On AR Watch
@onarwatch.bsky.social
Holding state government accountable. Arkansas state government is supposed to work for all of us. Let's make it so. DMs open. A project of @forarpeople
And that's it for this thread!
Thanks for following along.
Thanks for following along.
February 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
And that's it for this thread!
Thanks for following along.
Thanks for following along.
Johnson is making an amendment to his bill, so it won't be heard today. Sen Leding asks for some kind of confirmation on when the bill will be heard; no such confirmation is forthcoming.
Deeply disrespectful to the public, to be honest; no telling how many folks have made long drives to be here.
Deeply disrespectful to the public, to be honest; no telling how many folks have made long drives to be here.
February 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Johnson is making an amendment to his bill, so it won't be heard today. Sen Leding asks for some kind of confirmation on when the bill will be heard; no such confirmation is forthcoming.
Deeply disrespectful to the public, to be honest; no telling how many folks have made long drives to be here.
Deeply disrespectful to the public, to be honest; no telling how many folks have made long drives to be here.
Lawyer for Tourism says he'll check on that after this for her!
Crowell closes, and it passes.
Crowell closes, and it passes.
February 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Lawyer for Tourism says he'll check on that after this for her!
Crowell closes, and it passes.
Crowell closes, and it passes.
Sen. Scott and Sen. Gilmore are following up on liability for trespassers; they're mostly protected outside of some specific instances.
One audience member actually has a question!
"Does a land owner that has a longer bike trail cross their land have to have any kind of postings?"
One audience member actually has a question!
"Does a land owner that has a longer bike trail cross their land have to have any kind of postings?"
February 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Sen. Scott and Sen. Gilmore are following up on liability for trespassers; they're mostly protected outside of some specific instances.
One audience member actually has a question!
"Does a land owner that has a longer bike trail cross their land have to have any kind of postings?"
One audience member actually has a question!
"Does a land owner that has a longer bike trail cross their land have to have any kind of postings?"
Sen Leding: since we're enumerating some things, can you explain "hoverboarding?"
A: few different types coming out. Essentially one-wheeled skateboards, some actually "hovering" above trails.
A: few different types coming out. Essentially one-wheeled skateboards, some actually "hovering" above trails.
February 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Sen Leding: since we're enumerating some things, can you explain "hoverboarding?"
A: few different types coming out. Essentially one-wheeled skateboards, some actually "hovering" above trails.
A: few different types coming out. Essentially one-wheeled skateboards, some actually "hovering" above trails.
Sen. Scott: Q about swimming: if kids jumped the fence to swim, but couldn't, are you liable?
A: probably not, that's technically trespassing. There have been cases that may indicate common law liability in very specific instances. But swimming is in previous language.
A: probably not, that's technically trespassing. There have been cases that may indicate common law liability in very specific instances. But swimming is in previous language.
February 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Sen. Scott: Q about swimming: if kids jumped the fence to swim, but couldn't, are you liable?
A: probably not, that's technically trespassing. There have been cases that may indicate common law liability in very specific instances. But swimming is in previous language.
A: probably not, that's technically trespassing. There have been cases that may indicate common law liability in very specific instances. But swimming is in previous language.
A cont: other up and coming activities like rock climbing we're trying to encourage; specifically enumerating certain activities helps private land owners have certainty about their protections.
February 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
A cont: other up and coming activities like rock climbing we're trying to encourage; specifically enumerating certain activities helps private land owners have certainty about their protections.
Sen. Gilmore: Why do we enumerate any of these actions? Why don't we just say "general recreational purposes"?
A: some folks who are into specific actions like mountain biking wanted some specific enumerations; once you enumerate one, it helps to enumerate others.
A: some folks who are into specific actions like mountain biking wanted some specific enumerations; once you enumerate one, it helps to enumerate others.
February 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Sen. Gilmore: Why do we enumerate any of these actions? Why don't we just say "general recreational purposes"?
A: some folks who are into specific actions like mountain biking wanted some specific enumerations; once you enumerate one, it helps to enumerate others.
A: some folks who are into specific actions like mountain biking wanted some specific enumerations; once you enumerate one, it helps to enumerate others.
Common law tort for trespass is beyond the bill.
Hickey: so if you let kids come in and swim in a lake on your property, you have no liability.
A: there's some exemptions in federal case law for malicious or grossly negligent actions.
Hickey: so if you let kids come in and swim in a lake on your property, you have no liability.
A: there's some exemptions in federal case law for malicious or grossly negligent actions.
February 4, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Common law tort for trespass is beyond the bill.
Hickey: so if you let kids come in and swim in a lake on your property, you have no liability.
A: there's some exemptions in federal case law for malicious or grossly negligent actions.
Hickey: so if you let kids come in and swim in a lake on your property, you have no liability.
A: there's some exemptions in federal case law for malicious or grossly negligent actions.
A cont: 3 kinds of ways people can enter property. One is trespassing, a separate legal issue. Two is invitation; three is if they're paying to enter. This statute only applies to invitation. If you're opening property up by invitation w/ no charge, this protects you from liability.
February 4, 2025 at 4:06 PM
A cont: 3 kinds of ways people can enter property. One is trespassing, a separate legal issue. Two is invitation; three is if they're paying to enter. This statute only applies to invitation. If you're opening property up by invitation w/ no charge, this protects you from liability.
A: totally different legal issue.
Hickey: right, that's my question.
A: if they're trespassing, you don't have any liability. Existing bill only applies if landowners aren't charging a fee. In previous language.
Hickey: right, that's my question.
A: if they're trespassing, you don't have any liability. Existing bill only applies if landowners aren't charging a fee. In previous language.
February 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A: totally different legal issue.
Hickey: right, that's my question.
A: if they're trespassing, you don't have any liability. Existing bill only applies if landowners aren't charging a fee. In previous language.
Hickey: right, that's my question.
A: if they're trespassing, you don't have any liability. Existing bill only applies if landowners aren't charging a fee. In previous language.
Sen Hickey: Does the property owner have to have any kind of disclosure, or is anyone on their property?
A: original language is for private land owners who open their property up by invite. Doesn't give public right to enter on public property.
Hickey: right, but what about trespassers?
A: original language is for private land owners who open their property up by invite. Doesn't give public right to enter on public property.
Hickey: right, but what about trespassers?
February 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Sen Hickey: Does the property owner have to have any kind of disclosure, or is anyone on their property?
A: original language is for private land owners who open their property up by invite. Doesn't give public right to enter on public property.
Hickey: right, but what about trespassers?
A: original language is for private land owners who open their property up by invite. Doesn't give public right to enter on public property.
Hickey: right, but what about trespassers?
We're gaveled in!
Sen. Crowell is up first; he's presenting SB146, which updates the definition of "recreational activity" to limit the liability of private land owners.
arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail...
Sen. Crowell is up first; he's presenting SB146, which updates the definition of "recreational activity" to limit the liability of private land owners.
arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail...
SB146 Bill Information
This site is maintained by the Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research, Information Systems Dept., and is the official website of the Arkansas General Assembly.
arkleg.state.ar.us
February 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
We're gaveled in!
Sen. Crowell is up first; he's presenting SB146, which updates the definition of "recreational activity" to limit the liability of private land owners.
arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail...
Sen. Crowell is up first; he's presenting SB146, which updates the definition of "recreational activity" to limit the liability of private land owners.
arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail...
It's already standing room only; Senate Ag isn't usually a controversial committee, so the room is a bit smaller.
Sen. Leding is kindly handing out waters to folks signed up to speak.
Sen. Leding is kindly handing out waters to folks signed up to speak.
February 4, 2025 at 3:54 PM
It's already standing room only; Senate Ag isn't usually a controversial committee, so the room is a bit smaller.
Sen. Leding is kindly handing out waters to folks signed up to speak.
Sen. Leding is kindly handing out waters to folks signed up to speak.
Implementing such a moratorium would require approval from the Legislative Council, which is not a responsive body and doesn't have the expertise needed to determine how much pollution an operation might put into the watershed.
TL;dr: it's a terrible bill. Nobody wants to float a polluted river.
TL;dr: it's a terrible bill. Nobody wants to float a polluted river.
February 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Implementing such a moratorium would require approval from the Legislative Council, which is not a responsive body and doesn't have the expertise needed to determine how much pollution an operation might put into the watershed.
TL;dr: it's a terrible bill. Nobody wants to float a polluted river.
TL;dr: it's a terrible bill. Nobody wants to float a polluted river.
She ends her speech, thanking everybody and says
“Now let’s get to work.”
Thanks for following this thread, stay tuned for more coverage on the 2025 legislative session.
“Now let’s get to work.”
Thanks for following this thread, stay tuned for more coverage on the 2025 legislative session.
January 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
She ends her speech, thanking everybody and says
“Now let’s get to work.”
Thanks for following this thread, stay tuned for more coverage on the 2025 legislative session.
“Now let’s get to work.”
Thanks for following this thread, stay tuned for more coverage on the 2025 legislative session.
She begins discussing the Fordyce shooting again and thanks the Dallas County Sheriff, Mike, for his quick actions on that day.
She announces the “Arkansas Medal of Freedom” that would allow Arkansans to be recognized for brave actions.
She awards this medal to Sheriff Mike.
She announces the “Arkansas Medal of Freedom” that would allow Arkansans to be recognized for brave actions.
She awards this medal to Sheriff Mike.
January 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
She begins discussing the Fordyce shooting again and thanks the Dallas County Sheriff, Mike, for his quick actions on that day.
She announces the “Arkansas Medal of Freedom” that would allow Arkansans to be recognized for brave actions.
She awards this medal to Sheriff Mike.
She announces the “Arkansas Medal of Freedom” that would allow Arkansans to be recognized for brave actions.
She awards this medal to Sheriff Mike.
Gov. Sanders notes that she wants to deal with the growing problem of squatters by allowing homeowners to call the sheriff’s department and have them remove squatters off of the property.
January 14, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Gov. Sanders notes that she wants to deal with the growing problem of squatters by allowing homeowners to call the sheriff’s department and have them remove squatters off of the property.
She notes that President Donald Trump will be an ally to Arkansas.
She notes she wants to remove “violent, illegal immigrants” from our state and that Donald Trump was the first President in her lifetime to “stand up to China.”
She notes she wants to remove “violent, illegal immigrants” from our state and that Donald Trump was the first President in her lifetime to “stand up to China.”
January 14, 2025 at 5:28 PM
She notes that President Donald Trump will be an ally to Arkansas.
She notes she wants to remove “violent, illegal immigrants” from our state and that Donald Trump was the first President in her lifetime to “stand up to China.”
She notes she wants to remove “violent, illegal immigrants” from our state and that Donald Trump was the first President in her lifetime to “stand up to China.”
Gov. Sanders states the Phone Free School Pilot Program has created drops in physical and verbal encounters and drug offenses in schools.
She wants to ban phones in schools and enforce the Social Media Safe Act to let parents sue big tech companies under state law.
She wants to ban phones in schools and enforce the Social Media Safe Act to let parents sue big tech companies under state law.
January 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Gov. Sanders states the Phone Free School Pilot Program has created drops in physical and verbal encounters and drug offenses in schools.
She wants to ban phones in schools and enforce the Social Media Safe Act to let parents sue big tech companies under state law.
She wants to ban phones in schools and enforce the Social Media Safe Act to let parents sue big tech companies under state law.
She tells the story a student named Mason, that sadly committed suicide after a relationship that went wrong and overuse of TikTok. His mother, Jenny, is watching in the gallery. Jenny has dedicated her life to prevent families from feeling that same loss.
January 14, 2025 at 5:24 PM
She tells the story a student named Mason, that sadly committed suicide after a relationship that went wrong and overuse of TikTok. His mother, Jenny, is watching in the gallery. Jenny has dedicated her life to prevent families from feeling that same loss.
She starts talking about the rising suicide rates and self harm among teenagers. She states the culprit is “clear”: unrestricted access to phones and social media.
January 14, 2025 at 5:22 PM
She starts talking about the rising suicide rates and self harm among teenagers. She states the culprit is “clear”: unrestricted access to phones and social media.
She notes we have opened over 1500 new prison beds at existing facilities and mentions the brand new 3000-bed prison being built in Franklin County.
January 14, 2025 at 5:21 PM
She notes we have opened over 1500 new prison beds at existing facilities and mentions the brand new 3000-bed prison being built in Franklin County.