Arkansas state Sen. Dan Sullivan (left), R-Jonesboro, and state Sen. Ricky Hill, R-Cabot, speak during a meeting of the Joint Budget Committee at the state Capitol on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Adam Vogler)
State Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, on Wednesday withdrew his proposal that would bar a state agency from distributing any monies, including public or private funds, to the King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Arkansas from consideration by the Joint Budget Committee's special language subcommittee.
He made the proposal in the form of an amendment to UA's appropriation, Senate Bill 41, for fiscal 2027 that begins July 1. Last week, he said the aim of the proposed amendment "is to end the King Fahd Center."
Sullivan told the subcommittee on Wednesday that he plans take a closer look at the curriculum, funding and operations for the King Fahd Center through the Arkansas Legislative Council Higher Education Subcommittee that he co-chairs.
"I plan to hear testimony, review financials, submissions and operations in the coming months," as well as possible violations of state law, among other things, he said.
-- Michael R. Wickline
Another bid to ax Profiri's role fails
Sen. Terry Rice, R-Waldron, fell short on Wednesday in his bid to get the Joint Budget Committee to vote separately on his proposal to ax former Department of Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri's position as senior adviser in the appropriation for the governor's office in the coming fiscal year.
On Tuesday, his proposed amendment to the governor office's appropriation to eliminate the senior adviser position in the governor's appropriation -- Senate Bill 30 for fiscal 2027 that begins July 1 -- failed to clear the personnel subcommittee. Seven subcommittee members voted for the proposed amendment, while 10 subcommittee members voted against amendment.
On Wednesday, 16 Joint Budget Committee members voted for Rice's motion for the Joint Budget Committee to vote separately on his proposal, and 31 budget committee members voted against his motion, according to Bureau of Legislative Research records. Two committee members voted present on the motion. The motion required 29 votes for approval.
Profiri's salary is $189,210.94 a year, according to the Arkansas Transparency website. Profiri's salary and benefit costs in the governor's office total almost $265,000 a year, according to Rice.
-- Michael R. Wickline
Treasurer's office pay raises cleared
The Joint Budget Committee on Wednesday approved state Treasurer John Thurston's request for a 10% increase in spending authority for salaries and benefit costs in the appropriations bill for the state treasurer's office in fiscal year 2027, after several lawmakers criticized Thurston for granting large raises to several managers in his office in fiscal 2026.
Thurston said the treasurer's office pay plan is in sync with the governor's pay plan for executive branch employees that was enacted last year. Pressed by state Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, about the roughly $40,000 pay raise granted to the treasurer’s Chief Deputy Bill Huffman, Thurston declined to elaborate further, calling it “a personnel issue.”
At the start of fiscal 2026, Huffman received a $39,992.16 raise to $180,440 a year, according to state records.
Thurston asked the Joint Budget Committee to increase the treasurer’s office appropriation for regular salaries by $320,790 and benefit costs by $38,129 in fiscal 2027 -- a 10% increase over fiscal 2026.
This request aligns funding for existing positions with the full authorized salary range associated with their classifications within the governor’s pay plan, Thurston said in his letter to the Joint Budget Committee. This adjustment would ensure positions are funded consistent with the established range and provide flexibility for recruitment and retention within approved classifications, he said.
-- Michael R. Wickline
Bill to bar absent officials' pay fails
A proposal to bar a city director of a city of the first class with a city manager form of government, having a population of 200,000 or more, from receiving compensation if the city director does not attend a regular meeting or special meeting of the board for 90 days or more, failed to clear the Joint Budget Committee's special language subcommittee on Wednesday.
State Sen. Mark Johnson, R-Ferndale, made the proposal in the form of an amendment to the state treasurer office's appropriation for state turnback for counties and municipalities, House Bill 1052. Under the proposal, compensation for a city director "shall resume if the director attends a regular meeting or special meeting of the board after the director has not attended a regular meeting or special meeting of the board" for 90 days or more.Little Rock City Director Ken Richardson has not attended board of director meetings since 2024.
-- Michael R. Wickline
House votes down park appropriation
An appropriations bill for the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism failed to pass the state House of Representatives Wednesday.
House Bill 1098, sponsored by the Joint Budget Committee, calls for re-appropriating funds to the department for capital improvement projects.
Rep. Dolly Henley, R-Washington, asked members to vote the bill down, saying she still had unanswered questions from the department.
The House voted 0-85 with four members voting present and 10 members not voting, defeating the bill.
In order to pass the House, appropriations bills need to meet a 75-vote threshold.
After the House adjourned Wednesday, Henley said she met with Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, and asked him about unfilled positions. She also said she had questions about the need for more part-time workers at a state park in her district in Southwest Arkansas.
In response,Katie Fite, a spokeswoman for the department said in a statement: "Secretary Lewis met with Representative Henley last Friday and again yesterday to address her concerns. We will provide any additional information she needs and will meet with her at any time to address further questions."
-- Neal Earley
UALR funding bill doesn't pass House
On Wednesday, the Arkansas House failed to pass House Bill 1053, sponsored by the Joint Budget Committee, which calls for appropriating funds to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
The House voted 71-19 with eight voting present and one not voting, failing to clear the 75-vote threshold.
In a statement,Carrie Phillips, a spokeswoman for the school said, "UA Little Rock plays a vital role in serving students and supporting the state's workforce and economy, and we look forward to sharing that impact with legislators."
-- Neal Earley