Maddy summarySenate Bill 375 creates the new offense of "capital rape" in Arkansas, targeting individuals who commit sexual offenses against victims aged thirteen (13) years or younger under specific aggravated circumstances. This offense is defined by actions such as causing or threatening serious physical injury, committing certain other felonies concurrently, using a deadly weapon, or having prior convictions for similar offenses. For offenders aged eighteen (18) or older, the penalties include death or life imprisonment without parole, while offenders younger than eighteen (18) face life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after twenty (20) years. The bill also ensures that prosecution for capital rape can be commenced at any time.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySenate Bill 515 (Act 647) requires that existing Arkansas history course content guidelines include a dedicated unit. This unit will focus on Arkansas veterans and their families. The bill directly affects public education by modifying the curriculum for Arkansas history courses, ensuring students learn about the contributions and experiences of veterans and their families within the state's history.
Maddy summarySB 574 (now Act 742) requires a municipality that operates a waterworks or sewage system to provide service to county property. This means if a county property falls within the jurisdiction of a municipal water or sewage system, the municipality must offer those services. The bill specifies this requirement applies in "certain instances," though the details of those instances are not provided in the given text.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new system for property insurance for public schools, state-supported higher education institutions, and other state-owned properties. It creates the State Captive Insurance Program and the Office of Property Risk within the Department of Transformation and Shared Services to manage these combined insurance efforts. The act allows the state to create its own captive insurance company and prohibits the use of public adjusting for these property insurance claims. The goal is to create a more stable and sustainable property insurance system for these state entities by consolidating existing programs and ensuring proper property valuation. (SB 481, Act 779)
Maddy summarySenate Bill 573 (Act 783) defines various terms used in the valuation of property for tax assessment purposes in Arkansas. This legislation clarifies the established methods of property valuation, directly affecting property owners and tax assessors by providing clear standards for determining property values. It specifies definitions for terms such as "fair market value," "cost approach," "income approach," and different types of obsolescence (economic, functional, physical deterioration). These definitions aim to ensure a consistent approach to property tax assessments, taking effect for assessment years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 500 amends the law regarding levee districts, specifically those created by an act of the General Assembly. It allows these levee districts to request that county collectors handle the collection of their assessments. Upon such a request, county collectors will add these assessments to the county tax records and collect them at the same time and in the same manner as other property taxes. The collected funds are then deposited with the county treasurer, who credits them to a levee district fund and promptly remits them to the levee district's treasurer.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 535 creates a sales and use tax exemption specifically for the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation. This means that these two organizations will not be required to pay sales tax on their purchases of physical goods, digital products, or services. The bill amends existing state code to add this new exemption. This change aims to reduce the tax burden on the museum and its associated foundation.
Maddy summaryHB 1580, now Act 801, requires school districts to provide educational information about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes to parents and guardians. This information must be shared when the school provides other health-related educational information. The bill clarifies that this diabetes information is solely for educational purposes and should not be considered or construed as a medical diagnosis. It aims to ensure parents and guardians receive educational resources on diabetes from schools.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1681 establishes the Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program. This program provides grants to local entities to help fund improvements and upgrades to their water and sewer treatment infrastructure. The grants will be supported by revenues authorized by law. The program is set to expire five years after its effective date, and the administering commission is required to report annually on the status of all awarded grants.
Maddy summaryHB 1783 amends Arkansas law concerning the reclassification of a city from first class to second class. The bill changes the population threshold for this reduction, raising it from less than 5,000 inhabitants to less than 7,500 inhabitants, based on the most recent federal decennial census. It also modifies the process, requiring a city council to adopt an ordinance instead of a resolution to request the reclassification. This affects first-class cities whose populations fall below the new 7,500 resident mark, allowing them to be reduced to a city of the second class.