Sen. Ben Gilmore

Maddy summaryHB 1563 adds "knowingly exposing another person to fentanyl in the first degree" (under Arkansas Code § 5-13-214(b)) as a felony offense that qualifies as a "restricted release felony" for release eligibility and procedures. This means individuals convicted of this specific fentanyl exposure offense, committed on or after January 1, 2025, will be ineligible for certain early release programs under Arkansas law. The bill directly affects people convicted of this new offense by restricting their release options. The change applies only to offenses occurring after the specified date, and the bill became law as Act 356 on March 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1628 adds "sexual assault in the second degree" to the list of offenses requiring courts to issue extended post-conviction no-contact orders when requested by prosecutors. This directly affects individuals convicted of sexual assault in the second degree and their victims, who will now automatically receive these protective orders after sentencing. The bill amends Arkansas Code § 5-4-106(b) to include this offense alongside existing violent crimes like murder, rape, and domestic battery. Courts must now issue these no-contact orders for this specific crime, expanding the scope of protections for victims. The change became law as Act 367 on March 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 307, now Act 373, creates the "Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025" to support energy infrastructure investments. It requires the Arkansas Public Service Commission to consider strategic investments in natural gas and electric generation when setting utility rates, allowing companies to recover costs for approved projects. The bill mandates refunds to customers for imprudently incurred costs and sets new requirements for utility infrastructure projects to ensure grid reliability during extreme weather. It directly affects investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities operating in Arkansas by changing how they recover infrastructure costs through rate cases. The legislation declares an emergency to expedite these energy infrastructure developments.

Maddy summaryHB 1603 changes how court payments from criminal defendants are allocated in Arkansas circuit courts. It requires that installment payments first cover court costs, then restitution, and finally fines, as specified in the law. This directly affects defendants paying court fees in installments, ensuring costs and restitution are prioritized before fines. The bill also allows existing local payment methods adopted before 2017 to remain in effect until repealed by local governments. The law became Act 365 on March 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1629 (now Act 368) allows retiring prosecuting attorneys and deputies authorized to carry a firearm during their service to receive their assigned service firearm upon retirement. The bill amends Arkansas Code § 16-21-147(b) to add a provision enabling this award as recognition of service. It directly affects state prosecuting attorneys and deputies who carried firearms in their official duties. The policy change is now law, effective March 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 1020 proposed adding a "Victim’s Bill of Rights" to the Arkansas Constitution, granting specific protections for victims of violent and sexual crimes. If approved by voters, it would guarantee rights such as being informed about court proceedings, refusing disclosure of personal information (like home addresses), being heard at key stages (plea negotiations, sentencing), and receiving restitution payments before court fines. The amendment was withdrawn by its authors on March 18, 2025, and is no longer active. It would have directly affected individuals harmed by violent or sexual offenses, their legal representatives, and surviving family members in specified circumstances.

Maddy summarySB 222 aligns Missouri's Medicaid provider marketing rules with federal standards by requiring direct service providers to follow the federal managed care marketing rules (42 C.F.R. § 438.104) as they existed on January 1, 2025. This affects Medicaid providers who market services to enrollees, ensuring their advertising complies with established federal guidelines. The bill mandates that the state department revise its marketing rules to match these federal requirements. The legislation was passed quickly with an emergency clause, becoming law on March 18, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 263 (now Act 330) increases the amount of the homestead property tax credit available to Arkansas homeowners. This policy change directly benefits qualifying homeowners who own and occupy their primary residence, reducing their annual property tax bill. The bill amends the existing tax credit structure to provide a higher dollar amount for eligible taxpayers. It became law after passing the Arkansas legislature and being delivered to the Governor on March 13, 2025. The change represents a concrete adjustment to tax relief for qualified homeowners without altering eligibility requirements.

Maddy summarySB 301 amends Arkansas law to create an enhanced penalty for theft of commercial cargo, directly affecting individuals convicted of stealing goods in transit. The bill defines "cargo" as commercial shipments moving between points (excluding direct-to-consumer goods) and adds a 10-year consecutive prison term for such thefts, requiring prosecutors to notify defendants in writing. It also prohibits earned release credits for the enhanced sentence portion. The General Assembly declared an emergency, citing economic harm to businesses from cargo theft. The bill became law (Act 322) on March 18, 2025, after passing the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 300 creates a new criminal offense in Arkansas for "organized retail theft," targeting individuals who coordinate group thefts of consumer goods (like clothing or electronics) valued at over $1,000 within 120 days. The bill defines specific actions as part of this offense, such as organizing thefts, using devices to bypass security, or using stolen vehicles to facilitate the theft. It classifies the crime as a Class D felony (for $1,001-$5,000 value), Class C felony ($5,001-$25,000), or Class B felony (over $25,000), with penalties increasing based on the total value stolen. This law directly affects those involved in organized retail theft operations and provides clearer legal standards for prosecuting such cases.