Bill pre-filing for the state’s second Fiscal Session of the Arkansas General Assembly opened Monday. Only appropriation bills and resolutions can be pre-filed. If a legislator wants to introduce a bill addressing an issue other than an appropriation, they must file a resolution and that resolution would then require approval of both legislative bodies by a two-thirds majority before a non-appropriation bill can be filed. The deadline for filing Concurrent Resolutions for non-appropriation bills is Monday, February 13. The deadline for filing appropriation and non-appropriation bills is the fifteenth day of the Fiscal Session. Saturdays and Sundays count in the session’s total days. The filing deadline can be extended on a two-thirds vote. The Budget Session is limited to 30 days but could be extended one time for 15 days on a three-fourths vote.

The Joint Budget Committee is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. on January 17, 18 and 19 to hold pre-session budget hearings on fiscal issues that will be considered during the Fiscal Session. These meetings will be held in Room A of the new Big Mac building located immediately to the northwest of the Capitol building.

Contact information when Legislature is in session:
State Senators: 501-682-2902
State Representatives: 501-682-6211

Let them know you want them to Freeze Spending, Find Waste Fraud and Abuse, Fund only Proper Role of Government.