Gov. Hutchinson outlines Special Legislative Session agenda

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday (May 20) made the official call for legislators to meet in special session beginning May 26 to vote on helping lure the military’s new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle production facility to Camden, moving Arkansas’ 2016 primary elections from May to March and moving the fiscal session from February to April, and merging seven state agencies into three.

According to a press release from Hutchinson’s office, legislators will vote on issuing bonds to help Lockheed Martin build 55,000 JLTV vehicles in Highland Industrial Park near Camden. Lockheed Martin is competing with Oshkosh and Humvee maker AM General. Talk Business & Politics sources say the bond issue will be in the $85 million to $90 million range.

Lawmakers will consider moving Arkansas’ primary elections from May to March to participate in the so-called “SEC primary” involving other Southern states. Supporters of the move hope to make Arkansas more relevant in the presidential nominating process. Meanwhile, lawmakers will vote on moving the even-numbered-year fiscal session from February to April.

The release said Hutchinson also is asking legislators to merge the following agencies to “provide efficiencies, better services and savings”:
• Arkansas Department of Rural Services and the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission;

• Arkansas Building Authority with the Department of Finance and Administration; and

• Division of Land Survey with the Arkansas Geographic Information Office.

Hutchinson also is asking legislators to make a minor change to the state’s DWI law. The Associated Press reported earlier this week that the state risks losing more than $50 million in federal highway funding after the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled last month that state law requires a person to knowingly drive while intoxicated to be guilty of the crime.

Other items on the call include:
• ensuring that state law aligns with federal law concerningfarm-equipment traffic on an interstate highway section;
• correcting technical errors made to bills passed during the legislative session during the amendment process;
• confirming gubernatorial appointments; and
• honoring Johnson Country Deputy Sheriff Sonny Smith, who was killed last week while searching for a burglary suspect.