By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — Legislators are expected to meet briefly at the Capitol on Friday to bring this year’s regular session to its official close.

Following a three-week recess after an 88-day session, adjournment is the last official business for the 87th General Assembly.

“I would expect it to be strictly ceremonial and there not to be really any serious business,” said Senate President Pro Tem Bob Johnson, D-Bigelow.

In the House, “they’re going to meet in the chamber at noon, and the speaker will rap the gavel and bring session to a close,” said Buddy Johnson, House chief of staff.

Unlike some past sessions that have ended with last-minute bill revisions or veto overrides, this year’s session left no major loose ends to tie up, according to lawmakers.

The session was just two days longer than the 2007 session, which was the shortest since 1991.

Johnson said the Legislature had “a great session” in which lawmakers created rules for a state-run lottery to fund college scholarships, raised tobacco taxes to fund a statewide trauma system and laid the groundwork for making the switch from biennial to annual sessions — all during difficult economic times.

Johnson added that he had good working relationships with House Speaker Robbie Wills, D-Conway, and Gov. Mike Beebe.

“The governor is just a tremendous governor to work with. I’m not sure that the footprint he’s going to leave, anyone’s shoe is going to fit in it,” Johnson said.

The Legislature will convene in February for its first fiscal session. Lawmakers are to meet for no more than 30 days and take up only budget issues, though they can extend the session for 15 days with a three-fourths vote in each chamber and can consider non-budget items with a two-thirds vote in each chamber.