Rep. Matt Duffield

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1681 establishes the Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program. This program provides grants to local entities to help fund improvements and upgrades to their water and sewer treatment infrastructure. The grants will be supported by revenues authorized by law. The program is set to expire five years after its effective date, and the administering commission is required to report annually on the status of all awarded grants.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1679 amends the Revised Arkansas Anatomical Gift Act. It allows certain individuals to revoke or modify an anatomical gift after the donor's death, specifically following the irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions. The bill also requires organ procurement organizations to submit certain reports. This legislation affects individuals who have made anatomical gift decisions and the organizations responsible for facilitating these gifts.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1875 amends existing law regarding the use of ignition interlock devices. Its primary purpose is to extend the mandatory period for which individuals, often those with certain driving offenses, are required to use these devices. An amendment to the bill clarifies a notification procedure for device removal and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026, for the act.

Maddy summaryHB 1824, also known as the "Dog and Cat Rescue Act: Daisy's Law," amends Arkansas law concerning cruelty to animals. This act authorizes law enforcement officers to temporarily secure a dog or cat and transfer its possession to an appropriate place of custody. This action can be taken after a complaint of cruelty if there is a substantial likelihood the animal's condition would deteriorate. Officers may also consider the condition of other dogs or cats belonging to the same owner as evidence to support securing the animal.

Maddy summaryAct 624 generally prohibits Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) from holding retail pharmacy permits in the state, directly affecting PBMs, retail pharmacies, and their patients. The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy will identify existing retail pharmacies affiliated with PBMs and notify them of this prohibition by January 1, 2026. Affected pharmacies must then notify their patients and prescribing healthcare providers that they can no longer dispense retail drugs after this date. However, an exception allows for temporary "limited use permits" for PBM-affiliated pharmacies if a rare, orphan, or limited distribution drug is otherwise unavailable to patients in the market. This exception for limited use permits is set to expire on September 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1860 modifies the expiration period and renewal process for medical marijuana patient registry cards. It sets the card's validity to one year from issuance (unless a certifying physician specifies an earlier expiration) and establishes a two-step renewal system. For the first renewal, patients can submit a written request to the health department without needing a new physician certification, but after that initial renewal, a new certification from the physician is required for a new card. This directly affects medical marijuana patients who hold these registry cards and need to maintain legal access to their medication.

Maddy summaryHR 1094 is a symbolic House Resolution acknowledging Arkansas' status as the U.S. state with the highest food insecurity rate (affecting 19% of families and 1 in 4 children) and designating October as School Breakfast Month. It directs Arkansas House members to raise awareness by partnering with hunger relief groups, visit local food pantries and schools during School Breakfast Month, and develop policies to address food insecurity - beyond universal school breakfast. The resolution also requires monitoring progress on these efforts. As a non-binding resolution, it does not fund programs or create new laws but aims to prioritize the issue through legislative action and awareness.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 29, 2025, as Vietnam War Veterans Day and March 2025 as Vietnam Era Veterans Month in Arkansas. It formally recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of Vietnam War veterans through state-level ceremonial observance. The resolution does not create new laws, programs, or benefits - it serves solely as a symbolic gesture of appreciation. It affects Arkansas residents by establishing official dates for state-level recognition of veterans' service.

Maddy summaryHMR 1008 is a ceremonial House Memorial Resolution honoring boxer Tommy Morrison of Gravette, Arkansas, for his "legendary boxing skills" that brought recognition to both him and the state. The resolution has no policy provisions or binding effect - it serves solely to commemorate Morrison's contributions to Arkansas through boxing. It was adopted by the Arkansas House of Representatives on April 10, 2025, after passing committee review and amendments. This is a non-binding tribute, not a legislative measure affecting laws or regulations.

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.