Rep. Jeff Wardlaw

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1490 proposes to eliminate a current requirement for public school students transitioning to home school. Specifically, it repeals the rule that mandates students return or pay for temporarily issued items, resources, materials, or property belonging to the public school before they are eligible to enroll in a home school. This change would allow students to enroll in home school without first fulfilling these specific conditions regarding school property.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1930 aimed to mandate minimum reimbursement levels for healthcare services provided by healthcare insurers. The bill proposed a phased increase in these minimums, starting at 45% in 2026 and reaching 100% by 2030. It would have also required the Insurance Commissioner to consider specific factors, such as an insurer's Risk-Based Capital level and Medical Loss Ratio, when reviewing proposed increases to premium rates or cost sharing for policyholders.

Maddy summaryHB 1960 modifies the assessment and payment of property taxes for leased motor vehicles. It designates the individual or entity leasing a motor vehicle as the owner for property tax purposes, making them responsible for these taxes instead of the leasing company. This change directly affects lessees of motor vehicles by shifting the tax liability to them. Additionally, the bill amends the laws concerning local sales and use taxes on certain tangible personal property.

Maddy summaryHCR 1004 is a House Concurrent Resolution that congratulates Game Warden Austin Powell for receiving the Monty Carmikle Officer of the Year Award and the 2024 Robert M. Brantly Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. This resolution recognizes his achievements and service.

Maddy summarySB 530 is a procedural bill that added 21 senators and 37 representatives as cosponsors to the original bill. It did not change the tax credit policy itself, as the title references an existing Arkansas Wood Energy Products and Forest Maintenance Income Tax Credit. The bill's purpose was solely to expand the list of legislators supporting the tax credit legislation. The bill was passed and became Act 701 on April 18, 2025. No substantive policy changes to the tax credit were made by this amendment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new system for property insurance for public schools, state-supported higher education institutions, and other state-owned properties. It creates the State Captive Insurance Program and the Office of Property Risk within the Department of Transformation and Shared Services to manage these combined insurance efforts. The act allows the state to create its own captive insurance company and prohibits the use of public adjusting for these property insurance claims. The goal is to create a more stable and sustainable property insurance system for these state entities by consolidating existing programs and ensuring proper property valuation. (SB 481, Act 779)

Maddy summaryThe provided text is an amendment to Senate Bill 538, not the full bill itself. This amendment adds Senator J. Dotson as a cosponsor, deletes Section 11 from the bill, and renumbers the remaining sections. The title indicates that the bill aims to amend the Arkansas Procurement Law, but the specific changes or mechanisms of the bill are not detailed in the provided information.

Maddy summarySB 527 amends the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021, impacting individuals enrolled in the program and participating health insurers. The bill changes the age for exemption from work requirements to over 59 years and clarifies compliance information for the Arkansas Medicaid Program. It establishes a process for suspending coverage for individuals who do not cooperate with work requirements, allowing them to regain active coverage if they demonstrate an intention to comply. Additionally, the bill reduces the required medical-loss ratio for health insurers in the program from 90% to 85%.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1491 modifies the excise tax on certain beer and sake. The bill establishes a new excise tax credit for producers of beer and sake. To qualify for this credit, the beer and sake must be made using Arkansas rice. This credit allows eligible producers to reduce the amount of excise tax they owe.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HB 1827, is titled "TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS HUNTING HERITAGE PROTECTION ACT." Based on the provided text, the specific changes or provisions it makes to that act are not detailed. It seeks to modify existing legislation related to hunting heritage in Arkansas, and it has successfully passed into law as Act 817.