Andy Davis (Arkansas politician)

Andy Davis (born May 28, 1975)^[1] is a businessman from his native Little Rock, Arkansas, who is a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from District 31 in Pulaski and Saline counties.^[2][3]

Davis's grandfather was a fire chief in Little Rock. Davis graduated from Joe T. Robinson High School in Little Rock. After three years of study at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, he transferred to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, from which he received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering in 1999 and 2001, respectively. He is a member of the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers. Since 2003, he has operated his business, New Water Systems, LLC. He is also a licensed builder.^[4]

Davis is married to the former Haley Melissa Reed (born 1977), a native of Marianna in Lee County in eastern Arkansas, whom he met at the University of Arkansas. The couple has three children and are members of the Parkway Place Baptist Church. Mrs. Davis is a teacher in the Baptist school system.^[3][4]

Until his election to the legislature in 2012, Davis had not held public office. He succeed Representative David J. Sanders, a fellow Republican who was elected to the Arkansas State Senate. Davis serves on these House committees: (1) Public Transportation, (2) Aging, Children and Youth, (3) Legislative and Military Affairs. He is vice chairman of the House Rules Committee.^[3]

Davis voted in 2013 with the Republican majority in both houses of the Arkansas General Assembly to override the veto of Democratic Governor Mike Beebe in regard to two anti-abortion bills. One forbids abortion after twenty weeks of gestation; the other prohibits abortion once fetal heartbeat is detected. Davis also voted to override Beebe's veto of legislation to require photo identification for casting a ballot in Arkansas. Davis co-sponsored legislation to permit the staff of religious institutions to engage in concealed carry of firearms. He also backed similar legislation to allow the staff of state universities to be armed.^[1]

Davis is among the "40 Under 40 of Arkansas Business", a recognition of forty Arkansans under the age of forty.^[3]

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