Sen. Blake Johnson

Maddy summarySenate Bill 352 prohibits antisemitism in public elementary and secondary schools. It also extends this prohibition to state-supported institutions of higher education. The bill establishes a standard for conduct within these educational environments, directly affecting students, faculty, and staff. This legislation aims to prevent and address antisemitic acts or expressions within these institutions.

Maddy summarySB 530 is a procedural bill that added 21 senators and 37 representatives as cosponsors to the original bill. It did not change the tax credit policy itself, as the title references an existing Arkansas Wood Energy Products and Forest Maintenance Income Tax Credit. The bill's purpose was solely to expand the list of legislators supporting the tax credit legislation. The bill was passed and became Act 701 on April 18, 2025. No substantive policy changes to the tax credit were made by this amendment.

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 summarySenate Bill 597 (Act 770) creates a new criminal offense in Arkansas focused on protecting financial institution employees. It makes it illegal for a person to purposely engage in conduct that threatens or creates a potential danger to an employee of a bank, credit union, or mortgage lender while they are working, especially under circumstances showing extreme indifference to the employee's safety. This offense, known as "threat of harm upon a financial institution employee," is classified as a Class B misdemeanor. The bill aims to provide specific legal recourse for threats against individuals in these roles during their employment.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 513 establishes two new criminal offenses in Arkansas law. First, it creates the offense of mail theft, which occurs when a person knowingly takes, obtains by deception, or possesses unlawfully acquired mail belonging to another person from a mail depository or postal service. Second, it criminalizes the theft or unauthorized reproduction of a mail receptacle key or lock used by a postal service. Both offenses are classified as felonies, with penalties escalating for repeat offenses, and require convicted individuals to make full restitution to victims. This bill directly affects individuals whose mail or postal keys are targeted, as well as those who commit these illegal acts.

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 514 amends Arkansas law concerning the unlawful possession of a skimmer device. The bill maintains that a first offense for unlawful skimmer possession is a Class C felony. However, it increases the penalties for individuals convicted a second or subsequent time. Repeat offenders will face an unclassified felony charge, including a mandatory fine of up to $20,000 and a mandatory prison sentence of one to ten years.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 512 amends Arkansas law to broaden the definition of robbery. The bill expands the legal criteria for committing robbery to include not only employing or threatening immediate physical force, but also creating a circumstance that would cause a reasonable person to believe the use of physical force is imminent. This change impacts how the crime of robbery is defined and prosecuted, affecting individuals accused of the offense in Arkansas.

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.