Senate panel advances competing highway bill

Gov. Asa Hutchinson addresses a special session of the Legislature on Thursday, May 19, 2016.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson addresses a special session of the Legislature on Thursday, May 19, 2016.

6 P.M. UPDATE:

Arkansas lawmakers are set to take up competing plans to raise money for the state's highways, with a Senate committee endorsing an effort to limit Gov. Asa Hutchinson's funding proposal for one year.

The Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday advanced a proposal to raise nearly $50 million for the state's roads in the coming year by tapping the surplus, investment returns and other funds.

The panel passed the measure on a 6-2 vote.

Unlike Hutchinson's proposal, the plan would only apply to the coming year. The panel earlier Thursday deadlocked on the governor's measure, while a House committee has endorsed an identical bill outlining his plan.

Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

— The Associated Press

EARLIER: Broyles family-backed publicity rights bill advances in Legislature

A revised version of a publicity rights bill backed by the family of former Arkansas football coach Frank Broyles that was vetoed last year is heading toward votes in the Legislature.

The House and Senate Judiciary committees Thursday endorsed identical versions of the proposal designed to protect a person's likeness. Gov. Asa Hutchinson last year had vetoed a version of the bill over concerns that it would infringe on First Amendment rights.

The proposal has been revamped to address those concerns and has been backed by the Motion Picture Association of America, who opposed the version that Hutchinson vetoed last year. Hutchinson has said he'll sign the latest version if it reaches his desk.

The reworked bill includes clearer exemptions for noncommercial forms of speech, including newspapers, magazines, broadcasts, plays, books and other forms of artwork.

The proposal faces objections from the five professional sports players' unions and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, who say its exemptions are too broad.

— The Associated Press

EARLIER: Lawmaker considers different panel for highway plan after it stalls

The sponsor of Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson's plan to increase money for the state's highways says he won't present the proposal again before a Senate panel where it's stalled. Instead he's hoping to get the proposal sent to a different committee.

Hutchinson has proposed tapping into the state's surplus, investment returns and other funds to raise nearly $50 million for highways in the coming fiscal year.

Republican Sen. Bart Hester said Thursday he doesn't plan on running the proposal again before the Senate Transportation Committee, which deadlocked on the plan earlier in the day. Hester said he'll ask the Senate to send an identical House version to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee if that chamber approves the bill Friday.

Sending the proposal to that committee will require at least 18 votes in the 35-member Senate.

Check back for updates and read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

— The Associated Press

EARLIER: Senate panel deadlocks on highway funding plan

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson's plan to boost money for the state's highways has stalled before a Senate panel after opponents said they want to limit the funding proposal to one year.

The Senate Transportation Committee deadlocked 4-4 Thursday on Hutchinson's proposal to tap into the state's surplus, investment returns and other funds to increase funding for highways. Hutchinson has said the proposal will raise nearly $50 million in the coming fiscal year and allow the state to receive $200 million annually in additional federal matching funds.

The House Rules Committee endorsed an identical version of Hutchinson's proposal Thursday.

Three members of the Senate panel have introduced a competing plan that would limit the funding to the coming fiscal year and not include a provision to set aside a quarter of the state's surplus in future years.

— The Associated Press

EARLIER: Governor urges lawmakers to pass highway plan as special session begins

Gov. Asa Hutchinson urged lawmakers to focus on passing his plan to increase funding for highway improvements during a joint session of the Legislature on Thursday morning.

"This session is primarily to adopt a funding mechanism for our highways," Hutchinson said. "Other ideas that are out there can be considered in additional legislative sessions or they can be put to a vote of the people, but this is the primary purpose to accomplish the immediate and extraordinary need of meeting the federal match."

The Legislature will consider Hutchinson's plan to use funds from the state's budget surplus to meet federal match dollars that he said could raise $1 billion for Arkansas roads over the next five years. But several lawmakers have used the session to propose more than a dozen other bills.

In the 15-minute speech, Hutchinson said he didn't view the plan as a one-time fix for the state's roads but said it was a realistic approach to matching federal funds each year.

He also defended it against critics who argue that the budget surplus is not a reliable way to raise funds in the future.

"There's always some uncertainty in surpluses, but we know that we manage our budget conservatively," Hutchinson said. "Secondly, we have a growing economy."

The governor rejected proposals to raise taxes for highway improvements.

"I don’t believe it’s the right time to raise taxes for Arkansans enjoying lower prices at the pump," Hutchinson said. "They’re able to go on trips with their families, and I don’t want to take that away from them."

— Jaime Dunaway

EARLIER: GOP lawmakers file alternative highway plan

A group of Republican lawmakers have filed an alternative to Gov. Asa Hutchinson's highway plan that would limit the funding increase to the coming fiscal year.

Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey on Thursday filed the proposal to tap into nearly $50 million from the state's surplus, investment returns and other funds for road needs. Unlike Hutchinson's proposal, the plan would be limited to the coming fiscal year and doesn't call for setting aside a quarter of the state's surplus in future years.

Hickey's proposal is co-sponsored by Republican Sens Bill Sample and Ronald Caldwell and GOP Rep. Dan Douglas. Sample chairs the Senate Transportation Committee.

Highway officials have said the boost in money is needed so the state can receive an additional $200 million in annual federal matching funds.

— The Associated Press

EARLIER: Arkansas lawmakers convene special session on highways

Arkansas lawmakers have begun a session focused primarily on the governor's plan to raise nearly $50 million for the state's highways this coming year.

The House and Senate convened Thursday for the session, which will also include more than a dozen other proposals. Gov. Asa Hutchinson planned to speak to a joint session of the Legislature Thursday morning.

Hutchinson has proposed tapping into Arkansas' surplus, investment returns and other funds for his road plan. Highway officials said the money is needed so the state can receive an additional $200 million in annual federal matching funds.

Other proposals on the session's agenda include a revised version of a publicity rights bill Hutchinson vetoed last year and changes in the way vacancies are filled on levee boards around the state.

— The Associated Press

Upcoming Events