Rep. Justin Gonzales

Maddy summaryHJR 1015 was a proposed constitutional amendment in Arkansas that aimed to change how judicial candidates appear on the ballot. If approved, it would have required candidates for Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judge, Circuit Judge, and District Judge to declare their political party affiliation or independent status. This declared affiliation or independent status would then be printed on the ballot for voters to see. The stated purpose of the amendment was to ensure transparency regarding judicial candidates' affiliations. This amendment would have taken effect on January 1, 2027, if passed.

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 summaryHouse Bill 1754, known as the "Private Property Protection Act," aimed to limit the ability of state and local governmental entities in Arkansas to restrict the use of private property. It would have required property use restrictions related to planning, zoning, or land use to be demonstrably necessary, narrowly tailored, and the least restrictive means to fulfill a compelling governmental interest. Private property owners could challenge these restrictions in court, with the governmental entity needing to prove the restriction met these criteria. If an owner prevailed, the court would have enjoined the restriction and awarded attorney fees and costs. The bill included exceptions for actions preventing nuisances or enforcing existing permits.

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 1701, as amended, focuses on updating the laws governing sewer collection and treatment providers and related services. The amendment primarily clarifies and modifies references to state agencies involved in regulating these services, specifically concerning the Division of Environmental Quality and the former Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. It also adjusts provisions related to improvement plans and the transfer of assets by sewer entities. Additionally, the amendment includes "an individual homeowner" in a specified section, indicating potential implications for individual property owners regarding sewer services.

Maddy summaryHB 1963, now Act 963, clarifies the authority of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who prescribe stimulant medications. It allows these APRNs to substitute a therapeutically equivalent medication for a prescribed stimulant. A key provision requires the APRN to notify the physician who originally prescribed the stimulant when such a substitution occurs.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 375 creates the new offense of "capital rape" in Arkansas, targeting individuals who commit sexual offenses against victims aged thirteen (13) years or younger under specific aggravated circumstances. This offense is defined by actions such as causing or threatening serious physical injury, committing certain other felonies concurrently, using a deadly weapon, or having prior convictions for similar offenses. For offenders aged eighteen (18) or older, the penalties include death or life imprisonment without parole, while offenders younger than eighteen (18) face life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after twenty (20) years. The bill also ensures that prosecution for capital rape can be commenced at any time.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 426 creates the "Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act." This legislation establishes enhanced penalties for individuals identified as illegal aliens. These increased penalties apply specifically when an illegal alien commits serious felonies involving violence.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 342 (now Act 749) amends existing law regarding injuries caused by dogs to certain other animals. This bill authorizes the owner of an animal that has been injured or killed by a dog to seek treble damages, meaning three times the actual financial loss, from the dog's owner. This change provides increased compensation for owners of specific animals harmed by dogs, primarily affecting dog owners and owners of those "certain animals" (the specific types of animals are not detailed in this text).

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.