Sen. Clint Penzo

Maddy summarySB 91 prevents local governments (like cities or counties) from setting limits on rental application fees or security deposits for private residential or commercial properties. It directly affects landlords who set these fees and renters who pay them by removing local regulatory authority. The bill amends existing law to state that local units have no power to control these specific charges, except as outlined in a separate provision (§18-16-304). This means landlords can set these fees without local government oversight, and the policy change applies to all private rental properties covered by the law.

Maddy summaryHB 1327 modifies eligibility rules for retired state and public school employees seeking coverage under Arkansas' State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program. It requires retirees to have participated in the program for at least five cumulative years before retirement to enroll, and specifies qualifying retirement systems (like the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System). The bill adds a 30-day window for active retirees to elect coverage after retirement or if they lose other health insurance due to a qualifying event (like job loss), with provisions for reinstatement under specific conditions. It also creates an "inactive retiree" category for those with 10+ years of service who separate due to fixed-term employment expiration, allowing a 31-day election period to continue coverage.

Maddy summarySB 189, now Act 396, allows pharmacies and consumers to purchase Ivermectin for human use without a prescription or consultation with a healthcare professional. The bill removes existing requirements for medical oversight when buying this medication. It directly affects pharmacies (which can now sell it without a prescription) and consumers (who can obtain it without seeing a doctor). The law took effect after the bill passed the legislature and was signed by the governor on March 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1652, now Act 393, changes rules for self-service storage facilities by making unsigned rental agreements legally enforceable and establishing a clear process for ending such agreements. It directly affects storage facility operators and renters who may have entered into verbal or incomplete written contracts. Key provisions require facilities to honor unsigned agreements (preventing disputes over missing signatures) and provide a standardized procedure for both parties to terminate agreements without lengthy legal steps. The law applies to all self-service storage facilities in the state and became effective after passing both legislative chambers and the Governor's office.

Maddy summaryHB 1479 (now Act 418) amends Arkansas law to allow licensed engineers, surveyors, or notary publics to execute and record a scrivener's affidavit when they prepared the original survey, plat, or other property instrument affecting real property title. This change directly affects property owners, real estate professionals, and these licensed professionals by expanding who can legally handle this specific document. The key provision removes the previous restriction requiring only lawyers to execute these affidavits in cases involving property boundary or title documentation. The law simplifies the process for property transactions by enabling qualified engineers and surveyors to complete this step without involving an attorney. This is a procedural update to streamline property documentation, not a new policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1367 amends Arkansas' Title Insurance Act to establish new rules for how title agents and title companies access public property records. It directly affects title insurance professionals in Arkansas who routinely review county land records for property transactions. The bill creates standardized procedures requiring title companies to follow specific, documented processes when requesting public records from county offices. This replaces inconsistent past practices with clear, regulated access methods to improve record-keeping accuracy. The law, now effective as Act 346, aims to streamline property record handling without changing title insurance requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1610 is a technical amendment to Arkansas' Human Life Protection Act and Unborn Child Protection Act, clarifying existing medical exception language. It removes redundant phrases like "in the judgment of the physician" and replaces them with simpler terms such as "judgment" throughout the statutes. This change streamlines how medical professionals can cite exceptions for abortions when the mother's health is at risk, directly affecting healthcare providers and patients navigating the current abortion restrictions. The bill, now Act 387, became law on March 20, 2025, without altering the core prohibitions on abortion.

Maddy summaryHB 1291 excludes certain minor league baseball players from being classified as "employees" under Arkansas' Minimum Wage Act. This means minor league players in Arkansas would no longer qualify for the state's minimum wage protections established by the law. The bill directly affects minor league baseball players by removing them from the legal definition of "employee" used in the state's minimum wage law, specifically modifying the scope of Act 5 of 2018. The policy change removes a requirement for teams to pay these players at least the state minimum wage.

Maddy summaryHB 1140 aimed to define which healthcare providers are responsible for delivering concussion education to student athletes in schools. The bill sought to clarify that specific medical professionals (like physicians or certified nurse practitioners) must provide this education, directly affecting student athletes, school staff, and healthcare providers. However, the bill was withdrawn by its author on March 18, 2025, before becoming law, so it did not implement any policy changes. As a definition-focused bill, it did not establish new requirements or funding but was intended to standardize who qualifies for this educational role.

Maddy summarySB 101 establishes the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, allowing physician assistants licensed in Arkansas to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. This directly affects physician assistants seeking to practice across state lines and healthcare facilities in Arkansas and other compact states. The key provision creates a mutual recognition agreement among participating states, streamlining licensure requirements for physician assistants. The bill was enacted as Act 300 on March 18, 2025.