Rep. Paul Childress

Maddy summaryHB 1001 reduces income tax rates for Arkansas residents, including individuals, trusts, estates, and both domestic and foreign corporations. For individuals, the bill establishes a progressive tax structure with rates ranging from 0% to 3.7% for income up to $94,700, while providing a specific tax credit for income between $94,701 and $97,600. Corporations see their tax brackets adjusted starting in 2027, with rates increasing from 1% to 4.1% on net income exceeding $11,000. The legislation also includes provisions for annual adjustments to the individual tax tables to account for inflation or other economic factors.

Maddy summaryHB 1101 proposes to allocate $9.5 million from the Public School Fund to the Arkansas Department of Education for math curriculum grants under the R.I.S.E. Arkansas program. These funds are intended for local school districts and special programs to support mathematics education during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill includes standard provisions requiring compliance with state procurement and budget laws, as well as an emergency clause to ensure funding is available starting July 1, 2026. Although the legislation was introduced to address immediate educational funding needs, it ultimately did not pass before the legislative session ended.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the Arkansas homestead property tax credit for property owners, raising the annual reduction in real property taxes from $600 to $675. The change applies to assessment years starting on or after January 1, 2026, directly benefiting homeowners who qualify for the credit. By amending the state code, the legislation provides a slightly larger tax relief amount for eligible residents without altering other tax provisions.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1686 amends Arkansas law concerning licenses to carry concealed handguns, affecting current and future licensees. The bill clarifies that law enforcement officers will confiscate a license upon arrest for certain violations and hold it until the charge is finalized. It also allows licensees to use an electronic copy of their license and requires them to display it, along with identification, upon request by an officer. Additionally, the bill introduces a 50% fee reduction for individuals aged 65 or older when requesting a replacement or duplicate license.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 283, as amended, modifies the law concerning unclaimed property for certain nonprofit organizations. It specifically affects nonprofits with less than five million dollars in annual revenue. These organizations must turn over property unclaimed for one year to the state administrator. The administrator then has two years to locate the property's owner. If the owner is not found within that period, the unclaimed property is returned to the original nonprofit organization.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 415 authorizes the Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to maintain a list of businesses that fail to pay wholesalers for petroleum products. Wholesalers can report delinquent payments to the DEQ, which will then "red-tag" the business, preventing it from receiving further petroleum deliveries. To be removed from the list, the delinquent business must pay the wholesaler using specific methods, and the wholesaler must notify the DEQ of the full payment. The bill also establishes a process for a delinquent business to dispute its placement on the list if it believes the delinquency is due to issues with the quality or quantity of the petroleum product.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1534 proposes to increase the existing homestead property tax credit. This bill directly affects homeowners by reducing the amount of property taxes they owe on their primary residence. The key mechanism is an adjustment to the credit amount, providing a larger tax reduction for eligible households.

Maddy summarySB 526 proposed to prohibit the retail sale of specific disposable vapor products in Arkansas. It defined a "disposable vapor product" as one with a non-detachable battery that cannot be refilled and is designed for disposal after use. The bill would have banned retailers from selling such products if they originated from a "prohibited foreign party." The Director of Arkansas Tobacco Control could seize non-compliant products, with violations being a Class A misdemeanor, although FDA-approved products were exempt. A 90-day grace period was included for businesses to liquidate existing inventory.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 204 proposes to exempt certain financial gains from state gross income for tax purposes. This exemption would apply to taxpayers whose property is acquired by a government or entity under the right of eminent domain or the threat of condemnation. Essentially, any profit a property owner makes from such a forced sale would not be considered taxable income under this bill.

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.