Arkansas House committee urges HUD and federal homelessness council to act; five resolutions pass by voice vote

At a meeting of an Arkansas House committee, members passed a resolution urging the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to take action on homelessness, and approved five additional ceremonial or memorial resolutions by voice vote.

The primary policy item, House Resolution 11‑09, was presented by Representative Joey Carr, District 34, on behalf of Representative Beatty. Carr said the resolution "is to urge the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to take action." The committee took no recorded roll-call vote; the chair called for the motion, a member moved to pass, and the motion carried on a voice vote.

The resolution does not specify particular actions for HUD or the interagency council; the text presented to the committee asks the federal agencies to "take action" on homelessness but does not list required steps, funding levels, or a timeline. No amendments or conditions were recorded during the committee discussion, and no outside witnesses or public commenters addressed this item during the meeting.

The committee also considered and approved a series of ceremonial and memorial measures with little or no discussion. Those items, each approved on a motion to pass and voice vote, included:

- House Resolution 11‑12: Recognizing the Westside Greers Ferry High School Lady Eagles as Class 1A state champions (presented by Representative Joey Carr on behalf of Representative Brown). The resolution cites the team as state champions for the 02/2025 season; no further funding or action was attached.

- House Resolution 11‑11: A recognition introduced by Representative Johnny Ryle, District 36, described in the presentation as honoring "Big O," a recent University of Arkansas basketball figure who died earlier this year. The committee recorded no substantive debate or public comment on the measure.

- House Memorial Resolution 10‑11: A separate memorial presented by Representative Johnny Ryle honoring Oliver Miller (referred to in the meeting as "Big Oliver Miller") of the University of Arkansas.

- House Memorial Resolution 10‑12: Remembering Hedy Lou Brooks, presented by Representative Joy Carr on behalf of Representative Bentley.

- An earlier resolution presented by Representative Johnny Ryle honoring a World War II medal of honor recipient identified in the meeting as "Jimmy Hendricks," described in the presentation as a Medal of Honor recipient awarded by President Truman in 1945. The committee recorded no questions, public comment, or roll-call vote beyond the voice approval.

All motions noted in the transcript were moved by members present (several motions were made by Representative Carr); where recorded, Representative Barker moved one of the pass motions. The committee chair handled roll calls by voice vote; no individual yea-or-nay tallies or recorded roll-call votes appear in the transcript.

The meeting concluded with the chair saying "seeing no other business, we are adjourned." There was no recorded follow-up direction for staff or a schedule for further action on the HUD/interagency resolution within the committee record provided.

Votes at a glance

- HR 11‑09 (urge HUD and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to take action): Passed (motion to pass carried by voice vote). Mover: Representative Joey Carr (on behalf of Representative Beatty). Vote: voice; individual votes not specified.

- HR 11‑12 (recognize Westside Greers Ferry High School Lady Eagles, Class 1A state champions): Passed (voice vote). Mover: Representative Joey Carr (on behalf of Representative Brown). Vote: voice; individual votes not specified.

- HR 11‑11 (recognition for "Big O," University of Arkansas figure): Passed (voice vote). Presenter: Representative Johnny Ryle, District 36. Vote: voice; individual votes not specified.

- HMR 10‑11 (memorial for Oliver Miller): Passed (voice vote). Presenter: Representative Johnny Ryle. Vote: voice; individual votes not specified.

- HMR 10‑12 (memorial for Hedy Lou Brooks): Passed (voice vote). Presenter: Representative Joy Carr (on behalf of Representative Bentley). Vote: voice; individual votes not specified.

- Earlier resolution honoring a World War II medal of honor recipient identified in the meeting as "Jimmy Hendricks": Passed (voice vote). Presenter: Representative Johnny Ryle. Vote: voice; individual votes not specified.

Ending

The committee did not request reports, set deadlines, or refer the HUD/interagency resolution to another committee during the meeting record supplied. There were no public commenters or outside witnesses recorded on the policy resolution item, and no recorded amendments or minority statements were placed into the committee record.