Rep. Scott Richardson

Maddy summaryHB 1057 would allow nonviolent felons who have completed all sentences (including parole or probation) to restore their right to possess firearms. To qualify, a person must have no other felony convictions in another state and must meet specific eligibility criteria outlined in the bill. The bill requires Arkansas to create uniform forms for the restoration process and mandates the Arkansas Crime Information Center to notify the National Crime Information Center when rights are restored. This change would directly affect nonviolent felons who meet these conditions, enabling them to legally possess firearms after fulfilling sentencing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1062 (now Act 565) amends school disciplinary procedures to require school staff conducting conferences about student removals for violent behavior to determine if a behavioral threat assessment is necessary. It specifically modifies conference protocols to address cases where students are removed from classrooms due to violent conduct, adding this assessment step to the process. The bill excludes certain facilities (Division of Youth Services schools, contracted facilities, and the Arkansas Correctional School District) from these requirements. The law applies directly to school staff handling student disciplinary cases involving violence, focusing on procedural changes rather than new protections. This is a procedural update to existing school discipline rules, not a broad policy change.

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.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 29, 2025, as Vietnam War Veterans Day and March 2025 as Vietnam Era Veterans Month in Arkansas. It formally recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of Vietnam War veterans through state-level ceremonial observance. The resolution does not create new laws, programs, or benefits - it serves solely as a symbolic gesture of appreciation. It affects Arkansas residents by establishing official dates for state-level recognition of veterans' service.

Maddy summaryHB 1636 would phase out Arkansas' soft drink tax by gradually eliminating it based on sales tax collections from soft drink sales. The bill proposed replacing the current tax with a system tied directly to existing sales tax data, ensuring a smooth transition. This change would directly affect soft drink retailers (who collect the tax) and consumers (who pay it). The legislation aimed to replace an outdated tax structure with one aligned to current sales tax reporting practices.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the Arkansas Tech University Robotics Club for winning the Tournament Champion and Innovate Awards at the 2025 Texas State VEX U Tournament. It does not create new laws or policies - it solely honors the club’s achievement in a competitive robotics event. The resolution acknowledges their specific awards, their qualification for the VEX U World Championship, and their documented design process. It affects the club members and their sponsors by formally acknowledging their accomplishment through a state legislative resolution.

Maddy summaryHB 1557 is a technical amendment to existing IT governance rules for the Division of Information Systems. It updates specific terminology by changing "biannual" to "biennial" (referring to every two years), broadening funding references to include "state, federal, or public grant" sources, and clarifying "customized software or information technology systems" instead of "customized information technology." The bill does not create new policies or affect citizens directly; it only refines existing administrative language for clarity in IT reporting and grant management. The amendment was enacted as Act 480 on April 8, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1705 (now Act 478) requires public school social studies standards to include specific content about how the religious and moral beliefs of the founding fathers influenced the founding of the United States. This law directly affects K-12 students and educators in the state by mandating that existing social studies curriculum standards incorporate this historical perspective. The bill amends standards to explicitly reference "religious and moral beliefs" held by the founding fathers and their role in shaping the nation's founding principles. It does not create new educational programs but revises current standards to include this specific historical analysis.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1561) is a technical amendment to remove all references to "the State of Qatar" from existing state laws. It deletes phrases like "or the State of Qatar" or "from the State of Qatar" from 17 different sections of the code, correcting outdated or erroneous text. The bill does not create new policies, affect any individuals or groups, or change legal requirements. It was passed by both chambers and became law as Act 473 on April 8, 2025, solely to update legal references.

Maddy summaryHB 1549, now Act 489, requires Arkansas state agencies to organize cybersecurity personnel under a "functional report" structure, meaning cybersecurity staff must directly report to the State Cybersecurity Office. This affects all state agency employees with cybersecurity or information security duties, including those handling threat monitoring, incident response, and compliance. The law sets statewide minimum cybersecurity standards that agencies can exceed but not lower, while mandating that federal standards override state rules when stricter. It clarifies that agencies must follow these reporting and standards requirements without accessing data protected by other laws.