Rep. Wayne Long

Maddy summaryHJR 1015 was a proposed constitutional amendment in Arkansas that aimed to change how judicial candidates appear on the ballot. If approved, it would have required candidates for Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judge, Circuit Judge, and District Judge to declare their political party affiliation or independent status. This declared affiliation or independent status would then be printed on the ballot for voters to see. The stated purpose of the amendment was to ensure transparency regarding judicial candidates' affiliations. This amendment would have taken effect on January 1, 2027, if passed.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1753 aims to change voter registration procedures in Arkansas. It declares the state's intention to opt-out of the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The bill amends the Arkansas Constitution to require state agencies, such as the Office of Driver Services and public assistance offices, to provide voter registration applications and assistance *only at the request of the applicant*, rather than automatically. It also modifies the information included on mail voter registration application forms.

Maddy summaryHB 1065, titled "TO CREATE THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OF 2025," died in the House Committee on Revenue & Taxation on May 5, 2025, without becoming law. The provided bill text contains no substantive policy language or specific mechanisms; it only includes a list of supporting legislators and procedural details. No concrete policy changes, affected groups, or key provisions are described in the available text. As a bill that stalled in committee with no enacted provisions, it did not implement any inflation-related measures. The title appears to be a placeholder, as no actual inflation reduction policy was outlined in the submitted bill.

Maddy summaryHB 1773 sought to amend the laws concerning financial contributions to ballot question committees and legislative question committees. The bill would have set a $100 limit on cash contributions accepted by these committees and a $50 limit on cash expenditures made by them or individuals to influence ballot or legislative questions. It also prohibited contributions from certain political action committees and foreign entities. Most notably, the bill would have required the Arkansas Ethics Commission to establish and adjust the maximum contribution limits that committees can accept from individuals, political parties, and approved political action committees for each election.

Maddy summaryHB 1662, titled "TO PROHIBIT LOBBYING FOR A COVERED FOREIGN ENTITY," aimed to prevent individuals or organizations from lobbying on behalf of certain foreign entities. The provided text is an amendment to the bill, which made minor changes to specific wording and references within the original text. Without the full original bill text, the specific definitions of "covered foreign entity" or the detailed mechanisms and scope of the prohibition are not available.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 11 (SJR 11) proposes a constitutional amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. This measure aims to modify Article 2, Section 5, with the specific intent to protect the right to keep and bear arms for individuals. If enacted, it would alter the state's foundational document concerning this right.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1243, now Act 994, aims to increase transparency in campaign finance reporting and protect election integrity. The bill amends existing campaign finance law by shifting the responsibility for receiving campaign contribution and expenditure reports from county clerks to the Secretary of State. It also adjusts the deadline for filing monthly financial reports, requiring them to be submitted no later than twenty days after the end of each month. These changes affect political campaigns and candidates by modifying where and when their financial disclosures must be filed.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 121 amends the existing Automatic Occupational Licensure for Out-of-State Licensure Act. This bill specifically expands the scope of the act to include physician assistants. The change means that physician assistants who hold a valid license in another state will now be eligible for automatic occupational licensure in Arkansas. This aims to simplify the process for out-of-state physician assistants to practice within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1685, known as the Grocery Tax Relief Act, exempts groceries from state sales and use taxes. This legislation amends existing state law regarding sales and use taxes levied on food and food ingredients. The bill directly affects consumers by removing the state sales tax typically applied to their grocery purchases.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1974, also known as the E-Verify Requirement Act, prohibits state government departments, boards, bureaus, political subdivisions, and agencies from employing individuals who are not authorized to work. The bill mandates these state entities to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. This ensures that only legally authorized individuals are hired by state government bodies. The provisions of this act are set to become effective on January 1, 2026.