Rep. Karilyn Brown

Maddy summaryHB 1306 would grant legal protection from lawsuits (civil immunity) to churches and other places of worship, as well as volunteer security personnel working there, if they act in good faith. The bill specifically requires that volunteer security personnel receive "adequate training" to qualify for this immunity, replacing an earlier "requires training" language through Amendment 1. This legislation directly affects religious institutions and their volunteer security staff by limiting their liability for certain actions taken while providing security. The bill was withdrawn by its author on April 10, 2025, and is no longer active.

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 summaryHB 1303 (now Act 546) creates a state income tax credit for businesses producing sustainable aviation fuel in Arkansas. The credit allows eligible producers to reduce their state income tax liability by up to the full amount of tax they owe in a given year. It directly affects aviation fuel producers who meet the bill's sustainability criteria, providing financial incentive to develop and use cleaner fuel alternatives. The law, enacted April 10, 2025, establishes this credit as part of Arkansas' efforts to support sustainable energy infrastructure.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 320 amends multiple Arkansas statutes to update references to the Arkansas Juvenile Code of 1989, specifically citing sections §9-27-301 et seq. and §9-35-101 et seq. The bill clarifies how the juvenile code applies to cases involving underage alcohol possession, custody transfers, and juvenile delinquency proceedings. It ensures consistent legal references across statutes without changing substantive law. This affects juvenile courts, law enforcement, and child welfare agencies when handling cases under the juvenile code.

Maddy summaryHB 1545 is an amendment to Arkansas' Military Child School Transitions Act of 2021. It updates the law to explicitly include students with disabilities in school transition support, expands the Purple Star School Program to develop resources for military-connected students, and adjusts excused absence policies for these students. The amendment also removes Section 6 of the original act. These changes directly affect military-connected students in Arkansas schools, particularly those with disabilities, by improving access to transition support and program resources.

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 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 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 424 requires municipal improvement district boards in Arkansas to allow public comment before decisions at meetings and hold quarterly meetings. Property owners within these districts must receive meeting notices 10-30 days in advance, including agendas, for all meetings. The law applies to all improvement districts in incorporated cities and towns statewide. It aims to increase transparency by mandating regular public communication and notice. This bill became Act 422 on March 31, 2025.