Arkansas House passes broad package of bills; debates massage-licensure compact, anesthesia assistants and procurement transparency

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas House of Representatives on Feb. 26 adopted a broad package of bills and resolutions and heard extended debate on three substantive policy items: an interstate massage-therapy compact, licensure for anesthesiologist assistants and adding disaster purchases to the state procurement transparency rules.

House members opened with ceremonial resolutions and recognitions, then moved into the legislative calendar, taking recorded votes on a succession of bills that mostly passed with bipartisan support.

Why it matters: The massage-therapy compact would let licensed massage therapists from member states practice in Arkansas without obtaining a separate state license; the anesthesiologist assistant measure creates a new clinician category authorized to work under physician supervision; and the procurement change adds declarations of disaster emergency to the definition of “critical emergency,” which supporters said will increase transparency for emergency purchases.

Massage-therapy compact debate

Representative J. Nazarenko presented House Bill 12-17, the interstate massage-therapy compact, saying it “removes barriers” and provides portability for licensed therapists while including safeguards to keep “bad actors out.” The fiscal impact estimate attached to the bill was described in committee as about $15,000 initially and roughly $6,000 per year thereafter; Nazarenko said the Department of Health believed the cost would likely be lower.

Representative Wardlaw pressed Nazarenko on whether the compact creates an open-ended funding obligation for rulemaking and how oversight would work if the Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) rejected compact rules. Nazarenko said she used language from other occupational compacts that gives the committee and ALC oversight, but she did not provide a specific contingency if ALC declined particular rules. Representative Pilkington responded on the House floor that Arkansas could opt out if it disagreed with adopted compact rules, saying, “we have the option to leave.”

Representative Graham interjected, asking, “What’s the catch?” Nazarenko replied there was none and urged a favorable vote.

The House approved the compact by roll-call vote: 86 yeas, 0 nays, 3 present.

Anesthesiologist assistants and supervision limits

Representative…