Arkansas Senate adopts joint rules, approves Senate operating appropriation with emergency clause and adopts resolutions on taxes and forestry

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Senate on Monday moved quickly through its business agenda, adopting joint rules with the House, approving a 2025 appropriation to cover Senate operating expenses that carried an emergency clause, and passing concurrent and senate resolutions on federal tax policy and a forestry recognition day.

The Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 to adopt the joint rules of the House of Representatives in the Senate for the 90th General Assembly. The chamber then approved Senate Bill 1, an appropriation for Senate expenses for the 2025 fiscal year; senators approved the bill 33-0 on a roll call, and the emergency clause was adopted. The Senate also passed House Concurrent Resolution 1002 urging the U.S. Congress to permanently extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and adopted Senate Resolution 3 to recognize Arkansas Forestry Day at the State Capitol on Jan. 21, 2025.

Why it matters: The appropriation for Senate operations takes immediate effect because of the emergency clause; the concurrent resolution on federal tax law expresses the legislature's position to Congress and states lawmakers' belief that expiration of the cited federal provisions would raise…