Update on 2016 Fiscal Session

Update on 2016 Fiscal Session

Our state constitution requires the approval of a bill known as the General Appropriation Act before any appropriations for the following fiscal year can go into law.

HB1002, which is the General Appropriation Act for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, failed in a vote on the House floor.

The votes needed for passage are 75. HB1002 received 68 votes today.

After the vote, the Speaker adjourned for the day and announced the House will reconvene on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Joint Budget Committee convened this afternoon to present an amendment to SB121. This bill failed in a vote on the Senate floor earlier in the afternoon.

SB121 is the appropriation bill for services and operating expenses for the Department of Human Services Division of Medical Services.

It includes appropriations for long-term care facilities, AR Kids First, and hospital and medical services. This is also the appropriation to fund the services provided by Arkansas Works, the healthcare insurance program for low-income Arkansans.

An amendment was presented in Joint Budget Committee which would have prevented DHS from funding Arkansas Works.

That amendment did not pass in a vote by the committee.

We will continue to update you when we reconvene on Tuesday. You can read the bills being proposed and watch the proceedings on www.arkansashouse.org.

From State Representative Deborah Ferguson