Rep. Wade Andrews

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 1954 creates the Arkansas Behavior Analyst Registration Act, establishing a system for registering individuals who practice behavior analysis independently in the state. This bill requires individuals to register with the Arkansas Psychology Board, submitting an application, fee, background check, and evidence of certification from recognized behavior analyst credentialing boards. It defines "registered behavior analyst" and outlines penalties for those who unlawfully present themselves as such without registration. The Arkansas Psychology Board is responsible for administering these provisions, including handling renewals, temporary registrations, and reciprocity with other jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThe provided context for HB 1657 only shows cosponsor additions and procedural status (it became Act 709 on April 16, 2025), not the bill's substantive policy content. The title references an "income tax credit" for wood energy products and forest maintenance, but the text does not explain how the credit is amended or who it affects. Without the actual policy provisions or bill text describing changes to the tax credit, a factual summary of its mechanisms or impact cannot be generated. To provide a meaningful summary, the bill's specific policy language would be required.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1808, now Act 686, amends existing laws concerning municipal fire departments. This legislation also establishes a "Bill of Rights for Firefighters," directly impacting firefighters employed by municipal departments.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 29, 2025, as Vietnam War Veterans Day and March 2025 as Vietnam Era Veterans Month in Arkansas. It formally recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of Vietnam War veterans through state-level ceremonial observance. The resolution does not create new laws, programs, or benefits - it serves solely as a symbolic gesture of appreciation. It affects Arkansas residents by establishing official dates for state-level recognition of veterans' service.

Maddy summaryHB 1303 (now Act 546) creates a state income tax credit for businesses producing sustainable aviation fuel in Arkansas. The credit allows eligible producers to reduce their state income tax liability by up to the full amount of tax they owe in a given year. It directly affects aviation fuel producers who meet the bill's sustainability criteria, providing financial incentive to develop and use cleaner fuel alternatives. The law, enacted April 10, 2025, establishes this credit as part of Arkansas' efforts to support sustainable energy infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 1636 would phase out Arkansas' soft drink tax by gradually eliminating it based on sales tax collections from soft drink sales. The bill proposed replacing the current tax with a system tied directly to existing sales tax data, ensuring a smooth transition. This change would directly affect soft drink retailers (who collect the tax) and consumers (who pay it). The legislation aimed to replace an outdated tax structure with one aligned to current sales tax reporting practices.

Maddy summaryHB 1864 would require Arkansas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to meet minimum instructional days based on their annual school rating (from "A" to "F" under the state's accountability system), ranging from 160 days for top-rated schools to 178 days for lowest-rated schools. This policy directly affects all public school districts and charter schools in Arkansas by tying their required in-person instruction time to performance ratings. The bill establishes a standardized, flexible calendar system where schools must meet these day minimums unless closed for emergencies. It also clarifies that districts operating on a 12-month calendar cannot receive additional state foundation funding beyond what they would get for a standard 9-month schedule. The bill was amended and withdrawn in April 2025, with recommendations for further study.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1561) is a technical amendment to remove all references to "the State of Qatar" from existing state laws. It deletes phrases like "or the State of Qatar" or "from the State of Qatar" from 17 different sections of the code, correcting outdated or erroneous text. The bill does not create new policies, affect any individuals or groups, or change legal requirements. It was passed by both chambers and became law as Act 473 on April 8, 2025, solely to update legal references.

Maddy summaryHB 1550, which was withdrawn by its author on April 3, 2025, would have established rules for expedited security screening services at Arkansas public airports. It defined key terms like "expedited security screening" (allowing passengers to use standard or TSA PreCheck lanes instead of regular screening) and required vendors to have dedicated TSA lanes exclusively for this service. The bill also prohibited airlines from charging passengers extra fees for expedited screening lanes they exclusively provide to their passengers. This legislation would have directly affected public airport operators, vendors offering expedited screenings, and airlines partnering with airports. As it was withdrawn, it did not become law.