Arkansas 2021 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate

SB 730 — TO AMEND THE DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES LAW TO AUTHORIZE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS TERMINATED SOLELY DUE TO A REFUSAL TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19); AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

Last action — Died in House ruled not germane to the Governor's call.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

  • SB 730 Current pdf

How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends Arkansas law to ensure individuals are not disqualified from unemployment benefits solely for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

  • Arkansas Code § 11-10-513

    No → An individual shall not be disqualified under this section if

    Clarifies that disqualification for unemployment benefits does not apply if the individual refuses vaccination.

  • Arkansas Code § 11-10-513

    Due to a refusal by the individual to be vaccinated against coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or its variants.

    Adds a new reason for which an individual cannot be disqualified from unemployment benefits.

  • Arkansas Code § 11-10-514

    An individual shall not be disqualified for benefits if he or she is terminated solely due to a refusal to be vaccinated against coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or its variants.

    Establishes a specific provision protecting individuals from disqualification for unemployment benefits due to refusal of vaccination.

Amendments

1 amendment

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Died in House ruled not germane to the Governor's call.

  2. Died in House at Sine Die Adjournment

  3. Motion to uphold the decision of the Chair passed

  4. Representative McKenzie objected to the Chair's ruling of SB730

  5. Improperly introduced not compliant with HCR1015

  6. Read the first time

  7. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

  8. Order immediately transmitted to the House as passed with the Emergency Clause having failed of adoption.

  9. Emergency Clause failed of adoption.

  10. Read the third time and passed.

  11. Rules suspended.

  12. REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED

  13. Amendment 1 adopted and ordered engrossed.

  14. Voice vote on Amendment 1 to SB739. Amendment Failed. Roll call requested. Five hands were seen.

  15. Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.

  16. Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1

  17. Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE

  18. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 137 not signed on · 11 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (137)

137 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 137 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Voice vote on Amendment 1 to SB739. Amendment Failed. Roll call requested. Five hands were seen.

Passed 23 Yea · 11 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 231101
Total 231101
% of votes cast 66%31%0%3%
How each member voted (35)
Member Party Vote
Beckham — Yea
Rapert — Yea
Bledsoe — Nay
Elliott — Nay
Teague — Nay
Alan Clark — Yea
B. Ballinger — Yea
B. Sample — Yea
Bart Hester — Yea
Ben Gilmore — Yea
Blake Johnson — Yea
Breanne Davis — Yea
C. Tucker — Nay
Dan Sullivan — Yea
Dave Wallace — Yea
G. Stubblefield — Yea
Greg Leding — Nay
J. Hendren — Nay
J. Sturch — Yea
Jane English — Yea
Jimmy Hickey, Jr — Nay
Jonathan Dismang — Nay
K. Ingram — Nay
Kim Hammer — Yea
L. Chesterfield — Nay
L. Eads — Nay
M. Pitsch — Yea
Mark Johnson — Yea
Missy Irvin — Yea
Ricky Hill — Yea
Ronald Caldwell — Yea
S. Flowers — Not Voting
Scott Flippo — Yea
T. Garner — Yea
Terry Rice — Yea

Official roll call →

Read the third time and passed.

Passed 20 Yea · 13 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 201302
Total 201302
% of votes cast 57%37%0%6%
How each member voted (35)
Member Party Vote
Beckham — Yea
Rapert — Yea
Bledsoe — Nay
Elliott — Nay
Teague — Not Voting
Alan Clark — Yea
B. Ballinger — Yea
B. Sample — Nay
Bart Hester — Yea
Ben Gilmore — Yea
Blake Johnson — Yea
Breanne Davis — Yea
C. Tucker — Nay
Dan Sullivan — Yea
Dave Wallace — Yea
G. Stubblefield — Yea
Greg Leding — Nay
J. Hendren — Nay
J. Sturch — Yea
Jane English — Nay
Jimmy Hickey, Jr — Nay
Jonathan Dismang — Nay
K. Ingram — Nay
Kim Hammer — Yea
L. Chesterfield — Nay
L. Eads — Nay
M. Pitsch — Nay
Mark Johnson — Yea
Missy Irvin — Yea
Ricky Hill — Yea
Ronald Caldwell — Yea
S. Flowers — Not Voting
Scott Flippo — Yea
T. Garner — Yea
Terry Rice — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety healthcare labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 730?
SB 730 is sponsored by T. Garner.
What is the current status of SB 730?
This bill died with 2021 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 730?
Track SB 730 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 730

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 730

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →