Sen. Alan Clark

Maddy summaryHB 1704 (now Act 388) amends child custody law to require courts to specifically consider circumstances that maximize contact time between a child and a parent who is a first responder (e.g., police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel), while still prioritizing the child's best interests. The law mandates that courts weigh the unique scheduling demands of first responder parents when making custody decisions, ensuring their ability to maintain consistent involvement with their child. This change directly affects custody cases involving parents employed in emergency response roles. The bill became effective March 25, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and receiving gubernatorial approval.

Maddy summaryHB 1661 shifts the funding responsibility for state district court judges' salaries from cities and counties to the state, eliminating local governments' obligation to pay these salaries. It creates a "county administration of justice fund" that uses court filing fees and costs to maintain funding for county justice programs (like public defenders, prosecutors, and county jails) at levels based on 1994-1995 data, with limited annual adjustments tied to inflation. The bill directly affects all 70 state district courts (as of 2025) and county-level judicial services. It ensures county funding for these programs continues without local salary payments, aligning with Arkansas' transition to a unified state court system.

Maddy summaryHB 1644 clarifies that retired Arkansas judges can serve as special judges immediately upon retirement, removing any prior waiting period. This amendment to Arkansas Code § 16-10-902 (subsection c) directly affects retired judges seeking special judicial appointments. The bill retroactively applies to January 1, 2025, and declares an emergency due to high demand for special judges amid limited availability. It ensures retired judges can be appointed without delay to address court staffing needs. The law became Act 370 after passage in March 2025.

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 1319, which was withdrawn by its author on March 17, 2025, would have created a state sales tax exemption for disabled veterans, their unremarried spouses, and surviving spouses of disabled veterans in Arkansas. The bill would have allowed these individuals to exclude up to $5,000 annually in sales tax on tangible personal property and certain digital products purchased at physical stores within the state. To claim the exemption, veterans would have needed an identification card from the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, while surviving spouses would have required certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption would not apply to local sales taxes or the compensating use tax.

Maddy summaryHB 1121 repeals a law that allowed the transfer of tax-forfeited lands (properties where taxes were unpaid and seized by the government) to state institutions like universities or hospitals. It removes the legal mechanism for these land transfers, meaning state institutions can no longer receive such properties through this specific process. The bill directly affects state institutions that previously had access to tax-forfeited lands under the repealed law. This repeal became effective as Act 211 on February 27, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1437 prohibits Level 3 or Level 4 sex offenders from entering water parks, swimming areas, or children's playgrounds within 100 feet of Arkansas State Parks or public parks. It directly affects individuals required to register under Arkansas' Sex Offender Registration Act who have been assessed as Level 3 or 4 offenders. The bill expands prior restrictions by adding swimming areas and playgrounds to the prohibited zones, with violations classified as Class D felonies. This law amends Arkansas Code § 5-14-134 to cover all public parks and state parks, not just local government-owned facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1407 amends Arkansas law to stop funding the Arkansas District Judges Council, Inc. from the State Administration of Justice Fund, removing it from the list of recipients that receive monthly allocations. This change follows the state's transition to a unified system of 70 full-time district judges and a Supreme Court directive, making the Council's funding unnecessary. The bill updates the fund's distribution rules to redirect these resources to other state programs, including the Administrative Office of the Courts, Court Reporters, and public safety initiatives. The law does not alter funding for other recipients but ensures the fund now supports only the specified state agencies and programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1048 (now Act 125) allows small-scale dairy farmers to sell unpasteurized goat, sheep, and whole milk directly to consumers beyond just on their farm. The law clarifies that incidental sales - such as at farmer's markets or via farm delivery - no longer require the milk to be sold solely on the premises where it's produced. This directly affects farmers who produce raw milk and consumers who purchase it, removing previous restrictions on sales locations. The bill also permits advertising these sales, making the process more flexible for small producers. The change became effective February 20, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.