Governor reveals two vetoes on final day of session

Gov. Sarah Sanders on Wednesday (April 16) announced two vetoes — a bill veto and a line-item veto — her first two vetoes of the 95th General Assembly.

Her first announced veto was HB 1889, which was sponsored by Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, and Sen. Joshua Bryant, R-Rogers.

HB 1889 would amend the limitations on access to a medical marijuana dispensary or cultivation facility. It would also alter the existing law on medical marijuana prescription orders being delivered via a delivery vehicle or drive-thru window.

“Pursuant to my authority under Ark. Const. Art. 6, § 15, I am returning without my approval House Bill 1889, entitled ‘An Act to Amend the Limitations on Access to a Dispensary or Cultivation Facility; To Authorize a Dispensary to Deliver Orders via a Delivery Vehicle or via a Drive-Through Window.’ This legislation would expand access to usable marijuana, therefore I am vetoing this legislation,” Sanders said.

HB 1889 narrowly passed the House on a 51-31 vote. In the Senate, the bill passed by one vote, 19-15.

The Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association (ACIA) said it is “deeply disappointed” by the governor’s decision to veto HB 1889.

Calling the measure a “bipartisan, common-sense bill” aimed at improving patient access, increasing transparency and modernizing aspects of Arkansas’ medical cannabis program, the ACIA said the governor’s veto message incorrectly asserts that this legislation “would expand access to usable marijuana.”

ACIA said the veto message was not supported by the text of the bill or the intent of its sponsors and supporters, and that the bill did not expand access to medical marijuana and made no changes to patient eligibility, qualifying conditions, or who may obtain a medical marijuana card under Arkansas law.

“HB1889 actually strengthened oversight by allowing secure drive-thru service, improving delivery efficiency, and enabling policymakers to better understand the industry through regulated visits,” said Robert deBin, president of the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association. “These were common-sense improvements, not an expansion of cannabis.”

According to deBin, delivery has been legal in Arkansas and is currently provided by about half of the state’s dispensaries. The bill would have modified existing delivery rules by reducing the staffing requirement from two employees per vehicle to one.

“This is a setback for Arkansas patients — especially veterans, the elderly, the disabled, and the immunocompromised — who deserved better,” deBin said. “It’s patients, not politics, that lose with this veto.”

Sanders also used her line-item veto on HB 1265, the appropriation bill for operating expenses for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She struck down a position for the director of the Institute on Race & Ethnicity.

That bill passed 78-11 in the House and 34-1 in the Senate.

“Pursuant to my authority under Ark. Const. Art. 6, § 17, I write to inform you of my disapproval of Section 1, Page 4, Line 7 of House Bill 1265, ‘An Act for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.’ I have approved the remaining portions of House Bill 1265.

“House Bill 1265 contains one position entitled ‘Dir. of Institute on Race & Ethnicity’ with a maximum salary of $191,605. This session I championed Arkansas ACCESS, my plan to make college more accessible for all and get indoctrination out of college classrooms. Arkansas will not waste nearly $200,000 in taxpayer dollars on DEI administrators who promote woke nonsense,” Sanders said.

Dr. John A. Kirk was the most recent director of the Anderson Institute on Race and Ethnicity at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

According to a spokesperson for the university, the position is vacant and there are no plans to fill it.

Legislators finished all of their regular committee and session work before recessing on Wednesday. When they return to the Capitol on May 5 to sine die, or officially end the session, sponsors of the bill can attempt to override the vetoes, if they choose.

In addition to the two vetoes, Sanders signed 99 new bills into law on Wednesday.