Rep. Jon Milligan

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1901 amends state law regarding passport fees collected by county offices that serve as passport acceptance facilities. It authorizes these county offices to collect application, execution, and acceptance fees, along with reasonable fees for services like passport photographs and expedited processing, as permitted by federal law. Fees not directly remitted to federal agencies must be deposited into a new "passport acceptance facility fund" within the county treasury. Moneys in this fund are to be appropriated by the county quorum court specifically for the operation of the county's passport acceptance facility.

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 1902 updates the laws concerning marriage certificates and bonds in Arkansas, primarily affecting couples and their heirs who need to replace a lost, burned, or destroyed marriage certificate. The bill clarifies that the marriage license bond becomes void when the executed license is properly returned to the county clerk within 60 days. It establishes a new procedure for requesting a replacement certificate, requiring a notarized affidavit from both parties, a surviving party, or the heirs of deceased parties, depending on the circumstances. This replacement process carries a $10 fee, which also voids the original marriage license bond. The bill also repeals an older statute related to the restoration of marriage records.

Maddy summaryThe provided context for HB 1657 only shows cosponsor additions and procedural status (it became Act 709 on April 16, 2025), not the bill's substantive policy content. The title references an "income tax credit" for wood energy products and forest maintenance, but the text does not explain how the credit is amended or who it affects. Without the actual policy provisions or bill text describing changes to the tax credit, a factual summary of its mechanisms or impact cannot be generated. To provide a meaningful summary, the bill's specific policy language would be required.

Maddy summaryHB 1815, now Act 687, modifies the state's legal authority in two distinct areas. It amends the state's jurisdiction regarding federal lands located within its borders. Additionally, the bill ensures that the state retains jurisdiction over juvenile justice matters. An amendment clarifies that these juvenile cases will be heard by the circuit court or the juvenile division of the circuit court.

Maddy summaryHB 1821 creates a single State Captive Insurance Program to replace fragmented property insurance systems for public schools, state-supported colleges/universities, and state-owned properties in Arkansas. It combines these entities under one program, prohibits the use of public adjusting firms (which the bill states increased premiums), and requires independent reappraisals of higher education properties to ensure proper valuation. The bill also establishes the Office of Property Risk within the Department of Transformation and Shared Services to manage the program and mandates coordination among state agencies for a smooth transition. These changes aim to stabilize insurance costs and improve market competitiveness for these public entities.

Maddy summaryHB 1745, now Act 604, requires commercial drivers in Arkansas to possess valid U.S. work authorization (such as a work visa or Employment Authorization Document) and demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to read traffic signs, converse with the public, respond to officials, and complete vehicle records. It directly affects commercial motor vehicle operators in Arkansas who must meet these requirements to legally drive. Violations carry fines up to $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. The law creates specific offenses for operating without required work authorization or English proficiency.

Maddy summaryHB 1148, now Act 597, creates the Arkansas Privacy Act with specific provisions for drone imagery. It directly affects law enforcement, emergency medical services, and search/rescue teams by allowing them to capture images using unmanned aircraft systems (drones) for incident command, training, crime scene investigation, and search/rescue operations without triggering privacy restrictions. The bill clarifies that drone use by these agencies for these purposes is exempt from privacy requirements, removing prior ambiguities about "documenting" versus "investigating" crime scenes and adding search/rescue as a permitted use. This focuses on defining when drone surveillance does not require privacy safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 1802 creates a state-funded Talent Recruitment Grant Program to incentivize individuals to relocate to Arkansas. The program provides grants to municipalities and qualifying nonprofits (e.g., for economic development) to offer relocation incentives to individuals who either hold remote jobs paying at least $55,000 annually or accept full-time in-state employment. Grants up to $500,000 per applicant require recipients to cover 20% of program costs and meet 50% of their target relocation goals before receiving final payment. Recipients must report quarterly on participant income, tax impacts, and economic outcomes to ensure accountability.

Maddy summaryHB 1306 would grant legal protection from lawsuits (civil immunity) to churches and other places of worship, as well as volunteer security personnel working there, if they act in good faith. The bill specifically requires that volunteer security personnel receive "adequate training" to qualify for this immunity, replacing an earlier "requires training" language through Amendment 1. This legislation directly affects religious institutions and their volunteer security staff by limiting their liability for certain actions taken while providing security. The bill was withdrawn by its author on April 10, 2025, and is no longer active.