ALC - JBC BUDGET HEARINGS

Hearing recap for ALC-JBC Budget Hearings (Oct 14, 2026). Official player: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00284/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV3/20261014/-1/34510 Bills heard (heuristic Whisper cue windows, agenda-validated): - No agenda-validated bill cues found in the transcript. Segment bounds are heuristic (best call-up cue until next bill). Review before citing exact times. This recap is from the transcript on file. It is not an official record.

Hearing recap for ALC-JBC Budget Hearings (Oct 13, 2026). Official player: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00284/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV3/20261013/-1/34508 Bills heard (heuristic Whisper cue windows, agenda-validated): - No agenda-validated bill cues found in the transcript. Segment bounds are heuristic (best call-up cue until next bill). Review before citing exact times. This recap is from the transcript on file. It is not an official record.

The Joint Budget Committee convened to discuss the budget for the State Board of Election Commissioners. Chris Madison, the director of the State Board of Election Commissioners, presented alongside Weyland Cooper, legal counsel, and Adam Penman from the Bureau of Legislative Research. Madison outlined three appropriations totaling 9 million authorized for fiscal year 2027, with a request for 9.1 million for both years of the biennium. The first appropriation was for nonpartisan general elections, requesting 1.6 million annually. The second was for operations, requesting 1.2 million annually and 876,000 in general revenue funding each year. The third was for election expenses, requesting 6.3 million annually but only 4.3 million in general revenue funding for fiscal year 2028 due to carry-forward provisions. Representative Wooden questioned the discrepancy between requested funds and actual expenditures, noting that while 6.3 million was requested one year and 4.1 million another, actual expenditures were significantly lower at 4.424 million. Madison explained that special language in their appropriations allows them to request additional funding from the Treasury if needed, as they anticipate insufficient funds for upcoming elections. Representative Wooden also asked about position evaluations each year, to which Madison responded that while they have nine positions filled, he could use an additional one but would address this later. Representative Collins sought clarification on why only 424,000 was spent in fiscal year 26 despite the need for more funds. Madison explained that reimbursement requests from counties often come after the fiscal year ends and are processed over time. No votes were recorded during the hearing.

The Arkansas Joint Budget Committee (ALC-JBC) held a budget hearing where several speakers addressed issues related to health-related boards and commissions funding for the upcoming biennium. The meeting began with clarifications about publications and binders available at the desks of committee members. Cameron Whit from the Bureau of Legislative Research presented item C1, which detailed expenditures, current authorized appropriations, and agency requests for 19 health-related agencies. Most of these boards are funded by cash or special revenue, except for the spinal cord commission, which requested approximately $2.3 million in general revenue for both years of the biennium. Whit noted that out of 27 total appropriations to be reviewed, only one—the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board—requested an increase of about $33,900 for extra help and personal services matching. The total agency requests amounted to approximately $17.3 million per year over the biennium. Representative Collins asked questions regarding discrepancies between appropriated positions and actual filled positions within health operations. Specifically, he inquired how the department ended up with 2,203 appropriated positions when only 1,812 were actually filled in fiscal year 26. The committee deferred further discussion on this topic until a broader presentation. Senator Everett asked about reasons for maintaining fund balances beyond a three-year average and whether there would ever be justification to keep these balances higher than the current no recommendation. Whit responded that consistent revenue streams are evaluated annually, with efforts made to reduce fund balances and potentially lower fees to avoid annual evaluations. The hearing did not include any votes on specific proposals or budgets discussed during this segment of the meeting.