Subcommittee grants Inspector General exclusion, accepts State Library report and hears updates on outstanding 2023 rules

The Rules Subcommittee voted to grant the Department of Inspector General an exclusion from a reported rulemaking requirement under what the packet labels the Research and Education Protection Act. Samantha Blassingame, chief counsel for the Inspector General, told the committee the statute "defines all the critical terms ... sets out the limited exceptions and sets out what the department should review," and that the department therefore does not believe additional implementing rules are necessary. A motion to approve the exclusion was made, seconded and carried on an "aye" vote.

The committee then heard from Courtney Solis Ford (chief of staff for the Department of Education) who presented the Arkansas State Library's group‑3 agency report recommending continuation of three existing rules; members moved to accept the report and the motion carried.

Members also received written updates on outstanding rulemaking originating from the 2023 session. Representative Vaught pressed staff on timing; Rebecca Miller Rice, counsel in the rules section, said several items were being held open to incorporate 2025 amendments and that filing is expected in coming months. The committee filed the March 1 monthly written updates and adjourned.

Why it matters: the exclusion narrows what the Inspector General will be required to promulgate under the referenced act, while the acceptance of the State Library report continues existing library rules. The updates on 2023 rules underscore that some implementation remains pending because of subsequent legislative changes.

Next steps: departments that indicated outstanding rules will file updates as they finalize amendments; no further votes on these items were taken at the meeting.