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HR 1023

TO RECOGNIZE THE SALEM FOOTBALL TEAM AS THE CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Trey Steimel

A ceremonial resolution recognizing Salem Greyhounds as 2024 Arkansas Class 3A football champions; honors players and coaches, with no legal or fiscal impact on state agencies.

READ AND ADOPTED.
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Bill Summary · HR 1023

Summary — HR 1023 (95th General Assembly, 2025)

Title: To recognize the Salem football team as the Class 3A state champions
Classification: House resolution (honorific), non‑binding
Introduced: February 5, 2025 (file stamps show activity beginning Jan–Feb 2025)
Primary sponsor: Representative Steimel; additional sponsors listed: Burgess Owens and Mark Harris

Purpose

HR 1023 is a ceremonial resolution that formally congratulates and recognizes the Salem Greyhounds football team for winning the Arkansas Class 3A state championship. It records the team’s accomplishments during the 2024 season and directs that a copy of the resolution be provided to Head Coach Josh Watson.

Key provisions

  • Officially recognizes the Salem Greyhounds as the Class 3A state football champions.
  • Recites specific season and game details (see “Facts & achievements” below).
  • Directs the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to provide a copy of the adopted resolution to Coach Josh Watson.
  • No change to state law, budget, or regulatory authority — purely commemorative.

Facts & achievements recited in the resolution

  • Championship game: Salem defeated Bismarck 42–34 at War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, on December 13, 2024 (first state finals appearance and first title).
  • Season record: 12 wins, 3 losses (most wins in a season in school history).
  • Conference: Back-to-back Class 3A-2 conference champions.
  • Playoff performance: Offense averaged 38.4 points per game; defense allowed 17.8 points per game.
  • Team statistics: Rushed for over 4,900 yards and passed for over 1,250 yards during the season.
  • Individual honors noted: All‑State players Skyler Payne, Caleb Leisenring, Kaiden Hollis, Keagan Sanderson; Finals MVP Jackson Taylor (5/5 passing, 129 yards, 1 TD; 69 rushing yards, 2 TDs).
  • Coaching recognitions: Head Coach Josh Watson received multiple Coach of the Year awards; assistant coaches named and Assistant Coach Billy Webber nominated for the Broyles Award (top high school assistant in Arkansas).

Who is affected

  • Directly honors the Salem Greyhounds football program (players, coaches, staff).
  • Symbolically benefits the Salem community, school, alumni, and supporters.
  • No legal or fiscal impacts on state agencies, schools, or taxpayers.

Procedural history / timeline (selected)

  • Filed and read in late Jan 2025 (file stamps show Jan 29 / Jan 21 activity).
  • Referred to House Committee on Education and Workforce (Feb 5, 2025).
  • Committee returned a “Do Pass” (Feb 10, 2025).
  • Read and adopted (April 9, 2025 entry shows “READ AND ADOPTED”); Rules suspended and formally adopted May 2, 2025; reported enrolled May 2, 2025.
  • Companion/related measure: HR 1048 (companion).

Impact & notes

HR 1023 is an honorary resolution with no statutory, regulatory, or fiscal effects. Its primary purpose is ceremonial recognition and to create an official legislative record honoring Salem High School’s 2024 Class 3A football championship.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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