Sen. Josh Bryant

Maddy summarySB 365 amends Arkansas law to allow small breweries with a valid license to operate up to three taprooms, increasing the previous limit of two. This directly affects Arkansas small breweries holding a small brewery license, enabling them to expand their retail locations. The bill modifies Arkansas Code § 3-5-1405(a)(8) to replace the "two (2)" taproom limit with "three (3)." The law was enacted as Act 488 on April 9, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1557 is a technical amendment to existing IT governance rules for the Division of Information Systems. It updates specific terminology by changing "biannual" to "biennial" (referring to every two years), broadening funding references to include "state, federal, or public grant" sources, and clarifying "customized software or information technology systems" instead of "customized information technology." The bill does not create new policies or affect citizens directly; it only refines existing administrative language for clarity in IT reporting and grant management. The amendment was enacted as Act 480 on April 8, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1705 (now Act 478) requires public school social studies standards to include specific content about how the religious and moral beliefs of the founding fathers influenced the founding of the United States. This law directly affects K-12 students and educators in the state by mandating that existing social studies curriculum standards incorporate this historical perspective. The bill amends standards to explicitly reference "religious and moral beliefs" held by the founding fathers and their role in shaping the nation's founding principles. It does not create new educational programs but revises current standards to include this specific historical analysis.

Maddy summaryHB 1549, now Act 489, requires Arkansas state agencies to organize cybersecurity personnel under a "functional report" structure, meaning cybersecurity staff must directly report to the State Cybersecurity Office. This affects all state agency employees with cybersecurity or information security duties, including those handling threat monitoring, incident response, and compliance. The law sets statewide minimum cybersecurity standards that agencies can exceed but not lower, while mandating that federal standards override state rules when stricter. It clarifies that agencies must follow these reporting and standards requirements without accessing data protected by other laws.

Maddy summarySB 83 requires health insurance plans to cover breast reconstruction surgeries following mastectomy, directly affecting patients needing this care and insurers providing coverage. The bill mandates prior authorization (meaning insurers must approve coverage before surgery) and sets a minimum reimbursement rate for providers, aligning it with an existing rate under Arkansas law. It applies to all health insurance plans sold in Arkansas, ensuring consistent coverage standards for this specific medical procedure. The law became effective after Governor approval as Act 424 on April 7, 2025.

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 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 1508 is a technical recodification bill that makes minor corrections to Arkansas' public finance code (Title 19). It corrects typographical errors in the code, such as changing "aw" to "law" on page 40, "mayo" to "may" on page 139, and updating a section reference from "19-11-1301" to "19-69-101." The bill does not create new policies or affect any specific groups; it solely organizes and clarifies existing finance-related statutes. It was enacted as Act 419 on March 25, 2025, after passing with minor amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 1386 amends Arkansas property tax laws to change how real estate is valued for assessment. It replaces "square footage" with "assessed value" in calculations, prevents higher property values from counting disaster repairs using superior materials, and limits consideration of out-of-state commercial properties when comparable local options exist. These changes directly affect all Arkansas property owners and local assessors by altering how tax bills are calculated. The bill focuses on refining valuation methods under the state constitution, ensuring assessments reflect fair market value more accurately. It became law as Act 410 on March 25, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1647 amends Arkansas state code to rename the "Division of Information Systems" to the "Division of Information Systems Office of State Technology" in multiple statutes. The bill updates references to this division across 16 different Arkansas Code sections, including those governing public schools, emergency management, voter systems, and state technology oversight. It does not change the division's functions or create new policies - only its official name and how it's referenced in state law. The bill was enacted as Act 412 on March 25, 2025, after passing both chambers.