Sen. Mark Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 1637 requires state agencies to prepare and present fiscal impact statements for statewide initiatives, referendums, and legislatively referred constitutional amendments. It removes references to "local" impacts, ensuring these statements focus exclusively on statewide financial effects. This change directly affects voters, election officials, and state agencies by standardizing how fiscal consequences of ballot measures are communicated. The bill became law as Act 457 on April 3, 2025, streamlining the process for transparent voter information.

Maddy summaryAct 400 (formerly SB 223) establishes the "Religious Rights at Public Schools Act of 2025" for Arkansas public schools. The law protects students and staff from discrimination based on lawful religious expression, such as prayer, wearing religious symbols, or discussing faith, provided these activities do not disrupt school operations. Schools must inform students, parents, and employees about these rights through electronic means or in handbooks. This law directly affects public school communities by requiring non-discriminatory policies for religious expression while clarifying protections apply only to legal, non-disruptive activities.

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 1313 expands health benefit coverage in Arkansas to include certain retired firefighters who meet specific service requirements (e.g., 28 years of service or age 55+ with 20 years) and are not enrolled in Medicare. It requires municipalities and counties to offer health plans to eligible firefighter retirees during a 60-day enrollment window after retirement, without additional fees or surcharges. Dependents of retired firefighters would retain coverage after the retiree’s death, mirroring existing provisions for police officer retirees. The bill directly affects qualifying retired firefighters and their families in municipal and county fire departments across Arkansas.

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 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.

Maddy summarySB 142, now Act 122, bans students from possessing or using personal electronic devices (like phones) during the entire school day, directly affecting public school students. The law requires schools to update discipline policies to include specific exemptions: devices issued by the school for educational use, special events (defined by future rules), and devices needed for students with special education plans or concurrent enrollment college courses. It replaces prior rules with these clear exemptions while maintaining the overall "bell to bell" device ban. The bill passed in February 2025 and became law without additional committee action.

Maddy summarySB 59 requires all public schools to provide one free breakfast daily to every student upon request, without checking if they qualify for federally funded free or reduced-price meals. This policy directly affects all public school students in the state, eliminating eligibility barriers for breakfast access. The bill includes an emergency clause, allowing it to take effect immediately upon enactment. It changes school meal procedures by mandating universal breakfast availability as a standard practice, not tied to existing federal program eligibility. The bill became law as Act 123 on February 24, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 77 requires the Arkansas Medicaid program to cover and reimburse physical therapy services provided in clinic settings. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries seeking physical therapy and healthcare providers operating clinics. The bill mandates that Medicaid pay for these services, which were previously not covered under the program for clinic-based care. It creates a concrete policy change by expanding Medicaid reimbursement to include physical therapy delivered outside of hospital or home settings.