Sen. Matt McKee

Maddy summarySB 579 proposes to prohibit public employers in Arkansas from deducting labor organization membership dues, fees, or contributions directly from the compensation of their public employees. This means most public employees would need to pay their union dues directly to their labor organization, rather than having their employer withhold it from their paycheck. However, the bill specifically exempts public safety employees, allowing their employers to continue deducting dues for their respective labor organizations. Public employers include various state agencies, higher education institutions, courts, and local government entities.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 283, as amended, modifies the law concerning unclaimed property for certain nonprofit organizations. It specifically affects nonprofits with less than five million dollars in annual revenue. These organizations must turn over property unclaimed for one year to the state administrator. The administrator then has two years to locate the property's owner. If the owner is not found within that period, the unclaimed property is returned to the original nonprofit organization.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial Resolution 2 is a commemorative bill that honors the life and public service of James "Jim" Guy Tucker, former Arkansas Attorney General, U.S. Congressman, and the forty-third Governor of Arkansas. The resolution serves to respectfully acknowledge his contributions to the state and nation following his passing.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 75 formally honors Sylvia Ann Hindsman Cornwell for her 45 years of exemplary and dedicated service to the Arkansas Senate and the State of Arkansas. It recognizes her significant contributions, such as modernizing Senate records and serving as the first female Secretary of the Senate.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 68 recognizes the Division of Arkansas State Police's Interstate Criminal Patrol team for receiving top honors at the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Awards. This resolution specifically acknowledges the team as the 2024 Agency of the Year, and individual officers for their achievements in drug and currency seizures.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 23 recognizes February 15-22, 2025, as National FFA Week in Arkansas. This resolution commends the National FFA Organization and its Arkansas Division for their work in agricultural education and youth leadership.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 47 proposes changes to Arkansas's financial statutes by amending both the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and the Arkansas Banking Code of 1997. The bill introduces a definition for "Central Bank Digital Currency" (CBDC) within the UCC and modifies other UCC definitions related to "money" and "deposit account." A key provision clarifies that under the Arkansas Banking Code, "deposit" and "deposit account" will explicitly not include central bank digital currency or investment property. This legislation aims to update the legal framework for classifying certain digital assets and traditional bank accounts for financial institutions in Arkansas.

Maddy summaryHB 1994 amends the law concerning self-service storage facilities in Arkansas. It requires operators of these facilities to notify an occupant if their leased storage space is "compromised." A space is considered compromised if it has been forcibly accessed, property has been taken, or it has been damaged to allow unauthorized access. Operators must contact the occupant by telephone, email, or regular mail within five business days of having actual knowledge that the space was compromised. The bill specifies that it does not impose responsibility on the operator for the occupant's personal property or create a duty to determine if a space has been compromised.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1919, titled the Public School Access and Transparency Act, aims to provide public access to learning materials maintained and used by public schools. The bill prohibits public school custodians from entering agreements that restrict public access to these materials, particularly concerning intellectual property rights. It specifies that individuals who access copyrighted learning materials under this act may not publish or distribute them for any purpose other than public inspection. Additionally, any copies made of copyrighted materials must adhere to fair use provisions of U.S. copyright law. This legislation directly affects public schools and the public seeking transparency regarding educational content.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 644 amends the law concerning the execution of a writ of possession in unlawful detainer actions. It specifically addresses manufactured or mobile homes owned by defendants that remain on a property after a writ of possession has been served. The bill requires defendants to remove their manufactured or mobile home, or arrange for its removal with the plaintiff, within 30 days of the writ's service. This removal must be at the defendants' expense, and if the home is not removed within the timeframe, the court can declare it abandoned.