Rep. Brandon Achor

Maddy summaryHB 1512, now Act 341, prohibits Arkansas public schools and charter schools from granting excused absences for "political protest." It allows excused absences for student "social or public policy advocacy" or "influencing legislation" only with parental consent. Schools must annually report the number of such absences and their purposes to the education division. The law directly affects public school students, parents, and school administrators by changing absence policies for non-academic activities.

Maddy summaryHCR 1007 is a concurrent resolution urging Congress to reevaluate Medicare reimbursement rates for Arkansas healthcare providers. It specifically requests that Congress adjust the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule locality structure to create separate reimbursement categories for the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers (CBSA 22220) and Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway (CBSA 30780) metropolitan areas, which currently share a single locality code (Locality 13) despite higher operational costs. The resolution argues that current reimbursement rates fail to reflect actual practice costs in these urban areas, disproportionately impacting providers and limiting patient access to care. Arkansas lawmakers note the state ranks third-worst nationally for Medicare locality reimbursement, urging Congress to correct this to ensure fair compensation aligned with regional economic realities. (Note: This is a non-binding resolution, not a law, intended to encourage federal action.)

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1466) amends definitions within Arkansas' Fair Mortgage Lending Act but does not describe substantive policy changes in the provided text. The bill text only revises terms like "affiliate," "branch office," "covered institution servicer," and "exempt person" for clarity in regulatory contexts. It does not specify new requirements, restrictions, or financial impacts on lenders or borrowers. Since the context lacks the actual legislative provisions or policy changes (only definitions are provided), a full summary of the bill's effects cannot be generated.

Maddy summaryHB 1213 clarifies the definition of "athlete" and defines "healthcare provider" specifically for student athlete concussion education under Arkansas' Athletic Trainers Act. The bill directly affects student athletes, schools, and healthcare professionals by establishing clear standards for concussion education requirements. It amends existing law to ensure consistent application of concussion protocols, requiring healthcare providers to deliver standardized education to student athletes. The bill became Act 266 after passing the Arkansas Senate in March 2025.

Maddy summarySB 230 repeals Arkansas' existing Trust Institutions Act and replaces it with the "Arkansas Trust Institutions Act of 2025." The bill specifically amends the commissioner's authority to deny approval for additional trust offices (as shown in the substituted text). This directly affects trust institutions seeking to expand operations and the state commissioner overseeing trust regulations. The legislation, now Act 237, updates administrative procedures without changing core trust institution requirements.

Maddy summarySB 94 modifies requirements for new all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and low-speed vehicle (LSV) dealers in Arkansas. Instead of mandating that dealers maintain their own service and parts storage areas, the bill requires dealers to either provide service directly or supply customers with the name of a service provider within 40 miles. Dealers must also provide warranty information, coordinate with service providers for warranty work, and submit service provider details annually to the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission. This change directly affects new ATV and LSV dealers by offering flexibility in service arrangements while ensuring customers have access to repair options.

Maddy summarySB 220 (now Act 236) amends Arkansas' securities law to clarify exemptions for intrastate offerings, primarily affecting Arkansas-based businesses seeking to raise capital from local residents. The bill increases the maximum total funding allowed under the exemption from $1 million to $10 million and raises the per-investor limit from $5,000 to $100,000 (unless the investor is accredited). Key provisions require issuers to file proof of exemption with the state commissioner 10 days before sales, deposit funds in Arkansas banks, disclose unregistered status to investors, and avoid certain prohibited activities like blind pool structures. This simplifies compliance for small Arkansas businesses while maintaining investor protections and aligning with specific federal rules in effect as of January 2025.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 1028) formally recognizes National FFA Week (February 15-22, 2025) in Arkansas. It acknowledges the work of the National FFA Organization and Arkansas FFA Association - highlighting their 17,503 members and role in agricultural education - without creating new laws or funding. The resolution serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment, directing the House to send a copy to both FFA organizations. It has no policy impact beyond symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Arkansas healthcare providers (including doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics) to use digital medical records instead of paper. It eliminates the requirement for physical copies, mandates that electronic records remain readable, backed up, and secure, and confirms electronic records are valid for patient requests, court evidence, and insurance audits. The law aligns with federal privacy rules like HIPAA but does not override them.

Maddy summaryHB 1353 regulates vision benefit managers and amends Arkansas' Vision Care Plan Act and Healthcare Contracting Simplification Act. It prohibits insurance contracts from automatically reducing vision benefits solely due to other coverage (e.g., multiple vision plans), requiring such reductions to follow Insurance Commissioner-approved rules instead. The bill defines key terms like "covered materials" (e.g., lenses, frames) and "vision benefit manager," while banning agreements that force providers to charge more for non-covered services than their standard rates. This directly affects Arkansans with vision insurance plans and eye care providers, ensuring fairer billing practices for covered vision care services and materials. The bill passed in February 2025 and became Act 142.