Rep. Jessie McGruder

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1626, as amended, aimed to prohibit the sale of certain disposable vapor products. The bill's central provision was to ban the sale of disposable vapor products that originate from a "prohibited foreign party," a term defined by referencing an existing legal statute (§ 18-11-802). This measure would have directly impacted retailers selling vapor products and consumers who purchase them. The bill did not pass and died in committee.

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 1528 proposes to amend Arkansas law regarding student report cards. This bill would require public school districts to include a statement about a student's current reading grade level on their report card. This change directly affects public school students and their parents by providing additional information on academic progress. The goal is to ensure that families receive clear communication regarding a student's reading proficiency.

Maddy summaryHB 1025, titled "The Teacher Fair Dismissal Act of 2025," proposes new rules for school districts when dismissing teachers. It would require districts to follow specific due process steps before terminating a teacher, including written notice, a hearing, and documented reasons for dismissal. The bill directly affects public school teachers and school districts in the state. However, the bill died in committee on May 5, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHR 1117 is a House Resolution that recognizes former Representative Ben McGee for his service to his community and the State of Arkansas. It highlights his pioneering roles, including being the first African American to represent his district since Reconstruction and the first African American elected to the Marion School District board.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1144 aimed to require schools participating in the Arkansas Children's Educational Freedom Account Program to comply with specific reporting standards. It mandated that these participating schools would be subject to the same statutory and Department of Education reporting requirements that public schools in Arkansas must follow. This bill sought to standardize the reporting obligations across both types of schools.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution honors the Arkansas Minority Health Commission during American Heart Month in February. It recognizes the Commission's efforts to address heart disease specifically among minority populations in Arkansas.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1880 proposes amendments to Arkansas's Human Life Protection Act and Unborn Child Protection Act. The bill seeks to add new exceptions to the state's abortion prohibitions, allowing the procedure in cases of pregnancies resulting from incest or rape, provided a report has been filed with law enforcement. It also includes an exception for fetal abnormalities incompatible with life. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "medical emergency" to include circumstances where an abortion is necessary to preserve the health of a pregnant woman, not just her life.

Maddy summaryHB 1877 expands criminal offenses related to sexually explicit material depicting a child to include computer-generated images that are indistinguishable from a child. The bill defines "artificial intelligence" and "adversarial testing," which involves evaluating AI systems in a controlled environment. It creates exemptions for law enforcement investigations and for interactive computer services conducting good-faith adversarial testing to prevent AI systems from generating such content. However, these exemptions do not apply if the testing is for personal or exploitative purposes. Additionally, the bill renames the offense of "Possession or use of child sexual abuse material" to "Electronic facilitation of child sexual abuse."

Maddy summaryHB 1878 requires county boards of election commissioners to establish an early voting polling site in certain cities within their jurisdiction. Specifically, it mandates an early voting location in any city with a population exceeding 15,000, according to the most recent federal census. This requirement applies only if the county clerk is not already conducting early voting in that city, aiming to ensure access for residents in these population centers. The bill also allows county boards the option to open additional early voting sites beyond the county clerk's office.