Sen. Dave Wallace

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1948 modifies the conditions under which a person can be charged with negligent homicide in Arkansas, impacting individuals operating vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft. It expands the definition of negligent homicide to include causing a death while fatigued, or while operating a vehicle with any amount of specified controlled substances (fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, or cocaine) present in their system. Additionally, the bill repeals the ability for prosecuting attorneys or defendants to subpoena individuals involved in calibrating or operating chemical analysis instruments for bodily substances in certain cases.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1781 proposes to require licensure for clinics, health centers, or other facilities in Arkansas that terminate or abort pregnancies, including nonsurgical methods. These facilities would need to meet all requirements for an ambulatory surgery center. The bill's effectiveness is contingent on specific legal conditions, such as the Attorney General certifying that current state laws preventing most abortions have been enjoined, repealed, or amended to permit abortions beyond saving the life of the pregnant woman.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1953 proposes to add a surcharge to telephone and video calls made by inmates in Arkansas. This surcharge would be assessed on calls from both state correctional facilities and county jails. The Department of Corrections would assess a surcharge for state facilities, while county sheriffs would have the option to do so for county jails. The funds collected from these surcharges would be specifically used to offset the costs of security needs associated with inmate communications, such as equipment and operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1592, the "Arkansas Alzheimer’s and Dementia Public Health Act," establishes a framework for the state to address Alzheimer's disease and related dementias as a public health priority. It mandates the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health to collaborate on a state plan, expand public health campaigns, and integrate cognitive health education into existing programs. This includes educating healthcare providers on early detection and care planning, and launching public awareness campaigns about risk reduction and early warning signs. The bill also requires enhanced data collection and analysis, the creation of a publicly accessible data dashboard, and seeking funding to support these efforts.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 11 (SJR 11) proposes a constitutional amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. This measure aims to modify Article 2, Section 5, with the specific intent to protect the right to keep and bear arms for individuals. If enacted, it would alter the state's foundational document concerning this right.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SB 397, protects the personal information of railroad crew members involved in fatal incidents. It mandates that public records concerning railroad fatalities must be maintained in a way that keeps the personal details of the involved crew confidential. This protection applies to custodians of these records, preventing general public access to that specific information. However, the confidentiality requirement does not apply to federal agencies like the United States National Transportation Safety Board or the Department of Transportation when they are investigating railroad accidents or incidents.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1178 amends laws pertaining to municipal legal services and district court finances. The bill specifically allows cities of the second class and incorporated towns that do not maintain a city attorney office to contract with an attorney for legal representation. It also modifies laws concerning sums collected by district courts and the cost sharing for district court expenses, although specific details for these provisions are not provided in the excerpt. This bill has been enacted into law as Act 993.

Maddy summaryHB 1682, known as the "Arkansas Good Neighbor Act," clarifies and expands liability protections for entities and individuals involved in donating and distributing food. The bill grants civil and criminal immunity to good faith donors, gleaners (those who harvest donated crops), and nonprofit organizations, even if the donated food does not meet consumer safety standards or is not readily marketable due to appearance or surplus. To qualify for this protection, donors must inform the receiving organization, and the organization must inform recipients, about the food's condition to the best of their knowledge. This immunity does not apply in cases of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. The act aims to encourage food donations by reducing liability concerns for those who help provide food to the public through charitable channels.

Maddy summaryHJR 1018, titled "THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT," is a joint resolution that successfully passed both legislative chambers and was approved by the Governor. Based on its title, this bill proposes an amendment aimed at restricting voting eligibility to citizens only. However, the provided bill text primarily consists of an amendment adding various representatives and senators as cosponsors to the resolution, and does not detail the specific language, mechanisms, or provisions of the proposed "Citizens Only Voting Amendment" itself.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 375 creates the new offense of "capital rape" in Arkansas, targeting individuals who commit sexual offenses against victims aged thirteen (13) years or younger under specific aggravated circumstances. This offense is defined by actions such as causing or threatening serious physical injury, committing certain other felonies concurrently, using a deadly weapon, or having prior convictions for similar offenses. For offenders aged eighteen (18) or older, the penalties include death or life imprisonment without parole, while offenders younger than eighteen (18) face life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after twenty (20) years. The bill also ensures that prosecution for capital rape can be commenced at any time.