Sen. Blake Johnson

Maddy summarySB 222 aligns Missouri's Medicaid provider marketing rules with federal standards by requiring direct service providers to follow the federal managed care marketing rules (42 C.F.R. § 438.104) as they existed on January 1, 2025. This affects Medicaid providers who market services to enrollees, ensuring their advertising complies with established federal guidelines. The bill mandates that the state department revise its marketing rules to match these federal requirements. The legislation was passed quickly with an emergency clause, becoming law on March 18, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 263 (now Act 330) increases the amount of the homestead property tax credit available to Arkansas homeowners. This policy change directly benefits qualifying homeowners who own and occupy their primary residence, reducing their annual property tax bill. The bill amends the existing tax credit structure to provide a higher dollar amount for eligible taxpayers. It became law after passing the Arkansas legislature and being delivered to the Governor on March 13, 2025. The change represents a concrete adjustment to tax relief for qualified homeowners without altering eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds nitrogen gas as an additional method of execution for individuals sentenced to death in Arkansas, alongside the existing lethal injection option. It requires prison officials to notify death row inmates of the chosen execution method (nitrogen gas or lethal injection) at least seven days in advance. The bill also includes confidentiality provisions preventing public disclosure of execution protocols, drug sources, and personnel involved under Arkansas' public records laws. This change applies to all future capital punishment cases in Arkansas, following its passage into law as Act 302.

Maddy summaryHB 1194 directs the placement of a commemorative monument on Arkansas' state Capitol grounds to recognize and appreciate the integration of Hoxie Public Schools in 1957. This procedural bill does not create new policies or affect specific groups; it solely authorizes a physical monument to honor this historical event. The bill passed and became Act 251 in March 2025, with no additional funding or requirements specified.

Maddy summarySB 150 amends Arkansas law to allow the Director of the Employee Benefits Division to cooperate with the U.S. government on Medicare-related matters. This change directly affects state and public school employees covered under the state's life and health insurance program by enabling streamlined coordination with federal Medicare programs. The key provision adds new authority to the Director's duties, specifically permitting collaboration on federally funded benefit programs. The bill creates no new benefits or costs but adjusts administrative processes for existing insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 1417, now Act 215, designates the mallard duck as Arkansas' official state duck without creating new laws or requirements. The bill explicitly states state agencies are not obligated to update publications or displays to include this designation, though they may choose to do so in future materials. It also clarifies that the designation does not grant any legal protections or conservation status to mallard ducks. This is a purely symbolic measure with no direct impact on residents, businesses, or state operations.

Maddy summarySB 142, now Act 122, bans students from possessing or using personal electronic devices (like phones) during the entire school day, directly affecting public school students. The law requires schools to update discipline policies to include specific exemptions: devices issued by the school for educational use, special events (defined by future rules), and devices needed for students with special education plans or concurrent enrollment college courses. It replaces prior rules with these clear exemptions while maintaining the overall "bell to bell" device ban. The bill passed in February 2025 and became law without additional committee action.

Maddy summarySB 59 requires all public schools to provide one free breakfast daily to every student upon request, without checking if they qualify for federally funded free or reduced-price meals. This policy directly affects all public school students in the state, eliminating eligibility barriers for breakfast access. The bill includes an emergency clause, allowing it to take effect immediately upon enactment. It changes school meal procedures by mandating universal breakfast availability as a standard practice, not tied to existing federal program eligibility. The bill became law as Act 123 on February 24, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1381 would have limited insurers' right to reimbursement for medical and hospital benefits paid to injury victims to a maximum of $5,000 per case. It would require insurers to seek reimbursement directly from injury settlement proceeds without forcing joint payments to both the victim and insurer. The bill specifically applied to non-workers' compensation injury claims under Arkansas law, excluding workers' compensation cases. The bill was withdrawn by its author on February 12, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1204 (now Act 28) amends Arkansas law to clarify that plaintiffs in medical negligence cases can only recover the actual costs they paid for necessary medical care, treatment, or services - or costs legally owed by them or a third party. It directly affects individuals filing medical malpractice claims and healthcare providers by limiting recoverable damages to amounts actually paid or legally responsible. The key provision changes the standard for medical cost recovery from billed rates to verified payments, preventing recovery of unpaid or inflated charges. This law, enacted on February 11, 2025, provides a clearer financial framework for medical negligence claims in Arkansas.