Maddy summarySB 607 aimed to establish requirements for Arkansas public school districts that choose to implement a four-day school week. The bill would authorize local school boards to adopt this schedule, explicitly preventing the State Board of Education from approving or denying their decision. However, the State Board would be required to set standards for state funding distribution and ensure districts provide an average of 30 hours of instruction per week. Districts would also need to provide documentation of their program's success using state-approved tests and include the four-day week on their annual report for community input. A district could forfeit the four-day week option if classified as needing intensive support and showing persistent underperformance.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHJR 1002 proposes an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. This amendment aims to repeal the existing exception that currently permits slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime. If adopted, it would remove this specific allowance from the state's constitution, ensuring a complete prohibition of slavery and involuntary servitude for all individuals in Arkansas.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution honors the Arkansas Minority Health Commission during American Heart Month in February. It recognizes the Commission's efforts to address heart disease specifically among minority populations in Arkansas.
Maddy summaryHB 1625 amends the law concerning insurance requirements for licensed home inspectors. The bill specifies that, in addition to general liability insurance, these professionals must also maintain a professional liability insurance policy or an errors and omissions insurance policy. This required professional coverage must be approved by the State Insurance Department.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1681 establishes the Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program. This program provides grants to local entities to help fund improvements and upgrades to their water and sewer treatment infrastructure. The grants will be supported by revenues authorized by law. The program is set to expire five years after its effective date, and the administering commission is required to report annually on the status of all awarded grants.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1771, as amended, aims to revise the laws governing disclosures that insurance companies must provide to their policyholders and to require monthly reporting from insurers. The amendment specifically adjusts numerical thresholds within the bill and modifies language pertaining to the reporting of "total medical claims on a paid basis." This legislation directly affects insurance companies, requiring them to adhere to new reporting standards, and policyholders, who would receive updated information regarding their policies.
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 summaryHB 1802 creates a state-funded Talent Recruitment Grant Program to incentivize individuals to relocate to Arkansas. The program provides grants to municipalities and qualifying nonprofits (e.g., for economic development) to offer relocation incentives to individuals who either hold remote jobs paying at least $55,000 annually or accept full-time in-state employment. Grants up to $500,000 per applicant require recipients to cover 20% of program costs and meet 50% of their target relocation goals before receiving final payment. Recipients must report quarterly on participant income, tax impacts, and economic outcomes to ensure accountability.
Maddy summarySB 307, now Act 373, creates the "Generating Arkansas Jobs Act of 2025" to support energy infrastructure investments. It requires the Arkansas Public Service Commission to consider strategic investments in natural gas and electric generation when setting utility rates, allowing companies to recover costs for approved projects. The bill mandates refunds to customers for imprudently incurred costs and sets new requirements for utility infrastructure projects to ensure grid reliability during extreme weather. It directly affects investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities operating in Arkansas by changing how they recover infrastructure costs through rate cases. The legislation declares an emergency to expedite these energy infrastructure developments.
Maddy summarySCR 4 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing former Arkansas State Representative and Senator Joyce Elliott during Black History Month for her legislative service. It honors her 23-year career in the Arkansas legislature (2000-2023), her focus on education policy, and her founding of the civic engagement nonprofit Get Loud Arkansas. The resolution has no binding effect - it simply acknowledges her contributions through a formal commendation presented to her. This is a procedural recognition, not a policy change, and was approved by both chambers and the Governor in March 2025.