Tag: Arkansas Legislature

Here Are The Number of Pro-Laws Each Arkansas Legislator Has Successfully Sponsored Since 2011

Recently Family Council wrote that the Arkansas Legislature passed 44 pro-life laws from 2011 – 2021.

Since then, our team has analyzed the number of times each member of the General Assembly sponsored a pro-life measure that passed into law.

Below is an overview of the number of successful pro-life measures that each legislator sponsored and passed from 2011 to 2021.

Arkansas Senate:

• Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch): 7
• Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View): 5
• Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway): 5
• Sen. Bob Ballinger (R – Ozark): 4
• Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers): 4
• Sen. Scott Flippo (R – Bull Shoals): 3
• Sen. Blake Johnson (R – Corning): 3
• Sen. Linda Collins-Smith (R – Pocahontas): 2
• Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado): 2
• Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton): 2
• Sen. Jim Hendren (I – Gravette): 2
• Sen. Bart Hester (R – Cave Springs): 2
• Sen. Charles Beckham (R – McNeil): 1
• Sen. Ben Gilmore (R – Crossett): 1
• Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson (R – Little Rock): 1
• Sen. David Sanders (R – Little Rock): 1

Arkansas House of Representatives:

• Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale): 7
• Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover): 5
• Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville): 3
• Rep. Joe Cloud (R – Russellville): 3
• Rep. Charlene Fite (R – Van Buren): 3
• Rep. Jim Dotson (R – Bentonville): 2
• Rep. Andy Mayberry (R – Hensley): 2
• Rep. Julie Mayberry (R – Hensley): 2
• Rep. Butch Wilkins (D – Bono): 2
• Rep. Harlan Breaux (R – Holiday Island): 1
• Rep. Karilyn Brown (R – Sherwood): 1
• Rep. Ann Clemmer (R – Benton): 1
• Rep. Charlie Collins (R – Fayetteville): 1
• Rep. Tony Furman (R – Benton): 1
• Rep. Justin Harris (R – West Fork): 1
• Rep. Spencer Hawks (R – Conway): 1
• Rep. Mark Lowery (R – Maumelle): 1
• Rep. Clint Penzo (R – Springdale): 1
• Rep. Rebecca Petty (R – Rogers): 1
• Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R – Clarksville): 1
• Rep. Nate Steel (D – Nashville): 1
• Rep. Kendon Underwood (R – Cave Springs): 1
• Rep. Jim Wooten (R – Beebe): 1

As far as we can tell, Sen. Gary Stubblefield has successfully sponsored more pro-life legislation in the Arkansas Senate than any senator in Arkansas history, and Rep. Robin Lundstrum has successfully sponsored more pro-life legislation in the Arkansas House than any representative in Arkansas history.

Many of the lawmakers on this list sponsored other good, pro-life measures that — for various reasons — did not pass into law.

Dozens of lawmakers have served as co-sponsors for pro-life legislation over the years. Many have voted pro-life at every opportunity in the Arkansas House or Arkansas Senate.

In 2021 the Arkansas General Assembly enacted more pro-life legislation than any state legislature in the nation. Thanks to the hard work of these lawmakers, Arkansas is the most pro-life state in America.

Read More About the Pro-Life Laws Passed From 2011 – 2021 Here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Arkansas General Assembly Approves $1 Million for Arkansas Pregnancy Centers

On Thursday, March 3, by a vote of 75 to 19, the Arkansas House of Representatives made history with their final approval of $1 million in state funding for pregnancy resource centers in Arkansas. The Arkansas Senate previously approved the same funding bill by a vote of 27 to 4.

In speaking for the appropriation, State Rep. Robin Lundstrum and State Rep. Cindy Crawford told lawmakers if Arkansas is going to make abortion illegal, the State needs to step up and provide help for women with unplanned pregnancies.

As part of our long-term plan to reduce the demand for Abortion in Arkansas, in January, we met with Governor Hutchinson along with leaders in the Arkansas Senate and House. Our recommendation was for Arkansas to follow a dozen other states by launching a State-funded program for pregnancy centers. The Governor agreed.  House and Senate leadership drew up the plan and presented it as a part of this year’s state budget in Senate Bill 102.

Approximately, 45 non-profit pregnancy centers are in operation across Arkansas.  Having funds for ultrasound machines and other equipment as well as diapers, formula, maternity clothes, and other supplies will be a game-changer for many clinics.  Funds will be available through the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration after the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

Last year, we listed this funding for pregnancy centers as one of our goals for 2022.  I am pleased to report that we have achieved that goal—partially.  The next step is that we need to be ready to help pregnancy centers be successful in obtaining those funds without a bunch of strings attached. Here is how we plan to help. 

First, the Department of Finance and Administration will write rules for how to apply for funds and how the funds can be used. As with all rules, they have to take public comments, and the rules have to be approved by the legislature. If they’re not done right, we and others can weigh in and do our part in making the rules work properly.  Second, for any pregnancy center that needs help with navigating the application process, we plan to be there to help them from start to finish.  Our goal is to help pregnancy centers maximize every penny of this money.

Sometimes we forget the larger picture. I am reminded that we are not just funding pregnancy centers. These dollars will save the lives of unborn children.  None of us knows how many, but we’re safe to say that $1 million spent by pregnancy centers will help lots of women decide not to get an abortion.

That’s something to celebrate.

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One Year Ago Today the Arkansas Legislature Prohibited Abortion. Here’s What’s Happened Since.

It has been exactly one year since the state General Assembly voted to prohibit abortion in Arkansas.

On March 3, 2021, the Arkansas House of Representatives made history when it voted overwhelmingly in favor of S.B. 6 — now Act 309 of 2021 — by by Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville). The measure previously passed the Arkansas Senate with strong support.

Governor Asa Hutchinson signed the measure into law on March 9, 2021.

This good, pro-life law prohibits abortion in Arkansas, except in cases when the mother’s life is in jeopardy.

Family Council worked closely with Sen. Rapert to pass this good bill that could save the lives of thousands of children, if enforced.

Act 309 was slated to take effect on July 28, 2021. However, the ACLU filed a lawsuit over Act 309, and U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker blocked the law just days before Act 309’s enforcement.

In August, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge appealed Judge Baker’s decision to the Eighth Circuit.

However, during 2021 the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case regarding a Mississippi law that prohibits abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

The Dobbs case is a direct challenge against Roe v. Wade. If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade or other pro-abortion rulings in that case, it will affect laws like Act 309.

In light of that, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals announced in September that it would wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case before considering the lawsuit over Arkansas’ Act 309 of 2021.

Right now pro-lifers expect the court to rule in the Dobbs case in June.

If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the Eighth Circuit may simply rule that Arkansas is free to enforce Act 309.

If the U.S. Supreme Court only partially overturns Roe, Arkansas has an opportunity to win additional pro-life victories in federal court as it defends Act 309.

Last year Arkansas and other states have passed a record-setting number of pro-life laws.

Most of those laws have gone unchallenged, and they are saving the lives of unborn children in Arkansas at this very moment.

Slowly but surely we are winning the fight against abortion.

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