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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders calls special session to consider income tax cuts; House suspends notice rules to fast-track bills
Summary
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called an extraordinary session of the Arkansas General Assembly to consider lowering individual and corporate income tax rates. The House suspended rules that require advance notice so members can move quickly on House Bill 1001, which addresses revenue and tax changes.
The Arkansas House convened May 4, 2026, in an extraordinary session called by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to consider proposed income tax cuts and related session business. The governor's proclamation, read aloud by the reading clerk, called the 90th General Assembly into special session in Little Rock and specified consideration of income tax bracket and rate changes.
The proclamation, read on the floor by the reading clerk, states: "I, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, acting under the authority vested in me as governor of the state of Arkansas . . . do hereby call an extraordinary session of the General Assembly to convene in Little Rock on 05/04/2026 at 03:00PM" to consider amending individual income tax brackets to a top tax rate of 3.7% effective Jan. 1, 2026, and amending corporate income tax brackets to a top tax rate of 4.1% effective Jan. 1, 2027. The proclamation cites Article 6, Section 19 of the Arkansas Constitution as the legal authority for the call.
Representative John Eubanks moved on the floor to suspend House Rule 41(a) and (b), which require bills to remain on members' desks for at least 24 hours before final passage and set timing for committee agenda placement, respectively. The chair put the question and, by voice vote, announced "The ayes have it," approving the suspension of those rules for the duration of the special session. The chair subsequently put and carried a voice vote to suspend House Rule 60(a), which sets minimum lengths of time for notice of committee meetings.
The reading clerk identified "House Bill 1001" under the jurisdiction of Revenue and Tax, signaling formal introduction of a revenue and tax bill tied to the governor's call. The chair directed the chief clerk to notify the Senate and the governor that the House was in session and ready for business.
Pursuant to House Rule 33(m), Representative John Milligan moved to adjourn the House until 9:30 a.m. the following day; the motion carried by voice vote and the chair announced the House would reconvene at that time. Before adjournment, the chair recognized troopers in the gallery and other chamber staff and made internal scheduling announcements.
What happens next: With rules suspensions entered into the record, House Bill 1001 has been formally called up for consideration in the special session; no formal floor action on the bill itself was recorded in this session. The House is set to reconvene at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow to continue special-session business.
