W L J 2016 L S Speakers Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin Representa ve Jon Eubanks Arkansas House of Representa ves Speaker Pro-Tem Kelley Linck Arkansas Department of Human Services Chief Legisla ve and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer Roby Brock CEO Talk Business & Poli cs Dr. Jay Barth Hendrix College Poli cs and Interna onal Rela ons Hosted by Jus n T. Allen Government Rela ons Prac ce Group Leader 1 About Our Government Rela ons Prac ce Clients with legal and business issues involving government regulation need the assistance of attorneys with experience and relationships in this specialized area. Wright Lindsey Jennings’ Government Relations attorneys have substantial professional backgrounds in the public sector and the experience crafting practical government relations solutions for our clients. Both Justin T. Allen and Erika Ross Gee served as Chief Deputy Attorneys General for Attorney General Dustin McDaniel before rejoining the firm, and they have broad experience and contacts in all types of state government issues. Prior to joining the firm’s Government Relations practice group, Jay Shue served as the state’s first Medicaid Inspector General, overseeing the detection and investigation of fraud, waste and abuse in the Arkansas Medicaid system. Because our attorneys are not only government relations professionals but also experienced litigators, we are uniquely situated to represent any type of client interest involving federal, state or local government at any stage of the process. Likewise, our Government Relations attorneys are skilled in representing entities and individuals in regulatory and licensure matters before government agencies and the legislative branch. We further assist our clients by analyzing and monitoring legislation, drafting new legislation and proposed amendments, and preparing and presenting testimony on behalf of our clients before legislative committees. Our extensive contacts and solid relationships throughout state and local government benefit our clients in lobbying and direct advocacy before the Arkansas General Assembly, the Governor, the Attorney General and individual state agencies, boards and commissions. Our attorneys also advocate before municipal and county government on a variety of regulatory issues. We have the experience to analyze complex situations, recommend practical and innovative solutions and implement an effective government relations strategy. Our Team Justin T. Allen - [email protected] Erika Ross Gee - [email protected] Jay Shue - [email protected] 2 Table of Contents Elec on Results…………………………………………………………………………………..3 Cons tu onal Amendments ………………………………………………………………5 Arkansas’s 91st General Assembly………………………………………………………7 House Commi ees……………………………………………………………………………15 Senate Commi ees…………………………………………………………………………..19 Senate Biographies……………………………………………………………………………24 House of Representa ves Biographies………………………………………………34 3 2016 ELECTION RESULTS ARKANSAS’S 90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Pre-Election) House: 64 R, 36 D Senate: 24 R, 11 D (House: 80 men; 20 women; Senate: 28 men, 7 women) ARKANSAS’S FEDERAL DELEGATION (Pre-Election) House: 4 R Senate: 2 R U.S. House District 1: Rick Crawford (R) U.S. House District 2: French Hill (R) U.S. House District 3: Steve Womack (R) U.S. House District 4: Bruce Westerman (R) U.S. Senate: John Boozman (R) U.S. Senate: Tom Cotton (R) ARKANSAS’S 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Post-Election) House: 76 R, 24 D Senate: 26 R, 9 D (House: 82 men; 18 women; Senate: 28 men, 7 women) ARKANSAS’S FEDERAL DELEGATION (Post-Election) House: 4 R Senate: 2 R U.S. House District 1: Rick Crawford (R) U.S. House District 2: French Hill (R) U.S. House District 3: Steve Womack (R) U.S. House District 4: Bruce Westerman (R) U.S. Senate: John Boozman (R) U.S. Senate: Tom Cotton (R) 4 2016 PRESIDENTIAL RACE RESULTS Donald Trump (R) 60.4% 677,904 Hillary Clinton (D) 33.8% 378,729 Gary Johnson (L) 2.6% 29,518 2016 ARKANSAS SENATE RACE RESULTS John Boozman (R) 59.8% 657,856 Connor Eldridge (D) 36.2% 397,970 Frank Gilbert (L) 4.0% 43,720 5 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS Issue No. 1 – Proposing an Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution Concerning the Terms, Election and Eligibility of Elected Officials. Increases the terms for certain county officers from two years to four years. This amendment also defines the term “infamous crime” for the purpose of determining eligibility to hold office. An “infamous crime” is defensed as a felony offense; abuse of office or “tampering,” as defined under Arkansas law; or a misdemeanor offense concerning an act of deceit, fraud, or false statement. FOR 70.2% 742,110 AGAINST 29.8% 314,804 Changes go into effect January 1, 2017. Issue No. 2 – An Amendment to Allow the Governor to Retain His or Her Powers and Duties When Absent From the State. Allows the governor to retain his or her powers and duties when the governor is out of the state. Prior to the amendment, these powers were transferred to the lieutenant governor when the governor was out of the State. FOR 72.5% 776,139 AGAINST 27.5% 294,758 Effective 30 days after the election. Issue No. 3 – A Proposed State Constitutional Amendment Concerning Job Creation, Job Expansion and Economic Development. The purpose of the amendment is to encourage job creation, job expansion and economic development. Prior to the amendment, the Arkansas Constitution limited the state government’s ability to borrow money by issuing bonds. This amendment removes those limits, allowing the state to issue more bonds. It also authorizes the General Assembly or local legislative body to levy taxes to retire bonds issued by local municipalities. The amendment also increases local government’s ability to engage in business-related activities, such as acquiring land via eminent domain and selling or leasing that land to private businesses. The Arkansas Legislature may change some of the amendments definitions in the future upon a three-fourths vote of both chambers. FOR 65.4% 685,808 AGAINST 34.6% 363,533 Effective 30 days after the election. 6 Issue No. 6 – The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment. The proposed state constitutional amendment lets people of any age who have at least one of 21 medical conditions use marijuana. Qualifying conditions include pain, nausea, or serious diseases like cancer. The Arkansas Department of Health must issue a marijuana card to any person with a written statement from a doctor. Marijuana cardholders may smoke mari- juana and purchase or make marijuana-infused foods or drinks. FOR 53.2% 581,259 AGAINST 46.8% 511,977 The Medical Marijuana Commission was appointed December 7, 2016, and the members include: Dr. Ronda Henry-Tillman of Little Rock was appointed by Gov. Hutchinson. Henry- Tillman is a surgical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. James Miller of Bryant was appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang. Miller is a lobbyist for the Arkansas Railroad Association and a former aide to the senator. Dr. Carlos Roman of Little Rock was appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang. Roman is a pain doctor and chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board’s Pain Management Review Committee. Stephen Carroll of Benton was appointed by House Speaker Jeremy Gillam. Carroll is the chief operations officer for Allcare Correctional Pharmacy. Travis Story of Fayetteville was appointed by House Speaker Jeremy Gillam. Story is the lead attorney at the Story Law Firm. 7 THE 91st GENERAL ASSEMBLY Legislators are listed by district. 8 Arkansas’s 91st General Assembly STATE SENATE 9 Democrats; 26 Republicans 28 Men; 7 Women Senator Hometown Party Dist. 1 – Sen. Bart Hester Cave Springs R Dist. 2 – Sen. Jim Hendren Sulphur Springs R Dist. 3 – Sen. Cecile Bledsoe Rogers R Dist. 4 – Sen. Uvalde Lindsey Fayetteville D Dist. 5 – Sen. Bryan King Berryville R Dist. 6 – Sen. Gary Stubblefield Branch R Dist. 7 – Sen. Lance Eads Springdale R Dist. 8 – Sen. Jake Files Fort Smith R Dist. 9 – Sen. Terry Rice Greenwood R Dist. 10 – Sen. Larry Teague Nashville D Dist. 11 – Sen. Jimmy Hickey Texarkana R Dist. 12 – Sen. Bruce Maloch Magnolia D Dist. 13 – Sen. Alan Clark Hot Springs R Dist. 14 – Sen. Bill Sample Hot Springs R Dist. 15 – Sen. David Sanders Little Rock R Dist. 16 – Sen. Greg Standridge Russellville R Dist. 17 – Sen. Scott Flippo Mountain Home R 9 Senator Hometown Party Dist. 18 – Sen. Missy Irvin Mountain View R Dist. 19 – Sen. Linda Collins-Smith Batesville R Dist. 20 – Sen. Blake Johnson Corning R Dist. 21 – Sen. John R. Cooper Jonesboro R Dist. 22 – Sen. Dave Wallace Leachville R Dist. 23 – Sen. Ronald Caldwell Wynne R Dist. 24 – Sen. Keith Ingram West Memphis D Dist. 25 – Sen. Stephanie Flowers Pine Bluff D Dist. 26 – Sen. Eddie Cheatham Crossett D Dist. 27 – Sen. Trent Garner El Dorado R Dist. 28 – Sen. Jonathan Dismang Searcy R Dist. 29 – Sen. Eddie Joe Williams Cabot R Dist. 30 – Sen. Linda Chesterfield Little Rock D Dist. 31 – Sen. Joyce Elliott Little Rock D Dist. 32 – Sen. Will Bond Little Rock D Dist. 33 – Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson Little Rock R Dist. 34 – Sen. Jane English North Little Rock R Dist. 35 – Sen. Jason Rapert Conway R 10 STATE HOUSE 25 Democrats; 75 Republicans 82 Men; 18 Women Representative Hometown Party Dist. 1 – Rep. Carol Dalby Texarkana R Dist. 2 – Rep. Lane Jean Magnolia R Dist. 3 – Rep. Danny Watson Hope R Dist. 4 – Rep. DeAnn Vaught Horatio R Dist. 5 – Rep. David Fielding Magnolia D Dist. 6 – Rep. Matthew J. Shepherd El Dorado R Dist. 7 – Rep. Sonia Eubanks Barker Smackover R Dist. 8 – Jeff Wardlaw Hermitage R Dist. 9 - Rep. LeAnne Burch Monticello D Dist. 10 – Rep. Mike Holcomb Pine Bluff R Dist. 11 – Rep. Mark D. McElroy Tillar D Dist. 12 – Rep. Chris Richey Helena D Dist. 13 – Rep. David Hillman Almyra R Dist.