Committee clears several bills including nonconsensual image expansion, judgment renewal and manufactured‑home writ change

The Senate Judiciary Committee took a series of largely uncontested actions and passed several bills by voice vote during the session.

Senate Bill 644 — manufactured homes and writs of possession

Senator Matt McKee identified the bill and JD Harper of the Harpreetown Manufactured Housing Association explained the amendment’s practical intent. The bill clarifies how a writ of possession applies to manufactured homes by allowing a manufactured home that is subject to a writ of possession to remain on the property for 30 days so the owner may arrange removal rather than require immediate removal and storage in a public warehouse. Harper summarized the issue: moving a manufactured home “add[s] thousands of dollars of cost” because of disconnected utilities, skirting, anchoring and the lack of public warehouse space for homes.

Committee action: Senator McKee moved for a due‑pass recommendation; Senator Gilmore seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote and announced “motion carried.”

House Bill 19‑67 — nonconsensual intimate images (Representative Carolyn Brown)

Representative Carolyn Brown, District 67, presented an amendment to Arkansas Code 5‑26‑314 (as cited by the sponsor) that expands the criminal scope for distributing intimate images without consent. Brown said the current statute requires the offender be a current or former dating partner; the amendment removes that relationship requirement and broadens the definition of intent to include distribution “with the purpose to cause physical, mental, economic, or reputational harm or in exchange for something of value,” elevating those cases to felony charges while retaining misdemeanor penalties where intent to harm is not present.

Committee action: Representative Brown asked for a due pass and moved for immediate consideration; the committee took a voice vote on immediate consideration and then voted to pass the bill. The committee recorded the motion as carried and congratulated Representative Brown on passage.

House Bill 19‑59 — judgment renewal modernization (Representative Matt Brown)

Representative Matt Brown, District 55, described HB 19‑59 as a civil‑procedure modernization intended to simplify the 10‑year judgment renewal process (removing the longer scire facias procedure) by allowing the filing of a notice with service on the defendant and permitting the defendant to object. Brown said other states have moved to this simpler approach.

Committee action: The committee heard no opposition and voted to give the bill a due pass by voice vote.

House Bill 19‑84 — driver’s‑license mark for level‑3/4 sex offenders (Senator Brianne Davis)

Senator Brianne Davis presented HB 19‑84, which would allow a designation or symbol on a driver’s license to indicate level‑3 or level‑4 registered sexual offenders to help law‑enforcement identification. Committee members asked whether law‑enforcement systems already flag registrations when an officer runs a plate; testimony from Robert Combs (who identified himself as a registered level‑3 offender) said agencies already receive that information automatically, and he said a visible marker on a license would be humiliating and counterproductive.

Committee action: After public testimony the committee moved to pass the bill by voice vote.

Other quick actions

The committee also took up House Bill 19‑75 and other short agenda items; those received motions to pass and were carried by voice vote with minimal discussion.

Votes at a glance (committee record)

- SB 644 — motion for due pass (mover: Senator McKee; second: Senator Gilmore); outcome: passed by voice vote. - HB 19‑67 — immediate consideration then motion to pass (sponsor: Representative Carolyn Brown); outcome: passed by voice vote. - HB 19‑59 — motion to pass (sponsor: Representative Matt Brown); outcome: passed by voice vote. - HB 19‑84 — motion to pass (sponsor: Senator Brianne Davis); outcome: passed by voice vote. - HB 19‑75 — motion to pass (mover recorded in committee discussion); outcome: passed by voice vote.

Ending

Committee leaders took the motions by voice vote and announced each motion carried. Most of these bills moved with little debate and will proceed to the Senate calendar for further consideration.