Sen. Tyler Dees

Maddy summaryHB 1921 amends the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Act to modify the training and certification process for foster parents. The bill specifies that the Division of Children and Family Services will not require provisional foster homes to undergo the same amount of hourly training as other foster homes. It also aims to streamline the process for training and certifying relatives who wish to become foster parents.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1793 updates the law concerning positive behavioral supports in Arkansas public school districts, impacting students, school personnel, and district policies. It requires school districts to implement a multi-tiered system of supports to prevent challenging behaviors and teach social, emotional, and behavioral skills. The bill emphasizes training school personnel in de-escalation and physical restraint prevention, limiting restraint use to situations of imminent danger. It also refines definitions for "punishment" and "positive behavioral support," mandating districts to adopt evidence-based discipline strategies.

Maddy summaryHB 1492 requires each public school district and open-enrollment public charter school to implement a mobile panic alert system by the 2026-2027 school year. This system is designed to connect various emergency services technologies for real-time coordination among first responders and must integrate with local 9-1-1 infrastructure. Schools will also be required to establish a schedule for testing the system's functionality and coverage. This mandate aims to improve emergency communication within schools, with an exception for statewide virtual charter schools.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1835 updates and clarifies the laws governing specialty court programs in Arkansas, such as drug, mental health, veterans, and DWI/BWI courts. It expands the official definition of these programs and establishes comprehensive guidelines for their evaluation and approval by the Supreme Court. The bill requires the Specialty Court Program Advisory Committee to evaluate programs based on nationally recognized standards and ensure effective practices that reduce recidivism. It also modifies the process for record sealing upon successful completion of certain specialty court programs and outlines procedures for transferring participants between specialty court judges.

Maddy summaryHB 1749 adopts the Uniform Trust Decanting Act in Arkansas, creating a new chapter in state law. This act allows authorized fiduciaries, such as trustees, to modify existing trusts by either distributing assets from an original trust to one or more new trusts or by changing the terms of the original trust. It establishes specific rules and definitions for how these modifications, known as "decanting," can be carried out, affecting trust management and beneficiary interests.

Maddy summaryHB 1998 creates the James McFerron Mental Health, Wellness, and Resiliency Act to improve mental health support for Arkansas first responders, including police, firefighters, EMTs, and correctional staff. The bill requires the Department of Public Safety to develop statewide training programs for peer-to-peer mental health support and provide resources on wellness, resiliency, and stress management. It mandates establishing a state-wide peer support network with certified members and ensures access to these services regardless of location. The Department must also submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislative Council detailing its implementation efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 1997 would exempt licensed childcare family homes from local zoning restrictions that typically prevent them from operating in residential areas across Arkansas. This directly affects childcare providers - especially those in rural communities - who currently face barriers to starting or expanding services due to restrictive zoning rules. The bill requires providers to still comply with health and safety regulations but removes zoning barriers, aiming to increase accessible childcare options. The General Assembly declared an emergency, stating that expanding childcare access is necessary for public health and safety. The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment if signed by the governor.

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 1062 (now Act 565) amends school disciplinary procedures to require school staff conducting conferences about student removals for violent behavior to determine if a behavioral threat assessment is necessary. It specifically modifies conference protocols to address cases where students are removed from classrooms due to violent conduct, adding this assessment step to the process. The bill excludes certain facilities (Division of Youth Services schools, contracted facilities, and the Arkansas Correctional School District) from these requirements. The law applies directly to school staff handling student disciplinary cases involving violence, focusing on procedural changes rather than new protections. This is a procedural update to existing school discipline rules, not a broad policy change.

Maddy summarySB 433 (now Act 573) requires all Arkansas state government buildings to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a large font, alongside the national motto and accurate representations of both the U.S. and Arkansas state flags. The law mandates specific placement, with the U.S. flag displayed under the national motto and the Arkansas flag(s) included. This procedural bill affects all state government facilities, not specific individuals or policies. The legislation passed in 2025 and became effective after the governor signed it on April 14, 2025.