Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee adopts rules, hears industry introductions

The Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee adopted its committee rules by voice vote and heard introductions from industry and state agency representatives at an organizational meeting called to order by the committee chair.

The chair opened the session and asked Senator Stone, the committee vice chair, for remarks and then noted the committee typically operates as an open forum. The chair said, "It does take 5 members to, to have a quorum and to pass a bill," and asked for a motion to adopt the proposed rules. A motion to adopt the rules was made and seconded; the committee responded "aye" and the motion carried by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

The meeting functioned mainly as an introductions and resource briefing. New members mentioned by the chair included Senator Hickey and Senator Scott; Senator Crowell was welcomed as a returning member. The chair referenced that in a prior session Senator Lading had carried legislation on artificial insemination as an example of issues that come before the committee.

Several industry representatives and state staff introduced themselves and offered to be points of contact for members during the session. Participants who spoke and identified their affiliations included Rodney Becker of Capital Concepts, Mark Lambert, director of state affairs for the Arkansas Farm Bureau, Randy Herman of Government Solutions, Rachel Smith, policy advisor to Governor Sanders covering agriculture, energy, environment and transportation, Marvin Childers, president of the poultry federation, Andy Miller of Flywheel Energy, Ken Boleness of Ken Boleness Associates, Jake Quinley, director of legislative affairs for the Arkansas Department of Commerce, Steve Good of Natural Site Consulting and Strategy, Max Braswell of the Arkansas Forestry Association, Jackson Braswell, public affairs manager for Weyerhaeuser, Jeff Weaver, director of government affairs for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Bill Pasco of Pasco Strategic representing the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association, Lance Eads of a capital consulting firm, Michelle Lufkin Horton, executive vice president of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association, Paul Thompson (private landowner), and Robert Morey of Broadview Strategies. Several speakers noted their organizations’ roles statewide and offered staff or technical support to committee members during the legislative session.

During introductions Jackson Braswell said Weyerhaeuser operates about 1,200,000 acres of timberland in Arkansas, employs more than 700 people in the state and expects to add a couple hundred more employees in 2025 as a timber strand operation opens in Monticello. Jake Quinley and other Department of Commerce representatives described the department as a resource for members considering development incentives and market information.

The chair closed the session after asking for any additional questions or comments and the committee was adjourned.

The meeting record does not include any committee hearings on bills, amendments or policy votes beyond the adoption of committee rules; no formal committee referrals or bill actions were recorded in the provided transcript.