Rep. Lee Johnson

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1930 aimed to mandate minimum reimbursement levels for healthcare services provided by healthcare insurers. The bill proposed a phased increase in these minimums, starting at 45% in 2026 and reaching 100% by 2030. It would have also required the Insurance Commissioner to consider specific factors, such as an insurer's Risk-Based Capital level and Medical Loss Ratio, when reviewing proposed increases to premium rates or cost sharing for policyholders.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1044 aims to establish the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act. An amendment to the bill introduces a specific rule regarding payment methods for these raffles. It mandates that if a qualifying organization permits credit card payments, each transaction using a credit card will have a maximum limit of $250. This provision directly affects organizations that choose to operate sports raffles and individuals participating in them via credit card. The provided text only includes an amendment, so the full details of the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act are not available.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 638, now Act 1019, amends the law concerning the collection of sales and use tax on new or used motorboat sales in Arkansas. The bill shifts the responsibility for collecting these taxes from motorboat dealers directly to the consumer. Buyers will now pay the applicable sales or use tax to the Department of Finance and Administration when applying for a certificate of number (registration) for their motorboat. This applies to motorboats purchased from both in-state and out-of-state dealers. The act also clarifies tax calculations for trade-ins and defines the presumed value for used motorboats.

Maddy summarySB 444 amends the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act. It clarifies that abortions performed in accordance with existing Arkansas Human Life Protection and Unborn Child Protection Acts are not violations of the act. The bill also specifies that emergency medical care services required by federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1395dd), when performed in line with Arkansas's abortion laws, are not considered violations. Additionally, it expands non-discrimination protections to include medical researchers, physicians, and directly participating healthcare providers who disclose information about legal violations in medical research or healthcare services. This impacts healthcare professionals and facilities in Arkansas.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1942 establishes new requirements for how risk-based provider organizations reimburse direct service providers for home- and community-based Medicaid services in Arkansas. It mandates the Department of Human Services to conduct a rate study by October 1, 2025, to determine minimum reimbursement rates for these services. These minimum rates, covering specific waiver and state plan services, will then be incorporated into the capitation rates for risk-based provider organizations. The Department will develop the study's criteria with input from providers, and any significant rate increase may be phased in over two years.

Maddy summarySB 601 creates a new pathway for graduates of foreign medical schools to become licensed physicians in this state. This pathway is specifically for individuals who have received a full-time employment offer as a physician from a healthcare provider within the state. The bill aims to facilitate the licensing of these qualified professionals to practice medicine locally.

Maddy summaryHB 1671 amends existing law related to the gross receipts tax. The bill creates a new general sales and use tax exemption. This means sales made to qualified nonprofit organizations will no longer be subject to sales and use tax.

Maddy summaryHB 1865, now Act 976, creates enhanced penalties for various offenses committed against children. This legislation directly affects individuals convicted of these specific crimes, aiming to increase protections for children. Key provisions include defining the categories of offenses covered, such as sexual offenses, voyeurism, human trafficking, child exploitation, and computer crimes against minors. It also establishes specific enhanced minimum prison sentences for certain felony classes, including 15 years for a Class A felony, 10 years for a Class B felony, and 5 years for a Class C felony.

Maddy summaryHB 1841, now Act 1021, creates the Arkansas Revenue Investment in Vital EMS Systems (ARRIVES) Act. This act establishes the Arkansas Revenue Investment in Vital EMS Systems (ARRIVES) Fund, specifically designed to support emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. The fund will disburse assessed moneys to these agencies, aiming to provide financial investment for their operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1701, as amended, focuses on updating the laws governing sewer collection and treatment providers and related services. The amendment primarily clarifies and modifies references to state agencies involved in regulating these services, specifically concerning the Division of Environmental Quality and the former Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. It also adjusts provisions related to improvement plans and the transfer of assets by sewer entities. Additionally, the amendment includes "an individual homeowner" in a specified section, indicating potential implications for individual property owners regarding sewer services.