Sen. Ben Gilmore

Maddy summaryHB 1745, now Act 604, requires commercial drivers in Arkansas to possess valid U.S. work authorization (such as a work visa or Employment Authorization Document) and demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to read traffic signs, converse with the public, respond to officials, and complete vehicle records. It directly affects commercial motor vehicle operators in Arkansas who must meet these requirements to legally drive. Violations carry fines up to $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. The law creates specific offenses for operating without required work authorization or English proficiency.

Maddy summaryHB 1713, now Act 602, requires ballot titles for citizen-initiated measures to be written at or below a specific grade-level reading standard. This law directly affects voters and initiative proponents by mandating that ballot titles use simple, accessible language to improve public understanding. The key mechanism sets a standardized readability threshold (using a "Grade Level formula" per the amended bill) for all such titles. The bill was passed quickly with an emergency declaration and is now law, aiming to make ballot measures clearer for all voters.

Maddy summarySB 463 requires Arkansas public utilities to obtain approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission before entering settlement agreements that would close or eliminate power plants or transmission assets. The bill directly affects utilities, the Commission, and consumers by mandating that settlements must legally resolve claims, not exceed regulatory costs, and avoid decisions driven by environmental goals rather than law. The Commission must evaluate whether proposed settlements are legally sound, cost-justified for consumers, and based on reasonable legal interpretations before approving or denying them. This creates a new review process to ensure settlements protect consumer interests and comply with state regulations. The bill does not change existing utility operations but adds oversight for specific settlement agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 1630 amends Arkansas law to classify certain drug-related deaths as capital murder, first-degree murder, or manslaughter. Specifically, it adds misdemeanor violations involving the actual delivery of controlled substances (like small-scale drug sales) to the list of offenses that can trigger these severe charges when death occurs during or immediately after the drug activity. For example, if someone causes a death while selling drugs in a misdemeanor-level transaction, it could now be prosecuted as first-degree murder instead of manslaughter. This change directly affects individuals involved in low-level drug transactions where a death occurs during the offense. The bill passed both chambers and became Act 599 on April 14, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 407 repeals the Arkansas Catfish Processor Fair Practices Act of 1987, which previously regulated payment practices for catfish processors. This repeal removes requirements that larger processors (those buying over $50,000 annually from producers) must register with the Agriculture Department, pay producers within 14 days, and face penalties for late payments or bad checks. The law directly affected catfish processors and producers by establishing payment timelines and enforcement mechanisms. With this repeal, the state eliminates these specific regulatory obligations for the catfish industry.

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 1551 (now Act 485) creates a new criminal offense for coercing someone into an abortion through fraud, such as falsely claiming a medical necessity. It directly affects individuals who might be pressured into an abortion under false pretenses and medical providers who engage in such fraudulent coercion. The bill adds a specific criminal penalty for this conduct, separate from existing abortion laws. This law, passed in Arkansas on April 8, 2025, focuses on preventing deceptive practices in abortion decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1488 (now Act 391) amends Arkansas' standard life insurance nonforfeiture law to require insurers to pay interest on delayed cash surrender payments for certain policies. It directly affects policyholders who request to withdraw the cash value of their life insurance policies but receive payments later than required. The key provision mandates that insurers pay interest on any deferred cash surrender value during the delay period, ensuring policyholders aren't financially disadvantaged by late payments. This change applies specifically to policies covered under the amended nonforfeiture law, with no broader scope specified in the bill text.

Maddy summaryHB 1552 establishes new criminal classifications for attempts, solicitations, or conspiracies involving fentanyl-related offenses. It directly affects individuals who plan, attempt, or conspire to commit fentanyl-related crimes by creating specific sentencing tiers for these actions. The bill modifies existing law to define these inchoate offenses (like planning or attempting) as distinct criminal categories, separating them from completed fentanyl crimes. This law, now Act 420, became effective March 25, 2025, and applies to all such offenses under Arkansas law.

Maddy summaryHB 1517, now Act 347, prohibits earned wage access service providers from making false, misleading, or deceptive statements about their services. It directly affects companies offering early wage access (like employer-sponsored apps or third-party platforms), requiring clear disclosures to workers. The law modifies existing state code (sections 23-52-203 and 23-52-204) to clarify that banking, savings, and credit union entities remain exempt. This policy change ensures transparency for workers using these services while excluding traditional financial institutions from the rules.