Rep. Ashley Hudson

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1434, as amended, aims to modify existing law concerning child custody awards between parents when domestic abuse is present. The bill redefines "domestic abuse" for these legal purposes, encompassing physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or certain sexual conduct between family or household members. It adjusts the legal presumption regarding an award of *sole* custody in cases involving domestic abuse. The bill also clarifies how a child's well-being is to be considered during custody determinations under these circumstances.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1738 proposes a sales and use tax exemption for disabled veterans and authorized members of their households in Arkansas. To qualify, a disabled veteran must be certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and submit a letter to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). This exemption applies to sales of tangible personal property, digital products, and services, with an annual maximum limit of $25,000 per disabled veteran. The DFA would issue exemption cards and establish rules for the program.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1626, as amended, aimed to prohibit the sale of certain disposable vapor products. The bill's central provision was to ban the sale of disposable vapor products that originate from a "prohibited foreign party," a term defined by referencing an existing legal statute (§ 18-11-802). This measure would have directly impacted retailers selling vapor products and consumers who purchase them. The bill did not pass and died in committee.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1695 clarifies the foreclosure process for properties subject to municipal liens, directly affecting municipalities, property owners, and other lienholders. The bill allows municipalities to establish priority for unrecorded municipal liens and outlines how proceeds from property sales are distributed based on lien priority. It requires municipalities to name all record lienholders in foreclosure actions where they claim priority; otherwise, the unnamed lienholder's claim remains on the property. Additionally, the bill enables municipalities to petition to set aside the sale of property to certain persons.

Maddy summaryHB 1366 sought to create an income tax credit for Arkansas taxpayers who install qualified storm shelters at their primary residence. The bill defined "qualified storm shelters" as those capable of withstanding an EF5 tornado and meeting FEMA criteria, installed on or near the taxpayer's single-family home. Taxpayers could claim a credit equal to the lesser of 50% of the cost or $3,000, which would be capped at a total of $2,000,000 statewide per calendar year and issued on a first-come, first-served basis. To receive the credit, taxpayers would file an informational report with the Division of Emergency Management.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1431 amends the Domestic Abuse Act of 1991 in Arkansas. It expands the definition of "domestic abuse" to include patterns of behavior described as "course of control" or "disturbing the peace." The bill also defines "disturbing the peace" as a pattern of behavior that unreasonably destroys the mental or emotional calm of a family or household

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 2005 (HB 2005) proposed to amend Arkansas law by establishing a maximum length for trains operating within the state. The bill would have prohibited railroad corporations and individuals from running trains longer than 8,500 feet on main or branch lines. Violations would have incurred civil penalties ranging from $500 to $1,000 for each foot exceeding the limit, per day. Additionally, gross negligence or a pattern of violations causing harm could have resulted in a one-time penalty up to $250,000, with collected funds deposited into the Arkansas Department of Transportation Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1065, titled "TO CREATE THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OF 2025," died in the House Committee on Revenue & Taxation on May 5, 2025, without becoming law. The provided bill text contains no substantive policy language or specific mechanisms; it only includes a list of supporting legislators and procedural details. No concrete policy changes, affected groups, or key provisions are described in the available text. As a bill that stalled in committee with no enacted provisions, it did not implement any inflation-related measures. The title appears to be a placeholder, as no actual inflation reduction policy was outlined in the submitted bill.

Maddy summaryHB 1699 proposed to expand the state's existing sales tax holiday. If enacted, it would have allowed consumers to purchase firearm safety devices and firearm storage devices without paying sales tax during the designated holiday period. This measure aimed to make these specific items, intended for secure firearm storage, temporarily more affordable for individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 1430 aims to update definitions within Arkansas's Domestic Abuse Act of 1991. The bill clarifies "course of control" as a pattern of behavior between family or household members that interferes with a person's free will and personal liberty. It also expands the definition of "disturbing the peace" to include specific actions such as exhibiting course of control, stalking, repeated threats, criminal impersonation, various forms of harassment, destroying personal property, and criminal trespass. These changes directly affect how domestic abuse is legally defined and addressed for individuals within family or household relationships.