Sen. Jonathan Dismang

Maddy summarySB 222 aligns Missouri's Medicaid provider marketing rules with federal standards by requiring direct service providers to follow the federal managed care marketing rules (42 C.F.R. § 438.104) as they existed on January 1, 2025. This affects Medicaid providers who market services to enrollees, ensuring their advertising complies with established federal guidelines. The bill mandates that the state department revise its marketing rules to match these federal requirements. The legislation was passed quickly with an emergency clause, becoming law on March 18, 2025.

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 summaryHB 1634 establishes the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act, allowing Arkansas public colleges and universities and their approved nonprofit affiliates to conduct raffles tied to official athletic games. These raffles can be sold digitally or in person, with proceeds limited to supporting student-athletes (e.g., scholarships, publicity rights), athletic programs, and facility improvements - never for staff compensation. The law prohibits sales to minors, caps transactions at $250, and requires public prize announcements. It amends gambling laws to exempt these sports-linked raffles from standard restrictions, effective as Act 305.

Maddy summarySB 246, the Arkansas Access Act, prohibits Arkansas public schools from granting excused absences for political protests. It allows excused absences for student participation in social or public policy advocacy or efforts to influence legislation, but only with written consent from a parent, guardian, or legal custodian. Schools must annually report to the state education division the number of such absences requested, granted, and the stated purpose of each absence. The bill directly affects public school districts and charter schools in Arkansas, along with students and their families.

Maddy summaryHB 1512, now Act 341, prohibits Arkansas public schools and charter schools from granting excused absences for "political protest." It allows excused absences for student "social or public policy advocacy" or "influencing legislation" only with parental consent. Schools must annually report the number of such absences and their purposes to the education division. The law directly affects public school students, parents, and school administrators by changing absence policies for non-academic activities.

Maddy summaryHB 1384 amends the structure of Arkansas' Graduate Medical Education Residency Expansion Board by adding Senator J. Dismang to the board and declares an emergency to accelerate funding for medical residency programs. The bill directly affects medical training programs across Arkansas that prepare new physicians, with the emergency clause citing urgent need to address statewide physician shortages before fall training starts. Key provisions include expediting funding distribution to meet summer deadlines for program readiness and establishing immediate effectiveness upon Governor approval or legislative override of a veto. This procedural bill focuses on administrative changes to speed up program expansion, not new policy.

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 summaryThis bill removes a longstanding prohibition that prevented nonprofit, tax-exempt, or governmentally-funded hospitals in Arkansas from operating retail pharmacies. It allows these hospitals to obtain pharmacy permits for selling drugs directly to the public, with specific rules about permit limits (one per hospital plus one for every 100 beds). Hospitals would need to employ a licensed pharmacist-in-charge and must inform patients about their pharmacy choice options under the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The bill also creates new reporting requirements for the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy regarding pharmacy permits and closures.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes funding for the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to cover employee salaries and operating expenses. It establishes the maximum number of staff positions and sets specific salary rates for various roles, including leadership, enforcement officers, biologists, and administrative workers. The legislation directly affects the commission's ability to maintain its workforce and carry out its duties related to wildlife management, fisheries, and conservation. By approving these financial allocations, the bill ensures the agency can continue its operations without interruption during the specified period.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers income tax rates for individuals, trusts, estates, and corporations in Arkansas starting January 1, 2024. For individuals, it adjusts tax brackets and rates, reducing the top marginal rate for high earners and introducing specific deductions for those with incomes between $87,001 and $92,700. Corporations and foreign businesses face a similar reduction, with the highest tax bracket dropping from 4.8% to 4.3% on net income exceeding $11,000. The legislation also directs any surplus funds to the Arkansas Reserve Fund Set-Aside to support state government operations and declares an emergency to expedite the process.