House committee batches six interim study proposals on scooters, maternal screening, reimbursements, pink tax and paid family‑leave credit

Representative Pilkington presented several interim study proposals to the joint Insurance & Commerce committee on June 21 and the panel adopted a grouped package by voice vote.

Pilkington said the first ISP he proposed would lower the required insurance minimum for electric scooters from $1,000,000 to $250,000 (per occurrence and aggregate) to reduce barriers for smaller operators seeking to enter smaller communities. He said he would hold a separate ISP on noncompete restrictions and not take that up immediately.

Other ISPs Pilkington described and the committee advanced for study included two related proposals to require depression screening for birthing mothers—one aimed at Medicaid and one at private insurers—which he said were prompted by a UAMS study that projects potential cost savings and reduced maternal mortality; an ISP to raise reimbursement for live births to the same rate as Cesarean deliveries to avoid a reimbursement incentive toward more C‑sections; a proposal to exempt feminine‑hygiene products from sales tax (the so‑called "pink tax"); and a proposed Arkansas income‑tax credit to incentivize private employers to offer paid family leave by offsetting employee wage expense during leave.

The chair asked to batch ISPs 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, and Representative Pilkington moved to adopt the grouped ISPs; Representative Brown seconded. The committee approved the batch by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The committee also adopted ISP 1, a referral from ALC to study health insurance coverage reform and the state's strategic plan for health insurance coverage, on a subsequent voice vote (motion by Representative Ferguson, second by Representative Allen).

Pilkington described these items as interim studies to inform next‑session policymaking; no immediate statutory or budget changes were approved. Lawmakers did not receive BLR scoring for some proposals during the meeting; Pilkington said he had asked for BLR information that was still pending. The committee adjourned following the votes.

What happens next: adopted ISPs move into interim study tracks; staff and sponsors may seek actuarial analyses, BLR cost estimates and stakeholder input before drafting bills for the next legislative session.