Sen. Kim Hammer

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1734 amends the law concerning death certificates and the pronouncement of death. The bill clarifies which medical professionals are authorized to sign a medical certificate of death and officially pronounce a patient deceased. Specifically, it allows medical staff of a hospital to pronounce death when a physician other than an emergency department physician is not immediately available. This measure aims to clarify roles and procedures for confirming death in hospital settings.

Maddy summaryHB 1732 aims to increase the income tax deduction available to teachers. This deduction applies to money teachers spend on their classrooms, often referred to as classroom investment. By increasing the allowed deduction, the bill enables teachers to reduce a larger portion of these out-of-pocket expenses from their taxable income. This change directly affects teachers who incur costs for their classrooms.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1585 creates a new exception to the licensing requirements for home healthcare services in Arkansas. It exempts entities that exclusively provide therapy services in a home setting. This exception applies specifically when the therapy services are not reimbursed by Medicare Part A. The bill amends existing state code to add this new category to the list of entities not required to hold a home healthcare service license.

Maddy summaryHB 1805 amends the definition of "bullying" within Arkansas public school antibullying policies. The revised definition specifies that bullying must involve an actual or perceived power imbalance and be repeated or have a high likelihood of repetition. The bill also establishes a process allowing public schools to investigate alleged bullying incidents under other applicable state or federal laws, rather than the specific antibullying policy, if the conduct also violates those other laws. This aims to prevent multiple, simultaneous investigations into the same alleged incident. The bill directly affects public school students, employees, and school districts in Arkansas.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1893, now Act 819, authorizes private property owners and business owners in Arkansas to ban emotional support animals from their property or premises, provided it doesn't conflict with federal law like the Fair Housing Act. Business owners can implement this ban by either verbally informing individuals or by posting a clear sign at the entrance. The act also limits the liability of private property or business owners for injuries caused by an emotional support animal, holding them responsible only in cases of gross negligence.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1855 transfers the authority for recommending adjustments to fire protection district boundaries from the State Forestry Commission to the Department of Agriculture. This bill allows the Department of Agriculture to recommend boundary changes to county courts for districts that overlap, abut areas without fire service, or are contiguous. Various fire protection organizations, including volunteer departments, can request these recommendations under specific conditions. The process involves the Department making a recommendation, the requesting district filing a petition with the county court, public notice, and a final decision by the county court to accept, reject, or modify the proposed boundary adjustment.

Maddy summaryHB 1965, known as the Arkansas Healthy Food Retail Act of 2025, establishes a program to provide financial incentives for healthy food retailers. This initiative aims to increase access to nutritious food for residents in underserved communities, including low-income and rural areas. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission will administer the Healthy Food Retailer Program, offering grants and loans to eligible for-profit and nonprofit retailers such as grocery stores and farmers' markets. These funds can support projects like new store construction, renovations, equipment, and workforce training. To qualify, retailers must commit to selling fresh produce and accept SNAP and WIC benefits, with the goal of improving public health and economic development.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1897, titled the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Reform and Efficiency Act of 2025, seeks to update laws governing towing and storage companies and the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board. As amended, the bill ensures that towing companies receive written notice and a hearing before the board can take disciplinary action against them. It modifies notice requirements for owners of removed implements, machinery, or abandoned vehicles, allowing notice through publication in a newspaper or posting on a website. The bill also clarifies that cargo owners are responsible for ensuring their retrieval entity is insured and liable for any damage during cargo retrieval, and it adjusts certain criminal penalty classifications.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1354 aims to regulate Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) concerning health benefit plans for state government and public school employees in Arkansas. The bill prohibits state and public plan sponsors, such as municipalities and public colleges, from contracting with PBMs that utilize standardized national contracts with pharmacies for services. Instead, PBMs contracting with these public plans must adhere to Arkansas-specific rates, terms, and conditions. This measure ensures that PBM practices for public health benefit plans comply with state law, directly affecting how these entities manage prescription drug benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1815, now Act 687, modifies the state's legal authority in two distinct areas. It amends the state's jurisdiction regarding federal lands located within its borders. Additionally, the bill ensures that the state retains jurisdiction over juvenile justice matters. An amendment clarifies that these juvenile cases will be heard by the circuit court or the juvenile division of the circuit court.