Rep. Steve Unger

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 1004 (HJR 1004) proposes that the state formally requests the United States Congress to call a Convention of the States. The specific purpose of this convention would be to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment would establish term limits for members of the United States Congress, directly affecting those who serve in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Maddy summaryHJR 1010 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Arkansas Senate to remove members of state boards and commissions. This amendment would permit the Senate to remove a member before their term expires, but only for "cause" and after providing notice and a hearing. Such a removal would require a vote of at least two-thirds of the Senate's membership. This new removal process would be supplemental to any other methods of removal already established by the Arkansas Constitution or state law.

Maddy summaryHB 1423, also known as the "Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act," prohibits individuals and entities from receiving compensation for helping veterans with their benefits claims. Specifically, it disallows payment for preparing, presenting, or advising on veterans' benefits matters, unless such compensation is explicitly authorized by federal law (Title 38 U.S.C. § 5904 and 38 C.F.R. § 14.629). The bill also prohibits receiving compensation for referring individuals to these services. Any person receiving authorized compensation must adhere to the same ethical standards as attorneys under Arkansas's Rules of Professional Conduct. Violations of this act are deemed a deceptive trade practice and a Class A misdemeanor.

Maddy summaryHB 1284 modifies the process for suspending or revoking an individual's driver's license or vehicle registration in Arkansas due to unpaid court-ordered fines. It prevents courts from requesting such suspensions unless the person first fails to appear at a scheduled hearing specifically addressing their nonpayment. The bill also clarifies that courts can issue restricted driving permits, allowing individuals with suspended licenses to drive for specific necessary purposes like work, medical appointments, or court appearances. If charges related to nonpayment or failure to appear are dismissed, the driver's license or registration must be reinstated without a fee.

Maddy summaryHJR 1015 was a proposed constitutional amendment in Arkansas that aimed to change how judicial candidates appear on the ballot. If approved, it would have required candidates for Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judge, Circuit Judge, and District Judge to declare their political party affiliation or independent status. This declared affiliation or independent status would then be printed on the ballot for voters to see. The stated purpose of the amendment was to ensure transparency regarding judicial candidates' affiliations. This amendment would have taken effect on January 1, 2027, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 1065, titled "TO CREATE THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OF 2025," died in the House Committee on Revenue & Taxation on May 5, 2025, without becoming law. The provided bill text contains no substantive policy language or specific mechanisms; it only includes a list of supporting legislators and procedural details. No concrete policy changes, affected groups, or key provisions are described in the available text. As a bill that stalled in committee with no enacted provisions, it did not implement any inflation-related measures. The title appears to be a placeholder, as no actual inflation reduction policy was outlined in the submitted bill.

Maddy summaryHB 1058 seeks to update existing laws regarding ethics and conflicts of interest for public officers and employees. A central provision of the bill prohibits public employees from giving advance notice to entities before conducting complaint-based inspections. This aims to ensure that these specific types of inspections are carried out without prior warning to the entity being inspected.

Maddy summaryHB 1699 proposed to expand the state's existing sales tax holiday. If enacted, it would have allowed consumers to purchase firearm safety devices and firearm storage devices without paying sales tax during the designated holiday period. This measure aimed to make these specific items, intended for secure firearm storage, temporarily more affordable for individuals.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1059 proposes to offer a free lifetime hunting and fishing license to certain commercial truck drivers who are residents of Arkansas. This benefit would also include optional lifetime trout and duck stamps. To qualify, a commercial truck driver must provide information to law enforcement that results in the rescue of a human trafficking victim or the conviction of an individual for human trafficking. The Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission would be responsible for issuing these licenses and would be reimbursed for their cost.

Maddy summaryHB 1662, titled "TO PROHIBIT LOBBYING FOR A COVERED FOREIGN ENTITY," aimed to prevent individuals or organizations from lobbying on behalf of certain foreign entities. The provided text is an amendment to the bill, which made minor changes to specific wording and references within the original text. Without the full original bill text, the specific definitions of "covered foreign entity" or the detailed mechanisms and scope of the prohibition are not available.