Week 8: Part 2 Legislative Scorecard

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Conduit for Action Legislative Session Weekly Scorecard:

Week 8: Part 2 – March 6 – March 10, 2017

Note: There was a flurry of bill filings in the state legislature this past week as the filing deadline for bills is Monday, March 6. The Conduit for Action Legislative scorecard will be split into parts this week to make sure all relevant bills are covered in depth, while also delivered in an easy to read format.

Elections

SB723/HB2162: SUPPORT

Scaling back Special Interest Special Elections

Sponsor: Sen. David Wallace (R-S22) / Rep. Justin Gonzales (R-H19)

Currently, there are various special elections taking place all over the state at all different times of the year. This leads to less voter turnout for votes on very specific issues such as tax increases or controversial issues. This has allowed tax increases to pass with just a small minority of people who actually cast a vote on the issue. This bill would scale back when special elections can take place to assure a more informed public and to have higher voter turnout on such important issues. Under this bill, most special elections would occur on either the primary date or general election date in election years, OR the second Tuesday in May or second Tuesday in (effectively the same dates of a primary election or general election in even years). This would also save local governments thousands of dollars they have to expend to oversee a special election. Having these issues voted on at the same time as a general election or primary election would bring added savings to a city or county. Special elections to fill vacancies in office would not have to be held on these dates since the more immediate necessity of filling a vacancy may make that impractical. This bill would guard against special interest special elections, promote more voter participation, and save the taxpayer money.

Taxes

HB1789: SUPPORT

Repeals the corporate franchise tax and filing requirement

Sponsor: Rep. Jim Dotson (R-H93)

This bill would repeal the franchise tax (capitol stock tax) and no longer require persons to file annual franchise tax reports. Only 16 states currently have a similar franchise tax. This repeal would save taxpayers $24.5 million in the first fiscal year after implementation according to estimates from the Department of Finance and Administration. According to the Tax Foundation, “Arkansas’s tax rate is the second highest in the country trailing only Connecticut. Capital stock taxes (franchise tax) create sizable disincentives to capital formation and corporate wealth accumulation, yet they raise very little revenue. The last three fiscal years, Arkansas’s franchise tax has only raised about $26 million, or roughly 0.2% of all taxes collected in the state.” This bill to repeal the franchise tax could lead to shrinking of government and provide more economic prosperity and freedom to those taxpayers affected by the franchise tax and required to file an annual report.

 

Scorecard Year-To-Date

Bill #	Description	Score
HB1011	prohibiting PAC-to-PAC contributions	OPPOSE
HB1012	prohibiting PAC-to-Candidate contributions	OPPOSE
HB1018	Annexation procedures amended	SUPPORT
HB1034	Licensing of hearing instrument dispensers	OPPOSE
HB1035	Restricts use of SNAP benefits to the purchase of foods with sufficient nutritional value	SUPPORT
HB1126	Exempts hate offense litigation in an employer-employee relationship	SUPPORT
HB1161 & SB119	Creates new earned income tax credit	OPPOSE
HB1182	Authorizing advanced practice registered nurse recognized as primary care provider under medicaid	SUPPORT
HB1222	School Choice and Education Savings Accounts	SUPPORT
HB1227	Reduction of income tax rates if revenue from those rates is greater than 3% from the previous year	SUPPORT
HB1267	Tire tax	OPPOSE
HB1272	Microbrewery production caps increased	SUPPORT
HB1335	Allows annexed landowners to vote to get out of annexation	SUPPORT
HB1387	Prohibits seat belt violations as only cause for stopping a vehicle	SUPPORT
HB1395	Income tax credit for small businesses hiring recently returned veterans	SUPPORT
HB1405	Unemployment tax cut and incentives to seek employment	SUPPORT
HB1427	requiring electronic filing of campaign finance reports; provides searcable database for campaign contributions	SUPPORT
HB1442	Personal and family finance class requirement for public school graduation	SUPPORT
HB1462	Restricts SNAP benefits waiver requests; protects current SNAP benefits work requirement	SUPPORT
HB1465	Freezes Obamacare Medicaid Expansion (Private Option, Arkansas Works) enrollment	SUPPORT
HB1551	Protections against unneccessary regulation and misuse of occupational licensing	SUPPORT
HB1700	Appropriation for new voting machines	SUPPORT
HB1704	GIF Appropriation bill	OPPOSE
HB1717	Required registration for those selling dogs or cats; criminal penalties for regulation violations	OPPOSE
HB1726	Puts full 6.5% state sales tax on wholesale gas purchases;	OPPOSE
HB1727	issuing of bonds for funding of highway projects	OPPOSE
HB1757	Requires “off-premises” caterers to register with the state and mandates insurance coverage requirements	OPPOSE
HB1789	Repeals the corporate franchise tax and filing requirement	SUPPORT
HJR1019 / SJR13	Loser pays tort reform; capts on punitive damage; alternative to SJR8	SUPPORT
SB101	prohibits game warden from entering private property without a warrant	SUPPORT
SB102	Limits the max fine for not wearing a seatbelt to $25	SUPPORT
SB112	Income tax deduction for homeschool expenses, private school tuition	SUPPORT
SB115	Reduces income tax rates on lowest tax bracket; creates Tax Reform Task Force	SUPPORT IF AMENDED
SB120 & HB1162	retired military income tax exemption; new tax on digital products; tax cut for soda syrup; tax increase on candy/soda;	SUPPORT IF AMENDED
SB140	New Internet Sales Tax	OPPOSE
SB175	Disclosure of benefits received by government officials from medicaid providers	SUPPORT
SB24	Decreases number of juvenile criminal detentiuon facility review committees	SUPPORT
SB331	$50 million to Governor’s quick action closing fund ($30 million increase for corporate welfare)	OPPOSE
SB355	Ends Obamacare Medicaid Expansion (Private Option / Arkansas Works) on Dec. 31, 2018	SUPPORT
SB362	Repeals InvestArk; phases in sales tax exemption on purchases for manufacturing equipment repair parts	SUPPORT
SB4 & HB1010	Publishing PAC reports, exploratory committees, Independent Expenditures	SUPPORT
SB425	Takes treasurer’s investment work and puts under Board of Finance oversight	SUPPORT
SB5 & HB1009	Prohibits constitutional officers from forming more than one PAC	OPPOSE
SB504	Requires school board elections be part of the general election	SUPPORT
SB512	Requires state agencies to repeal at least one rule for each new rule they propose	SUPPORT
SB514	More flexibility on supervision of apprentice plumbers	SUPPORT
SB524	Increases rules violation penalties; outlaws payments for HVACR work done without a license; new criminal penalties imposed on non-payment of fines.	OPPOSE
SB723/HB2162	Scaling back Special Interest Special Elections	SUPPORT
SB86	Adds continuing education program for HVACR licensees	OPPOSE
SJR10	Fair Ballot Titles; 3/4th majority vote for legislative proposed constitutional amendments	SUPPORT
SJR4	A constitutional amendment to move from elected supreme court justices to appointment process	OPPOSE
SJR8	Tort reform; giving General Assembly power over certain court matters; caps contingency fee agreements	OPPOSE

 

Week One Scorecard

Week Two Scorecard

Week Three Scorecard

Week Four Scorecard

Week Five Scorecard

Week Six Scorecard

Week Seven Scorecard

Week Eight: Part 1 Scorecard

Purpose:

Conduit for Action, Inc. (CFA) promotes the reduction in the size and scope of Arkansas state government with the belief such reduction would proportionately increase individual freedom and liberties and economic prosperity for all Arkansans.  During the Arkansas 91^st General Assembly regular legislative session, CFA will issue weekly analysis of relevant bills filed by the legislature.  CFA will take a position on those bills and either support or oppose them using the CFA Economic Freedom Filter. This filter looks at whether a piece of legislation promotes more freedom or less freedom by considering: (1) If it grows or shrinks government, (2) Increases/Decreases dependency on government, and/or (3) Spends money the state does not have.

CFA will be highlighting the bills (by topic) recently filed and which may be considered for either a committee or full chamber vote. CFA will additionally be tracking and scoring those bills mentioned. These scores will assist in rankings for the annual Calvin Coolidge Heroes of Freedom awards, highlighting those state legislators promoting legislation which promotes reducing the scope and size of government.

 

*This scorecard, its contents, and positions on legislation is policy only and does not indicate any personal support for or against a specific legislator-sponsor.