Rep. Robin Lundstrum

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1529 creates a new criminal offense and a civil cause of action related to "deepfake visual material." It makes it illegal to unlawfully create or distribute such material, directly affecting individuals involved in these actions. Additionally, the bill allows individuals who are victims of unlawfully created deepfake visual material to file a lawsuit to seek compensation. This legislation provides both criminal penalties and a civil remedy for the misuse of deepfake technology.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1680, now Act 811, restricts certain foreign entities from acquiring interests in land. It prohibits businesses controlled by a "foreign party" from leasing land. The bill also prevents "prohibited foreign parties" from holding an interest in real property or agricultural land under specific circumstances. An amendment clarifies that an individual is not considered a "prohibited foreign party" if they are also a citizen of the United States.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1768, now Act 815, requires that contracts detailing host fees paid by solid waste landfills to their host communities be put to a vote. This vote must occur at a regularly scheduled meeting of both the city and the county where the landfill is located. These host fee contracts are also subject to a term limit, stating they may not exceed a period of four years.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1875 amends existing law regarding the use of ignition interlock devices. Its primary purpose is to extend the mandatory period for which individuals, often those with certain driving offenses, are required to use these devices. An amendment to the bill clarifies a notification procedure for device removal and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026, for the act.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1807 amends the existing sales tax exemption for certain aircraft. It specifically targets aircraft held for resale and those used for rental or charter, clarifying which individuals or entities are eligible for this exemption. An amendment to the bill refined a provision by changing "resale, rental, lease, or charter" to "resale" in a specific section, thereby adjusting the scope of that particular part of the exemption.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1911 aims to amend Arkansas's property tax assessment laws, primarily affecting property owners. The bill would repeal the current requirement for property owners to actively list or report their personal property for tax assessment purposes. It also eliminates the 50-cent penalty for delinquent property assessments and removes the oath required from individuals when preparing a property list. This shifts some of the responsibility for personal property listing from the owner to the county assessor's office.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1990, as amended, proposed a study concerning baccalaureate degrees in liberal arts offered at state-supported institutions of higher education. The bill directed the Division of Higher Education to conduct this study. It aimed to gather information on the applicability of liberal arts courses, the necessity of these courses for degrees, and the use of public funds. The study would also examine the number of students taking these courses and their impact on job placement and earnings after graduation.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1354 aims to regulate Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) concerning health benefit plans for state government and public school employees in Arkansas. The bill prohibits state and public plan sponsors, such as municipalities and public colleges, from contracting with PBMs that utilize standardized national contracts with pharmacies for services. Instead, PBMs contracting with these public plans must adhere to Arkansas-specific rates, terms, and conditions. This measure ensures that PBM practices for public health benefit plans comply with state law, directly affecting how these entities manage prescription drug benefits.

Maddy summaryBased on the provided information, the full text of HB 1615 is not available, only an amendment (Amendment No. 5). This amendment makes minor textual changes to the bill, such as adjusting a line number and modifying specific phrases like "(a) The state government shall license or certify any". Without the complete bill text, it is not possible to describe what the bill does, who it affects, or its key mechanisms.

Maddy summaryAct 624 generally prohibits Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) from holding retail pharmacy permits in the state, directly affecting PBMs, retail pharmacies, and their patients. The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy will identify existing retail pharmacies affiliated with PBMs and notify them of this prohibition by January 1, 2026. Affected pharmacies must then notify their patients and prescribing healthcare providers that they can no longer dispense retail drugs after this date. However, an exception allows for temporary "limited use permits" for PBM-affiliated pharmacies if a rare, orphan, or limited distribution drug is otherwise unavailable to patients in the market. This exception for limited use permits is set to expire on September 1, 2027.