Sen. Missy Irvin

Maddy summarySB 264 establishes the Arkansas Primary Care Payment Improvement Working Group, a 9-member committee to study and recommend improvements to primary care payment systems. The group includes state health officials, an insurance commissioner representative, health improvement center staff, and appointed primary care physicians, nurses, and pediatricians from legislative leaders. It does not change existing laws or payments but creates a formal process for stakeholders to analyze and propose payment system reforms. This procedural bill directly affects primary care providers and health insurers by creating a structured forum for their input. The working group was formally created when the bill became Act 483 on April 9, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 416 repeals Arkansas' Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grant Program and the associated Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund. The bill ends the state's funding mechanism that provided grants to public or private entities for building Level 2 and Level 3 EV charging stations. This directly affects the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, which previously administered these programs and used the dedicated fund for EV infrastructure projects. The repeal eliminates both the program and the fund, halting future state funding for EV charging infrastructure under these specific provisions.

Maddy summarySB 370 transfers the Arkansas Wine Producers Council from the Department of Commerce to the Tourism Division of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. This administrative change affects the council itself, its staff, records, and funding (including the Arkansas Wine Producers Council Fund), moving all operations to the new department. The bill also updates state codes to reflect the council’s new location and ensures continued funding for wine tourism promotion. An emergency clause makes the transfer effective July 1, 2025, to avoid funding disruptions during the transition.

Maddy summarySB 280 transfers administrative responsibilities from the Office of the State Geologist to the Oil and Gas Commission. Specifically, it designates the Oil and Gas Commission as the custodian of all property and the disbursing agent for all funds previously managed by the State Geologist's office. This is an organizational change affecting state agency operations, not a policy impacting citizens or new programs. The bill amends Arkansas Code § 15-55-204 to reflect this transfer of duties.

Maddy summarySB 218 amends Arkansas' Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Matching Grant Program to clarify how state funding matches federal SBIR grants. It directly affects Arkansas small businesses that receive federal Phase I or Phase II SBIR grants, requiring them to stay in-state during the project, use an Arkansas-based project manager, and focus on targeted sectors like biotechnology or advanced manufacturing. The bill limits state matching grants to 50% of federal awards - $50,000 for Phase I or $100,000 for Phase II - and mandates at least 51% of grant funds be spent within Arkansas. Applications must follow specific processes defined by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Science and Technology.

Maddy summarySB 103 (now Act 425) creates the Pharmacy Nondiscrimination Act, requiring pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to accept any pharmacy or pharmacist willing to meet "relevant and reasonable terms of participation." It directly affects independent pharmacies, pharmacists, and PBMs who contract with insurers. The law defines "reasonable terms" as those consistent with state/federal law, industry standards, and not arbitrarily excluding qualified providers. The bill was enacted quickly after being declared an emergency, becoming law on April 7, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 368 amends Arkansas laws governing mineral, timber, and resource management on state lands. It reduces the Natural Resources Committee membership from nine to eight members by renumbering existing positions (removing the former (E) slot). The bill also updates notification requirements, adding the Arkansas Forestry Commission and Department of Energy and Environment to the list of state agencies that must receive notices about leases and permits for state land resources. These changes affect state agencies involved in land management, leasing, and resource oversight, streamlining committee structure and notification processes without altering resource management policies.

Maddy summarySB 344 transfers Arkansas's Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program from the Department of Health to the Department of Transformation and Shared Services, effective as of April 7, 2025 (now Act 444). The program, which rewards state employees for healthy habits like exercise and nutrition, will now be managed by the new department, including all administrative functions, records, personnel, and funding. State agencies must make the program available to employees by July 1, 2026, and may grant up to three days of paid leave annually for participation. This transfer does not affect existing program rules or standards.

Maddy summarySB 275 amends Arkansas' liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) regulations to replace specific technical requirements with broader authority for the LPG Board. It eliminates mandatory odorization standards (§15-75-107), safety meeting rules (§15-75-108), and financial statement requirements for multiple permit classes (e.g., §§15-75-308, 309, 311, 316). The bill establishes new training mandates requiring LPG employees to complete board-approved courses for certification, with failure to attend risking suspension. It also repeals outdated container strength standards (§§15-75-401-403) and retail account statement rules (§15-75-407), shifting oversight to the LPG Board’s rulemaking authority. These changes primarily affect LPG businesses, permit holders, and their employees operating in Arkansas.

Maddy summaryHB 1673, now Act 436, is a procedural amendment adding Senator Irvin as a cosponsor to a bill titled "TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING BARBERS." The bill itself contains no substantive changes to barber regulations or licensing requirements. It was passed by the Senate on March 31, 2025, and became law after being transmitted to the Governor's Office on April 3, 2025. This amendment does not alter any barber-related policies or directly affect barbers, salons, or licensing procedures.