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93rd Arkansas General Assembly

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93rd Arkansas General Assembly
92nd 94th
Arkansas State Capitol (2009)
Overview
Meeting placeArkansas State Capitol
TermJanuary 11, 2021 (2021-01-11) – January 8, 2023 (2023-01-08)
Arkansas Senate
Senate party standings
Members35 (28 R, 7 D)
President of the SenateTim Griffin (R)
President Pro Tempore of the SenateJimmy Hickey, Jr. (R)
Majority LeaderBart Hester (R)
Minority LeaderKeith Ingram (D)
Party controlRepublican Party
House of Representatives
House party standings
Members100 (78 R, 22 D)
House SpeakerMatthew Shepherd (R)
Speaker pro TemporeJohn Eubanks (R)
Majority LeaderAustin McCollum (R)
Minority LeaderTippi McCullough (D)
Party controlRepublican Party
Sessions
1stJanuary 11, 2021 –
2ndAugust 4, 2021 –
3rdDecember 7, 2021 – December 9, 2021
4thFebruary 14, 2022 – March 15, 2022
5thAugust 9, 2022 – August 11, 2022

The Ninety-Third Arkansas General Assembly is the legislative body of the state of Arkansas in 2021 and 2022. The Arkansas Senate and Arkansas House of Representatives were both controlled by the Republicans. In the Senate, 28 senators were Republicans and 7 were Democrats. In the House, 78 representatives were Republicans and 22 were Democrats.

Sessions

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  • The Regular Session of the 93rd General Assembly opened on January 11, 2021.[1] It recessed due to two extreme winter storms (February 15 and February 17 in Arkansas) for the week of February 15.[2] It adjourned sine die on April 24, 2019.
  • The Fiscal Session began February 14, 2022 and concluded March 15.
  • Governor Asa Hutchinson called for a special session to begin August 9, 2022 to lower the top income tax rate to 4.9% following a large state surplus.[3] Bipartisan calls to use part of the surplus to raise teacher were ultimately ignored.[4]

Major events

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Corruption and scandals

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  • Senators Mark Johnson (R-15th) and Alan Clark (R-13th) were punished for violating Senate Ethics rules on July 21, 2022. Johnson signed a sign-in sheet for Clark during a meeting he did not attend, and subsequently requesting reimbursement.[5]
  • Senator Alan Clark (R-13th) was suspended in a vote of the Senate for making "spurious, frivolous and retaliatory charges of ethics violations" against Senator Stephanie Flowers (D-25th).[5]

Vacancies and party changes

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Major legislation

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The legislature was prolific during the regular session, considering 684 Senate bills and 986 House bills. A total of 1,100 bills become law.[9]

Senate

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Leadership

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Officers

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Office Officer[1] Party District
President/Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin Republican
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Jimmy Hickey, Jr Republican 11
Assistant Pro Tempore, 1st District Ron Caldwell Republican 23
Assistant Pro Tempore, 2nd District Linda Chesterfield Democrat 30
Assistant Pro Tempore, 3rd District Lance Eads Republican 7
Assistant Pro Tempore, 4th District Bill Sample Republican 14

Floor Leaders

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Office Officer[1] Party District
Majority Leader Scott Flippo Republican 17
Majority Whip Mathew Pitsch Republican 8
Minority Leader Keith Ingram Democratic 24
Minority Whip Larry Teague Democratic 10

Senators

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District Name Party Residence First elected Seat up Term-limited
1 Bart Hester Rep Cave Springs 2012 2024 2028
2 Jim Hendren Rep[Note 1] Gravette 2012 2024 2028
3 Cecile Bledsoe Rep Rogers 2008 2022 2024
4 Greg Leding Dem Fayetteville 2018 2022 2034
5 Bob Ballinger Rep Berryville 2018 2022 2034
6 Gary Stubblefield Rep Branch 2012 2022 2028
7 Lance Eads Rep Springdale 2016 2024 2032
8 Mathew Pitsch Rep Fort Smith 2018 2022 2034
9 Terry Rice Rep Waldron 2014 2022 2030
10 Larry Teague Dem Nashville 2008 2022 2024
11 Jimmy Hickey Jr. Rep Texarkana 2012 2024 2028
12 Charles Beckham Rep McNeil 2020 2024 2036
13 Alan Clark Rep Lonsdale 2012 2024 2028
14 Bill Sample Rep Hot Springs 2010 2022 2026
15 Mark Johnson Rep Little Rock 2018 2022 2034
16 Breanne Davis Rep Russellville 2018 (special) 2024 2034
17 Scott Flippo Rep Mountain Home 2014 2022 2030
18 Missy Irvin Rep Mountain View 2010 2022 2026
19 James Sturch Rep Batesville 2018 2022 2034
20 Blake Johnson Rep Corning 2014 2022 2030
21 Dan Sullivan Rep Jonesboro 2014 2024 2030
22 Dave Wallace Rep Leachville 2016 2024 2032
23 Ron Caldwell Rep Wynne 2012 2024 2028
24 Keith Ingram Dem West Memphis 2012 2022 2028
25 Stephanie Flowers Dem Pine Bluff 2010 2024 2026
26 Ben Gilmore Rep Crossett 2020 2024 2036
27 Trent Garner Rep El Dorado 2016 2024 2032
28 Jonathan Dismang Rep Beebe 2010 2024 2026
29 Ricky Hill Rep Cabot 2018 (special) 2024 2034
30 Linda Chesterfield Dem Little Rock 2010 2022 2026
31 Joyce Elliott Dem Little Rock 2008 2022 2024
32 Clarke Tucker Dem Little Rock 2014 2024 2032
33 Kim Hammer Rep Benton 2018 2022 2034
34 Jane English Rep North Little Rock 2012 2024 2028
35 Jason Rapert Rep Conway 2010 2022 2026
  1. ^ Declared as an independent on February 18, 2021.[6]

House of Representatives

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Leadership

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Officers

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Office Officer[1] Party District
Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives Matthew Shepherd Republican 6
Speaker Pro Tempore Jon Eubanks Republican 74
Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 1st District Michelle Gray Republican 62
Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 2nd District Marcus Richmond Republican 21
Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 3rd District Fred Allen Democratic 30
Assistant Speaker pro tempore, 4th District Frances Cavanaugh Republican 60

Floor Leaders

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Office Officer[1] Party District
Majority Leader Austin McCollum Republican 95
Majority Whip John Payton Republican 64
Minority Leader Tippi McCullough Democratic 33
Minority Whip Denise Garner Democratic 84

Representatives

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District Name 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 Howard Beaty Rep 2020 2036
10 Mike Holcomb Rep 2012 2028
11 Mark McElroy Rep 2012 2030
12 David Tollett Rep 2020 2036
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 Richard McGrew Rep 2020 (special) 2036
23 Lanny Fite Rep 2014 2030
24 Bruce Cozart Rep 2011† 2028
25 Les Warren Rep 2016 2032
26 Rick McClure Rep 2020 2036
27 Julie Mayberry Rep 2016 2032
28 Tony Furman Rep 2020 2036
29 Fredrick Love Dem 2010 2026
30 Fred Allen Dem 2016 2032
31 Keith Brooks Rep 2020 2036
32 Ashley Hudson Dem 2020 2036
33 Tippi McCullough Dem 2018 2034
34 Joy Springer Dem 2020 (special) 2036
35 Andrew Collins Dem 2018 2034
36 Denise Ennett Dem 2019 (special) 2034
37 Jamie Aleshia Scott Dem 2018 2028
38 Carlton Wing Rep 2016 2032
39 Mark Lowery Rep 2012 2028
40 David Ray Rep 2020 2036
41 Karilyn Brown Rep 2014 2030
42 Mark Perry Dem 2018 2034
43 Brian S. 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 Jon Milligan Rep 2020 2036
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 Mark H. Berry Rep 2020 2036
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 Kendon Underwood Rep 2020 2036
91 Delia Haak Rep 2020 2036
92 Gayla Hendren McKenzie Rep 2018 2034
93 Jim Dotson Rep 2012 2028
94 John P. Carr Rep 2014 2030
95 Austin McCollum Rep 2016 2032
96 Joshua P. Bryant Rep 2020 2036
97 Harlan Breaux Rep 2018 2034
98 Ron McNair Rep 2014 2030
99 Jack Fortner Rep 2016 2032
100 Nelda Speaks Rep 2014 2030

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Herzog, Rachel; Moritz, John; Wickline, Michael R. (January 12, 2021). "Arkansas lawmakers gather, take first actions of session". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock, Arkansas: WEHCO Media. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  2. ^ Counts, Chris (February 16, 2021) [February 15, 2021]. "Arkansas General Assembly calls recess until Monday, February 22 because of winter storm". Little Rock: Nexstar Media Group via KARK. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  3. ^ Epperson, Andrew (August 10, 2022). "Arkansas House, Senate pass income tax cut legislation in special session". Little Rock: KARK-TV. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  4. ^ Boyd, Samantha (December 6, 2022). "Lawmakers to take action on teacher pay in upcoming session". Little Rock: KNWA-TV. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Wickline, Michael R. (September 28, 2022). "Arkansas Senate suspends Clark, strips him of seniority for filing frivolous ethics complaint". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock: WEHCO Media. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Roberts, Adam (February 18, 2021). "Arkansas State Sen. Jim Hendren leaves Republican Party". 40/29. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  7. ^ Brantley, Max (February 23, 2021). "More national exposure for Jim Hendren's departure from the Republican Party". Arkansas Times. Little Rock. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  8. ^ Thompson, Doug (October 29, 2021). "State Sen. Lance Eads of Springdale resigns, accepts lobbying job". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock: WEHCO Media. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Cushman, Paige (May 26, 2021). "Arkansas lawmakers reflect on controversial 2021 legislative session". Little Rock: ABC7. Retrieved January 2, 2023.