Arkansas legislators promise resolution for failed appropriation bill

House Speaker Matthew Shepherd welcomes the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to his hometown, El Dorado, for their monthly meeting on May 16, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Arkansas PBS livestream)

Lawmakers reassured the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Thursday that they would approve an appropriation bill for the agency before July 1 after the Legislature failed to do so during the recent fiscal session.

“I anticipate a special session prior to the end of the fiscal year, and I’m very confident that myself and my colleagues in the House will be able to work with the Senate and the governor’s office to take care of getting a reasonable appropriation passed for the Game and Fish Commission,” said House Speaker Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado.

Arkansas lawmakers face possible special session after Game and Fish Commission appropriation fails

The Arkansas House of Representatives could not garner enough votes to pass the commission’s appropriation bill after Rep. Frances Cavenaugh, R-Walnut Ridge, objected to an amendment that would increase the commission director’s annual salary to a maximum $190,000, more than several cabinet secretaries.

On May 9, the final day of the session, the Senate adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 21 that would change the director’s proposed salary cap from $190,000 to $157,216, his current pay plus a 3% increase.

The House had already adjourned and did not consider the amended bill , leaving the agency in limbo with no appropriation ahead of the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.

Shepherd was one of four South Arkansas lawmakers who attended the commission’s meeting in El Dorado on Thursday. He was joined by Republican Reps. Jeff Wardlaw, Howard Beaty and Wade Andrews, who all praised the commission’s work, acknowledged the importance of hunting, fishing and the outdoors for Arkansans, and promised to work toward a solution.

“We’re getting this appropriation passed, just got to twist a few arms from some ornery folks,” Andrews said.

Beaty, a Republican from Crossett, encouraged commissioners to keep an open dialogue with House members.

“I think the more one-on-one conversations that you can have with House members, the stronger that relationship will be and the better process going on in the future,” he said.

Only the governor can call the Arkansas Legislature into special session and she has not yet done so.

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