Senator Irvin warns pulling HB 1,007 amendment would close four schools; substitute motion fails

The Joint Budget Committee adopted the special language subcommittee's report on a series of bills after a substitute motion to remove a single amendment failed on a voice vote.

Senator Irvin, speaking against the substitute motion, said the HB 1,007 amendment had been fully vetted and "is necessary and critical for 4 schools in the state of Arkansas to be open and stay open August 1." He urged the committee to accept the subcommittee's recommendation and not separate item 15 for separate consideration.

Representative Kavanaugh had asked the committee to pull the item for a separate vote so the measure could be discussed independently. The chair clarified that a successful motion to pull the item would permit questions of agencies but would not reopen public testimony, consistent with special language and joint budget practice.

During debate, Irvin said the amendment was supported by Department of Education testimony and cited a March vote where "91% people went to the polls" to approve detachment, adding that separating the amendment now would hand a "death sentence to Empire School, Kingston School, Rural Special School, and Tembo School." Other members, including Senator Hickey and others who served on the subcommittee, said the amendment received extensive vetting and asked colleagues to respect the subcommittee's due-pass recommendation.

The substitute motion to adopt the report without the item was put to a voice vote and failed; the committee then adopted the special language report in full by voice vote. The committee did not take a separate final action on the pulled item during this meeting.

What happens next: because the substitute motion failed and the report was adopted, the amendment remains with the adopted subcommittee report; any future decisions or separate votes would be scheduled only if moved at a later time.