Rep. Matt Brown

Maddy summarySenate Bill 535 creates a sales and use tax exemption specifically for the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation. This means that these two organizations will not be required to pay sales tax on their purchases of physical goods, digital products, or services. The bill amends existing state code to add this new exemption. This change aims to reduce the tax burden on the museum and its associated foundation.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1529 creates a new criminal offense and a civil cause of action related to "deepfake visual material." It makes it illegal to unlawfully create or distribute such material, directly affecting individuals involved in these actions. Additionally, the bill allows individuals who are victims of unlawfully created deepfake visual material to file a lawsuit to seek compensation. This legislation provides both criminal penalties and a civil remedy for the misuse of deepfake technology.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1680, now Act 811, restricts certain foreign entities from acquiring interests in land. It prohibits businesses controlled by a "foreign party" from leasing land. The bill also prevents "prohibited foreign parties" from holding an interest in real property or agricultural land under specific circumstances. An amendment clarifies that an individual is not considered a "prohibited foreign party" if they are also a citizen of the United States.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1730, now Act 830, amends the law concerning the issuance and transfer of wholesale permits for alcoholic beverages. This bill allows for the issuance of new general wholesaler permits starting July 1, 2026, lifting a previous restriction that prohibited their issuance after September 1, 2013. It also permits the issuance of new minimum wholesaler permits from the act's effective date. Existing permits can still be renewed and transferred according to current law.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1681 establishes the Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program. This program provides grants to local entities to help fund improvements and upgrades to their water and sewer treatment infrastructure. The grants will be supported by revenues authorized by law. The program is set to expire five years after its effective date, and the administering commission is required to report annually on the status of all awarded grants.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1679 amends the Revised Arkansas Anatomical Gift Act. It allows certain individuals to revoke or modify an anatomical gift after the donor's death, specifically following the irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions. The bill also requires organ procurement organizations to submit certain reports. This legislation affects individuals who have made anatomical gift decisions and the organizations responsible for facilitating these gifts.

Maddy summaryHB 1732 aims to increase the income tax deduction available to teachers. This deduction applies to money teachers spend on their classrooms, often referred to as classroom investment. By increasing the allowed deduction, the bill enables teachers to reduce a larger portion of these out-of-pocket expenses from their taxable income. This change directly affects teachers who incur costs for their classrooms.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1739, known as the Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act, establishes standards for the official status of electronic legal documents in Arkansas. The bill defines "legal material" to include the Arkansas Constitution, the Arkansas Code, and state agency rules, but specifically excludes materials published by the Arkansas judiciary, such as court decisions. It assigns responsibility for publishing these electronic legal materials to specific state entities. For example, the Arkansas Code Revision Commission is responsible for the Arkansas Code, and the Secretary of State is responsible for the Arkansas Constitution and state agency rules. This act aims to clarify which electronic versions of state law are considered official.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HB 1833, amends the law concerning admissions at the University of Arkansas College of Medicine. The provided text, Amendment No. 1, modifies specific conditions related to the number of qualified applicants. It specifies that certain admission provisions apply only if fewer than twenty-five applicants from a congressional district, or fewer than twenty-five Arkansas residents, meet published admissions standards and accept an offer. This directly affects prospective medical students and the College of Medicine's admissions process by setting thresholds for geographic and residency-based considerations.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1893, now Act 819, authorizes private property owners and business owners in Arkansas to ban emotional support animals from their property or premises, provided it doesn't conflict with federal law like the Fair Housing Act. Business owners can implement this ban by either verbally informing individuals or by posting a clear sign at the entrance. The act also limits the liability of private property or business owners for injuries caused by an emotional support animal, holding them responsible only in cases of gross negligence.