Sen. Justin Boyd

Maddy summaryHB 1583 (now Act 348) requires Arkansas' Department of Human Services to seek a waiver or expand an existing Medicaid waiver program. This enables Medicaid beneficiaries with acquired brain injuries to access home and community-based services tailored to their needs. The law directly affects Arkansans enrolled in Arkansas Medicaid who have acquired brain injuries and require non-institutional care. It changes how services are delivered by directing the state to use waiver mechanisms rather than creating new coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 1595 amends multiple sections of Arkansas' insurance code and repeals the Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool Act (Subchapter 5 of Chapter 79). The bill updates rules for workers' compensation insurance plans (requiring Arkansas-based administration and commissioner approval of delegated functions), clarifies attorney bond requirements for reciprocal insurers, extends hospital examination cycles from 3 to 5 years, and revises service-of-process rules for insurers. It directly affects insurers, workers' compensation administrators, and former participants in the repealed health insurance pool, which previously provided coverage for "uninsurable" Arkansans and those eligible for federal tax credits. The repeal removes the state's alternative health insurance market, shifting focus to updated regulatory frameworks under the Insurance Commissioner.

Maddy summarySB 307, now Act 373, creates the "Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025" to support energy infrastructure investments. It requires the Arkansas Public Service Commission to consider strategic investments in natural gas and electric generation when setting utility rates, allowing companies to recover costs for approved projects. The bill mandates refunds to customers for imprudently incurred costs and sets new requirements for utility infrastructure projects to ensure grid reliability during extreme weather. It directly affects investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities operating in Arkansas by changing how they recover infrastructure costs through rate cases. The legislation declares an emergency to expedite these energy infrastructure developments.

Maddy summaryHB 1253, now Act 384, adopts the Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact for Arkansas. This law allows licensed emergency medical services (EMS) personnel - such as EMTs and paramedics - from other states that have joined the compact to practice in Arkansas without obtaining a separate Arkansas license. The key mechanism simplifies licensure by recognizing valid out-of-state credentials, reducing administrative barriers for EMS workers crossing state lines. This directly affects Arkansas-based EMS providers and out-of-state professionals seeking to work in the state, streamlining their ability to serve communities.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 263 (now Act 330) increases the amount of the homestead property tax credit available to Arkansas homeowners. This policy change directly benefits qualifying homeowners who own and occupy their primary residence, reducing their annual property tax bill. The bill amends the existing tax credit structure to provide a higher dollar amount for eligible taxpayers. It became law after passing the Arkansas legislature and being delivered to the Governor on March 13, 2025. The change represents a concrete adjustment to tax relief for qualified homeowners without altering eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1634 establishes the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act, allowing Arkansas public colleges and universities and their approved nonprofit affiliates to conduct raffles tied to official athletic games. These raffles can be sold digitally or in person, with proceeds limited to supporting student-athletes (e.g., scholarships, publicity rights), athletic programs, and facility improvements - never for staff compensation. The law prohibits sales to minors, caps transactions at $250, and requires public prize announcements. It amends gambling laws to exempt these sports-linked raffles from standard restrictions, effective as Act 305.

Maddy summaryHB 1405 amends Arkansas law to add new regulations for licensed chiropractic physicians regarding the use of a "procurer" (a third party that procures goods or services). The bill directly affects chiropractors by requiring them to follow specific rules when engaging a procurer to obtain medical supplies or services. Key provisions include adding statutory requirements to ensure proper oversight and prevent misuse in chiropractic procurement practices. The bill became law as Act 309 on March 18, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1587 amends Arkansas' Patient Protection Act of 1995 and "any willing provider" laws to clarify which licensed healthcare providers qualify under these statutes. It expands the official list of covered providers to include specific professions like durable medical equipment providers and adds a mechanism for the State Insurance Department to later include additional healthcare practitioners through administrative rules. This bill directly affects licensed healthcare professionals and facilities in Arkansas who participate in state-regulated healthcare programs. The key change is creating a more detailed, inclusive definition of "healthcare provider" for legal and regulatory purposes, without altering existing program requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1502 reduces the age requirement for registering historic or special interest vehicles in Arkansas from 45 to 30 years. It allows owners of vehicles 30+ years old to register them as historic/special interest vehicles and receive distinctive license plates instead of standard plates. The bill also clarifies that reproduction vehicles must be at least 30 years old to qualify for this registration. This change directly affects owners of older vehicles seeking special license plates under Arkansas law. The law maintains the $7 registration fee but lowers the eligibility threshold for historic vehicle status.

Maddy summaryHB 1319, which was withdrawn by its author on March 17, 2025, would have created a state sales tax exemption for disabled veterans, their unremarried spouses, and surviving spouses of disabled veterans in Arkansas. The bill would have allowed these individuals to exclude up to $5,000 annually in sales tax on tangible personal property and certain digital products purchased at physical stores within the state. To claim the exemption, veterans would have needed an identification card from the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, while surviving spouses would have required certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption would not apply to local sales taxes or the compensating use tax.