The Ninety-First Arkansas General Assembly was the legislative body of the state of Arkansas in 2017 and 2018. In this General Assembly, the Arkansas Senate and Arkansas House of Representatives were both controlled by the Republicans. In the Senate, 23 senators were Republicans, 11 were Democrats, and one position was vacant until April. In the House, 69 representatives were Republicans, 30 were Democrats, and one was independent.
Sessions The Regular Session of the 91st General Assembly opened on January 9, 2017. It adjourned sine die May 1, 2017, immediately followed the First Extraordinary Session.
Major events
Corruption and scandals The 91st General Assembly was marked by several scandals, indictments, and guilty pleas involving current and former legislators. Two sitting legislators resigned following charges of fraud and other crimes. Former legislators Hank Wilkins IV, Jon Woods and Micah Neal plead guilty during the 91st General Assembly, detailing a fraud and kickback scheme abusing Arkansas's General Improvement Fund. Their pleas indicated sitting members in the 91st General Assembly could be charged later.
Representative Mickey Gates (R-22nd) made national news for failing to pay taxes for 15 years, but resisted calls for his resignation.
Major legislation
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Vacancies Senator Greg Standridge (R-16th) died November 16, 2017. He was replaced by Breanne Davis (R) via special election on May 22, 2018. Senator Eddie Joe Williams (R-29th) resigned November 15, 2017 to serve as President Donald Trump's (R) representative to the Southern States Energy Board. He was replaced by Ricky Hill (R) via special election on May 22, 2018. Representative David Branscum (R-83rd) resigned November 17, 2017 to become Arkansas's rural development director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was replaced by Donald Ragland (R) via special election on May 22, 2018. Speaker Jeremy Gillam (R-45th) resigned June 15, 2018 to become director of governmental affairs and external relations at the University of Central Arkansas. Gillam's seat in the 45th District remained vacant, though Matthew Shepherd took over as speaker on June 15, 2018. Senator Jake Files (R-8th) resigned February 9, 2018, following a federal wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering guilty plea. He was replaced by Frank Glidewell (R) via special election on August 14, 2018. Senator Jeremy Hutchinson (R-33rd) resigned August 31, 2018, following a federal grand jury indictment of eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of filing false tax returns.
Senate Leadership Officers Office Officer Party District President/Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin Republican President Pro Tempore of the Senate Jonathan Dismang Republican 16 Assistant Presidents pro tempore Missy Irvin Republican 18 David J. Sanders Republican 15 Cecile Bledsoe Republican 9 Stephanie Flowers Democratic 25
Floor Leaders Office Officer Party District Majority Leader Jim Hendren Republican 29 Majority Whip Bart Hester Republican 1 Minority Leader Keith Ingram Democratic 24 Minority Whip Will Bond Democratic 32
Source: Arkansas Senate
Senators
District Name Party Residence First elected Seat up Term-limited 1 Bart Hester Rep Cave Springs 2012 2020 2028 2 Jim Hendren Rep Gravette 2012 2020 2028 3 Cecile Bledsoe Rep Rogers 2008 2018 2020 4 Uvalde Lindsey Dem Fayetteville 2012 2018 2026 5 Bryan King Rep Green Forest 2012 2018 2024 6 Gary Stubblefield Rep Branch 2012 2018 2028 7Lance Eads Rep Springdale201620202032 8 Jake Files Rep Fort Smith 2013 2018 9 Terry Rice Rep Waldron 2014 2018 2024 10 Larry Teague Dem Nashville 2008 2018 2020 11 Jimmy Hickey Jr. Rep Texarkana 2012 2020 2028 12 Bruce Maloch Dem Magnolia 2012 2020 2028 13 Alan Clark Rep Lonsdale 2012 2020 2028 14 Bill Sample Rep Hot Springs 2010 2018 2020 15 David J. Sanders Rep Little Rock 2012 2018 2026 16 Greg Standridge Rep Russellville 2015 (special) 2020 17 Scott Flippo Rep Mountain Home 2014 2018 2030 18 Missy Irvin Rep Mountain View 2010 2018 2026 19 Linda Collins-Smith Rep Pocahontas 2014 2018 2026 20 Blake Johnson Rep Corning 2014 2018 2030 21 John Cooper Rep Jonesboro 2014 (special) 2020 2032 22David WallaceRep Leachville2016 2020 2026 23 Ron Caldwell Rep Wynne 2012 2020 2028 24 Keith Ingram Dem West Memphis 2012 2018 2024 25 Stephanie Flowers Dem Pine Bluff 2010 2020 2020 26 Eddie Cheatham Dem Crossett 2012 2020 2022 27 Trent Garner Rep El Dorado 2016 2020 2032 28 Jonathan Dismang Rep Beebe 2010 2020 2024 29 Eddie Joe Williams Rep Cabot 2010 2020 2024 30 Linda Chesterfield Dem Little Rock 2010 2018 2020 31 Joyce Elliott Dem Little Rock 2008 2018 2020 32Will Bond Dem Little Rock 2016 2020 2020 33 Jeremy Hutchinson Rep Benton 2010 2018 2020 34 Jane English Rep North Little Rock 2012 2020 2026 35 Jason Rapert Rep Conway 2010 2018 2026
House of Representatives Leadership Officers Floor Leaders
Representatives
District Name Party First elected Term-limited1Rep201620322Rep201020263Rep201620324Rep 2014 20305Dem201020266Rep201020267Rep201620328Rep201020269Dem2016203210Rep2012202811Dem2012202812Dem2012202813Rep2012202814Rep2016203215Rep2012202816Ken FergusonDem2014203017Dem2014203018Rep2012202819Rep2014203020Rep2016203221Rep2014203022Rep2014203023Rep2014203026Rep2014203024Rep2011†202825Rep2016203227Rep2016203228Rep2010202629Dem2010202630Dem2016203231Rep2012202832Rep2014203033Dem2012202834Dem2010202635Dem2014203036Dem2014203037Dem2012202838Rep2016203239Rep2012202840Rep2012202841Rep2014203042Dem2014203043 Rep2014203044Rep2012202845Rep2010202646Rep2014203047Dem2014203048Dem2010202649Rep2016203250Dem2014203051Dem2012202852Rep2014203053Rep2014203054Rep2016203255Dem2012202856Rep2012202857Rep2016203258Rep2014203059Rep2014203060Rep2016203261Dem2012202862Rep2014203063Rep2014203064Rep2012202865Rep2014203066Rep2012202867Rep2010202668Rep2014203069Rep2016203270Rep2010202671Rep2014203072Dem2012202873Rep2014203074Rep2010202675Rep2012202876Rep2014203077Rep2014203078Dem2012202879Rep2010202680Rep2012202881Rep2016203282Rep2016203283Rep2018203484Rep2010202685Dem2012202886Dem2010202687Rep2014203088Rep2016203289Rep2016203290Rep2014203091Rep2012202892 Rep2014203093Rep2012202894Rep2014203095Rep2016203296Rep2014203097Rep2012202898Rep2014203099Rep20162032100Rep20142030
See also List of Arkansas General Assemblies
References