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Votes at a glance: Committee advances several bills, declines votes on two major items
Summary
The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee recorded several voice votes advancing bills including a PSC-seat provision, breast-screening cost-sharing removal, genetic testing access, investment-rating change for treasurer investments, and repeal of obsolete reports; the committee declined to vote on two other measures.
The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee held a series of brief votes and recorded outcomes on several agenda items during its meeting.
What passed (committee action): - A bill introduced by Senator Matt McKee that would give the Arkansas Public Service Commission (PSC) a formal role when utilities negotiate settlement agreements that lead to generation-asset closures was approved by the committee (motion recorded; voice vote). The bill identifier was not specified in the transcript.
- Senate Bill 123 (sponsor: Senator Greg Letting) would remove cost-sharing for a supplemental breast diagnostic examination for high-risk individuals; the committee approved the bill after the sponsor noted a Siegel fiscal estimate of $700,000 and questioned the methodology for that estimate. Motion by Senator Penzo, second by Senator Murdoch; voice vote recorded.
- Senate Bill 331 (genetic testing access), sponsors described benefits of genetic testing for early detection and treatment planning; Motion by Senator Flowers, second by Senator Penzo; the bill passed in committee.
- Senate Bill 480 (treasurer's office amendment to investment code to accept one credit rating instead of two) was presented by Michael Harry of the treasurer's office and passed on a voice vote. Motion by Senator Flowers, second by Senator Irvin.
- Senate Bill 483 (repeal of unnecessary reports) was amended to add Representative Maddox as a house sponsor and passed as amended. Motions to add sponsor and to pass as amended were approved by voice votes; motion to pass as amended by Senator Irvin, second by Senator McKee.
- House bill 1509 (bill to prohibit use of a firearm-specific merchant code and to protect local banks) was presented by Representative Beatty and Representative Ricky Hill and advanced on a voice vote (motion by Senator McKee, second by Senator Boyd).
What did not move to a vote: - Senate Bill 140 (drug/PBM bill) was presented by Senator Boyd but the sponsor declined to ask for a committee vote after a consultant returned an $18,000,000 fiscal estimate.
- Senate Bill 527 (Medicaid waiver reauthorization) was presented by Senator Irvin and discussed at length; the sponsor said he would not seek a committee vote at this meeting and asked members to review the language during the break.
Ending: Committee members and staff will provide follow-up materials on items that drew extended discussion; all passed items will be reported out to the Senate calendar for further consideration.
