91st Arkansas General Assembly

The Ninety-First Arkansas General Assembly was the legislative body of the state of Arkansas in 2017 and 2018. In this General Assembly, the Arkansas Senate and Arkansas House of Representatives were both controlled by the Republicans. In the Senate, 23 senators were Republicans, 11 were Democrats, and one position was vacant until April. In the House, 69 representatives were Republicans, 30 were Democrats, and one was independent.

91st Arkansas General Assembly
90th 92nd
Overview
TermJanuary 9, 2017 (2017-01-09) – January 14, 2019 (2019-01-14)
Arkansas Senate
Members34 (23 R, 11 D, 1 vacant)
President of the SenateTim Griffin (R)
President Pro Tempore of the SenateJonathan Dismang (R)
Majority LeaderJim Hendren (R)
Minority LeaderKeith Ingram (D)
Party controlRepublican Party
House of Representatives
Members100 (69 R, 30 D, 1 Independent)
House SpeakerJeremy Gillam (R)
Matthew Shepherd (R)
Speaker pro TemporeJon Eubanks (R)
Majority LeaderKen Bragg (R)
Minority LeaderDavid Whitaker (D)
Party controlRepublican Party
Sessions
1stJanuary 9, 2017 – May 1, 2017
2ndMay 1, 2017 – May 3, 2017
3rdFebruary 12, 2018 – March 12, 2018
4thMarch 13, 2018 – March 16, 2018

Sessions

The Regular Session of the 91st General Assembly opened on January 9, 2017. It adjourned sine die May 1, 2017,[1] immediately followed the First Extraordinary Session.

Major events

Corruption and scandals

The 91st General Assembly was marked by several scandals, indictments, and guilty pleas involving current and former legislators. Two sitting legislators resigned following charges of fraud and other crimes. Former legislators Hank Wilkins IV, Jon Woods[2] and Micah Neal[3] plead guilty during the 91st General Assembly, detailing a fraud and kickback scheme abusing Arkansas's General Improvement Fund. Their pleas indicated sitting members in the 91st General Assembly could be charged later.

Representative Mickey Gates (R-22nd) made national news for failing to pay taxes for 15 years, but resisted calls for his resignation.[4]

Major legislation

One of the most contentious pieces of legislation was "Guns on Campus"

http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/2017R/Documents/2017R%20and%202017S1%20Legislative%20General%20Summary.pdf http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/2018F/Fiscal%20Summary/2018F%20Summary%20of%20Fiscal%20Legislation.pdf

Vacancies

  • Senator Greg Standridge (R-16th) died November 16, 2017. He was replaced by Breanne Davis (R) via special election on May 22, 2018.[5]
  • Representative David Branscum (R-83rd) resigned November 17, 2017 to become Arkansas's rural development director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was replaced by Donald Ragland (R) via special election on May 22, 2018.[7]
  • Speaker Jeremy Gillam (R-45th) resigned June 15, 2018 to become director of governmental affairs and external relations at the University of Central Arkansas. Gillam's seat in the 45th District remained vacant, though Matthew Shepherd took over as speaker on June 15, 2018.[8]
  • Senator Jake Files (R-8th) resigned February 9, 2018, following a federal wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering guilty plea.[9] He was replaced by Frank Glidewell (R) via special election on August 14, 2018.[10]
  • Senator Jeremy Hutchinson (R-33rd) resigned August 31, 2018, following a federal grand jury indictment of eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of filing false tax returns.[11]

Senate

Officers

Office Officer Party District
President/Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin Republican
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Jonathan Dismang Republican 16
Assistant Presidents pro tempore Missy Irvin Republican 18
David J. Sanders Republican 15
Cecile Bledsoe Republican 9
Stephanie Flowers Democratic 25

Floor Leaders

Office Officer Party District
Majority Leader Jim Hendren Republican 29
Majority Whip Bart Hester Republican 1
Minority Leader Keith Ingram Democratic 24
Minority Whip Will Bond Democratic 32

Source: Arkansas Senate[12]

Senators

District Name[13] Party Residence First elected Seat up Term-limited
1 Bart Hester Rep Cave Springs 2012 2020 2028
2 Jim Hendren Rep Gravette 2012 2020 2028
3 Cecile Bledsoe Rep Rogers 2008 2018 2020
4 Uvalde Lindsey Dem Fayetteville 2012 2018 2026
5 Bryan King Rep Green Forest 2012 2018 2024
6 Gary Stubblefield Rep Branch 2012 2018 2028
7 Lance Eads Rep Springdale 2016 2020 2032
8 Jake Files Rep Fort Smith 2013 2018
9 Terry Rice Rep Waldron 2014 2018 2024
10 Larry Teague Dem Nashville 2008 2018 2020
11 Jimmy Hickey Jr. Rep Texarkana 2012 2020 2028
12 Bruce Maloch Dem Magnolia 2012 2020 2028
13 Alan Clark Rep Lonsdale 2012 2020 2028
14 Bill Sample Rep Hot Springs 2010 2018 2020
15 David J. Sanders Rep Little Rock 2012 2018 2026
16 Greg Standridge Rep Russellville 2015 (special) 2020
17 Scott Flippo Rep Mountain Home 2014 2018 2030
18 Missy Irvin Rep Mountain View 2010 2018 2026
19 Linda Collins-Smith Rep Pocahontas 2014 2018 2026
20 Blake Johnson Rep Corning 2014 2018 2030
21 John Cooper Rep Jonesboro 2014 (special) 2020 2032
22 David Wallace Rep Leachville 2016 2020 2026
23 Ron Caldwell Rep Wynne 2012 2020 2028
24 Keith Ingram Dem West Memphis 2012 2018 2024
25 Stephanie Flowers Dem Pine Bluff 2010 2020 2020
26 Eddie Cheatham Dem Crossett 2012 2020 2022
27 Trent Garner Rep El Dorado 2016 2020 2032
28 Jonathan Dismang Rep Beebe 2010 2020 2024
29 Eddie Joe Williams Rep Cabot 2010 2020 2024
30 Linda Chesterfield Dem Little Rock 2010 2018 2020
31 Joyce Elliott Dem Little Rock 2008 2018 2020
32 Will Bond Dem Little Rock 2016 2020 2020
33 Jeremy Hutchinson Rep Benton 2010 2018 2020
34 Jane English Rep North Little Rock 2012 2020 2026
35 Jason Rapert Rep Conway 2010 2018 2026

House of Representatives

Representatives

District Name Party First elected Term-limited
1 Carol Dalby Rep 2016 2032
2 Lane Jean Rep 2010 2026
3 Danny Watson Rep 2016 2032
4 DeAnn Vaught Rep 2014 2030
5 David Fielding Dem 2010 2026
6 Matthew Shepherd Rep 2010 2026
7 Sonia Eubanks Barker Rep 2016 2032
8 Jeff Wardlaw Rep 2010 2026
9 LeAnne Burch Dem 2016 2032
10 Mike Holcomb Rep 2012 2028
11 Mark McElroy Dem 2012 2028
12 Chris Richey Dem 2012 2028
13 David Hillman Rep 2012 2028
14 Roger Lynch Rep 2016 2032
15 Ken Bragg Rep 2012 2028
16 Ken Ferguson Dem 2014 2030
17 Vivian Flowers Dem 2014 2030
18 Richard Womack Rep 2012 2028
19 Justin Gonzales Rep 2014 2030
20 John Maddox Rep 2016 2032
21 Marcus Richmond Rep 2014 2030
22 Mickey Gates Rep 2014 2030
23 Lanny Fite Rep 2014 2030
26 Laurie Rushing Rep 2014 2030
24 Bruce Cozart Rep 2011† 2028
25 Les Warren Rep 2016 2032
27 Andy Mayberry Rep 2016 2032
28 Kim Hammer Rep 2010 2026
29 Fredrick Love Dem 2010 2026
30 Fred Allen Dem 2016 2032
31 Andy Davis Rep 2012 2028
32 Jim Sorvillo Rep 2014 2030
33 Warwick Sabin Dem 2012 2028
34 John Walker Dem 2010 2026
35 Clarke Tucker Dem 2014 2030
36 Charles Blake Dem 2014 2030
37 Eddie Armstrong Dem 2012 2028
38 Carlton Wing Rep 2016 2032
39 Mark Lowery Rep 2012 2028
40 Douglas House Rep 2012 2028
41 Karilyn Brown Rep 2014 2030
42 Bob Johnson Dem 2014 2030
43 Tim Lemons Rep 2014 2030
44 Joe Farrer Rep 2012 2028
45 Jeremy Gillam Rep 2010 2026
46 Les Eaves Rep 2014 2030
47 Michael John Gray Dem 2014 2030
48 Reginald Murdock Dem 2010 2026
49 Steve Hollowell Rep 2016 2032
50 Milton Nicks Dem 2014 2030
51 Deborah Ferguson Dem 2012 2028
52 Dwight Tosh Rep 2014 2030
53 Dan Sullivan Rep 2014 2030
54 Johnny Rye Rep 2016 2032
55 Monte Hodges Dem 2012 2028
56 Joe Jett Rep 2012 2028
57 Jimmy Gazaway Rep 2016 2032
58 Brandt Smith Rep 2014 2030
59 Jack Ladyman Rep 2014 2030
60 Frances Cavenaugh Rep 2016 2032
61 Scott Baltz Dem 2012 2028
62 Michelle Gray Rep 2014 2030
63 James Sturch Rep 2014 2030
64 John Payton Rep 2012 2028
65 Rick Beck Rep 2014 2030
66 Josh Miller Rep 2012 2028
67 Stephen Meeks Rep 2010 2026
68 Trevor Drown Rep 2014 2030
69 Aaron Pilkington Rep 2016 2032
70 David Meeks Rep 2010 2026
71 Kenneth Henderson Rep 2014 2030
72 Stephen Magie Dem 2012 2028
73 Mary Bentley Rep 2014 2030
74 Jon Eubanks Rep 2010 2026
75 Charlotte Douglas Rep 2012 2028
76 Mathew Pitsch Rep 2014 2030
77 Justin Boyd Rep 2014 2030
78 George McGill Dem 2012 2028
79 Gary Deffenbaugh Rep 2010 2026
80 Charlene Fite Rep 2012 2028
81 Bruce Coleman Rep 2016 2032
82 Sarah Capp Rep 2016 2032
83 Donald Ragland Rep 2018 2034
84 Charlie Collins Rep 2010 2026
85 David Whitaker Dem 2012 2028
86 Greg Leding Dem 2010 2026
87 Robin Lundstrum Rep 2014 2030
88 Clint Penzo Rep 2016 2032
89 Jeff Williams Rep 2016 2032
90 Jana Della Rosa Rep 2014 2030
91 Dan Douglas Rep 2012 2028
92 Kim Hendren Rep 2014 2030
93 Jim Dotson Rep 2012 2028
94 Rebecca Petty Rep 2014 2030
95 Austin McCollum Rep 2016 2032
96 Grant Hodges Rep 2014 2030
97 Bob Ballinger Rep 2012 2028
98 Ron McNair Rep 2014 2030
99 Jack Fortner Rep 2016 2032
100 Nelda Speaks Rep 2014 2030

References

  1. Information Systems Department (September 16, 2018). "91st General Assembly - Regular Session 2017". Little Rock: Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  2. Cook, Marty; Turner, Lance (September 5, 2018). "Update: Jon Woods Sentenced to 220 Months in Prison for Kickback Scheme". Arkansas Business. Arkansas Business Publishing Group. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  3. "Micah Neal Plea Agreement in United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas" (PDF). Arkansas Times. January 4, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 10, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  4. Dedaj, Paulina (June 28, 2018). "Arkansas lawmaker accused of filing no taxes for 15 years arrested". Fox News. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  5. "Special General Election for State Senate District 16". Election Night Reporting. June 5, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  6. "Special General Election for State Senate District 29". Election Night Reporting. June 5, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  7. "Special General Election for State Representative District 83". Election Night Reporting. June 5, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  8. Hardy, Benjamin (June 15, 2018). "Shepherd becomes House Speaker; defers ethics rule change questions". Arkansas Times. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  9. Hughes, Dave (June 19, 2018). "Ex-state senator gets 18 months for fraud, calls himself 'broken and humble man'". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  10. "Special General Election for State Senate District 8". Election Night Reporting. August 14, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  11. Besson, Eric; Hammersly, Lisa (September 1, 2018). "Indicted on fraud charges, state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson resigns". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  12. "Senate Officers". Little Rock: Arkansas Senate. 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  13. "Legislator Search Results". www.arkleg.state.ar.us. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
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