Rep. Jason Nazarenko

Maddy summaryHB 1077 requires Arkansas correctional facilities to verify the veteran status of incarcerated individuals within 14 days using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data. If a veteran is incarcerated for six months or more, facilities must notify the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs within 45 days of admission and again upon release. The bill also mandates that facilities provide incarcerated veterans with access to apply for VA benefits or veterans treatment court programs. This law directly affects veterans in state or local correctional facilities and the facilities themselves, creating a formal notification process to connect veterans with available support services.

Maddy summaryHB 1658 modifies property tax penalty rules to help military personnel on deployment. It creates a clear exception allowing service members to avoid penalties for late property tax payments during and immediately after deployment. The bill defines "deployment" and requires affected taxpayers to submit a DD Form 214 (proof of service) to their county collector within one year of deployment ending. This directly affects active-duty military members whose property taxes would otherwise incur penalties due to deployment-related absences. The law removes previous requirements for continuous deployment over 60 days and excludes training from the calculation. (Enacted as Act 550 on April 10, 2025)

Maddy summaryHB 1798 established the Green Envelope Program and became Act 531 on April 10, 2025. This procedural bill formally created the program's name and framework but does not detail specific policies, implementation methods, or direct beneficiaries. It was passed by both legislative chambers and signed into law without additional substantive provisions outlined in the bill text. The program's operational details are not described in the provided legislative record.

Maddy summaryHB 1636 would phase out Arkansas' soft drink tax by gradually eliminating it based on sales tax collections from soft drink sales. The bill proposed replacing the current tax with a system tied directly to existing sales tax data, ensuring a smooth transition. This change would directly affect soft drink retailers (who collect the tax) and consumers (who pay it). The legislation aimed to replace an outdated tax structure with one aligned to current sales tax reporting practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1561) is a technical amendment to remove all references to "the State of Qatar" from existing state laws. It deletes phrases like "or the State of Qatar" or "from the State of Qatar" from 17 different sections of the code, correcting outdated or erroneous text. The bill does not create new policies, affect any individuals or groups, or change legal requirements. It was passed by both chambers and became law as Act 473 on April 8, 2025, solely to update legal references.

Maddy summarySB 409 prohibits financial services providers from refusing to do business with or terminating relationships with agricultural producers solely based on their status as such. It defines "agricultural producer" to include those growing crops, raising animals, or producing livestock/dairy products. The bill requires Arkansas' Treasurer to publish a list of financial providers found to discriminate against agricultural producers, after giving them 45 days' notice and a 30-day window to prove they are not discriminating. This list will be posted online, with the process involving an ESG Oversight Committee and requiring agricultural producers to consent to sharing financial data if they report discrimination.

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 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 summarySB 246, the Arkansas Access Act, prohibits Arkansas public schools from granting excused absences for political protests. It allows excused absences for student participation in social or public policy advocacy or efforts to influence legislation, but only with written consent from a parent, guardian, or legal custodian. Schools must annually report to the state education division the number of such absences requested, granted, and the stated purpose of each absence. The bill directly affects public school districts and charter schools in Arkansas, along with students and their families.

Maddy summaryHB 1512, now Act 341, prohibits Arkansas public schools and charter schools from granting excused absences for "political protest." It allows excused absences for student "social or public policy advocacy" or "influencing legislation" only with parental consent. Schools must annually report the number of such absences and their purposes to the education division. The law directly affects public school students, parents, and school administrators by changing absence policies for non-academic activities.