Sen. Bart Hester

Maddy summaryHCR 1011 is a concurrent resolution that officially recognizes the City of Bentonville, Arkansas, for its significant investment in cycling and for its title as the "Mountain Biking Capital of the World." The resolution expresses the Arkansas General Assembly's support for Bentonville's continued efforts in trail development, community engagement, and promoting its cycling culture.

Maddy summaryHB 1476, now Act 675, amends the Direct Shipment of Vinous Liquor Act and establishes a Wine Direct Shipper License. This legislation allows for the direct shipment of wine, setting an annual limit of up to twenty-four nine-liter cases per customer. The bill also adjusts the fees associated with this license and clarifies enforcement provisions. Violations of the act can result in immediate license suspension and the seizure of illegal wine shipments by the division in coordination with law enforcement. This affects wine direct shippers, consumers purchasing wine directly, and regulatory bodies overseeing wine sales.

Maddy summaryHB 1821 creates a single State Captive Insurance Program to replace fragmented property insurance systems for public schools, state-supported colleges/universities, and state-owned properties in Arkansas. It combines these entities under one program, prohibits the use of public adjusting firms (which the bill states increased premiums), and requires independent reappraisals of higher education properties to ensure proper valuation. The bill also establishes the Office of Property Risk within the Department of Transformation and Shared Services to manage the program and mandates coordination among state agencies for a smooth transition. These changes aim to stabilize insurance costs and improve market competitiveness for these public entities.

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 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 421 authorizes the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to issue up to $500 million in state bonds for water, waste disposal, pollution control, drainage, irrigation, flood control, and wetlands projects. It directly affects local entities like counties, water districts, and municipalities by enabling them to access funding for infrastructure development. Key provisions include a $165 million cap for irrigation projects and a requirement for voter approval via the 2026 general election. The bonds can be issued in series without legislative approval, with annual limits of $60 million for irrigation projects during odd-numbered years.

Maddy summaryHB 1303 (now Act 546) creates a state income tax credit for businesses producing sustainable aviation fuel in Arkansas. The credit allows eligible producers to reduce their state income tax liability by up to the full amount of tax they owe in a given year. It directly affects aviation fuel producers who meet the bill's sustainability criteria, providing financial incentive to develop and use cleaner fuel alternatives. The law, enacted April 10, 2025, establishes this credit as part of Arkansas' efforts to support sustainable energy infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 1633 modifies eligibility rules for students who transfer schools, removing academic standing requirements that previously barred them from participating in extracurricular activities like sports or clubs immediately after transferring. The bill directly affects transfer students in Arkansas public schools, ensuring they can join activities without waiting periods tied to prior academic performance. It declares an emergency to expedite the law's implementation, making the policy change effective immediately upon enactment. The bill became Act 475 on April 8, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.

Maddy summaryHB 1711 allows municipal port authorities to create their own police forces. The bill specifies that these officers would share jurisdiction with local city and county law enforcement within the port authority's facilities and adjacent areas. Key provisions define patrol zones to include the port's industrial facilities, nearby roads, shoreline areas, and up to five miles along navigable waterways adjacent to the port. This directly affects port authorities seeking dedicated security for their operations, without expanding police powers beyond these defined boundaries. The bill focuses on enabling port-specific enforcement authority through clear jurisdictional boundaries.

Maddy summarySB 353 changes election dates in Arkansas. It moves primary elections to the second Tuesday in November or May (in odd-numbered years), adjusts school election dates to 89 days before March elections and 72 days before November elections, and modifies special election scheduling rules. These changes affect voters, election officials, and school districts by altering when specific elections occur. The bill does not create new policies but adjusts existing election timelines.