Sen. Dave Wallace

Maddy summaryHB 1079 authorizes $1 million for the Arkansas Department of Corrections to purchase and operate technology designed to detect and stop illegal wireless devices in prisons. The funds will be used to implement systems that monitor and mitigate contraband activity within correctional facilities for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This legislation includes standard requirements to follow state procurement and budget laws when spending the money.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 592 would require financial institutions to automatically renew certificates of deposit (CDs) for customers who do not provide specific renewal instructions. This bill mandates that such renewals must occur at the highest fixed interest rate available for a term closest to the original CD's term. Furthermore, the renewed CD must be for the same duration as the previous one. This legislation directly affects financial institutions and their customers holding certificates of deposit.

Maddy summarySB 273 proposed to require all dialysis centers operating in Arkansas to have at least one backup generator on site. The bill defined a "dialysis center" as a healthcare facility providing outpatient dialysis services to patients with renal disease. This measure aimed to ensure power for critical medical equipment during outages, directly affecting these facilities and their patients. SB 273 was referred to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee but died in committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1485 proposed to create a new sales and use tax exemption in Arkansas. This exemption would apply to the gross receipts from sales of tangible personal property, digital products, or services. It would specifically benefit the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery Foundation and certain other 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. To qualify, these nonprofits must be registered with the state and established to support veterans' cemeteries, veterans' homes, or facilities administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs within Arkansas.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 221 (SB 221) aims to prohibit specific contracting practices by risk-based provider organizations when they negotiate with direct healthcare service providers in Arkansas. The bill prevents these organizations from using "tying" tactics, which involve requiring a provider to contract for multiple services if they only agree to one, or penalizing them for declining certain services. It also prohibits discrimination against providers who refuse such terms. Violations of these provisions would be considered unfair trade practices, and any problematic contract clauses would be voided. The bill seeks to ensure fair negotiation for providers and protect access to healthcare for Medicaid beneficiaries, especially individuals with disabilities.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 274 proposed to create a sales and use tax exemption for specific items related to human burial in Arkansas. The bill would have exempted the first one thousand dollars ($1,000) of the purchase price of a casket, burial vault, or monument from state sales and use taxes. This provision was intended to reduce the tax burden for individuals purchasing these items. The exemption could also have been administered as a rebate.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 269, as amended, seeks to update requirements for hospice and home health services agencies regarding their office locations and service areas. The amendment clarifies the types of agency locations to include primary offices, satellite offices, or alternate delivery sites. It also requires these agencies to provide 45 days' advance notification to the Department of Health and the Health Services Permit Agency before adding a new office location from which they plan to serve within a one-hundred-mile area.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1442 aims to regulate pharmacy contracting practices and address potential conflicts of interest within the pharmaceutical industry. It seeks to establish greater patient freedom in choosing their pharmacy for prescriptions. The bill sets restrictions on how pharmacies enter contracts and intends to prevent situations where financial interests might compromise patient choice. Additionally, it grants a regulatory board the authority to issue temporary exemptions to these restrictions for specific drugs or to protect public health, and to develop rules for these exemptions.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial Resolution 2 is a commemorative bill that honors the life and public service of James "Jim" Guy Tucker, former Arkansas Attorney General, U.S. Congressman, and the forty-third Governor of Arkansas. The resolution serves to respectfully acknowledge his contributions to the state and nation following his passing.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 524 proposes making the operation of an illegal online casino or sports betting a felony offense in Arkansas. The bill creates the "Interactive Gaming Act," which expands the legal definition of interactive gaming to include online casino games and "name, image, or likeness" (NIL) drawing games. Under this Act, licensed casinos would be permitted to operate approved interactive gaming systems, subject to oversight and standards set by the Arkansas Racing Commission. This establishes a regulatory framework for certain forms of online gambling while criminalizing unlicensed operations.