Sen. Breanne Davis

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1719 amends the rules for how maternity leave days are counted by schools that offer such leave. It changes the reference from "school year" to "contract year" when determining the total number of approved maternity leave days. The bill also clarifies that if a day approved as maternity leave for an eligible individual falls on an otherwise unpaid contract day, that day will still qualify for paid maternity leave. This directly affects school employees who are eligible for paid maternity leave.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1523 codifies the existing Arkansas Amber Alert and Silver Alert systems. It also establishes the new Missing Endangered Adult Advisory System, designed to help locate missing adults with specific mental, cognitive, intellectual, developmental, or other physical or emotional disabilities who do not qualify for a Silver Alert. The Division of the Arkansas State Police will coordinate this system, setting activation procedures and ensuring safeguards for privacy and appropriate use. This new alert system will not be activated for individuals determined to be suicidal.

Maddy summaryHB 1682, known as the "Arkansas Good Neighbor Act," clarifies and expands liability protections for entities and individuals involved in donating and distributing food. The bill grants civil and criminal immunity to good faith donors, gleaners (those who harvest donated crops), and nonprofit organizations, even if the donated food does not meet consumer safety standards or is not readily marketable due to appearance or surplus. To qualify for this protection, donors must inform the receiving organization, and the organization must inform recipients, about the food's condition to the best of their knowledge. This immunity does not apply in cases of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. The act aims to encourage food donations by reducing liability concerns for those who help provide food to the public through charitable channels.

Maddy summaryThe context provided does not include the actual provisions or policy details of HB 1766 (the Arkansas RISE Act). While the bill's title indicates it aims to "Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower" (RISE), the available information only confirms its procedural status: it was passed by both chambers in 2025, enrolled as Act 907 on April 16, 2025, and transmitted to the Governor. No specific mechanisms, affected groups, or policy changes are described in the provided text. To summarize the bill's content, the full legislative text or official summary would be required.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1017 amends the law regarding paid maternity leave for public school employees. It requires the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to pay for the incurred costs of approved paid maternity leave. The bill specifies that an employee is not eligible for an additional twelve weeks of paid maternity leave for a child's adoption if they previously received twelve weeks of leave for the initial foster placement of the same child. This ensures a consistent leave benefit for a child joining a family, regardless of a change in legal status from foster care to adoption.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 9, known as the "Make Arkansas Healthy Again Act," prohibits the manufacturing, selling, delivering, distributing, holding, or offering for sale of food products that contain certain unspecified substances within Arkansas. This legislation directly affects food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers operating in the state. An amendment to the bill changed the effective date of these prohibitions from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028. (The specific "certain substances" are not detailed in the provided text.)

Maddy summarySenate Bill 313, as amended, concerns forensic mental health evaluations and treatment within the legal system. It establishes procedures for prosecutors and defense counsel to request mental health evaluations for defendants, allowing for ex parte or in camera hearings when privileged information is involved. The bill details the court's authority to order the administration of medication to incarcerated defendants to maintain their fitness to proceed, outlining specific conditions based on whether the defendant poses a danger. Additionally, time spent in the department's physical custody under these provisions counts towards credit for time served.

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 464 amends current state laws regarding the sale of raw milk and raw milk products. It permits farmers to sell these products at locations other than the farm where they were produced, such as farmers' markets. This change aims to provide farmers, particularly those producing unpasteurized cheese, with more sales opportunities and immediate legal clarity. The bill includes an emergency clause to make these provisions effective immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 604 amends Arkansas's Course Choice Program, which allows students in grades 6-12 to take individual courses from various providers. The bill expands student eligibility to include those attending public schools rated "C", "D", or "F" who need to take a required graduation course. Conversely, public schools or open-enrollment charter schools with a "D" or "F" rating are no longer eligible to offer courses through the program. The legislation also enhances oversight for course providers, requiring the State Board of Education to implement new authorization, review, and performance monitoring standards. Additionally, test scores from students participating in the program will now be included in their resident public school's annual performance report.