Rep. Brit McKenzie

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 11 (SJR 11) proposes a constitutional amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. This measure aims to modify Article 2, Section 5, with the specific intent to protect the right to keep and bear arms for individuals. If enacted, it would alter the state's foundational document concerning this right.

Maddy summaryHB 1877 expands criminal offenses related to sexually explicit material depicting a child to include computer-generated images that are indistinguishable from a child. The bill defines "artificial intelligence" and "adversarial testing," which involves evaluating AI systems in a controlled environment. It creates exemptions for law enforcement investigations and for interactive computer services conducting good-faith adversarial testing to prevent AI systems from generating such content. However, these exemptions do not apply if the testing is for personal or exploitative purposes. Additionally, the bill renames the offense of "Possession or use of child sexual abuse material" to "Electronic facilitation of child sexual abuse."

Maddy summaryHB 1685, known as the Grocery Tax Relief Act, exempts groceries from state sales and use taxes. This legislation amends existing state law regarding sales and use taxes levied on food and food ingredients. The bill directly affects consumers by removing the state sales tax typically applied to their grocery purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 1604, now Act 943, amends existing laws regarding contracts made by state agencies in Arkansas. The bill specifically prohibits state agencies from using public funds to purchase promotional items that are manufactured in China. This measure aims to regulate the types of products state agencies can acquire using taxpayer money. These new provisions apply to contracts executed on or after the act's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1352 (now Act 937) is a technical amendment to a bill that primarily changes a single word in the legislation - replacing "and" with "or" on page 6, line 31. It does not introduce new policies, alter substantive requirements, or directly affect any specific groups or entities. The bill was passed by the Arkansas Senate with Amendment No. 1 and signed into law on April 21, 2025. As a minor procedural correction, it has no meaningful impact on how the law operates or who it governs.

Maddy summaryHJR 1018, titled "THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT," is a joint resolution that successfully passed both legislative chambers and was approved by the Governor. Based on its title, this bill proposes an amendment aimed at restricting voting eligibility to citizens only. However, the provided bill text primarily consists of an amendment adding various representatives and senators as cosponsors to the resolution, and does not detail the specific language, mechanisms, or provisions of the proposed "Citizens Only Voting Amendment" itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1312 aims to amend the financial allocations for public schools by modifying funding amounts established under the Public School Funding Act of 2003. This directly affects public schools and their operations. The provided text is an amendment to HB 1312, which removes Section 6 in its entirety and renumbers Section 7 to Section 6 within the bill. The specific details of how the funding amounts are changed are not available in the provided context.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 618 amends the Arkansas Student Due Process and Protection Act, directly affecting students at institutions of higher education in Arkansas. The bill requires these institutions to inform students involved in investigations or disciplinary proceedings of their right to seek attorney representation. Additionally, it changes the timeframe for students or student organizations to file an appeal from 25 days to 7 days after receiving a final disciplinary decision.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 352 prohibits antisemitism in public elementary and secondary schools. It also extends this prohibition to state-supported institutions of higher education. The bill establishes a standard for conduct within these educational environments, directly affecting students, faculty, and staff. This legislation aims to prevent and address antisemitic acts or expressions within these institutions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 535 creates a sales and use tax exemption specifically for the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation. This means that these two organizations will not be required to pay sales tax on their purchases of physical goods, digital products, or services. The bill amends existing state code to add this new exemption. This change aims to reduce the tax burden on the museum and its associated foundation.