Week 10 in the 92nd General Assembly was a short week, in large due to the Spring Break for all Arkansas public schools and colleges.
Bill filing activity, at least on the House of Representatives side of the capitol has been busy and hectic. As of Friday of last week, some 900 bills have been filed on the House side.
In addition, there have been some 29 House Join Resolutions filed; another 16 House Concurrent Resolutions and at least one Memorial Resolution filed, according to the General Assembly website.
So who has been doing all this bill filing?
Well, since the Republican Party holds a three-fourths majority in the House of Representatives, is seems it has been the Republican members.
Now all of the delegation from both Benton and Washington County were given a quick on-line look at all these bills filed.
According to a quick count on the website available, the following numbers popped up per each legislator.
Keep in mind the Primary Sponsorship of a Bill, means that particular legislator filed the legislation.
Most legislators file as a co-sponsor of other bills, simply by signing on as a supporter of these bills filed by other legislators on both the House and state Senate side of the state capitol during the legislative session.
In no particular order but by county they serve, we start with Washington County.
• State Rep. Robin Lundstrum, District 87, has sponsored 17 bills, 11 that have become law as of last Friday. She has also co-sponsored 37 other bills.
• State Rep. Bruce Coleman, District 81, has sponsored one bill. He is a co-sponsor on 26 other bills.
• State Rep. David Whitaker, District 85, has sponsored two bills and is a co-sponsor on 25 other bills.
• State Rep. Nicole Clowney, District 86, has sponsored 10 bills and is a co-sponsor on 27 others.
• State Rep. Denise Garner, District 84, has sponsored three bills and is a co-sponsor on 27 other bills.
• State Rep. Megan Godfrey, District 89, has sponsored four bills and is a co-sponsor on 24 others.
• State Rep. Clint Penzo, District 88, has sponsored 12 bills and is a co-sponsor on 23 others.
• State Rep. Charlene Fite, District 80, has sponsored 17 bills, 11 of which are now laws, and has co-signed on 27 other bills.
Those in Benton County included:
• State Rep. Dan Douglas, District 91, has sponsored 15 bills and co-sponsored 25 others.
• State Rep. Gayla Hendren McKenzie, District 92, has sponsored one bill and co-sponsored eight other bills.
• State Rep. Jana Della Rosa, District 90, has sponsored 16 bills and is a co-sponsor on 35 others.
• State Rep. Jim Dotson, District 93, has sponsored 50 bills and is a co-sponsor on 24 others.
• State Rep. Rebecca Petty, District 94, has sponsored 24 bills and is a co-sponsor on 43 others.
• State Rep. Austin McCollum, District 95, has sponsored nine bills and is a co-sponsor on 21 others.
• State Rep. Grant Hodges, District 96, has sponsored 10 bills and is a co-sponsor on 21 others.
• State Rep. Harlan Breaux, District 97, has sponsored seven bills and is a co-sponsor on 24 others.
Quite a scorecard with about six weeks until the end of the 92nd General Assembly.
-- Maylon Rice is a former journalist who worked for several northwest Arkansas publications. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 03/27/2019