Senate President, House Speaker name members to tax overhaul task force

Senate President Jonathan Dismang and Speaker of the House Jeremy Gillam named their picks for the Arkansas Tax Reform and Relief Legislative Task Force.

The panel plans to meet for the next year to review Arkansas’ tax policies with a goal towards reforming the state tax code by the 2019 regular session. The task force was created as a result of Acts 78 and 79 of 2017, which called for a review in addition to cutting nearly $50.5 million in taxes to low-income residents. The legislation tasks the 16-member group with modernizing and simplifying the Arkansas tax code, while making it fairer for all taxpayers.

Dismang and Gillam are automatically on the task force as a result of their leadership positions, but Gillam has asked Joint Budget Co-chair Rep. Lane Jean, R-Magnolia, to serve as his designee.

Other Senate panelists include Sens. Jim Hendren, R-Gravette; Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis; Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock; Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs; Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View; Larry Teague, D-Nashville; and Dave Wallace, R-Leachville.

Other State Representative panelists include Reps. Mathew Pitsch, R-Fort Smith; Kenneth Ferguson, D-Pine Bluff; Joe Jett, R-Success; Frances Cavenaugh, R-Walnut Ridge; Bob Johnson, D-Jacksonville; Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville; and Warwick Sabin, D-Little Rock.

Gillam also announced that the following members will serve on the Joint Committee of Economic and Tax Policy:

Rep. Joe Jett, R-Success
Rep. David Branscum, R-Marshall
Rep. Lane Jean, R-Magnolia
Rep. Jeff Williams, R-Springdale
Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville
Rep. Laurie Rushing, R-Hot Springs

Rep. Rushing will serve as House chair for the Economic and Tax Policy Committee.