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.
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Maddy summarySB 567, now Act 719, amends Arkansas's Multistate Tax Compact and Uniform Division of Income for Tax Purposes Act. This legislation modernizes the rules for how income from businesses operating in multiple states is divided for tax purposes. A key change is the method for sourcing receipts from services and intangible assets, shifting from a "cost of performance" approach to a "market-based sourcing" approach. This affects multistate businesses that generate income within Arkansas by changing how their income is apportioned for state tax purposes.
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 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 1063 amends the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program Act. This bill expands eligibility for ABLE accounts by changing the definition of "disability certification" and "eligible individual." It raises the maximum age at which a disability must have begun for an individual to qualify for an ABLE account, moving it from 26 to 46 years old. This allows more individuals whose disability onset was later in life to open tax-advantaged savings accounts for qualified disability expenses.
Maddy summaryHB 1732 aims to increase the income tax deduction available to teachers. This deduction applies to money teachers spend on their classrooms, often referred to as classroom investment. By increasing the allowed deduction, the bill enables teachers to reduce a larger portion of these out-of-pocket expenses from their taxable income. This change directly affects teachers who incur costs for their classrooms.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1901 amends state law regarding passport fees collected by county offices that serve as passport acceptance facilities. It authorizes these county offices to collect application, execution, and acceptance fees, along with reasonable fees for services like passport photographs and expedited processing, as permitted by federal law. Fees not directly remitted to federal agencies must be deposited into a new "passport acceptance facility fund" within the county treasury. Moneys in this fund are to be appropriated by the county quorum court specifically for the operation of the county's passport acceptance facility.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1875 amends existing law regarding the use of ignition interlock devices. Its primary purpose is to extend the mandatory period for which individuals, often those with certain driving offenses, are required to use these devices. An amendment to the bill clarifies a notification procedure for device removal and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026, for the act.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1928 amends the Arkansas Soil Nutrient Application and Poultry Litter Utilization Act, affecting farmers and agricultural operators who manage soil nutrients and poultry litter. The bill clarifies that applying nutrients consistent with an approved nutrient or poultry litter management plan protects the plan holder and their agents from civil or criminal liability. It also specifies that administrative violations of these plan requirements will not lead to criminal or civil actions, limiting enforcement to administrative fines collected by the relevant commission and preventing private lawsuits.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1902 updates the laws concerning marriage certificates and bonds in Arkansas, primarily affecting couples and their heirs who need to replace a lost, burned, or destroyed marriage certificate. The bill clarifies that the marriage license bond becomes void when the executed license is properly returned to the county clerk within 60 days. It establishes a new procedure for requesting a replacement certificate, requiring a notarized affidavit from both parties, a surviving party, or the heirs of deceased parties, depending on the circumstances. This replacement process carries a $10 fee, which also voids the original marriage license bond. The bill also repeals an older statute related to the restoration of marriage records.