Maddy summarySR 24 is a Senate Resolution that recognizes and congratulates the Arkansas Council for Military Children. It commends the organization for its contributions and successes in serving military families across Arkansas.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 283, as amended, modifies the law concerning unclaimed property for certain nonprofit organizations. It specifically affects nonprofits with less than five million dollars in annual revenue. These organizations must turn over property unclaimed for one year to the state administrator. The administrator then has two years to locate the property's owner. If the owner is not found within that period, the unclaimed property is returned to the original nonprofit organization.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 507 aimed to require the Arkansas Medicaid Program to cover Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for specific beneficiaries. It would have provided ABA coverage for individuals over 21 years old who have an autism diagnosis, participate in the Community and Employment Services Waiver, and have a medical necessity determination from a physician. The bill specified that these services should be delivered based on individual needs, including one-on-one sessions at home and in the community, by qualified professionals. It also stated that ABA services should not be limited to group or clinical settings.
Maddy summarySenate Memorial Resolution 2 is a commemorative bill that honors the life and public service of James "Jim" Guy Tucker, former Arkansas Attorney General, U.S. Congressman, and the forty-third Governor of Arkansas. The resolution serves to respectfully acknowledge his contributions to the state and nation following his passing.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 75 formally honors Sylvia Ann Hindsman Cornwell for her 45 years of exemplary and dedicated service to the Arkansas Senate and the State of Arkansas. It recognizes her significant contributions, such as modernizing Senate records and serving as the first female Secretary of the Senate.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 23 recognizes February 15-22, 2025, as National FFA Week in Arkansas. This resolution commends the National FFA Organization and its Arkansas Division for their work in agricultural education and youth leadership.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1534 proposes to increase the existing homestead property tax credit. This bill directly affects homeowners by reducing the amount of property taxes they owe on their primary residence. The key mechanism is an adjustment to the credit amount, providing a larger tax reduction for eligible households.
Maddy summaryHB 1283 requires the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to revise its Kindergarten through Grade Twelve (K-12) library media standards. These updated standards must include digital media literacy, covering topics such as the negative effects of social media on mental health, online exploitation, the permanency of online content, digital footprints, and cybersecurity. The division is also tasked with curating age-appropriate resources for parents, educators, and students to support these new standards. Additionally, the bill amends the job duties of library media specialists to include providing instruction in digital media literacy.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 149 (SB 149) aimed to modify public school funding in Arkansas, primarily affecting public school districts and their employees. It adjusted the per-student foundation funding for the 2025-2026 school year to include the minimum employer contribution for the state-sponsored insurance program. For the 2026-2027 school year, the bill proposed the Department of Education would directly pay this employer contribution on behalf of school districts, reducing the foundation funding amount accordingly. Additionally, SB 149 outlined a gradual reduction in teacher salary equalization funding over three school years (2025-2028) to assist districts in meeting teacher compensation requirements, while maintaining a target average annual teacher salary of $51,822.
Maddy summaryHB 1663 sought to change alimony laws in Arkansas related to domestic abuse. The bill would have prohibited a court from awarding alimony to a person if they were found to have committed an act of domestic abuse or were convicted of specific domestic battering or assault offenses against the individual who would pay the alimony. For those already receiving alimony, it would have allowed a court to terminate the award if the recipient was subsequently found to have committed such an act or convicted of such an offense against the payor. These findings or convictions would be considered a significant change in circumstances for existing alimony awards.
