Arkansas House of Representatives

The Arkansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the state. Each district has an average population of 29,159 according to the 2010 federal census. Members are elected to two-year terms and, since the 2014 Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution, limited to sixteen years cumulative in either house.[1]

Arkansas House of Representatives
93rd Arkansas General Assembly
Seal
Type
Type
Term limits
16 Years (both houses)
History
FoundedJanuary 30, 1836 (1836-01-30)
New session started
January 11, 2021
Leadership
Speaker of the House
Matthew Shepherd (R)
since June 15, 2018
Speaker pro Tempore
Jon Eubanks (R)
since January 2015
Majority Leader
Marcus Richmond (R)
since January 2015
Minority Leader
Tippi McCullough (D)
since May 2019
Structure
Seats100
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (76)

Minority

Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle 8, Section 2,
Arkansas Constitution
Salary$39,399.84/year + per diem
Elections
First-past-the-post
Last election
November 3, 2020
(100 seats)
Next election
November 8, 2022
(100 seats)
RedistrictingArkansas Board of Apportionment
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Arkansas State Capitol
Little Rock, Arkansas
Website
Arkansas House of Representatives

The Arkansas House of Representatives meets annually, in regular session in odd number years and for a fiscal session in even number years, at the State Capitol in Little Rock.[2]

Leadership of the House

The Speaker of the House presides over the body and is elected by the membership every two years. Its duties include the supervision and directing the daily order of business, recognizing members to speak, preserving order in the House, deciding all questions of order and germaneness, certifying all measures passed, assigning committee leadership, and naming members to select committees. In the Speaker's absence, the Speaker Pro Tempore presides.

Leadership information
PositionNamePartyCountyDistrict
Speaker of the HouseMatthew ShepherdRepublicanUnion6
Speaker pro temporeJon EubanksRepublicanLogan/Franklin/Scott/Sebastian74

Floor leaders
Position Name Party County District
Majority Leader Ken Bragg Republican Grant 15
Majority Whip Jim Dotson Republican Benton 93
Majority Caucus Secretary Charlotte Douglas Republican Crawford 75
Minority Leader Fredrick Love Democratic Pulaski 29

Current composition
Composition of the Arkansas State House after the 2018 elections
  Democratic Party
  Republican Party
  Republicans elected as Democrats
76 24
Republican Democratic
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Ind Green Vacant
End of the 90th General Assembly 68 31 1 0 100 0
Beginning of the 91st General Assembly 76 24 0 0 100 0
Current 76 24 0 0 100 0
Latest voting share 76% 24%

Current membership
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 Howard Beaty Rep 2020 2036
10 Mike Holcomb Rep 2012 2028
11 Mark McElroy Rep 2012 2030
12 David Tollett Rep 2020 2036
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 Richard McGrew Rep 2020 (special) 2036
23 Lanny Fite Rep 2014 2030
24 Bruce Cozart Rep 2011† 2028
25 Les Warren Rep 2016 2032
26 Rick McClure Rep 2020 2036
27 Julie Mayberry Rep 2016 2032
28 Tony Furman Rep 2020 2036
29 Fredrick Love Dem 2010 2026
30 Fred Allen Dem 2016 2032
31 Keith Brooks Rep 2020 2036
32 Ashley Hudson Dem 2020 2036
33 Tippi McCullough Dem 2018 2034
34 Joy Springer Dem 2020 (special) 2036
35 Andrew Collins Dem 2018 2034
36 Denise Ennett Dem 2019 (special) 2034
37 Jamie Aleshia Scott Dem 2018 2028
38 Carlton Wing Rep 2016 2032
39 Mark Lowery Rep 2012 2028
40 David Ray Rep 2020 2036
41 Karilyn Brown Rep 2014 2030
42 Mark Perry Dem 2018 2034
43 Brian S. Evans Rep 2018 2034
44 Cameron Cooper Rep 2018 2034
45 Jim Wooten Rep 2018 2034
46 Les Eaves Rep 2014 2030
47 Craig Christiansen Rep 2018 2034
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 Jon Milligan Rep 2020 2036
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 Marsh Davis Rep 2018 2034
62 Michelle Gray Rep 2014 2030
63 Stu Smith Rep 2018 2034
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 Stan Berry Rep 2018 2034
69 Aaron Pilkington Rep 2016 2032
70 Spencer Hawks Rep 2018 2034
71 Joe Cloud Rep 2018 2034
72 Stephen Magie Dem 2012 2028
73 Mary Bentley Rep 2014 2030
74 Jon Eubanks Rep 2012 2028
75 Lee Johnson Rep 2018 2034
76 Cindy Crawford Rep 2018 2034
77 Justin Boyd Rep 2014 2030
78 Jay Richardson Dem 2018 2034
79 Gary Deffenbaugh Rep 2010 2026
80 Charlene Fite Rep 2012 2028
81 Bruce Coleman Rep 2016 2032
82 Mark H. Berry Rep 2020 2036
83 Keith Slape Rep 2018 2034
84 Denise Garner Dem 2018 2034
85 David Whitaker Dem 2012 2028
86 Nicole Clowney Dem 2018 2034
87 Robin Lundstrum Rep 2014 2030
88 Clint Penzo Rep 2016 2032
89 Megan Godfrey Dem 2018 2034
90 Kendon Underwood Rep 2020 2036
91 Delia Haak Delia J. Haak Rep 2020 2036
92 Gayla Hendren McKenzie Rep 2018 2034
93 Jim Dotson Rep 2012 2028
94 John P. Carr Rep 2014 2030
95 Austin McCollum Rep 2016 2032
96 Joshua P. Bryant Rep 2020 2036
97 Harlan Breaux Rep 2018 2034
98 Ron McNair Rep 2014 2030
99 Jack Fortner Rep 2016 2032
100 Nelda Speaks Rep 2014 2030

Past composition of the House of Representatives
Main article: Political party strength in Arkansas

Committees

The House has 10 Standing Committees:

CLASS A

  • Education
  • Judiciary
  • Public Health, Welfare & Labor
  • Public Transportation
  • Revenue and Taxation

CLASS B

  • Aging, Children & Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs
  • Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development
  • City, County and Local Affairs
  • Insurance and Commerce
  • State Agencies and Governmental Affairs

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEES

  • Rules
  • House Management

JOINT COMMITTEES

  • Budget
  • Energy
  • Performance Review
  • Public Retirement and Social Security Programs
  • Advanced Communication and Information Technology

CURRENT COMMITTEES INCLUDE:[3]

Each Representative serves on two Standing Committees, and each committee has 20 members. Standing Committee chairmen and vice-chairmen are selected from respective committee rosters by the Speaker.

Two Select Committees operate exclusively within the House. Members of the committees are appointed by the Speaker. The House Select Committees are the House Committee on Rules and the House Management Committee.

The Committee on Rules considers all proposed action touching the House rules, the joint rules and the order of business. The Committee also considers all legislation dealing with alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, tobacco products, coin-operated amusement devices, vending machines, lobbying, code of ethics, pari-mutuel betting and similar legislation.

The House Management Committee works with the Speaker of the House to direct and oversee operations of the House of Representatives. Its duties include the hiring and supervision of the House Staff, the development of personnel policies and procedures, and the monitoring of facility usage and maintenance.

Representatives also serve on five committees that operate jointly with the Senate. They are Joint Budget, Joint Retirement and Social Security Programs, Joint Energy, Joint Performance Review and Joint Committee on Advanced, Communications and Information Technology

House members of the Joint Budget Committee are chosen by their peers from respective caucus districts. House members on other Joint Committees are appointed to their positions by the Speaker.

History

John Wilson, the speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, stabbed Representative J. J. Anthony to death during a legislative debate on the floor of the chamber in 1837. Wilson was later acquitted. The Old State House is said to be haunted to this day.[4][5]

In 1922, Frances Hunt became the first woman elected to a seat in the Arkansas General Assembly when she was elected to a seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives.[6]

In 2020, several members tested positive for the COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Arkansas.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Home - Arkansas House of Representatives". www.arkansashouse.org. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  2. "Arkansas House of Representatives". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  3. "Arkansas House Committees". Open States. Sunlight Foundation. April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  4. Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Women". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Arkansas: The Central Arkansas Library System. 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  7. Shepherd, Matthew J. (October 20, 2020). "Two House Members Test Positive for COVID-19. Legislative Meetings Postponed". Arkansas House of Representatives. Retrieved October 20, 2020.

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