Rep. Mary Bentley

Maddy summaryHB 1705 (now Act 478) requires public school social studies standards to include specific content about how the religious and moral beliefs of the founding fathers influenced the founding of the United States. This law directly affects K-12 students and educators in the state by mandating that existing social studies curriculum standards incorporate this historical perspective. The bill amends standards to explicitly reference "religious and moral beliefs" held by the founding fathers and their role in shaping the nation's founding principles. It does not create new educational programs but revises current standards to include this specific historical analysis.

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phrases like "or the State of Qatar" or "from the State of Qatar" from 17 different sections of the code, correcting outdated or erroneous text.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 summaryHB 1668, titled the "Vulnerable Youth Protection Act," would have authorized minors (or their legal representatives) to file private civil lawsuits seeking damages for being subjected to "social transitioning" or medical procedures like castration, sterilization, or mutilation without consent. Key provisions included extending the statute of limitations to 20 years, prohibiting class actions, and requiring enforcement exclusively through individual lawsuits rather than state action. The bill was introduced in Arkansas' 2025 legislative session but was withdrawn by its author on April 1, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 339 adds Representative Bentley to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee and changes the term "biannually" to "biennially" to clarify that the committee's meetings and reports occur every two years. This bill directly affects the committee's membership structure and the precise language of the statute governing it. The amendment passed and became law as Act 404 on March 31, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 189, now Act 396, allows pharmacies and consumers to purchase Ivermectin for human use without a prescription or consultation with a healthcare professional. The bill removes existing requirements for medical oversight when buying this medication. It directly affects pharmacies (which can now sell it without a prescription) and consumers (who can obtain it without seeing a doctor). The law took effect after the bill passed the legislature and was signed by the governor on March 31, 2025.

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 summaryHB 1558 creates two new licenses for property management professionals in Arkansas: a Property Management Broker license and a Property Management Associate license. This bill amends the existing real estate licensing law to establish these specific categories, directly affecting individuals and businesses seeking to manage residential or commercial properties. The law requires applicants to meet defined education, experience, and examination standards for each license type. It does not change existing real estate broker or salesperson licenses but adds these new pathways for property management roles. The bill became law as Act 392 on March 25, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes the Conway Kiwanis Bookcase for Every Child project for its work providing personalized bookcases and starter book sets to children enrolled in the federal Head Start program in Conway. It acknowledges the project's 20-year history of supporting preschool literacy, particularly for children in low-income households, by building bookcases with nameplates and including donated books, stuffed animals, and bookmarks. The resolution has no policy impact - it serves only as a ceremonial acknowledgment without creating new requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1609 increases penalties for human traffickers who recruit victims from high-risk locations. It mandates a 10-year prison sentence (up from standard penalties) if traffickers target individuals at facilities like youth shelters, correctional facilities, foster homes, childcare institutions, or juvenile detention centers. The bill directly affects traffickers who exploit vulnerable populations in these specific settings. It creates a clear legal mechanism to impose harsher sentences based on the victim’s location at the time of recruitment. The bill became law as Act 366 on March 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1583 (now Act 348) requires Arkansas' Department of Human Services to seek a waiver or expand an existing Medicaid waiver program. This enables Medicaid beneficiaries with acquired brain injuries to access home and community-based services tailored to their needs. The law directly affects Arkansans enrolled in Arkansas Medicaid who have acquired brain injuries and require non-institutional care. It changes how services are delivered by directing the state to use waiver mechanisms rather than creating new coverage.