Rep. Jimmy Gazaway

Maddy summarySB 393, now Act 362, amends Arkansas' Sex Offender Registration Act to expand mandatory lifetime registration requirements. It adds six new triggers for lifetime registration, including offenders convicted of rape by forcible compulsion (or similar offenses), those with three or more registration violations, and individuals who committed offenses against victims under 15 years old while aged over 24. The law directly affects sex offenders meeting these specific criteria, requiring them to register for life regardless of sentence length or time since conviction. The bill does not alter registration procedures or penalties but broadens the scope of who must comply with lifetime registration under the 1997 Act.

Maddy summaryHB 1603 changes how court payments from criminal defendants are allocated in Arkansas circuit courts. It requires that installment payments first cover court costs, then restitution, and finally fines, as specified in the law. This directly affects defendants paying court fees in installments, ensuring costs and restitution are prioritized before fines. The bill also allows existing local payment methods adopted before 2017 to remain in effect until repealed by local governments. The law became Act 365 on March 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1629 (now Act 368) allows retiring prosecuting attorneys and deputies authorized to carry a firearm during their service to receive their assigned service firearm upon retirement. The bill amends Arkansas Code § 16-21-147(b) to add a provision enabling this award as recognition of service. It directly affects state prosecuting attorneys and deputies who carried firearms in their official duties. The policy change is now law, effective March 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 263 (now Act 330) increases the amount of the homestead property tax credit available to Arkansas homeowners. This policy change directly benefits qualifying homeowners who own and occupy their primary residence, reducing their annual property tax bill. The bill amends the existing tax credit structure to provide a higher dollar amount for eligible taxpayers. It became law after passing the Arkansas legislature and being delivered to the Governor on March 13, 2025. The change represents a concrete adjustment to tax relief for qualified homeowners without altering eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1527 allows guardians managing a ward's estate (such as a minor or incapacitated adult) to invest funds in the Arkansas Brighter Future Fund Plan without needing court approval. This bill amends Arkansas law to explicitly add this state-created retirement savings plan as a permissible investment option for guardians. The change simplifies financial management for guardians by removing the prior requirement for judicial permission when using this specific investment vehicle.

Maddy summarySB 165 amends Arkansas' procurement law to clarify the process for contractors responding to requests for revised proposals after initial discussions. It requires state agencies to give qualified contractors a chance to revise their proposals if clarification of requirements necessitates material changes, allowing them to submit a "best and final offer." Contractors can choose to lower pricing, add benefits, or keep their original proposal unchanged when responding to such requests. This change directly affects businesses bidding on state contracts under competitive sealed proposal rules, ensuring clearer procedures for final proposal submissions.

Maddy summarySB 147 renames Arkansas' "Department of Transformation and Shared Services" to "Department of Transformation and Shared Administrative Services" throughout state law. It updates references to this department in multiple Arkansas Code sections governing state employee leave programs, geographic information systems, and land surveying responsibilities. The bill affects state agencies, higher education institutions, and the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Board that interact with this department. It makes no policy changes but corrects the department's name in existing statutes and adds "to declare an emergency" to the title, though this does not alter the bill's administrative focus.

Maddy summarySB 169 corrects grammatical and punctuation errors in Arkansas Constitution Amendment 51, which governs voter registration rules. It specifically revises sections about voter registration forms (requiring clearer statements on eligibility, penalties for false applications, and confidentiality), voter eligibility requirements (clarifying felony conviction rules), and registration cancellation procedures (updating the list of reasons like address changes or death). The bill makes no policy changes - it only fixes wording in existing constitutional language to improve clarity and consistency. This technical update directly affects voters, election officials, and third-party registration organizations by ensuring registration forms and rules are accurately reflected in the constitution.

Maddy summarySB 166 amends Arkansas' emergency procurement law to explicitly include a "state of disaster emergency" within the definition of "critical emergency." This change allows state agencies to bypass standard procurement rules during declared disasters (like floods or tornadoes) to quickly acquire essential supplies. The bill directly affects state agencies responsible for emergency response and procurement. It updates Arkansas Code § 19-11-233(b)(2) to clarify that disasters declared under § 12-75-107 qualify as "critical emergencies" for procurement purposes. The law became effective on February 27, 2025, as Act 207.

Maddy summarySB 185 amends Arkansas' computer and electronic waste management law to change how state agencies handle surplus equipment and recycling contracts. It requires agencies to sell surplus computers and electronics to employees at prices set by the Department of Finance and Administration's Department of Transformation and Shared Services, rather than using existing agency policies. The bill also directs the Computer and Electronic Recycling Fund to work with that department and the Marketing and Redistribution Section to establish statewide contracts with recycling and demanufacturing businesses. These changes directly affect state agencies managing surplus equipment and businesses providing electronic waste recycling services. The bill became law as Act 208 on February 27, 2025.