Rep. Jimmy Gazaway

Maddy summaryHB 1865, now Act 976, creates enhanced penalties for various offenses committed against children. This legislation directly affects individuals convicted of these specific crimes, aiming to increase protections for children. Key provisions include defining the categories of offenses covered, such as sexual offenses, voyeurism, human trafficking, child exploitation, and computer crimes against minors. It also establishes specific enhanced minimum prison sentences for certain felony classes, including 15 years for a Class A felony, 10 years for a Class B felony, and 5 years for a Class C felony.

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 summaryThis bill amends Arkansas law regarding the termination of oral farmland lease agreements. It allows landowners to choose not to renew an oral lease for the upcoming calendar year. To do so, the landowner must provide written notice to the renter or lessee on or before June 30. The bill expands the acceptable methods for delivering this notice, moving beyond certified mail to include any service method allowed under the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure.

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.

Maddy summaryHJR 1018, titled "THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT," is a joint resolution that successfully passed both legislative chambers and was approved by the Governor. Based on its title, this bill proposes an amendment aimed at restricting voting eligibility to citizens only. However, the provided bill text primarily consists of an amendment adding various representatives and senators as cosponsors to the resolution, and does not detail the specific language, mechanisms, or provisions of the proposed "Citizens Only Voting Amendment" itself.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 539 updates and clarifies laws concerning the Division of Community Correction and the Division of Correction, including references to community correction centers. The bill modifies administrative sanctions for parolees and individuals on post-release supervision. It defines intermediate sanctions such as increased substance abuse screening or treatment, and increased monitoring. For parolees, incarceration as an intermediate sanction is limited to a maximum of seven days in a county jail or 120 days in a state facility, with overall limits on frequency and duration. Similar restrictions apply to those on post-release supervision, capping intermediate incarceration at seven days in a county/regional jail or 90 days in a state facility.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 446 amends the Automatic License Plate Reader System Act to expand who can use these systems. The bill now allows private landowners, private leaseholders, and commercial businesses to utilize automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). These private entities can use ALPRs for purposes such as promoting public safety, deterring crime, and monitoring access to their private property. The legislation stipulates that private entities must destroy captured plate data after 60 days, while most governmental entities have a 150-day retention limit. Private users are prohibited from selling or trading captured plate data for commercial purposes, though it can be shared with third-party processors for asset protection under specific contractual terms.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 485 amends Arkansas laws regarding suspended sentences, probation, parole, and post-release supervision. It requires courts to tailor probation conditions to an individual's "criminogenic risks and needs" - factors that increase the risk of reoffending - and to consider presentence investigation findings. The bill also allows courts to mandate participation in community-based rehabilitative programs proven to reduce recidivism. Additionally, it establishes an Evidence-based Practices and Quality Assurance Unit within the Department of Corrections to research and evaluate offender treatment programs. These changes aim to reduce reoffending by focusing on individualized, data-driven approaches to supervision and rehabilitation.

Maddy summarySB 530 is a procedural bill that added 21 senators and 37 representatives as cosponsors to the original bill. It did not change the tax credit policy itself, as the title references an existing Arkansas Wood Energy Products and Forest Maintenance Income Tax Credit. The bill's purpose was solely to expand the list of legislators supporting the tax credit legislation. The bill was passed and became Act 701 on April 18, 2025. No substantive policy changes to the tax credit were made by this amendment.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 426 creates the "Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act." This legislation establishes enhanced penalties for individuals identified as illegal aliens. These increased penalties apply specifically when an illegal alien commits serious felonies involving violence.