Sen. Ron Caldwell

Maddy summaryHB 1590 merges Woodruff County’s treasurer and tax collector positions into a single elected office, effective January 1, 2027. Voters in Woodruff County will elect one official to serve both roles in the 2026 general election, with the winner taking office on the effective date. The bill specifies that the combined officeholder must provide a bond, receive county-court-determined compensation within state-set limits, and manage county financial duties as outlined in existing law. This change directly affects Woodruff County residents and its elected county official, streamlining a local government role without altering tax policies or revenue collection procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1591 combines Arkansas County's treasurer and tax collector positions into a single office effective January 1, 2027. Voters in Arkansas County will elect one person to serve both roles in the 2026 general election, with the winner taking office on the effective date. The bill maintains existing requirements for the officeholder to provide a bond, receive compensation set by the county Quorum Court within state-prescribed limits, and hire deputies. This change directly affects Arkansas County residents by streamlining county financial administration under one elected official.

Maddy summarySB 189, now Act 396, allows pharmacies and consumers to purchase Ivermectin for human use without a prescription or consultation with a healthcare professional. The bill removes existing requirements for medical oversight when buying this medication. It directly affects pharmacies (which can now sell it without a prescription) and consumers (who can obtain it without seeing a doctor). The law took effect after the bill passed the legislature and was signed by the governor on March 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1558 creates two new licenses for property management professionals in Arkansas: a Property Management Broker license and a Property Management Associate license. This bill amends the existing real estate licensing law to establish these specific categories, directly affecting individuals and businesses seeking to manage residential or commercial properties. The law requires applicants to meet defined education, experience, and examination standards for each license type. It does not change existing real estate broker or salesperson licenses but adds these new pathways for property management roles. The bill became law as Act 392 on March 25, 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 summaryThis bill adds nitrogen gas as an additional method of execution for individuals sentenced to death in Arkansas, alongside the existing lethal injection option. It requires prison officials to notify death row inmates of the chosen execution method (nitrogen gas or lethal injection) at least seven days in advance. The bill also includes confidentiality provisions preventing public disclosure of execution protocols, drug sources, and personnel involved under Arkansas' public records laws. This change applies to all future capital punishment cases in Arkansas, following its passage into law as Act 302.

Maddy summaryHB 1279 amends Arkansas' 1969 Egg Marketing Act to allow grocery stores and other retailers to repackage eggs (e.g., repackaging bulk cartons into smaller portions) if they meet specific criteria. This directly affects egg retailers by changing packaging rules that previously restricted such activity. The key provision permits repackaging under defined conditions, streamlining operations for retailers without requiring new egg production. The bill became law as Act 285 on March 12, 2025, after passing through the legislative process.

Maddy summaryHB 1564 modifies permit requirements for new motor vehicle racing facilities in rural Arkansas, specifically those located more than one mile from incorporated cities. The bill sets a 75-decibel noise limit at property lines, requires $1 million in liability insurance, mandates public hearings with 30-day notice, and establishes quiet hours from 9 PM to 6 AM. It prohibits such facilities within one mile of city boundaries and imposes daily fines of $1,000 for violations. The bill was introduced in February 2025 but was withdrawn by its author on March 5, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1049 (now Act 238) amends Arkansas criminal law to establish a new offense for "unlawful squattering." The bill makes it a criminal violation for a person to occupy property without the owner's permission, specifically targeting individuals who enter or remain on property after being asked to leave. This directly affects individuals occupying vacant or abandoned properties without legal right, such as vacant homes or land. The key provision creates a specific criminal charge (likely a misdemeanor) for this conduct, distinct from general trespass laws, and specifies that the offense applies after the owner or their agent has issued a verbal or written demand to vacate.

Maddy summaryHB 1353 regulates vision benefit managers and amends Arkansas' Vision Care Plan Act and Healthcare Contracting Simplification Act. It prohibits insurance contracts from automatically reducing vision benefits solely due to other coverage (e.g., multiple vision plans), requiring such reductions to follow Insurance Commissioner-approved rules instead. The bill defines key terms like "covered materials" (e.g., lenses, frames) and "vision benefit manager," while banning agreements that force providers to charge more for non-covered services than their standard rates. This directly affects Arkansans with vision insurance plans and eye care providers, ensuring fairer billing practices for covered vision care services and materials. The bill passed in February 2025 and became Act 142.