Sen. Justin Boyd

Maddy summaryHB 1857 changes how sales tax is collected on motorboat purchases in Arkansas. Instead of motorboat dealers collecting the tax at the time of sale, the bill requires consumers to pay the sales and use tax directly to the state Department of Finance and Administration when applying for a boat's registration certificate. This applies to both new and used motorboats sold by dealers, with specific rules for trade-ins (where tax is based on the net difference in value) and used boats sold by consumers. The bill was introduced in the 2025 Arkansas legislature but was withdrawn by its authors on April 14, 2025, and never advanced further.

Maddy summaryHB 1821 creates a single State Captive Insurance Program to replace fragmented property insurance systems for public schools, state-supported colleges/universities, and state-owned properties in Arkansas. It combines these entities under one program, prohibits the use of public adjusting firms (which the bill states increased premiums), and requires independent reappraisals of higher education properties to ensure proper valuation. The bill also establishes the Office of Property Risk within the Department of Transformation and Shared Services to manage the program and mandates coordination among state agencies for a smooth transition. These changes aim to stabilize insurance costs and improve market competitiveness for these public entities.

Maddy summaryArkansas SB 237 updates licensing rules for captive insurance companies, primarily adjusting minimum capital and surplus requirements based on the company type (e.g., increasing the required capital for association captive insurers from $250,000 to $400,000). It introduces a new provisional licensing process allowing temporary licenses under specific conditions, such as when the commissioner determines it serves the public interest. The bill also removes outdated definitions of "Commissioner" and "Department" from the statute. These changes directly affect captive insurers operating in Arkansas, including pure captives, sponsored captives, and association captives, by modifying their financial obligations and licensing pathways.

Maddy summaryHB 1745, now Act 604, requires commercial drivers in Arkansas to possess valid U.S. work authorization (such as a work visa or Employment Authorization Document) and demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to read traffic signs, converse with the public, respond to officials, and complete vehicle records. It directly affects commercial motor vehicle operators in Arkansas who must meet these requirements to legally drive. Violations carry fines up to $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. The law creates specific offenses for operating without required work authorization or English proficiency.

Maddy summaryHB 1713, now Act 602, requires ballot titles for citizen-initiated measures to be written at or below a specific grade-level reading standard. This law directly affects voters and initiative proponents by mandating that ballot titles use simple, accessible language to improve public understanding. The key mechanism sets a standardized readability threshold (using a "Grade Level formula" per the amended bill) for all such titles. The bill was passed quickly with an emergency declaration and is now law, aiming to make ballot measures clearer for all voters.

Maddy summaryHB 1467, now Act 557, amends the Uniform Money Services Act. The bill's text provided focuses solely on adding Representative McCollum as a cosponsor (via Amendment No. 1), not on substantive policy changes to the act. It does not describe specific provisions, mechanisms, or direct effects on businesses or consumers. The bill was enacted on April 14, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers. (Note: The provided context lacks details on the actual policy amendments to the Uniform Money Services Act.)

Maddy summarySB 412 authorizes Arkansas' Department of Finance and Administration to set the per-mile deduction rate for business travel expenses on state income tax returns via proclamation, rather than through fixed legislation. It requires the Department to set the rate close to the IRS's current mileage rate (capped at $1.00 per mile) and update it within 30 days when the IRS changes its rate. This directly affects Arkansas taxpayers who deduct business travel costs on their state tax returns. The bill streamlines the process for adjusting the deduction amount to align with federal standards without needing new legislative action each year.

Maddy summarySB 433 (now Act 573) requires all Arkansas state government buildings to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a large font, alongside the national motto and accurate representations of both the U.S. and Arkansas state flags. The law mandates specific placement, with the U.S. flag displayed under the national motto and the Arkansas flag(s) included. This procedural bill affects all state government facilities, not specific individuals or policies. The legislation passed in 2025 and became effective after the governor signed it on April 14, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 463 requires Arkansas public utilities to obtain approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission before entering settlement agreements that would close or eliminate power plants or transmission assets. The bill directly affects utilities, the Commission, and consumers by mandating that settlements must legally resolve claims, not exceed regulatory costs, and avoid decisions driven by environmental goals rather than law. The Commission must evaluate whether proposed settlements are legally sound, cost-justified for consumers, and based on reasonable legal interpretations before approving or denying them. This creates a new review process to ensure settlements protect consumer interests and comply with state regulations. The bill does not change existing utility operations but adds oversight for specific settlement agreements.

Maddy summarySB 510 allows Arkansas municipalities, counties, the state, and federally recognized tribal nations to enter agreements enabling law enforcement from all these entities to enforce laws on tribal lands within Arkansas. It directly affects tribal nations with federally recognized land in the state and their local, county, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies. The key provision creates a legal framework for cross-deputization, meaning officers from one jurisdiction can temporarily exercise authority under agreements to enforce tribal, state, and local laws on tribal lands. This bill establishes a formal process for collaboration but does not change existing jurisdictional boundaries or require specific tribes to participate.