Sen. Josh Bryant

Maddy summaryHB 1575 prohibits individuals employed by or financially tied to solid waste companies (those owning, operating, or applying for waste permits) from serving on specific state boards. It directly affects board members who work for or have financial interests in the solid waste industry, preventing potential conflicts of interest. The bill creates a clear rule: no one with such ties can serve on designated boards overseeing solid waste regulation. This is a straightforward conflict-of-interest measure, not a new policy on waste management. The law became effective as Act 376 on March 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1548 amends state law governing the Division of Information Systems and abolishes the Data and Transparency Panel. The bill eliminates the panel's role in overseeing state data transparency and transfers its responsibilities to the Division of Information Systems. This change streamlines state IT governance by removing a separate oversight body and integrating its functions into the existing division. The bill became law as Act 375 on March 20, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 263 (now Act 330) increases the amount of the homestead property tax credit available to Arkansas homeowners. This policy change directly benefits qualifying homeowners who own and occupy their primary residence, reducing their annual property tax bill. The bill amends the existing tax credit structure to provide a higher dollar amount for eligible taxpayers. It became law after passing the Arkansas legislature and being delivered to the Governor on March 13, 2025. The change represents a concrete adjustment to tax relief for qualified homeowners without altering eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1307 amends Arkansas' Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act to require institutions managing funds (like retirement or endowment funds) to document and publicly share specific details about service providers they consult. The bill mandates that institutions record fees, historical investment performance, and proof of compliance with existing rules, then publicly post notices seeking new service providers. This directly affects fund managers by increasing transparency in their vendor selection process. The law became effective as Act 308 on March 18, 2025, after passing the Arkansas Senate with Amendment No. 1.

Maddy summaryHB 1477 allows governing bodies of open-enrollment public charter schools to submit one teacher applicant for the Arkansas Teacher of the Year award, expanding eligibility beyond traditional school districts. If selected, the teacher receives paid administrative leave for the following school year, during which the school must provide a replacement teacher. The state reimburses schools for the teacher’s salary, benefits, and approved incidental expenses incurred during the leave. This bill modifies existing statutes (§6-17-2503 and §6-17-2504) to include charter schools in the program’s application and leave requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1605 makes the Construction Manager-General Contractor (CM-GC) procurement program permanent for the Arkansas State Highway Commission, replacing its previous temporary pilot status. The bill removes the program’s 2026 termination date and repeals the requirement for an independent consultant study comparing CM-GC to traditional procurement methods. Under this permanent program, the Highway Commission can use the CM-GC method for any transportation project with a construction cost estimate under $300 million, streamlining project contracting without phase limits or cost caps previously applied during the pilot. This directly affects how the state procures road and highway construction projects.

Maddy summaryHB 1410 prohibits public employees from giving advance notice of inspections to businesses or entities when the intent is to improperly influence the outcome. It specifically bans disclosing inspection timing, scope, or details to evade violations, provide unfair advantages, or interfere with inspection integrity. Public employees violating this face disciplinary action, including suspension or termination, though routine scheduling and public safety notifications remain allowed. The bill directly affects inspectors and enforcement staff, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest during government inspections.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 244, now Act 275) allows Arkansas district courts to postpone a judgment in certain misdemeanor traffic cases (excluding DUI) for up to one year, placing defendants on probation instead of immediately imposing a conviction. It directly affects eligible drivers charged with non-DUI traffic offenses, requiring them to comply with probation terms to avoid a final conviction. Key provisions include permitting case dismissal after successful probation completion, allowing judges to enter a conviction for probation violations, and excluding commercial drivers (except for parking/weight violations) and DUI cases from eligibility. The bill also clarifies that fines, fees, and restitution collected during the postponement period are distributed as if a conviction occurred.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Arkansas collects unpaid court fines, fees, and costs when people miss payments (default). It allows courts to use standard civil collection methods (like wage garnishment) and intercept state income tax refunds for these debts, following specific procedures. It also creates a legal claim on a person's property (real and personal) for unpaid amounts, similar to other civil judgments. These changes directly affect defendants who fail to pay court-ordered financial obligations.

Maddy summarySB 186 increases the financial reporting threshold for contractors. It changes the requirement for licensees of the Contractors Licensing Board to submit financial statements from $750,000 to $1,500,000 for a single commercial project. This means contractors with projects under $1.5 million no longer need to submit these statements. The bill directly affects residential and commercial contractors whose individual projects meet or exceed the new $1.5 million threshold.