Sen. Blake Johnson

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 11 (SJR 11) proposes a constitutional amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. This measure aims to modify Article 2, Section 5, with the specific intent to protect the right to keep and bear arms for individuals. If enacted, it would alter the state's foundational document concerning this right.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1979 amends Arkansas law to allow warrantless searches for individuals under certain types of supervision. The bill requires people placed on supervised probation, suspended imposition of sentence, parole, or post-release supervision to agree to a waiver. This waiver permits law enforcement or Division of Community Correction officers to search their person, residence, vehicle, or electronic devices at any time, without needing articulable suspicion. If an individual does not sign this waiver, they become ineligible for these forms of supervision.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 486 establishes requirements for designating multi-occupancy restrooms, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters in certain entities, including shelters and state and local correctional facilities, based on an individual's sex. The bill includes provisions for assigning transgender or intersex inmates in correctional facilities on a case-by-case basis to ensure their health and safety, referencing federal regulations. It also outlines procedures for individuals to file legal claims with the Arkansas State Claims Commission for damages and to recover attorney's fees if these provisions are violated.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 290 prohibits state agencies from instituting new moratoria, or temporary bans, on issuing permits within watersheds and other bodies of water. This means that future permit applications for activities in these areas cannot be broadly paused. The bill clarifies that it does not affect any moratoria that were already established by rule before its effective date. It also directs the Department of Agriculture to temporarily use existing rules for liquid animal waste management systems until the department adopts its own final regulations.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 450 (SB 450) requires the Arkansas Department of Education to incorporate a discussion of human fetal growth and development into its academic standards. This provision will be implemented during the regular academic standards revision cycle, affecting the curriculum taught to public school students. The bill specifies that this discussion must include a high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation. This visual aid will depict the process of fertilization and every stage of human development inside the uterus, noting significant markers in cell growth and organ development during each week of pregnancy until birth.

Maddy summaryHB 1604, now Act 943, amends existing laws regarding contracts made by state agencies in Arkansas. The bill specifically prohibits state agencies from using public funds to purchase promotional items that are manufactured in China. This measure aims to regulate the types of products state agencies can acquire using taxpayer money. These new provisions apply to contracts executed on or after the act's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1352 (now Act 937) is a technical amendment to a bill that primarily changes a single word in the legislation - replacing "and" with "or" on page 6, line 31. It does not introduce new policies, alter substantive requirements, or directly affect any specific groups or entities. The bill was passed by the Arkansas Senate with Amendment No. 1 and signed into law on April 21, 2025. As a minor procedural correction, it has no meaningful impact on how the law operates or who it governs.

Maddy summaryHJR 1018, titled "THE CITIZENS ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT," is a joint resolution that successfully passed both legislative chambers and was approved by the Governor. Based on its title, this bill proposes an amendment aimed at restricting voting eligibility to citizens only. However, the provided bill text primarily consists of an amendment adding various representatives and senators as cosponsors to the resolution, and does not detail the specific language, mechanisms, or provisions of the proposed "Citizens Only Voting Amendment" itself.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 375 creates the new offense of "capital rape" in Arkansas, targeting individuals who commit sexual offenses against victims aged thirteen (13) years or younger under specific aggravated circumstances. This offense is defined by actions such as causing or threatening serious physical injury, committing certain other felonies concurrently, using a deadly weapon, or having prior convictions for similar offenses. For offenders aged eighteen (18) or older, the penalties include death or life imprisonment without parole, while offenders younger than eighteen (18) face life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after twenty (20) years. The bill also ensures that prosecution for capital rape can be commenced at any time.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 408, now Act 696, provides an income tax exemption for certain payments received by taxpayers in Arkansas. It specifically exempts payments made by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Market Facilitation Program, as it existed on January 1, 2020. The bill also exempts payments from USDA programs authorized by the American Relief Act of 2025. This change means that these specific federal agricultural support payments will not be subject to state income tax for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.