Week 7 Legislative Scorecard

Conduit for Action Legislative Session Weekly Scorecard:

Week 7 – February 27 – March 3, 2017

Taxes

SB362: SUPPORT

Repeals InvestArk; phases in sales tax exemption on purchases for manufacturing equipment repair parts

Sponsor: Sen. Lance Eads (R-S7) / Rep. Andy Davis (R-H31)

This bill would phase out the InvestArk tax credit program and begin a phased in sales-tax exemption for repair parts on machinery and manufacturing. While it may appear that an “exemption” is some type of special carve out this is not so. Repair parts on machinery and manufacturing are not a “final consumption” product and therefore can have multiple taxes applied throughout the process in creating a final product. A sales tax exemption on the repair parts process would be phased in and the tax eventually eliminated by 2022. The Tax Foundation estimates that this change could move “Arkansas’ rank on the corporate tax subcomponent from 40th best overall to 34th best overall.” This legislation could help prevent double taxation and help reduce prices for consumers on final consumption products.

Other

SB425: SUPPORT

Takes Treasurer’s investment work and puts under Board of Finance oversight

Sponsor: Sen. Terry Rice (R-S9)

The State Board of Finance selects the Chief Investment Officer who is in the Office of the Treasurer of State. This bill bolsters the investment work of the Chief Investment Officer by moving three investment related positions in the Treasurer’s Office to employment under the Chief Investment Officer.

Scorecard Year-To-Date

Bill #

Description Score

HB1011

prohibiting PAC-to-PAC contributions

OPPOSE

HB1012 prohibiting PAC-to-Candidate contributions

OPPOSE

HB1018

Annexation procedures amended SUPPORT
HB1034 Licensing of hearing instrument dispensers

OPPOSE

HB1035

Restricts use of SNAP benefits to the purchase of foods with sufficient nutritional value SUPPORT
HB1126 Exempts hate offense litigation in an employer-employee relationship

SUPPORT

HB1161 & SB119

Creates new earned income tax credit OPPOSE
HB1182 Authorizing advanced practice registered nurse recognized as primary care provider under medicaid

SUPPORT

HB1222

School Choice and Education Savings Accounts SUPPORT
HB1227 Reduction of income tax rates if revenue from those rates is greater than 3% from the previous year

SUPPORT

HB1267

Tire tax OPPOSE
HB1272 Microbrewery production caps increased

SUPPORT

HB1335

Allows annexed landowners to vote to get out of annexation SUPPORT
HB1387 Prohibits seat belt violations as only cause for stopping a vehicle

SUPPORT

HB1395

Income tax credit for small businesses hiring recently returned veterans SUPPORT
HB1405 Unemployment tax cut and incentives to seek employment

SUPPORT

HB1427

requiring electronic filing of campaign finance reports; provides searcable database for campaign contributions SUPPORT
HB1442 Personal and family finance class requirement for public school graduation

SUPPORT

HB1462

Restricts SNAP benefits waiver requests; protects current SNAP benefits work requirement SUPPORT
HB1465 Freezes Obamacare Medicaid Expansion (Private Option, Arkansas Works) enrollment

SUPPORT

HB1551

Protections against unneccessary regulation and misuse of occupational licensing SUPPORT
HJR1019 / SJR13 Loser pays tort reform; capts on punitive damage; alternative to SJR8

SUPPORT

SB101

prohibits game warden from entering private property without a warrant SUPPORT
SB102 Limits the max fine for not wearing a seatbelt to $25

SUPPORT

SB112

Income tax deduction for homeschool expenses, private school tuition SUPPORT
SB115 Reduces income tax rates on lowest tax bracket; creates Tax Reform Task Force

SUPPORT IF AMENDED

SB120 & HB1162

retired military income tax exemption; new tax on digital products; tax cut for soda syrup; tax increase on candy/soda; SUPPORT IF AMENDED
SB140 New Internet Sales Tax

OPPOSE

SB175

Disclosure of benefits received by government officials from medicaid providers SUPPORT
SB24 Decreases number of juvenile criminal detentiuon facility review committees

SUPPORT

SB331

$50 million to Governor’s quick action closing fund ($30 million increase for corporate welfare) OPPOSE
SB355 Ends Obamacare Medicaid Expansion (Private Option / Arkansas Works) on Dec. 31, 2018

SUPPORT

SB362

Repeals InvestArk; phases in sales tax exemption on purchases for manufacturing equipment repair parts SUPPORT
SB4 & HB1010 Publishing PAC reports, exploratory committees, Independent Expenditures

SUPPORT

SB425

Takes treasurer’s investment work and puts under Board of Finance oversight SUPPORT
SB5 & HB1009 Prohibits constitutional officers from forming more than one PAC

OPPOSE

SB86

Adds continuing education program for HVACR licensees OPPOSE
SJR10 Fair Ballot Titles; 3/4th majority vote for legislative proposed constitutional amendments

SUPPORT

SJR4

A constitutional amendment to move from elected supreme court justices to appointment process OPPOSE
SJR8 Tort reform; giving General Assembly power over certain court matters; caps contingency fee agreements

OPPOSE

 

Week One Scorecard

Week Two Scorecard

Week Three Scorecard

Week Four Scorecard

Week Five Scorecard

Week Six Scorecard

 

Purpose:

Conduit for Action, Inc. (CFA) promotes the reduction in the size and scope of Arkansas state government with the belief such reduction would proportionately increase individual freedom and liberties and economic prosperity for all Arkansans.  During the Arkansas 91st General Assembly regular legislative session, CFA will issue weekly of relevant bills filed by the legislature.  CFA will take a position on those bills and either support or oppose them using the CFA Economic Freedom Filter. This filter looks at whether a piece of legislation promotes more freedom or less freedom by considering: (1) If it grows or shrinks government, (2) Increases/Decreases dependency on government, and/or (3) Spends money the state does not have.

CFA will be highlighting the bills (by topic) recently filed and which may be considered for either a committee or full chamber vote. CFA will additionally be tracking and scoring those bills mentioned. These scores will assist in rankings for the annual Calvin Coolidge Heroes of Freedom awards, highlighting those state legislators promoting legislation which promotes reducing the scope and size of government.

 

*This scorecard, its contents, and positions on legislation is policy only and does not indicate any personal support for or against a specific legislator-sponsor.