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House Revenue & Taxation committee sets rule: no votes on revenue-impacting bills until fiscal picture is clear
Summary
At its organizational meeting, the House Revenue & Taxation Committee heard member and staff introductions and the chair said the panel will not vote on bills that affect general revenue or contain special language until the committee knows the fiscal impact; technical bills with no fiscal effect may be voted on.
The House Revenue & Taxation Committee met for an organizational session in which members introduced themselves, department staff introduced their teams and the chair announced a standing rule that the panel will not vote on bills that affect general revenue or include special language until the committee has a clear fiscal picture.
The chair said the committee will allow debate and presentations on bills but ‘‘if the bill has no physical impact, either the general revenue or special language, then we can go ahead and take a vote on that. If it is a bill that affects a general revenue or a special language, we are not gonna take any votes on that.’’
The announcement came after Vice Chair David Ray, House District 69, told members he was ‘‘excited’’ to continue work on tax policy. Ray said the committee has made ‘‘substantive significant progress for the people of this state’’ on tax policy in recent years and wants to use the interim strategically to prepare for future sessions.
Committee members then gave brief introductions. Members who identified themselves included Representative Lane Jean (District 99); Representative Jim Moyden (fourth term); Representative Ron McNair (District 5); Representative Rick McClure (District 29); Representative John Maddox (District 86); Representative Les Warren (District 84); Representative Les Eaves (sixth term on the committee); Representative Richard McGrew (District 85); Representative John Carr; Representative Johnny Ryan (District 36); Representative Rebecca Burks (District 11); and freshman Representative James Eaton (District 26). Several members described past service on Revenue & Taxation and said they looked forward to working together.
Jim Hudson, secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), introduced DFA staff who will support the committee. Hudson identified Paul Gehring as DFA’s chief legal counsel and a key resource on Arkansas income and sales tax law, and named other DFA staff: Alicia Austin Smith, Charlie Collins (revenue division), Autumn Hemphill (sales and use tax), Judy Bowers (income tax), Eileen Henderson (audit), Joel Depipa (attorney), and Robert Brett (budget math). The chair said DFA will prepare fiscal impact statements and assist members as bill language is filed.
Selby McCollough, the governor’s budget director, also introduced herself and said she manages the governor’s tax portfolio; she noted the administration’s record of income tax cuts since taking office.
The chair outlined the committee’s process for the session: members may present bills and debate them so the committee ‘‘knows what we’re working with,’’ but no votes will be taken on measures that have general revenue or special-language impacts until the fiscal position is known. The chair added that bills the sponsor does not wish to move forward should be placed on deferred status and that hearings will begin on Thursday for bills with a physical impact.
There were no formal motions or votes recorded during the organizational meeting. The chair closed the meeting with thanks to the members and staff and adjourned.
