Open carry bill fails in House Judiciary -- UPDATE IV

Rep. Mark Martin's bill to allow for the open carry of firearms and other weapons failed on a voice vote moments ago in House Judiciary. Prior to the vote, the bill was amended to provide for a minimum age of 21.

We're now taking up Rep. Dismang's bill to require the reimbursement of attorney's fees in eminent domain cases if the award ordered by the court is 10% more than the amount offered by the state agency. The NFIB and LR attorney Gene Cauley are here in favor of the bill. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department is now speaking against the bill. Update: The bill failed by a vote a 9 for, 9 against, and two members were running bills in other committees.

Update II: Rep. Nathan George re-presented his bill to require an additional $20 fee on bail bonds to fund victim assistance offices. After some discussion, he pulled the bill from consideration. It failed last week on a 10-10 vote, and it looks as though an amendment may now be in the works. We're getting to the point to where House bills that stand a chance of being enacted must pass House Judiciary by Thursday in order to get through the House and Senate prior to the scheduled adjournment on April 9.

Update III: I ran over to Senate State Agencies to run a couple of bills when House Judiciary recessed for a 10 minute lunch break. While there, I learned that Rep. Randy Stewart presented HB1623 regarding the release of info related to the concealed handgun database. After considerable debate, he pulled the bill for a couple of amendments, both of which are apparently agreeable to two major opponents of the bill.

Update IV: We're now back in House Judiciary debating an interlock device bill (HB1640) for first offenders of DWI. After debate on the arrest vs. conviction issue, the bill passed, making it the second and final bill approved by the committee today. The committee also concurred in a Senate amendment to my HB1800 this morning.