[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6594734,"mediaKeyId","3091484-b9ebbc6799e179a83b81c628d8225bd2","parentId",3091484,"title","Senate committee adopts amendment, advances bill to prohibit DEI offices and policies in cities and counties","audioSeconds",299,"startMs",19285,"endMs",319155,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091484-b9ebbc6799e179a83b81c628d8225bd2&start=19&end=319","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091484-b9ebbc6799e179a83b81c628d8225bd2/thumbnail_19285.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6594734/Arkansas/Senate-committee-adopts-amendment-advances-bill-to-prohibit-DEI-offices-and-policies-in-cities-and-counties","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594734-6dc979afe9c6a0b7036134a6eb31a305/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442874&Signature=C6lTe~foN9NvtCOgZVG0ijQ8gnitpaXJh-9y2d8f0bIU6-VjiWuDVCLpDDYonXtob3YZ9sKOnrV5yeTB0hvHB62BX7xc4gBAppA44oTQWu935m62REYMc4NVDECGMzQE0WikkzoySDLIxvlXYZM4eLIIr8LrmUA8GHlKZJOoBB3JNPyUOIh4fXTkJYgm9sFVfz7cUHXdQ7CIqLIdsui6PbieFEkkl-iT8sNr97bH-vipjY5~idyLfawhabvDRDZX-Cez3e-7RR7HLxYVRV8t6kz25koN~aWouWO10VKn4HeICd979jdvqg2KERmpoU0BzS-RXUQVGC1akXubjTKstQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE","date","2025-04-08T10:00:00Z","article","Sen. Dan Sullivan, R–District 20, told the Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee on May 20 that he had filed an amendment to a bill that would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices, officers, policies and practices in county and city governments and said the amendment clarifies that funding streams would not be affected and provides a cure period for alleged violations.

The committee adopted Sullivan’s amendment and then advanced the measure. Sullivan described the bill as “pretty much the same” as a higher-education bill the committee previously considered and said it “follows in line with Act 116.” He told colleagues he had worked with the governor’s office, municipalities and the Municipal League and said he knew of no organized opposition.

Arissa Bennett, who identified herself as representing the city of North Little Rock, testified in opposition during the public-comment portion. “We really do not agree with this. We’re totally against it as far as our DEI policy,” Bennett said. She told the committee she believed the bill would chill speech and programming, that it could expose local governments to attorney-fee liabilities and that partnerships with organizations that have DEI programs could be curtailed by the measure.

Sullivan told the committee the bill includes a 30-day cure period for reported violations, saying: “If people are doing things that are wrong, you report it, and the city and county governments have 30 days to cure it.” He asked for a favorable vote.

After brief committee discussion and no further public testimony, members moved the bill forward. The transcript records vocal aye/negative calls but does not provide a roll-call tally in the record supplied.

The bill as presented would: prohibit DEI offices/officers and DEI policies or practices in cities and counties; incorporate the adopted amendment clarifying that funding should not be affected by the prohibition; and provide a 30‑day cure period for reported violations. Testimony in the hearing raised First Amendment and enforcement concerns from a municipal official; the committee did not record additional legal analysis in the hearing record about how the prohibition would interact with existing federal or state nondiscrimination or constitutional law.

The committee advanced the bill to the next step of the legislative process.

Looking ahead, proponents and opponents indicated the debate will likely continue as the measure moves through subsequent chambers; the committee hearing record provided no further implementation details or enforcement case examples.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE - Apr 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Sen. Dan Sullivan, R–District 20, told the Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee on May 20 that he had filed an amendment to a bill that would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices, officers, policies and practices in county and city governments and said the amendment clarifies that funding streams would not be affected and provides a cure period for alleged violations.","taxTitle","CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas","taxId",25429,"location","Arkansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6594724,"Committee roundup: bills on service attempts, city classification, passports, marriage records, wholesalers and fire‑dues advance",866,1702325,2569045,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091484-b9ebbc6799e179a83b81c628d8225bd2&start=1702&end=2569","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091484-b9ebbc6799e179a83b81c628d8225bd2/thumbnail_1702325.jpg","/articles/6594724/Arkansas/Committee-roundup-bills-on-service-attempts-city-classification-passports-marriage-records-wholesalers-and-firedues-advance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594724-56d38bba805c6ec205e2f450bb90086e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442874&Signature=hMlSHgD6kv3kLfuArZEFwmMEel8LkbpNndSvn7rL1WFHDUnMTxOtNAB-reST-yweeq4cCvWX3IUmAJk-ohESNg2NSPUuwTCkclCtNH8ZKmYqYNnEgDKKsI-K7CVif3R-G41N07NlOJe5JUsmQp7VYNkODLQkwD87xJTIj47Wr9AF~CWllIY830PylSQyYROCxp8hI22uMWIYR1-tKHLgzDGmfzJHJ0LIVtiHCeKpUoRixVcfjfOIER~H4dvpoqDLknS2Qbts2wM9Cfn2OBlqKyzg1anaAE1dCEj24zi7Ljrj-kA2QGW0FM-~hc~~3S~UWKTE6Edqa5zuWRBnHE1tdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee on May 20 advanced several bills with short presentations and generally unrecorded voice votes. Below are the items discussed, the committee action recorded in the hearing transcript, and key details raised during committee questions or public testimony.

Votes at a glance (committee action recorded in hearing transcript)

- HB 1872 — Payment for attempts to serve legal process (sheriffs): Sponsor said the bill (presented by Sen. Gilmore on behalf of a sheriff’s association) does not raise fees but allows sheriffs to be paid for every documented attempt to serve papers. The director of the Arkansas Sheriffs Association, Scott Bradley, testified in support and explained the provision is intended to let sheriffs recoup costs of multiple attempts. Committee members asked about documentation standards for “attempts.” Sponsor and Bradley said attempts must be documented in a manner that can withstand court review. Committee passed the bill. (Motion passed; roll‑call tally not specified in transcript.)

- HB 1783 — City classification opt‑in threshold: Rep. Nicole Clowney said the bill raises the population threshold for cities eligible to opt into being a city of the second class from 5,000 to 7,500 (the first‑class threshold remains at 2,500). She said most cities remain first class but the change gives small cities more time before incurring first‑class obligations, such as a required city attorney. Committee passed the bill. (Motion passed; roll‑call tally not specified.)

- SB 1901 — Passport‑accepting facilities keep collected fees: Sponsor (Association of Arkansas Counties) said the bill does not raise passport fees set by federal rule but would allow county offices that act as passport‑accepting facilities to retain the fees they collect to defray their operating costs. Committee passed the bill. (Motion passed; roll‑call tally not specified.)

- SB 1902 — Replacement marriage license process: Sponsor explained the bill creates a $10 process to replace a lost or destroyed marriage license and removes the current requirement to post a $100 bond and to have the solemnizing official appear in some cases; sponsors said the change provides a workable process when an officiant cannot be located. Committee passed the bill. (Motion passed; roll‑call tally not specified.)

- HB 1730 — Restore issuance of wholesaler permits (repeal 2013 prohibition): Attorneys and sponsors told the committee the bill would allow Alcoholic Beverage Control to begin issuing new wholesaler permits again, starting with small wholesalers and providing a runway for larger wholesalers on a later date. Sponsors said the change responds to industry consolidation and limited market access for new products. Committee passed the bill. (Motion passed; roll‑call tally not specified.)

- HB 1416 — Allow certain city fire departments to use county property‑tax collection for fire dues: Rep. Lee Johnson said the bill extends an existing process (used by county volunteer fire departments) to small city volunteer fire departments whose fire districts extend outside city limits into the county; it does not change fee limits or the signature and quorum‑court process already required. Committee passed the bill. (Motion passed; roll‑call tally not specified.)

Notes from committee questioning and testimony

- Documentation and enforcement: On the sheriff‑service attempts bill, committee members asked how attempts would be documented and how recipients or private servers could challenge claims of attempts. Sponsors and the sheriff’s association said documentation would need to be robust enough to stand up in court.

- Small business and rural impacts: On alcohol‑related bills, testimony highlighted concerns about rural vineyards, grape growers, and package‑store owners and asked that existing small‑farm winery protections remain effective for in‑state producers.

- Fee neutral or revenue‑retention claims: Sponsors repeatedly told the committee they were not seeking fee increases on several bills; for passport acceptance, sponsors said federal fees remain unchanged and would simply be retained by the collecting county office to cover operating costs.

Committee action summary: All items above were presented, discussed briefly, and advanced by the committee in voice votes according to the hearing transcript. The transcript supplied does not include roll‑call tallies for the motions recorded.","The Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee on May 20 advanced several bills with short presentations and generally unrecorded voice votes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6594729,"Committee advances compromise to allow limited out‑of‑state direct wine shipments; Arkansas producers urge protections",471,821890,1293779,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091484-b9ebbc6799e179a83b81c628d8225bd2&start=821&end=1293","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091484-b9ebbc6799e179a83b81c628d8225bd2/thumbnail_821890.jpg","/articles/6594729/Arkansas/Committee-advances-compromise-to-allow-limited-outofstate-direct-wine-shipments-Arkansas-producers-urge-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6594729-6611dfe2b29a10d307d6dc04ad42b542/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442874&Signature=CFADM-OfVyTDvVYl4MMtL8gVBmU95WBBw~LlsvxEf0EYPWWJwouZNoAuRmRpGLWmiIc-Lj56RNYLwgxNcvRmuMsrYJg9XOkMbRxlaT0x7JAaBplTCWrlxz1rXRYpoZH2Ae5gkShFrShoHSUa3DgrEPfV6biuJrzOx7S8~hmcHcXIUUzf18Pip82z3C7efIbsPH8GwLCe9kp7mB-Ni43KebAaazFgPTGvjcq~QTq99TLIgdYGV8oqvoohUMsyEddijWV3I3nxsgrSlweEbE-D-xbgw4WjRLXQ7QRBJnnJ6l24uAVEVssLaPEp6WgzkhDIVpNPUzjh-A6ifM~iB3~lmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Bart Hester, R–District 33, and Rep. Brett McKenzie described a bipartisan compromise that would create a direct‑shipper license and allow limited shipments of out‑of‑state wines into Arkansas ‘‘wet’’ territories. Sponsors said the measure replaces an older license structure with a new direct‑shipper permit while preserving access and protections for in‑state producers.

Hester said the proposal is narrowly targeted: it would allow limited shipments (he described “one case of wine per quarter” per recipient) and is intended to serve small, niche wineries rather than mass‑market brands. He said the change was negotiated with industry stakeholders and the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agency to ensure a “soft landing” for local commerce.

Dennis Whitaker, representing Whitaker Wine Cellars and speaking for the Arkansas Wine Producers Council, testified in opposition. Whitaker said the state’s small wineries, grape growers and brick‑and‑mortar liquor stores rely on existing permit structures and raised concerns the bill could expose small in‑state producers and retail licensees to competition from larger out‑of‑state suppliers. Whitaker asked that the existing small‑farm winery permit remain available to Arkansas producers.

Sponsors responded that the bill includes brand‑registration requirements and would keep current in‑state shipping privileges intact; they also said the direct‑shipper license would carry an initial $50 fee and a $25 annual renewal, and that the Small Farm Winery application process and fees would remain effectively unchanged for Arkansas producers who qualify. Hester said the intent is to limit large manufacturers and keep mass‑market wines from being distributed under the new direct‑shipper process.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about how the new licensing differs from the old small‑farm permit, fee levels, and whether larger producers could use the new license; sponsors said the license title changes but that in‑state small producers’ access and the fee structure would remain as before. Dennis Whitaker urged an amendment to preserve the small‑farm permit as‑is, citing the industry’s history and local economic concerns.

After discussion, the committee passed the bill. The hearing record shows a vote in favor but does not include a numeric roll‑call tally in the supplied transcript.

The measure now moves to the next stage of the legislative process; sponsors and opponents said they expect further negotiation on brand‑registration details and on preserving protections for in‑state producers.","A bill to create a direct‑shipper license and allow limited out‑of‑state wine shipments to Arkansas 'wet' areas advanced after sponsors and industry representatives described fee and brand‑registration protections. In‑state producers urged modifications to prevent harm to local retailers and grape growers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee adopts amendment, advances bill to prohibit DEI offices and policies in cities and counties

Committee roundup: bills on service attempts, city classification, passports, marriage records, wholesalers and fire‑dues advance

Committee advances compromise to allow limited out‑of‑state direct wine shipments; Arkansas producers urge protections