Rep. Lee Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 1398 requires all public schools to establish and implement a cardiac emergency response plan using nationally recognized medical protocols. This law directly affects every public school in the state by mandating specific, standardized procedures for responding to cardiac emergencies like sudden cardiac arrest. The key provision is the integration of nationally recognized elements (such as AED access, trained personnel, and clear response steps) into each school's emergency plan. The bill became law as Act 352 on March 20, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.

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 summaryHB 1601 (now Act 354) requires all state-supported colleges and universities to provide career counseling and related resources to specific student groups. The law mandates institutions to develop and implement these services as part of their student support programs. It directly affects public higher education institutions and the students enrolled in them, particularly those needing career guidance. The bill focuses on making these resources a standard offering, without specifying exact student criteria or additional funding mechanisms. The measure passed both chambers and was signed into law on March 20, 2025.

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 summaryHB 1169 clarifies that individuals with mental health issues caused by medical conditions (such as dementia or other behavioral health impairments from physical illness) can be involuntarily committed under Arkansas law. It amends the legal criteria to explicitly include medical conditions as a basis for commitment, alongside existing standards for danger to self/others. This directly affects people whose mental health deterioration stems from physical health issues, ensuring they meet the same legal requirements as those with psychiatric conditions. The bill requires medical evaluation within 24 hours and maintains existing procedural safeguards for such commitments.

Maddy summaryHB 1586 clarifies the diagnosis requirements for autism spectrum disorder under Arkansas' Medicaid waiver. It changes the rule so that a child's diagnosis must be confirmed by two qualified professionals of *different types* (e.g., a psychologist and a pediatrician), not just any two professionals. This directly affects families seeking Medicaid coverage for autism diagnosis services. The bill specifies this requirement using the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic criteria, ensuring consistent eligibility for waiver benefits.

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 summaryHB 1253, now Act 384, adopts the Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact for Arkansas. This law allows licensed emergency medical services (EMS) personnel - such as EMTs and paramedics - from other states that have joined the compact to practice in Arkansas without obtaining a separate Arkansas license. The key mechanism simplifies licensure by recognizing valid out-of-state credentials, reducing administrative barriers for EMS workers crossing state lines. This directly affects Arkansas-based EMS providers and out-of-state professionals seeking to work in the state, streamlining their ability to serve communities.

Maddy summarySB 222 aligns Missouri's Medicaid provider marketing rules with federal standards by requiring direct service providers to follow the federal managed care marketing rules (42 C.F.R. § 438.104) as they existed on January 1, 2025. This affects Medicaid providers who market services to enrollees, ensuring their advertising complies with established federal guidelines. The bill mandates that the state department revise its marketing rules to match these federal requirements. The legislation was passed quickly with an emergency clause, becoming law on March 18, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1634 establishes the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act, allowing Arkansas public colleges and universities and their approved nonprofit affiliates to conduct raffles tied to official athletic games. These raffles can be sold digitally or in person, with proceeds limited to supporting student-athletes (e.g., scholarships, publicity rights), athletic programs, and facility improvements - never for staff compensation. The law prohibits sales to minors, caps transactions at $250, and requires public prize announcements. It amends gambling laws to exempt these sports-linked raffles from standard restrictions, effective as Act 305.