Sen. Justin Boyd

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1466) amends definitions within Arkansas' Fair Mortgage Lending Act but does not describe substantive policy changes in the provided text. The bill text only revises terms like "affiliate," "branch office," "covered institution servicer," and "exempt person" for clarity in regulatory contexts. It does not specify new requirements, restrictions, or financial impacts on lenders or borrowers. Since the context lacks the actual legislative provisions or policy changes (only definitions are provided), a full summary of the bill's effects cannot be generated.

Maddy summarySB 236 amends Arkansas' Insurance Holding Company Regulatory Act to update definitions related to insurer capital and liquidity standards. It formally incorporates the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) "group capital calculation instructions" and "liquidity stress test framework" into state law, requiring insurers to follow these NAIC guidelines. The bill directly affects Arkansas-based insurance companies and the Insurance Commissioner, who must enforce these updated standards. This change aligns state regulations with national NAIC frameworks but does not alter existing investment limits or operational requirements for insurers.

Maddy summaryHB 1082 would create Arkansas' first law specifically protecting children and teens' online privacy. It directly affects websites, apps, and online services that target minors or knowingly collect their personal information. The bill prohibits these operators from sharing children's data with third parties for targeted advertising to minors and requires them to disclose how they collect, use, and share personal data. Key provisions include banning the use of children's personal information for targeted ads and mandating clear privacy disclosures about data practices to parents or guardians.

Maddy summaryHB 1083, the Arkansas Kids Online Safety Act, defines "covered internet services" to protect minors online by excluding certain platforms from its scope. The bill exempts services that solely route internet traffic and interactive gaming platforms complying with federal children's privacy laws (COPPA) as of January 1, 2025. It directly affects internet service providers and digital platforms operating in Arkansas, requiring them to adhere to the defined safety framework for minors. Key provisions clarify which services fall under the law, focusing on protecting children while excluding specific exempted technologies. The bill was withdrawn by its author on March 11, 2025, before final passage.

Maddy summarySB 48 (now Act 246) requires insurance companies in Arkansas to clearly state the actual dollar amount of deductibles - rather than just a percentage - on policy declarations for owner-occupied residential property insurance. This applies to policies covering non-earthquake losses where deductibles are calculated as a percentage of the home's insured value. The law mandates this disclosure on the policy's declaration page or renewal notice, making it easier for homeowners to understand their out-of-pocket costs. It directly affects homeowners with standard residential insurance policies in Arkansas, excluding earthquake coverage.

Maddy summarySB 230 repeals Arkansas' existing Trust Institutions Act and replaces it with the "Arkansas Trust Institutions Act of 2025." The bill specifically amends the commissioner's authority to deny approval for additional trust offices (as shown in the substituted text). This directly affects trust institutions seeking to expand operations and the state commissioner overseeing trust regulations. The legislation, now Act 237, updates administrative procedures without changing core trust institution requirements.

Maddy summarySB 220 (now Act 236) amends Arkansas' securities law to clarify exemptions for intrastate offerings, primarily affecting Arkansas-based businesses seeking to raise capital from local residents. The bill increases the maximum total funding allowed under the exemption from $1 million to $10 million and raises the per-investor limit from $5,000 to $100,000 (unless the investor is accredited). Key provisions require issuers to file proof of exemption with the state commissioner 10 days before sales, deposit funds in Arkansas banks, disclose unregistered status to investors, and avoid certain prohibited activities like blind pool structures. This simplifies compliance for small Arkansas businesses while maintaining investor protections and aligning with specific federal rules in effect as of January 2025.

Maddy summarySB 139 (now Act 232) makes non-compete agreements unenforceable for physicians and osteopaths licensed under Arkansas law. Specifically, it voids any agreement restricting a physician's right to practice within their licensed scope, as defined by Arkansas Medical Practices Act statutes. This applies directly to doctors and osteopaths holding active licenses to practice medicine or osteopathy in Arkansas. The law clarifies that standard non-compete rules do not apply to these licensed medical professionals, protecting their ability to work freely after leaving an employer.

Maddy summaryArkansas' SB 136 (now Act 201) creates a "Right to Try" pathway for patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses who have exhausted all FDA-approved treatments. It allows access to personalized investigational treatments (like genetically tailored gene therapies or vaccines) based on a patient's unique genomic profile, provided a physician documents eligibility and obtains written informed consent covering risks, costs, and alternatives. The bill specifies that manufacturers may provide treatments without charge or require payment for actual production costs, but heirs are not liable for unpaid costs if the patient dies. Insurance companies may cover these treatments but are not required to, and the law does not expand mandatory coverage for such treatments.

Maddy summaryHB 1157 extends survivor annuity benefits for dependent children of deceased Arkansas teachers from age 18 to age 22, provided the child remains a full-time student in an accredited school. It adds provisions allowing children to maintain benefits during approved educational deferments and reinstates payments after military service if they immediately enroll in school. The bill also clarifies eligibility for children with court-declared disabilities and specifies that benefits pause during active military duty but resume upon returning to school. This directly affects dependent children of Arkansas Teacher Retirement System members who die while active or after retirement. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, to align with the system's fiscal year.