Sen. Josh Bryant

Maddy summaryHB 1745, now Act 604, requires commercial drivers in Arkansas to possess valid U.S. work authorization (such as a work visa or Employment Authorization Document) and demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to read traffic signs, converse with the public, respond to officials, and complete vehicle records. It directly affects commercial motor vehicle operators in Arkansas who must meet these requirements to legally drive. Violations carry fines up to $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. The law creates specific offenses for operating without required work authorization or English proficiency.

Maddy summaryHB 1468 amends Arkansas law to clarify that certain legal claims against home improvement and residential building contractors do not apply when the Arkansas Attorney General enforces consumer protection laws under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (§ 4-88-101 et seq.). Specifically, it excludes mediations and consumer actions initiated by the Attorney General for civil enforcement of that Act from the bill's requirements. This change directly affects the Attorney General's office and contractors when the state pursues enforcement actions. The amendment ensures the Attorney General can use standard legal processes without being subject to the bill's specific claim rules during consumer protection cases. The bill passed as Act 558 on April 14, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1713, now Act 602, requires ballot titles for citizen-initiated measures to be written at or below a specific grade-level reading standard. This law directly affects voters and initiative proponents by mandating that ballot titles use simple, accessible language to improve public understanding. The key mechanism sets a standardized readability threshold (using a "Grade Level formula" per the amended bill) for all such titles. The bill was passed quickly with an emergency declaration and is now law, aiming to make ballot measures clearer for all voters.

Maddy summarySB 505 (now Act 595) modifies Arkansas municipal zoning procedures by requiring an administrative appeal process for certain zoning or district designation changes. It mandates that decisions on these administrative zoning changes can be appealed to a municipality’s planning commission, rather than immediately going to court. This bill directly affects property owners, developers, and municipalities when seeking or challenging zoning modifications. The change streamlines the process for reviewing zoning decisions at the local level, creating a specific administrative step before potential judicial review.

Maddy summarySB 463 requires Arkansas public utilities to obtain approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission before entering settlement agreements that would close or eliminate power plants or transmission assets. The bill directly affects utilities, the Commission, and consumers by mandating that settlements must legally resolve claims, not exceed regulatory costs, and avoid decisions driven by environmental goals rather than law. The Commission must evaluate whether proposed settlements are legally sound, cost-justified for consumers, and based on reasonable legal interpretations before approving or denying them. This creates a new review process to ensure settlements protect consumer interests and comply with state regulations. The bill does not change existing utility operations but adds oversight for specific settlement agreements.

Maddy summarySB 322 (now Act 591) allows licensed engineers, architects, or other qualified professionals (not affiliated with a construction project) to conduct plan reviews and site inspections for development projects, instead of requiring local governments to handle all reviews internally. Local governments must notify applicants within 5 business days if they cannot complete reviews within 60 days, at which point applicants may request third-party reviews paid for by the local government. This directly affects construction applicants seeking permits, local governments managing development approvals, and licensed professionals offering these services. The bill aims to reduce permitting delays by providing an alternative review option when local staff are overwhelmed.

Maddy summarySB 357 amends Arkansas' leave policy to allow public employees with military service to count that time toward their annual leave accrual. It specifically applies to state employees who were honorably discharged, served in the Arkansas National Guard or military reserves before state employment, or currently serve in those units. To qualify, employees must provide documentation like military service records (e.g., NGB Form 23A or DA Form 5016), and military service credit is calculated based on documented points divided by 365 days. The bill excludes credit for active-duty service performed while concurrently employed by the state. This policy change directly affects eligible public employees by increasing their annual leave entitlement based on prior military service.

Maddy summaryHB 1757, now Act 528, creates a new criminal offense for tampering with railroad infrastructure without lawful authority or permission. It directly affects individuals or entities who interfere with tracks, signals, or equipment on rail lines. The key provision adds specific penalties for damaging or obstructing rail infrastructure, strengthening protections for railroad operations. This law amends existing railroad regulations to explicitly address unauthorized tampering as a punishable violation. The bill passed both chambers in April 2025 and is now effective state law.

Maddy summaryHB 1455 allows private clubs located in entertainment districts to purchase specific beer products directly from small breweries with permits, under exclusive agreements. This law affects small breweries and private clubs, requiring both to be in adjacent counties and limiting breweries to one exclusive agreement with a single private club at a time. The bill changes existing rules by enabling direct sales between these entities without requiring distributor intermediaries for eligible products. It became law as Act 500 on April 10, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 323 amends the Horizontal Property Act to allow a multi-unit property ownership system (such as a condominium or townhouse community) to be legally integrated as part of a larger development project. This change directly affects property owners and developers by simplifying the process of including existing horizontal properties within broader developments without requiring separate ownership structures for the entire project. The key provision explicitly adds that a horizontal property regime may be "made part of another development," eliminating bureaucratic barriers for development projects that combine multiple property types. The bill was passed by the legislature on April 7, 2025, and became law as Act 516 on April 10, 2025.