Rep. Johnny Rye

Maddy summaryHB 1505 requires public employers in Arkansas to provide coverage for licensed counseling services to public safety employees (such as police, firefighters, and emergency responders) who experience a traumatic event while on duty. This bill directly affects public safety workers by mandating employer-provided mental health support following traumatic incidents. It renews a requirement that expired under previous law (Acts 2023, No. 537) and declares an emergency to ensure immediate implementation upon the governor’s approval. The law aims to support public safety employees’ mental health, which the legislature states is essential for maintaining public safety and emergency response effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHB 1610 is a technical amendment to Arkansas' Human Life Protection Act and Unborn Child Protection Act, clarifying existing medical exception language. It removes redundant phrases like "in the judgment of the physician" and replaces them with simpler terms such as "judgment" throughout the statutes. This change streamlines how medical professionals can cite exceptions for abortions when the mother's health is at risk, directly affecting healthcare providers and patients navigating the current abortion restrictions. The bill, now Act 387, became law on March 20, 2025, without altering the core prohibitions on abortion.

Maddy summarySB 317 prohibits Arkansas public institutions of higher education from engaging in specific activities with "prohibited foreign parties." It directly affects universities and colleges receiving state funding by banning them from conducting agricultural research under contract or selling agricultural products (including seeds) with such entities. The bill defines "prohibited foreign parties" but does not specify which entities qualify. This policy change restricts certain financial and research transactions between Arkansas colleges and designated foreign entities, without altering broader academic collaboration rules. The bill passed as Act 351 on March 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 307, now Act 373, creates the "Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025" to support energy infrastructure investments. It requires the Arkansas Public Service Commission to consider strategic investments in natural gas and electric generation when setting utility rates, allowing companies to recover costs for approved projects. The bill mandates refunds to customers for imprudently incurred costs and sets new requirements for utility infrastructure projects to ensure grid reliability during extreme weather. It directly affects investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities operating in Arkansas by changing how they recover infrastructure costs through rate cases. The legislation declares an emergency to expedite these energy infrastructure developments.

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 summaryThis bill adds nitrogen gas as an additional method of execution for individuals sentenced to death in Arkansas, alongside the existing lethal injection option. It requires prison officials to notify death row inmates of the chosen execution method (nitrogen gas or lethal injection) at least seven days in advance. The bill also includes confidentiality provisions preventing public disclosure of execution protocols, drug sources, and personnel involved under Arkansas' public records laws. This change applies to all future capital punishment cases in Arkansas, following its passage into law as Act 302.

Maddy summaryHB 1319, which was withdrawn by its author on March 17, 2025, would have created a state sales tax exemption for disabled veterans, their unremarried spouses, and surviving spouses of disabled veterans in Arkansas. The bill would have allowed these individuals to exclude up to $5,000 annually in sales tax on tangible personal property and certain digital products purchased at physical stores within the state. To claim the exemption, veterans would have needed an identification card from the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, while surviving spouses would have required certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption would not apply to local sales taxes or the compensating use tax.

Maddy summaryHB 1556 amends Arkansas law to formally establish March 1 as Arkansas Music Appreciation Day, correcting a previous inconsistent reference in the statute. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation before March 1, highlighting Arkansas musicians' contributions and encouraging public observance. It directly affects the state's annual recognition of musicians, which includes Capitol Building performances. The change does not alter the day's purpose or create new requirements - only clarifies the date for the existing observance. This procedural update was enacted as Act 260 on March 12, 2025.

Maddy summaryArkansas Senate Bill 295 (now Act 281) amends election funding law to allow local election authorities to pay certified election monitors as an approved election expense. The bill specifically adds "compensation for certified election monitors of the State Board of Election Commissioners" to the list of allowable costs under Arkansas Code § 7-4-123(a). This change directly affects election administrators and certified monitors by providing a new funding mechanism for their compensation. The bill was enacted on March 12, 2025, after passing both chambers and being delivered to the Governor. It represents a procedural adjustment to election expense rules without altering voting procedures or eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 1117 requires public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools to provide firearm safety instruction that includes "neutral viewpoints" on all topics, specifically mandating coverage of "the prevention of accidental firearm injury." The law directly affects all K-12 public schools in the state by altering how firearm safety education must be delivered. Key provisions include banning one-sided instruction and requiring balanced content on firearm safety, including accidental injury prevention. This bill became law as Act 229 on March 4, 2025, after passing the legislature. It focuses on the content of school curricula, not funding or enforcement mechanisms.