Sen. Jonathan Dismang

Maddy summarySenate Bill 426 creates the "Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act." This legislation establishes enhanced penalties for individuals identified as illegal aliens. These increased penalties apply specifically when an illegal alien commits serious felonies involving violence.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new system for property insurance for public schools, state-supported higher education institutions, and other state-owned properties. It creates the State Captive Insurance Program and the Office of Property Risk within the Department of Transformation and Shared Services to manage these combined insurance efforts. The act allows the state to create its own captive insurance company and prohibits the use of public adjusting for these property insurance claims. The goal is to create a more stable and sustainable property insurance system for these state entities by consolidating existing programs and ensuring proper property valuation. (SB 481, Act 779)

Maddy summarySB 527 amends the Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me Act of 2021, impacting individuals enrolled in the program and participating health insurers. The bill changes the age for exemption from work requirements to over 59 years and clarifies compliance information for the Arkansas Medicaid Program. It establishes a process for suspending coverage for individuals who do not cooperate with work requirements, allowing them to regain active coverage if they demonstrate an intention to comply. Additionally, the bill reduces the required medical-loss ratio for health insurers in the program from 90% to 85%.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 535 creates a sales and use tax exemption specifically for the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation. This means that these two organizations will not be required to pay sales tax on their purchases of physical goods, digital products, or services. The bill amends existing state code to add this new exemption. This change aims to reduce the tax burden on the museum and its associated foundation.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 475 establishes the Pharmacy Services Administrative Organization Act. This bill creates a new legal framework to regulate pharmacy services administrative organizations. It directly affects these organizations by setting rules and guidelines for their operations.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1491 modifies the excise tax on certain beer and sake. The bill establishes a new excise tax credit for producers of beer and sake. To qualify for this credit, the beer and sake must be made using Arkansas rice. This credit allows eligible producers to reduce the amount of excise tax they owe.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1922 amends the Consolidated Incentive Act of 2003 to create new income or sales and use tax credits for corporations that relocate their headquarters to Arkansas. The bill aims to encourage businesses to move their main offices to the state by offering these financial incentives. Eligible corporations may receive a tax credit of up to ten percent of their eligible project costs, awarded at the discretion of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. To qualify, businesses must meet specific investment and new annual payroll thresholds for full-time employees, which vary based on the county's economic tier. These credits can offset up to fifty percent of a qualified business's annual tax liability and can be carried forward for up to nine years.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1896, known as the "Junk Fee Eliminating Act of 2025," abolishes the Information Network of Arkansas (INA). All of INA's authority, duties, records, and personnel are transferred to the Division of Information Systems. This legislation directly affects state agencies and local governments that previously relied on INA for services, such as processing criminal history information and collecting court-ordered fines electronically. A key provision removes INA's previous authorization to charge transaction fees for electronic court fine payments, effectively eliminating that specific charge.

Maddy summaryThe provided context for HB 1657 only shows cosponsor additions and procedural status (it became Act 709 on April 16, 2025), not the bill's substantive policy content. The title references an "income tax credit" for wood energy products and forest maintenance, but the text does not explain how the credit is amended or who it affects. Without the actual policy provisions or bill text describing changes to the tax credit, a factual summary of its mechanisms or impact cannot be generated. To provide a meaningful summary, the bill's specific policy language would be required.

Maddy summaryHB 1821 creates a single State Captive Insurance Program to replace fragmented property insurance systems for public schools, state-supported colleges/universities, and state-owned properties in Arkansas. It combines these entities under one program, prohibits the use of public adjusting firms (which the bill states increased premiums), and requires independent reappraisals of higher education properties to ensure proper valuation. The bill also establishes the Office of Property Risk within the Department of Transformation and Shared Services to manage the program and mandates coordination among state agencies for a smooth transition. These changes aim to stabilize insurance costs and improve market competitiveness for these public entities.