Latest news with #BreanneDavis
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas bill proposes unpaid Veterans Day leave for veterans
ARKANSAS (KTAL/KMSS)—An Arkansas Bill was introduced on Thursday that proposes employers provide unpaid leave on Veterans Day to Veteran employees. Representative Joy Springer sponsored House Bill 1792, which would apply to former members of the United States Armed Forces; former or current members of the Arkansas Reserve, or the Arkansas National Guard unit. Veterans Day is a federal holiday observed annually on November 11. It honors the brave people who have served in the military. 'Only Citizens Vote Act' amend driver's licenses for noncitizens A private employer without paid leave for Veterans Day must allow veterans to take the day off as unpaid leave, if the employee provides their employer with: Written notice, submitted at least one month in advance of the date, with their intent to have the day as unpaid leave and; proof of veterans status, 'without limitation a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, generally referred to as a 'DD Form 214', or other comparable certificate of discharge from the United States Armed Forces.' The employer shall not reject the request of an employee who is also a veteran unless the employer can demonstrate that the employee's absence will: Adversely impact the public health and safety; Cause significant economic or operational disruption to the employer, as determined by the Department of Labor and Licensing. Support Wounded Veterans at fishing tournament The bill notes that it does not prohibit the employer from granting all employees, veterans and non-veterans alike, the entire day off on Veterans Day as a paid holiday. HB1792 was supported by Senator Breanne Davis (R-Russellville) and co-sponsored by Senator David Wallace (R-Leachville). The bill was read in the House chambers and then read a second time to be referred to the Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SESSION SNAPSHOT: Former NBA star, Israel ambassador honored by Arkansas Legislature
Sen. Clarke Tucker asks a question during a meeting of the Arkansas Senate on March 7, 2025. At right are Sens. Breanne Davis and Ben Gilmore. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate) Between crafting state policies and introducing new bills during the legislative session, Arkansas lawmakers also present resolutions, typically feel-good proclamations that range from celebrating a high school sports team winning a state championship to honoring a centenarian on her 107th birthday. The eighth week of the 95th General Assembly featured some well-known Arkansans receiving recognition — former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippin and former Gov. Mike Huckabee. A resolution supporting the nomination of Huckabee as the U.S. ambassador to Israel was read in both chambers Wednesday. Huckabee told the Senate he was 'deeply honored' by the recognition and said the ambassadorship was the only opportunity he would have said yes to because he was not looking for a job in the federal government. 'This really has been like a calling, not just from the president, but from above, and I'm grateful to God for the extraordinary privilege to serve my country, the president and frankly all of you in being a representative of the United States to the state of Israel,' he said. Huckabee was joined Wednesday by his family, including his daughter and current Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who celebrated a milestone of her own this week — the introduction of legislation that, if approved, would follow through on her promise to eliminate the state grocery tax. This week also saw the debut of Senate Bill 392, the governor's revamp of the state employee pay plan. The 222-page bill, filed Wednesday, should be discussed in committee Tuesday, and lawmakers will have a week to consider it before an expected vote on March 18. Lead sponsor Sen. Breanne Davis told the Advocate the main thing SB 392 does is offer 'job families' for state employees. 'With these job families there'll be a career path for you to advance and continue to gain skills and knowledge, and move up and actually have a career and be compensated correctly for it,' Davis said. 'So that really is what this entire bill centers around. There's a lot of things that changed to help adjust to that, but that really is the biggest picture.' The governor's higher education bill, Arkansas ACCESS, is also expected to be heard in committee Monday after being amended this week. House Speaker Brian Evans, R-Cabot, told reporters Thursday that several stakeholders provided suggestions during the drafting of the bill. 'The governor's office and the committees and the bill sponsors, they have taken those under consideration,' Evans said. 'They've made some amendments just to make sure that everyone's being taken care of, concerns that they had. I don't expect much pushback on that at all.' Arkansas ACCESS is scheduled to be heard by the Joint Education Committee at 9 a.m. Monday. Monday morning is the deadline for the Arkansas Public Service Commission to provide an analysis of Senate Bill 307. Lead sponsor Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, said the 62-page bill aims to mitigate an anticipated increase in rates likely to occur when Arkansas generates or purchases energy to meet the demand that will be created when some of the state's coal-fired plants go offline in a few years. Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, requested the PSC make recommendations to improve the language of the bill Thursday, a day after the legislation failed to garner enough votes to advance out of the Senate. Plans to build a prison in Franklin County continue to make waves in Little Rock. On Monday, four days after lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee balked at approving an appropriation for the construction project when there were no total cost estimates, state officials released a letter with a preliminary cost estimate of $825 million. Also Monday, Dismang filed an appropriation bill for $750 million to go along with $75 million that was set aside for prison expansion by former Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Lawmakers had been expected to continue their prison debate during Thursday's JBC meeting, but traffic delayed Dismang, and the chair said the bill would be considered next week instead. There are several boards and commissions in Arkansas that oversee a variety of topics, and throughout the legislative session, lawmakers have been debating who should be members of these groups and whether they should exist at all. A House committee on Monday gave initial approval to House Bill 1365, which would remove race and gender quotas and qualifications from a variety of state boards, councils and commissions, altering 22 sections of state law. The full House on Wednesday advanced the bill, which will next be heard by a Senate committee. Meanwhile, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, is sponsoring Senate Bill 184, which would abolish the Arkansas Educational Television Commission and the Arkansas State Library Board. Although SB 184 was approved by the Senate, it's not likely to advance further, after the Arkansas PBS Commission chairman said he came to 'an understanding' with Sullivan Thursday. Arkansas lawmakers filed more than 125 bills this week, including: HB1646 by Rep. Richard McGrew, R-Hot Springs, would require a kindergarten through fifth grade media center to store 'any material that concerns an individual's sexuality' in a locked room within a designated area. HB1655 by Rep. Wayne Long, R-Bradford, would create the offense of human smuggling and harboring illegal immigrants, both of which would be felonies. HB1668 by Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, would create civil liability for any person who 'contributes to the social transitioning of a minor or the castration, sterilization, or mutilation of a minor' that results in personal injuries or harm. HB1669 , also by Bentley, would prevent state government from requiring any private child placement agency to participate in any placement of a child for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement would violate the agency's 'sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.' Lawmakers are still refraining from meeting on Fridays, but that could change as work picks up as the end of the session draws near. The General Assembly will reconvene for the ninth week of the session on Monday. Meeting schedules, agendas and livestream videos are available on the Arkansas Legislature's website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill that would allow third-party alcohol delivery in Arkansas heads to governor's desk
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A bill that would allow third parties to deliver alcohol in Arkansas is headed to the governor's desk for her signature. Senate Bill 98 would allow third-party delivery services to deliver alcohol from a liquor or grocery store to anyone over the age of 21 in a wet county. The delivery service would need a permit from the Alcohol and Beverage Commission to provide for customers. Arkansas legislature 'Gulf of America' resolution declined by House for second time The bill was filed by Sen. Breanne Davis (R-Russellville) and sponsored by Rep. John Maddox (R-Mena). The bill unanimously passed the Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee with a 'do pass'. It later passed through the Senate and the House. It was delivered to the governor's desk on Feb. 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Baby Olivia Act hits bump in Arkansas Senate Education Committee
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Baby Olivia Act passed on the Arkansas House floor last week, but on Monday it hit a bump in the road on the Senate side. In the Senate Education Committee, State Sen. Breanne Davis (R- Russellville) testified she is pro-life and has concerns with the bill. Bill filed to show Baby Olivia gestation video in Arkansas health classrooms She said the conversation is being framed as a pro-life or pro-choice issue when it should be looked at as a science issue. 'So we're going to be teaching children, about development in a way that when they go see their OBGYN, the doctor will not tell them the same thing, and that is what is controversial,' Davis said. 'That's what I have a problem with.' The debate surrounds a three-minute fetal development video from the pro-life organization Live Action. The bill would require that the video be shown to students in public and open-enrollment charter schools, starting in 5th-grade health class. Erin Hogan with Family Council was there to support the bill and says it's medically accurate. 'It's a video that shows the fetal development of a human being,' Hogan said. 'There are numerous, numerous OBGYNs across the nation who helped put this video together.' There was concern about if other videos could be shown as well. The bill's sponsor said there could be, but the committee debated if they felt the legislation allowed that. State Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D-Pine Bluff) made a motion of do not pass, however, that vote failed after a lot of discussion about procedure. Bill filed to show Baby Olivia gestation video in Arkansas health classrooms passes state House The bill was pulled down from committee. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mary Bentley (R-Perryville), could make changes and bring it back to committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislation to allow third-party alcohol delivery in Arkansas moving through House
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Alcohol delivery by third parties will be permitted if a bill currently underway in the Arkansas legislative process becomes law. Senate Bill 98 unanimously passed its hearing in the Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee with a 'do pass' recommendation on Thursday. The bill will now be read a third time on the Senate floor, and if passed, it will move on to the House for approval. Proposed legislation would raise the alcohol content of beer in Arkansas If this bill becomes law, third-party delivery services will be able to deliver alcohol orders from a liquor or grocery store to anyone over 21 in a wet county. The delivery service would need a permit from the Alcohol and Beverage Commission to provide for customers. Bill sponsor Sen. Breanne Davis (R-Russellville) said the legislation would create jobs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
