Rep. Richard McGrew

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1680, now Act 811, restricts certain foreign entities from acquiring interests in land. It prohibits businesses controlled by a "foreign party" from leasing land. The bill also prevents "prohibited foreign parties" from holding an interest in real property or agricultural land under specific circumstances. An amendment clarifies that an individual is not considered a "prohibited foreign party" if they are also a citizen of the United States.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1681 establishes the Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program. This program provides grants to local entities to help fund improvements and upgrades to their water and sewer treatment infrastructure. The grants will be supported by revenues authorized by law. The program is set to expire five years after its effective date, and the administering commission is required to report annually on the status of all awarded grants.

Maddy summaryHB 1732 aims to increase the income tax deduction available to teachers. This deduction applies to money teachers spend on their classrooms, often referred to as classroom investment. By increasing the allowed deduction, the bill enables teachers to reduce a larger portion of these out-of-pocket expenses from their taxable income. This change directly affects teachers who incur costs for their classrooms.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1678 aims to amend the Abortion-Inducing Drugs Safety Act by increasing criminal penalties and clarifying civil penalties. An amendment to the bill expands who can pursue civil action for violations to include any state resident who receives a shipment of abortion-inducing drugs for illegal purposes. It also specifies that civil damages will not be awarded if the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct. Additionally, the amendment establishes that a violation is considered a deceptive and unconscionable act, and allows courts to award attorney's fees to defendants if a plaintiff's suit is found to be frivolous and brought in bad faith.

Maddy summaryHB 1815, now Act 687, modifies the state's legal authority in two distinct areas. It amends the state's jurisdiction regarding federal lands located within its borders. Additionally, the bill ensures that the state retains jurisdiction over juvenile justice matters. An amendment clarifies that these juvenile cases will be heard by the circuit court or the juvenile division of the circuit court.

Maddy summaryHB 1677 authorizes alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs to maintain emergency medication kits. These programs must be licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy. The kits must be stored behind a locked door and cannot contain any Schedule II controlled substances. A physician or advanced practice registered nurse oversees the kit's contents, use, and access.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1559 requires the Arkansas Department of Human Services to apply for a federal waiver to expand the Arkansas Medicaid Program. If approved, this waiver would allow Medicaid to cover inpatient treatment services for substance use disorders, including care in facilities currently excluded under federal rules. The bill aims to improve access to treatment for Arkansans with substance use disorders, enhance care coordination, and expand medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. DHS must consult with stakeholders during the application process and provide annual reports on the waiver's progress.

Maddy summaryHR 1113 is a ceremonial House resolution recognizing the Arkansas State Police's Interstate Criminal Patrol for winning the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Awards. It specifically highlights the team's 2024 achievements, including seizing $32.25 million in narcotics, recovering $4.1 million in cash, and earning individual honors like "Officer of the Year" for Trooper Ana Escamilla and "Largest Cash Seizure" for Corporal Chris Short. The resolution has no binding effect - it does not create new laws or allocate funds - but formally acknowledges the team's work through a symbolic gesture. It was adopted by the Arkansas House of Representatives on April 15, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1713, now Act 602, requires ballot titles for citizen-initiated measures to be written at or below a specific grade-level reading standard. This law directly affects voters and initiative proponents by mandating that ballot titles use simple, accessible language to improve public understanding. The key mechanism sets a standardized readability threshold (using a "Grade Level formula" per the amended bill) for all such titles. The bill was passed quickly with an emergency declaration and is now law, aiming to make ballot measures clearer for all voters.

Maddy summarySB 433 (now Act 573) requires all Arkansas state government buildings to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a large font, alongside the national motto and accurate representations of both the U.S. and Arkansas state flags. The law mandates specific placement, with the U.S. flag displayed under the national motto and the Arkansas flag(s) included. This procedural bill affects all state government facilities, not specific individuals or policies. The legislation passed in 2025 and became effective after the governor signed it on April 14, 2025.