rep 2022 2034
62 Mark McElroy Rep 2012 2030
63 Deborah Ferguson Dem 2012 2028
64 Ken Ferguson Dem 2014 2030
65 Vivian Flowers Dem 2014 2030
66 Mark Perry Dem 2008 2030
67 Karilyn Brown Rep 2014 2030
68 Brian Evans Rep 2018 2034
69 David Ray Rep 2020 2036
70 Carlton Wing Rep 2016 2032
71 Brandon Achor Rep 2022 2034
72 Jamie Aleshia Scott Dem 2018 2034
73 Andrew Collins Dem 2018 2034
74 Tippi McCullough Dem 2018 2034
75 Ashley Hudson Dem 2020 2036
76 Cindy Crawford Rep 2020 (special) 2036
77 Fred Allen Dem 2008 2026
78 Keith Brooks Rep 2020 2036
79 Tara Shephard Dem 2022 2034
80 Denise Ennett Dem 2019 (special) 2036
81 RJ Hawk Rep 2022 2034
82 Tony Furman Rep 2020 2036
83 Lanny Fite Rep 2014 2030
84 Les Warren Rep 2016 2032
85 Richard McGrew Rep 2019 (special) 2036
86 John Maddox Rep 2016 2032
87 DeAnn Vaught Rep 2014 2030
88 Danny Watson Rep 2016 2032
89 Justin Gonzalez Rep 2014 2030
90 Richard Womack Rep 2012 2028
91 Bruce Cozart Rep 2011 (special) 2028
92 Julie Mayberry Rep 2014 2032
93 Mike Holcomb Rep 2012 2028
94 Jeff Wardlaw Rep 2010 2026
95 Howard Beaty Rep 2020 2036
96 Sonia Eubanks Barker Rep 2016 2032
97 Matthew Shepherd Rep 2010 2026
98 Wade Andrews Rep 2022 2034
99 Lane Jean Rep 2010 2026
100 Carol Dalby Rep 2016 2032

Past composition of the House of Representatives

Committees

The House has 10 Standing Committees:

CLASS A

  • Education
  • Judiciary
  • Public Health, Welfare & Labor
  • Public Transportation
  • Revenue and Taxation

CLASS B

  • Aging, Children & Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs
  • Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development
  • City, County and Local Affairs
  • Insurance and Commerce
  • State Agencies and Governmental Affairs

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEES

  • Rules
  • House Management

JOINT COMMITTEES

  • Budget
  • Energy
  • Performance Review
  • Public Retirement and Social Security Programs
  • Advanced Communication and Information Technology

CURRENT COMMITTEES INCLUDE:[3]

  • Advanced Communications And Information Technology
  • Aging, Children And Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs
    • Veterans' Home Task Force
    • House Leg., Military & Veterans Affairs
    • House Children & Youth Subcom.
    • House Aging Subcommittee
  • Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development
    • House Parks & Tourism Subcommittee
    • House Agriculture, Forestry & Natural Resources Subcom.
  • City, County & Local Affairs Committee
    • House Planning Subcommittee
    • House Local Government Personnel Subcommittee
    • House Finance Subcommittee
  • Education Committee
    • House K-12, Vocational-Technical Institutions Subcommittee
    • House Higher Education Subcommittee
    • House Early Childhood Subcommittee
  • House Management
  • House Rules
  • Insurance & Commerce
    • House Utilities Subcommittee
    • House Insurance Subcommittee
    • House Financial Institutions Subcommittee
  • Joint Performance Review
  • Judiciary Committee
    • House Juvenile Justice & Child Support Subcommittee
    • House Courts & Civil Law Subcommittee
    • House Corrections & Criminal Law Subcommittee
  • Public Health, Welfare And Labor Committee
    • House Labor & Environment Subcommittee
    • House Human Services Subcommittee
    • House Health Services Subcommittee
  • Public Transportation
    • House Waterways & Aeronautics Subcom.
    • House And Rail Subcommittee
    • House Motor Vehicle & Highways Subcom.
  • Revenue & Taxation
    • House Sales, Use, Misc. Taxes & Exemptions Subcom.
    • House Income Taxes-Personal & Corporate Subcom.
    • House Complaints And Remediation Subcom.
  • State Agencies & Govt'L Affairs
    • House State Agencies & Reorgan. Subcom
    • House Elections Subcommittee
    • House Constitutional Issues Subcommittee

Each Representative serves on two Standing Committees, and each committee has 20 members. Standing Committee chairmen and vice-chairmen are selected from respective committee rosters by the Speaker.

Two Select Committees operate exclusively within the House. Members of the committees are appointed by the Speaker. The House Select Committees are the House Committee on Rules and the House Management Committee.

The Committee on Rules considers all proposed action touching the House rules, the joint rules and the order of business. The Committee also considers all legislation dealing with alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, tobacco products, coin-operated amusement devices, vending machines, lobbying, code of ethics, pari-mutuel betting and similar legislation.

The House Management Committee works with the Speaker of the House to direct and oversee operations of the House of Representatives. Its duties include the hiring and supervision of the House Staff, the development of personnel policies and procedures, and the monitoring of facility usage and maintenance.

Representatives also serve on five committees that operate jointly with the Senate. They are Joint Budget, Joint Retirement and Social Security Programs, Joint Energy, Joint Performance Review and Joint Committee on Advanced, Communications and Information Technology

House members of the Joint Budget Committee are chosen by their peers from respective caucus districts. House members on other Joint Committees are appointed to their positions by the Speaker.

History

John Wilson, the first Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, stabbed Representative J. J. Anthony to death during a legislative debate on the floor of the chamber in 1837. Wilson was later acquitted. The Old State House is said to be haunted to this day.[4][5]

In 1922, Frances Hunt became the first woman elected to a seat in the Arkansas General Assembly when she was elected to a seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives.[6]

In 2020, several members tested positive for COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Arkansas.[7]

See also

References

  1. "Home - Arkansas House of Representatives". www.arkansashouse.org. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  2. "Arkansas House of Representatives". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  3. "Arkansas House Committees". Open States. Sunlight Foundation. April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  4. Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Wilson-Anthony Duel - Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  6. "Women". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Arkansas: The Central Arkansas Library System. 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  7. Shepherd, Matthew J. (October 20, 2020). "Two House Members Test Positive for COVID-19. Legislative Meetings Postponed". Arkansas House of Representatives. Retrieved October 20, 2020.

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