Sen. Justin Boyd

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1482 proposes to create an exception to existing school attendance requirements. This exception would apply to students who successfully take a General Education Development (GED) test and receive a GED credential. The bill directly affects students who pursue and achieve their GED, releasing them from further school attendance obligations.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1930 aimed to mandate minimum reimbursement levels for healthcare services provided by healthcare insurers. The bill proposed a phased increase in these minimums, starting at 45% in 2026 and reaching 100% by 2030. It would have also required the Insurance Commissioner to consider specific factors, such as an insurer's Risk-Based Capital level and Medical Loss Ratio, when reviewing proposed increases to premium rates or cost sharing for policyholders.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1044 aims to establish the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act. An amendment to the bill introduces a specific rule regarding payment methods for these raffles. It mandates that if a qualifying organization permits credit card payments, each transaction using a credit card will have a maximum limit of $250. This provision directly affects organizations that choose to operate sports raffles and individuals participating in them via credit card. The provided text only includes an amendment, so the full details of the Arkansas Sports Raffle Act are not available.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 638, now Act 1019, amends the law concerning the collection of sales and use tax on new or used motorboat sales in Arkansas. The bill shifts the responsibility for collecting these taxes from motorboat dealers directly to the consumer. Buyers will now pay the applicable sales or use tax to the Department of Finance and Administration when applying for a certificate of number (registration) for their motorboat. This applies to motorboats purchased from both in-state and out-of-state dealers. The act also clarifies tax calculations for trade-ins and defines the presumed value for used motorboats.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 11 (SJR 11) proposes a constitutional amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. This measure aims to modify Article 2, Section 5, with the specific intent to protect the right to keep and bear arms for individuals. If enacted, it would alter the state's foundational document concerning this right.

Maddy summarySB 519 amends the standard nonforfeiture law for life insurance policies. The bill regulates the payment of interest on any cash surrender value that is deferred according to the policy's terms. As amended, it adjusts a specified timeframe within this process from 60 days to 45 days. This legislation directly affects life insurance policyholders who surrender their policies for cash value and the life insurance companies that issue these policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1671 amends existing law related to the gross receipts tax. The bill creates a new general sales and use tax exemption. This means sales made to qualified nonprofit organizations will no longer be subject to sales and use tax.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1812 amends the Arkansas Educational Support and Accountability Act. This bill creates an exception to school attendance requirements specifically for students who are taking a GED test. Additionally, it modifies the score requirements needed to pass the GED test. This legislation directly affects Arkansas students by offering more flexibility for those pursuing a GED and adjusting the standards for achieving it.

Maddy summaryHB 1717 creates the Arkansas Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, which aims to safeguard the online privacy of children and teens in Arkansas. The act establishes rules for online service operators regarding the collection, use, and deletion of personal information, including provisions for audio file retention and allowing teens or their parents to request data deletion. Enforcement of these provisions falls exclusively to the Attorney General, and the act explicitly states that it does not provide for a private right of action for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 1963, now Act 963, clarifies the authority of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who prescribe stimulant medications. It allows these APRNs to substitute a therapeutically equivalent medication for a prescribed stimulant. A key provision requires the APRN to notify the physician who originally prescribed the stimulant when such a substitution occurs.