It’s Sex, Drugs And Rock & Roll At The Capitol

The last day of filing has brought an avalanche of bills into the system. We’d give you a final count, but the list keeps growing.

We’ll certainly peruse some of the more interesting ones – especially as they relate to economic development – during the next 24 hours.

Let’s focus on three bills, however, that are likely to garner a little attention as they center on sex, drugs and rock-and-roll.

SB 921 by Sen. Percy Malone (D-Arkadelphia) would amend the law regarding taxes on the adult entertainment industry. Currently, the bill is in shell form, but it does indicate that revenues raised from the taxation of businesses in the adult entertainment industry will be used for the protection of abused children – certainly a worthy cause.

It will be interesting, and potentially video-worthy, to see who might show up in committee to oppose the bill or how Malone chooses to explain what constitutes the "adult entertainment industry." We are also still searching the lobbyist records to see who represents this particular industry client.

On the drugs front, we’ve seen a lot this session from synthetic marijuana to bath salts; however, we think freshman Sen. Missy Irvin’s (R-Mountain View) SB 840 may grab a few headlines and will certainly result in packed committee rooms when it’s heard.

The bill is a serious one dealing with the orally-administered drug mifepristone, which is used as an emergency contraceptive and to induce medical abortions. Irvin cites a number of serious side-effects and lack of following proper protocol by physicians dispensing the drug.

Look for the pro-life and pro-choice advocates to mix it up in this debate.

Another bill that is a candidate for controversy in a very different sense is HB 2183 by Rep. Jon Woods (R-Springdale). In shell form right now, the bill seeks to give a facelift to the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame, presently headquartered in Pine Bluff.

Woods’ bill, when amended, would move the location of the facility to Little Rock by July 1, 2016 to capitalize on the developing tourism attractions in the downtown area. It will also call for a larger board and a more developed marketing plan for the shrine to famous Arkansans.

Woods, who plays bass in the high-energy rock band, A Good Fight, may find himself in the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame someday if he pulls this one off.