House Management committee approves three resolutions, urges Congress to extend 2017 tax cuts

Representative David Ray, House District 69, asked the committee to send a message to Congress asking it to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, saying the law’s key provisions are scheduled to expire and would raise taxes for Arkansas families if not extended.

The committee approved three resolutions by voice vote. The first—introduced by Representative David Ray—urges Congress to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Representative Ray told the committee the 2017 law “benefited hundreds of thousands of Arkansas workers and businesses” by lowering rates, doubling the standard deduction and the child tax credit, and that many provisions “are set to expire at the end of 2025.” He said estimates he had seen put the cost to the average family at about $1,500 if the provisions lapse.

The second resolution presented the committee with the confirmation of Kevin White as legislative auditor. Representative Bridal Evans, District 68, described the measure as procedural: the Senate had already unanimously confirmed White, the joint audit committee supported his hiring, and White had already assumed the duties of legislative auditor.

The third resolution, presented by Representative Dwight Tash, District 38, honored the St. Bernard medical team in Jonesboro as the first medical facility in the state to open a maternal life 360 home. Tash asked the committee to recognize St. Bernard’s work in maternal care; no debate followed.

All three resolutions were put to voice vote and passed. Committee members provided no recorded roll-call tallies during the session; the record shows affirmative voice votes and no recorded opposition. The committee chair closed each item after the voice votes and declared the resolutions passed.

In closing remarks the committee chair (unnamed in the hearing record) raised nonlegislative housekeeping matters under House Management: members were asked to follow floor ethics by ensuring drinks have lids, to avoid creating trash (noting popcorn on the chamber floor), and to refrain from using pushpins or nails to hang items in offices because rails ordered by the secretary of state are expected to be available. Committee staff said they would check on the expected arrival of office supplies.