Maddy summarySB 463 requires Arkansas public utilities to obtain approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission before entering settlement agreements that would close or eliminate power plants or transmission assets. The bill directly affects utilities, the Commission, and consumers by mandating that settlements must legally resolve claims, not exceed regulatory costs, and avoid decisions driven by environmental goals rather than law. The Commission must evaluate whether proposed settlements are legally sound, cost-justified for consumers, and based on reasonable legal interpretations before approving or denying them. This creates a new review process to ensure settlements protect consumer interests and comply with state regulations. The bill does not change existing utility operations but adds oversight for specific settlement agreements.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis Arkansas bill (SB 564, now Act 596) changes the legal definition of "beer" to allow up to 10% alcohol by weight (previously capped at 5%) and explicitly includes malt beverages within this definition. It updates all relevant sections of Arkansas law to reflect this higher alcohol limit for beer and malt beverages, while maintaining separate 5% limits for "light wine." The bill directly affects brewers producing higher-alcohol malt beverages, retailers selling them, and regulators enforcing alcohol content rules. These changes streamline regulations for craft brewers and similar products without altering tax rates or local sales restrictions.
Maddy summaryHB 1303 (now Act 546) creates a state income tax credit for businesses producing sustainable aviation fuel in Arkansas. The credit allows eligible producers to reduce their state income tax liability by up to the full amount of tax they owe in a given year. It directly affects aviation fuel producers who meet the bill's sustainability criteria, providing financial incentive to develop and use cleaner fuel alternatives. The law, enacted April 10, 2025, establishes this credit as part of Arkansas' efforts to support sustainable energy infrastructure.
Maddy summarySB 189, now Act 396, allows pharmacies and consumers to purchase Ivermectin for human use without a prescription or consultation with a healthcare professional. The bill removes existing requirements for medical oversight when buying this medication. It directly affects pharmacies (which can now sell it without a prescription) and consumers (who can obtain it without seeing a doctor). The law took effect after the bill passed the legislature and was signed by the governor on March 31, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends spousal retirement benefits to spouses of specific city officials upon their death. It applies to city attorneys in first/second-class cities, deputy city clerks in first-class cities, mayors in second-class cities, and treasurers in first-class cities. Eligible spouses married to the official for at least 10 years can receive half the deceased's retirement benefit (either what they were receiving or what they would have received if they died in office), at the city's discretion. Benefits terminate upon the spouse's remarriage. The policy change directly affects these municipal employee roles and their surviving spouses.
Maddy summaryHB 1511 would have prohibited recipients of an Attorney General subpoena from disclosing the subpoena's existence or the related investigation to anyone except their attorney, with limited exceptions. This rule would have directly affected individuals or organizations receiving such subpoenas during investigations. The bill added this confidentiality requirement to Arkansas law, allowing disclosure only with the Attorney General's written permission. However, the bill was withdrawn by its author on March 20, 2025, and did not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 1593 combines reporting requirements for Arkansas' correctional agencies. It mandates that the Board of Corrections, Division of Correction, and Division of Community Correction submit a single biennial report to the Governor and General Assembly, including statistics on inmate discipline, facility use, and racial breakdowns for community corrections. The bill also requires quarterly reports on vacant parole and probation officer positions. These changes consolidate previous reporting duties into one streamlined process. The bill was enacted as Act 358 on March 20, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 1212 would amend Arkansas law to allow justices of the peace to also serve as city police officers or school resource officers under specific conditions. The bill adds an exception to existing rules that generally prohibit county officials from holding multiple civil offices, permitting justices of the peace to work in these law enforcement roles outside their local district. This change would directly affect current or future justices of the peace who hold or seek such police positions. The provision applies only to roles described in a separate section of state law (§ 6-10-128) and does not apply to new appointments. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn by its author in March 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 1462 authorizes public water providers in Arkansas to use utility rate revenue and issue bonds to replace lead and certain galvanized customer service lines serving homes and businesses. The bill specifies that water providers must obtain property owner consent before replacing lines on private property and clarifies they won’t assume ownership or maintenance responsibilities for replaced lines unless agreed otherwise. It directly affects water utilities and their customers, enabling them to fund these health-related infrastructure upgrades using existing public finance mechanisms. The bill was introduced on February 12, 2025, but was withdrawn by its author 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.