Sen. Breanne Davis

Maddy summarySB 142, now Act 122, bans students from possessing or using personal electronic devices (like phones) during the entire school day, directly affecting public school students. The law requires schools to update discipline policies to include specific exemptions: devices issued by the school for educational use, special events (defined by future rules), and devices needed for students with special education plans or concurrent enrollment college courses. It replaces prior rules with these clear exemptions while maintaining the overall "bell to bell" device ban. The bill passed in February 2025 and became law without additional committee action.

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 summaryHB 1427, now Act 124, creates Arkansas' "Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act" to improve maternal health through Medicaid reforms. It requires the Arkansas Medicaid Program to reimburse for specific services including depression screening during pregnancy, separate coverage for prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care (such as office visits, blood work, and remote glucose monitoring), and self-measured blood pressure monitoring equipment. The bill also mandates reimbursement for remote ultrasounds, home visits by doulas and community health workers, and establishes presumptive eligibility to immediately enroll pregnant women in Medicaid while their full applications are processed. These provisions directly affect pregnant and postpartum women enrolled in Arkansas Medicaid, aiming to expand access to preventative and specialized care.

Maddy summaryHB 1061 would require Arkansas Medicaid to cover continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for individuals diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a condition that develops during pregnancy. Currently, Medicaid covers CGMs for some people with diabetes (like type 1) but not gestational diabetes, so this bill would expand eligibility to include this group. To qualify, individuals must have a gestational diabetes diagnosis and maintain regular check-ups with a healthcare provider every six months. This change would directly affect Arkansans with gestational diabetes enrolled in Medicaid, ensuring they have access to this monitoring technology.

Maddy summaryHB 1324 changes Arkansas' legal fireworks sales schedule by moving the start date of the summer sales window from June 20 to June 13 each year. The bill directly affects Arkansas residents who purchase or use fireworks, allowing retail sales from June 13-July 10 annually (instead of June 20-July 10) alongside the existing December 10-January 5 holiday window. This amendment modifies Arkansas Code § 20-22-711(a)(1) to adjust the permissible sales period without altering other provisions. The change applies to all retail sales of fireworks defined under state law.

Maddy summarySB 102 updates Arkansas election rules for local option petitions by requiring sponsors to verify the criminal history of paid canvassers before they collect signatures. It mandates that sponsors obtain background checks, provide canvassers' full details to county clerks, and confirm no disqualifying offenses exist. The bill also prohibits paying canvassers based on the number of signatures collected and requires canvassers to be U.S. citizens and Arkansas residents. Violations, such as submitting false verification or paying for signatures, carry penalties including Class A misdemeanors or Class D felonies. These changes aim to increase transparency and reduce fraud in petition-driven elections.

Maddy summaryHB 1236 allows public school employees in Tennessee to terminate their employment contracts early by submitting a written request by May 15 (or the preceding Friday if May 15 falls on a weekend). The bill directly affects current public school employees seeking to leave their positions before the end of the school year. Key provisions require written requests to be submitted by the specified deadline, with automatic extension if the date falls on a weekend. The bill was passed as Act 53 on February 13, 2025, and includes an emergency declaration to expedite implementation. This change streamlines the process for employees to exit contracts without waiting until the end of the school year.

Maddy summaryHB 1204 (now Act 28) amends Arkansas law to clarify that plaintiffs in medical negligence cases can only recover the actual costs they paid for necessary medical care, treatment, or services - or costs legally owed by them or a third party. It directly affects individuals filing medical malpractice claims and healthcare providers by limiting recoverable damages to amounts actually paid or legally responsible. The key provision changes the standard for medical cost recovery from billed rates to verified payments, preventing recovery of unpaid or inflated charges. This law, enacted on February 11, 2025, provides a clearer financial framework for medical negligence claims in Arkansas.

Maddy summaryHB 1046 establishes a "Blue Envelope Program" to improve communication between law enforcement and drivers with autism spectrum disorder during traffic stops. The bill requires Arkansas' Department of Finance and Administration to create a special blue envelope (available by January 1, 2026) that holds essential documents like driver's licenses and vehicle registration, plus exterior communication guidelines for officers. Individuals with autism can request the envelope at local department offices starting in 2026. The program directly affects drivers with autism during motor vehicle interactions and aims to provide clear, standardized support for law enforcement. It does not change existing laws but creates a new administrative resource.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes the Russellville High School Lady Cyclones as the 2023-2024 Class 5A Girls Swim and Dive State Champions. The document highlights their achievement of winning their fourth consecutive state title and seventh consecutive conference championship with a team score of 315 points. It also notes that this victory marks the first state championship in the school's history and acknowledges the head coach and volunteer staff who led the team. The resolution concludes by directing the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the document to the team's head coach.