Sen. Gary Stubblefield

Maddy summaryThis bill adds nitrogen gas as an additional method of execution for individuals sentenced to death in Arkansas, alongside the existing lethal injection option. It requires prison officials to notify death row inmates of the chosen execution method (nitrogen gas or lethal injection) at least seven days in advance. The bill also includes confidentiality provisions preventing public disclosure of execution protocols, drug sources, and personnel involved under Arkansas' public records laws. This change applies to all future capital punishment cases in Arkansas, following its passage into law as Act 302.

Maddy summaryHB 1510 repeals Arkansas laws that allowed cities to control land development and zoning in unincorporated areas adjacent to their corporate boundaries. It eliminates provisions enabling municipalities to enforce planning, subdivision, and entry regulations beyond their city limits, including population-based jurisdictional zones. This directly affects cities that previously extended planning authority into county lands and the unincorporated areas subject to those regulations. After enactment, cities will no longer have legal authority to regulate land use in unincorporated county areas outside their corporate boundaries.

Maddy summaryHB 1400 (now Act 259) exempts disabled veterans from certain penalties when redeeming tax-delinquent property. Specifically, it removes late fees and interest charges that typically apply when owners pay overdue property taxes to reclaim a parcel. This change directly affects disabled veterans who own property with unpaid taxes, making it easier for them to regain ownership without extra costs. The law amends existing redemption procedures to explicitly exclude disabled veterans from penalty calculations. The bill was enacted on March 12, 2025, after passing both chambers of the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 1399 repeals Arkansas' "Commissioner of State Lands Urban Homestead Act" (Subchapter 4 of Title 20), which previously allowed cities, nonprofits, and community organizations to apply for tax-forfeited urban land donations to create low-income housing. The bill also shortens the timeframe for landowners to challenge property claims from five years to two years under tax title or donation deed laws. These changes directly affect cities, community organizations, and landowners involved in tax-forfeited property disputes. The repeal ends a specific program for donating urban land for homesteads, while the amended statutes clarify fee structures and recovery timelines for state land transactions.

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.