Rep. Julie Mayberry

Maddy summaryHB 1435 aimed to modify state income tax laws concerning child care. The bill sought to amend the existing income tax credit available to employers who provide child care services. Additionally, it proposed to establish a new income tax credit specifically for licensed child care providers. These provisions were intended to adjust financial incentives for both businesses supporting child care and the providers themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 1592, the "Arkansas Alzheimer’s and Dementia Public Health Act," establishes a framework for the state to address Alzheimer's disease and related dementias as a public health priority. It mandates the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health to collaborate on a state plan, expand public health campaigns, and integrate cognitive health education into existing programs. This includes educating healthcare providers on early detection and care planning, and launching public awareness campaigns about risk reduction and early warning signs. The bill also requires enhanced data collection and analysis, the creation of a publicly accessible data dashboard, and seeking funding to support these efforts.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1890 would have allowed Arkansas school districts to bill the state's Medicaid program for certain healthcare services provided to students. The bill required the Arkansas Medicaid Program to reimburse school districts for services such as vision and hearing screenings, and specific direct nursing care. These nursing services included tasks like medication administration, blood sugar checks, and tracheostomy care, when provided by licensed professionals under a registered nurse's supervision and outlined in a student's individual health care plan. Any reimbursement received by school districts was mandated to be used exclusively for school nurse services and salaries.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 347, now Act 1025, requires the Arkansas Medicaid Program to increase reimbursement rates for specific dental services. Starting September 1, 2025, rates for oral and maxillofacial surgeons, pediatric dental services, and dental services for adults with special needs will be set to 60% of the national 50th percentile fee. Additionally, the annual reimbursement cap for dental services for adults with special needs will increase from $500 to $1,000. This bill directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries needing these dental services and the providers who offer them.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 11 (SJR 11) proposes a constitutional amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. This measure aims to modify Article 2, Section 5, with the specific intent to protect the right to keep and bear arms for individuals. If enacted, it would alter the state's foundational document concerning this right.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 5 (SCR 5) is a resolution that expresses the Arkansas General Assembly's continued encouragement for the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to achieve National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation. The resolution commends the Institute's progress, acknowledges its fundraising efforts, and encourages further private fundraising and collaboration among state entities to support this goal. This legislative action aims to facilitate the establishment of an NCI-designated cancer center in Arkansas, which could expand access to advanced cancer treatments, clinical trials, and research for Arkansans.

Maddy summaryHB 1877 expands criminal offenses related to sexually explicit material depicting a child to include computer-generated images that are indistinguishable from a child. The bill defines "artificial intelligence" and "adversarial testing," which involves evaluating AI systems in a controlled environment. It creates exemptions for law enforcement investigations and for interactive computer services conducting good-faith adversarial testing to prevent AI systems from generating such content. However, these exemptions do not apply if the testing is for personal or exploitative purposes. Additionally, the bill renames the offense of "Possession or use of child sexual abuse material" to "Electronic facilitation of child sexual abuse."

Maddy summaryHB 1682, known as the "Arkansas Good Neighbor Act," clarifies and expands liability protections for entities and individuals involved in donating and distributing food. The bill grants civil and criminal immunity to good faith donors, gleaners (those who harvest donated crops), and nonprofit organizations, even if the donated food does not meet consumer safety standards or is not readily marketable due to appearance or surplus. To qualify for this protection, donors must inform the receiving organization, and the organization must inform recipients, about the food's condition to the best of their knowledge. This immunity does not apply in cases of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. The act aims to encourage food donations by reducing liability concerns for those who help provide food to the public through charitable channels.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 313, as amended, concerns forensic mental health evaluations and treatment within the legal system. It establishes procedures for prosecutors and defense counsel to request mental health evaluations for defendants, allowing for ex parte or in camera hearings when privileged information is involved. The bill details the court's authority to order the administration of medication to incarcerated defendants to maintain their fitness to proceed, outlining specific conditions based on whether the defendant poses a danger. Additionally, time spent in the department's physical custody under these provisions counts towards credit for time served.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 314 amends the law regarding sexual solicitation, directly affecting individuals convicted of this offense. The bill reclassifies the penalties for sexual solicitation. A first offense is now designated as a Class A misdemeanor, carrying maximum sentences of 90 days imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine. For a second or subsequent offense, the bill reclassifies sexual solicitation as a Class