Rep. Chad Puryear

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 summaryHouse Bill 1448 aims to amend Arkansas law concerning municipal planning areas and land acquisition. It sets a one-year deadline for public boards to decide whether to acquire private land designated for future public use or release it from reservation. If the public board fails to act within this timeframe, the land is released, and the property owner must receive reasonable compensation for any diminished value during the delay. Additionally, the bill requires municipal planning commissions to provide direct mail notice to affected property owners and school districts when proposing new plans, ordinances, or regulations.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1924 sought to repeal a specific requirement placed on the State Board of Education. It aimed to eliminate the mandate for the Board to establish rules, standards, and guidelines for public school districts that choose to operate on a four-day school week. This change would remove the state-level oversight on the implementation process for such schedules. The bill also reiterated that school districts with four-day weeks would not receive more state financial aid than those with five-day weeks.

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 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.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 571 amends existing law regarding municipal building and zoning regulations. This bill prohibits a municipality from enforcing its building and zoning regulations on county property. This prohibition specifically applies to county property that is used for a public purpose and is located within the corporate limits of that municipality. This means local governments at the county level would not be subject to a municipality's building and zoning rules for public-purpose properties within that municipality's boundaries.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 11 (SJR 11) proposes a constitutional amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. This measure aims to modify Article 2, Section 5, with the specific intent to protect the right to keep and bear arms for individuals. If enacted, it would alter the state's foundational document concerning this right.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1762, now Act 1009, updates regulations for entities permitted to apply industrial wastewater residuals onto land. It requires the Division of Environmental Quality to assess the maximum allowable penalty for each violation involving over-application or precipitation-related surface land application. Additionally, the bill directs the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission to begin developing new rules for "no-discharge" land application permits for industrial waste. Current land application permit procedures will remain in effect until these new rules are established.

Maddy summaryHB 1604, now Act 943, amends existing laws regarding contracts made by state agencies in Arkansas. The bill specifically prohibits state agencies from using public funds to purchase promotional items that are manufactured in China. This measure aims to regulate the types of products state agencies can acquire using taxpayer money. These new provisions apply to contracts executed on or after the act's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1352 (now Act 937) is a technical amendment to a bill that primarily changes a single word in the legislation - replacing "and" with "or" on page 6, line 31. It does not introduce new policies, alter substantive requirements, or directly affect any specific groups or entities. The bill was passed by the Arkansas Senate with Amendment No. 1 and signed into law on April 21, 2025. As a minor procedural correction, it has no meaningful impact on how the law operates or who it governs.