Sen. Jane English

Maddy summarySenate Bill 320 amends multiple Arkansas statutes to update references to the Arkansas Juvenile Code of 1989, specifically citing sections §9-27-301 et seq. and §9-35-101 et seq. The bill clarifies how the juvenile code applies to cases involving underage alcohol possession, custody transfers, and juvenile delinquency proceedings. It ensures consistent legal references across statutes without changing substantive law. This affects juvenile courts, law enforcement, and child welfare agencies when handling cases under the juvenile code.

Maddy summaryHB 1724 changes Arkansas school board election rules to give districts more flexibility. It requires school districts to adopt their own annual election date (replacing a fixed date) and notify county election officials 100 days before candidate filing. The bill also updates how school board boundaries change (due to annexation or membership requirements) and adjusts term expiration dates for elected members. Additionally, it revises runoff election rules and changes filing deadlines and election start times to noon. These changes directly affect all Arkansas public school districts and voters participating in local school board elections.

Maddy summaryHB 1545 is an amendment to Arkansas' Military Child School Transitions Act of 2021. It updates the law to explicitly include students with disabilities in school transition support, expands the Purple Star School Program to develop resources for military-connected students, and adjusts excused absence policies for these students. The amendment also removes Section 6 of the original act. These changes directly affect military-connected students in Arkansas schools, particularly those with disabilities, by improving access to transition support and program resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1864 would require Arkansas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to meet minimum instructional days based on their annual school rating (from "A" to "F" under the state's accountability system), ranging from 160 days for top-rated schools to 178 days for lowest-rated schools. This policy directly affects all public school districts and charter schools in Arkansas by tying their required in-person instruction time to performance ratings. The bill establishes a standardized, flexible calendar system where schools must meet these day minimums unless closed for emergencies. It also clarifies that districts operating on a 12-month calendar cannot receive additional state foundation funding beyond what they would get for a standard 9-month schedule. The bill was amended and withdrawn in April 2025, with recommendations for further study.

Maddy summarySB 278 repeals all licensing and regulatory requirements for employment agencies, agency managers, and employment counselors in Arkansas, ending the 1975 Arkansas Private Employment Agency Act. It removes state mandates for licenses, fee reporting, inspections, and enforcement powers previously held by the Division of Labor under Chapter 11 of Arkansas Code Title 11. This directly affects employment agencies that place workers, their managers, and counselors who previously needed state authorization to operate. The bill eliminates all specific rules governing these businesses, including definitions, penalties, and director oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 1598 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to create a new school accountability system for public schools, including open-enrollment charter schools. It exempts all public schools from receiving letter grades or ratings for the 2023-2024 school year. Starting in 2024-2025, schools will receive letter grades under this new system, and schools that fail to maintain their grade may request a review by the Department of Public School Accountability. The bill directly affects all public schools in Tennessee by changing how their performance is evaluated and reported.

Maddy summaryHB 1633 modifies eligibility rules for students who transfer schools, removing academic standing requirements that previously barred them from participating in extracurricular activities like sports or clubs immediately after transferring. The bill directly affects transfer students in Arkansas public schools, ensuring they can join activities without waiting periods tied to prior academic performance. It declares an emergency to expedite the law's implementation, making the policy change effective immediately upon enactment. The bill became Act 475 on April 8, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.

Maddy summarySB 424 requires municipal improvement district boards in Arkansas to allow public comment before decisions at meetings and hold quarterly meetings. Property owners within these districts must receive meeting notices 10-30 days in advance, including agendas, for all meetings. The law applies to all improvement districts in incorporated cities and towns statewide. It aims to increase transparency by mandating regular public communication and notice. This bill became Act 422 on March 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1609 increases penalties for human traffickers who recruit victims from high-risk locations. It mandates a 10-year prison sentence (up from standard penalties) if traffickers target individuals at facilities like youth shelters, correctional facilities, foster homes, childcare institutions, or juvenile detention centers. The bill directly affects traffickers who exploit vulnerable populations in these specific settings. It creates a clear legal mechanism to impose harsher sentences based on the victim’s location at the time of recruitment. The bill became law as Act 366 on March 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1451 clarifies that home-schooled students, as defined by Arkansas law, qualify for the Concurrent Challenge Scholarship Program. The bill specifically amends the program’s definition of "student" to include home-schooled learners and sets a total funding cap of $250,000 for all scholarships distributed to students in grades 9 through 12. This change directly affects home-schooled students seeking financial support for concurrent enrollment in college courses while in high school. The legislation, now Act 353, ensures these students meet the eligibility criteria under the existing program framework.