Committee approves filing-minimum bill and first-responder training, concurs on SB 582

Beyond the debate over House Bill 19-16, the State Agencies & Governmental Affairs committee took up several other measures and approved them.

Senate Bill 6 84: Senator Garner described SB 684 as a straightforward bill to “create a minimum for filing for certain offices in Arkansas,” saying the values were based on the least amount recorded by the major political parties in the last election cycle. After brief discussion about party control of candidate designations, the committee passed the bill by voice vote.

House Bill 19-38: Senator Garner introduced HB 19-38 as a measure to provide free mental-health training for fire departments and first responders; he said cities and fire departments support it. The committee voted to pass the bill by voice vote.

Senate Bill 582 concurrence: Earlier in the session the committee took up Senate Bill 582 and accepted a House amendment that deletes one section in its entirety; Senator English moved concurrence and Senator Davis seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote.

These measures were recorded as passed in committee; the transcript does not record detailed roll-call tallies for the two passed bills (SB 684 and HB 19-38), which were approved by voice vote.