Sen. Ben Gilmore

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 summaryHB 1797, as modified by Amendment No. 2, updates the law concerning the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) to enhance legislative oversight and financial accountability. The bill requires the ADFA President to appear before the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee upon request to report on contracts and procurement matters. Additionally, it explicitly subjects the ADFA and all its records and data to inspection and audit by Arkansas Legislative Audit.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1524, now Act 939, amends the existing laws concerning bidding procedures for the construction of buildings and facilities. This legislation directly affects government agencies and construction companies involved in public building projects by modifying how bids are processed. Senate Amendment No. 1, which was adopted, specifically clarifies a provision within the bill. It ensures that certain conditions apply only to the preparation and approval of plans and specifications, rather than a broader section. The bill aims to refine the framework for these construction bidding processes.

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 539 updates and clarifies laws concerning the Division of Community Correction and the Division of Correction, including references to community correction centers. The bill modifies administrative sanctions for parolees and individuals on post-release supervision. It defines intermediate sanctions such as increased substance abuse screening or treatment, and increased monitoring. For parolees, incarceration as an intermediate sanction is limited to a maximum of seven days in a county jail or 120 days in a state facility, with overall limits on frequency and duration. Similar restrictions apply to those on post-release supervision, capping intermediate incarceration at seven days in a county/regional jail or 90 days in a state facility.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 446 amends the Automatic License Plate Reader System Act to expand who can use these systems. The bill now allows private landowners, private leaseholders, and commercial businesses to utilize automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). These private entities can use ALPRs for purposes such as promoting public safety, deterring crime, and monitoring access to their private property. The legislation stipulates that private entities must destroy captured plate data after 60 days, while most governmental entities have a 150-day retention limit. Private users are prohibited from selling or trading captured plate data for commercial purposes, though it can be shared with third-party processors for asset protection under specific contractual terms.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 352 prohibits antisemitism in public elementary and secondary schools. It also extends this prohibition to state-supported institutions of higher education. The bill establishes a standard for conduct within these educational environments, directly affecting students, faculty, and staff. This legislation aims to prevent and address antisemitic acts or expressions within these institutions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 302 creates a new criminal offense called "gift card fraud." This bill makes it illegal to use gift card information or obtain it from a cardholder or issuer with the intent to deprive the owner of property. It directly affects individuals who engage in these fraudulent activities and aims to protect owners of gift cards from such fraud. The bill also includes an emergency declaration, meaning it would take effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 485 amends Arkansas laws regarding suspended sentences, probation, parole, and post-release supervision. It requires courts to tailor probation conditions to an individual's "criminogenic risks and needs" - factors that increase the risk of reoffending - and to consider presentence investigation findings. The bill also allows courts to mandate participation in community-based rehabilitative programs proven to reduce recidivism. Additionally, it establishes an Evidence-based Practices and Quality Assurance Unit within the Department of Corrections to research and evaluate offender treatment programs. These changes aim to reduce reoffending by focusing on individualized, data-driven approaches to supervision and rehabilitation.

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.