Sen. Missy Irvin

Maddy summaryHB 1848 amends Arkansas law concerning child custody and visitation decisions when domestic abuse is involved. It clarifies that courts must consider the effect of proven domestic abuse on a child's best interest, regardless of whether the child was physically injured or witnessed the abuse. The bill establishes a new presumption that it is not in a child's best interest to be placed in the sole custody or care of a parent found to have engaged in a pattern of domestic abuse. This parent would then have the responsibility to prove that granting them custody would not endanger the child. If unsupervised parenting time is still awarded to such a parent, the court must make specific findings about the risk of harm and may order safety conditions or domestic violence intervention programs.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1434, as amended, aims to modify existing law concerning child custody awards between parents when domestic abuse is present. The bill redefines "domestic abuse" for these legal purposes, encompassing physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or certain sexual conduct between family or household members. It adjusts the legal presumption regarding an award of *sole* custody in cases involving domestic abuse. The bill also clarifies how a child's well-being is to be considered during custody determinations under these circumstances.

Maddy summaryHB 1295, titled the "Healthcare Cost-Sharing Collections Transparency Act," aims to bring transparency to healthcare cost-sharing. The provided text is an amendment to this bill. This amendment clarifies the definition of "healthcare insurer" by excluding sponsors of nonfederal self-funded governmental plans and third-party administrators from its scope. It also specifies that healthcare insurers must provide a report to each enrollee by mail or electronically by the initial date of Medicare open enrollment.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1626, as amended, aimed to prohibit the sale of certain disposable vapor products. The bill's central provision was to ban the sale of disposable vapor products that originate from a "prohibited foreign party," a term defined by referencing an existing legal statute (§ 18-11-802). This measure would have directly impacted retailers selling vapor products and consumers who purchase them. The bill did not pass and died in committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1770, known as the "Pregnancy Parking Act," would have allowed pregnant women in Arkansas to obtain a temporary special parking certificate. This certificate would grant access to parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities. To qualify, a woman would need a licensed physician's confirmation of pregnancy and would apply through the Office of Motor Vehicle. The certificate would be valid for one year following the date the woman gives birth, and the special parking privilege would only apply when the permit holder is present in the vehicle.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1431 amends the Domestic Abuse Act of 1991 in Arkansas. It expands the definition of "domestic abuse" to include patterns of behavior described as "course of control" or "disturbing the peace." The bill also defines "disturbing the peace" as a pattern of behavior that unreasonably destroys the mental or emotional calm of a family or household

Maddy summaryHB 1435 aimed to modify state income tax laws concerning child care. The bill sought to amend the existing income tax credit available to employers who provide child care services. Additionally, it proposed to establish a new income tax credit specifically for licensed child care providers. These provisions were intended to adjust financial incentives for both businesses supporting child care and the providers themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 1430 aims to update definitions within Arkansas's Domestic Abuse Act of 1991. The bill clarifies "course of control" as a pattern of behavior between family or household members that interferes with a person's free will and personal liberty. It also expands the definition of "disturbing the peace" to include specific actions such as exhibiting course of control, stalking, repeated threats, criminal impersonation, various forms of harassment, destroying personal property, and criminal trespass. These changes directly affect how domestic abuse is legally defined and addressed for individuals within family or household relationships.

Maddy summaryThis bill, now Act 1003, enhances protections for minor defendants who are victims of human trafficking. It expands the affirmative defense, allowing minors to argue they committed a nonviolent criminal offense as a direct result of being trafficked. The act also requires courts to consider a juvenile's status as a human trafficking victim when deciding whether to transfer a case to adult court or apply extended juvenile jurisdiction. Additionally, it broadens the definition of human trafficking to include recruiting minors into criminal organizations.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 490 allows a court to waive certain fees for juveniles who are ordered to register as sex offenders. This bill provides courts with the discretion to reduce financial burdens on these individuals.