Here is Legislation We Support, Oppose, or are Watching

We’re wrapping up another week at the Arkansas Legislature.

Lawmakers filed several different proposals, and they voted on many others.

Below is a quick recap of what happened at the legislature this week, and some of the legislation Family Council supports, opposes, or thinks is worth knowing about.

Good Bills Passed

Act 94 / H.B. 1211 (Religion is Essential): This good bill by Representative Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Senator Kim Hammer (R – Benton) recognizes that religion and religious organizations are essential in Arkansas. H.B. 1211 will protect churches and religious groups without hampering the government’s ability to respond during a pandemic. See how your state representative voted hereSee how your state senator voted hereRead The Bill Here.

Act 90 / H.B. 1195 (Pro-Life): This good bill by Rep. Jim Dotson (R – Bentonville) and Sen. Bob Ballinger (R – Ozark) enacts legislation ensuring that women are offered information, assistance, and resources that could help them choose an option besides abortion. See how your state representative voted hereSee how your state senator voted hereRead The Bill Here.

H.B. 1116 (Simon’s Law): This good bill by Rep. Jim Dotson (R – Bentonville) and Sen. Bart Hester (R – Cave Springs) is named in honor of an infant in Missouri who died after doctors put a Do Not Resuscitate order on his chart without his parent’s knowledge or permission. If passed, it would help protect children in Arkansas from being denied life support or having a DNR placed on their medical charts without parental consent. The bill has passed the Arkansas House and Senate. See how your state representative voted here. See how your senator voted hereRead The Bill Here.

Good Bills Filed

Sen. Irvin announced S.B. 354 at a press conference in the Capitol Building on February 25.

S.B. 354 (Fairness in Women’s Sports): This good bill by Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R -Smackover) would require student athletes to compete according to their biological sex. This would prevent boys who claim to be girls from competing in girls’ sports at school — and vice versa. Family Council supports this measure. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1570 (Prohibiting Sex-Reassignment on Children): This good bill by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) and Sen. Alan Clark (R – Lonsdale) prohibits sex-reassignment procedures on children. The bill also prevents funding of sex-reassignment procedures performed on children. This bill will protect children from being subjected to surgeries and procedures that can leave them sterilized and permanently scarred. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1523 (The Equal Justice Act): This good bill by Rep. Delia Haak (R – Gentry) identifies various protections and criminal penalties currently found in Arkansas law. The bill expands on Arkansas’ law regarding felonies involving violence. It creates the offense of committing a felony involving violence for the purpose of preventing a person from exercising his or her constitutional right. The bill outlines minimum and maximum sentences for this type of felony. It also requires the state to collect and report statistics regarding felonies involving violence committed for the purpose of preventing a person from exercising his or her constitutional right. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1572 (Informed-Consent to Chemical Abortion): This good bill by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) and Sen. Scott Flippo (R – Mountain Home) outlines the informed-consent process for chemical abortion. Arkansas’ current informed-consent laws for abortion are geared primarily for surgical abortion procedures. H.B. 1572 will help ensure women get all the facts about chemical abortion — including its risks, consequences, and and pro-life alternatives. This will help save many unborn children from abortion. Read The Bill Here. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1544 (Pro-Life Cities Resolution): This good bill by Rep. Kendon Underwood (R – Cave Springs) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) lets municipalities in Arkansas declare themselves pro-life. H.B. 1544 outlines some of the findings and language that cities can put in their pro-life resolution. The bill also clarifies that Pro-Life Cities can install signs or banners announcing that they are pro-life. Read the Bill Here.

S.B. 388 (Abortion Facilities): This good bill by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro), Rep. Joe Cloud (R – Russellville), and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) requires any facility that performs abortions to be licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health as an abortion facility, and it prohibits abortions in hospitals except in cases of medical emergency. S.B. 388 will help ensure that every clinic that performs abortions follows all of Arkansas’ laws concerning abortion facilities. This has the potential to save many women and unborn children from abortion. Read The Bill Here.

H.B.1566 (Marijuana Certifications): This good bill by Rep. Delia Haak (R – Gentry) and Sen. David Wallace (R – Leachville) requires marijuana certifications written for mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder and Alzheimer’s to be issued by a board-certified psychiatrist or neurologist. Under current law, any physician can certify a patient to use marijuana for PTSD or Alzheimer’s regardless of the physician’s training and experience with mental health. This will protect mental health patients from receiving an inappropriate certification to use marijuana. Read The Bill Here.

H.J.R.1024 (Religious Freedom): H.J.R. 1024 by Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould), Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It prevents the government from burdening a person’s free exercise of religion. The measure is similar to Arkansas’ state Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Family Council strongly supports this good amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. Read The Bill Here.

S.J.R.14 (Religious Freedom): S.J.R. 14 by Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway), Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It prevents the government from burdening a person’s free exercise of religion. The measure is similar to Arkansas’ state Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Family Council strongly supports this good amendment to the Arkansas Constitution. Read The Bill Here.

H.J.R.1025 (Life): H.J.R. 1025 by Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It says that the sanctity of life is paramount to all other rights protected by the constitution. It states that Arkansas citizens, acting as jurors, have the sole authority to determine the amount of compensation or civil penalty imposed because of injuries resulting in death or resulting from acts that create a significant risk to life. H.J.R. 1025 will help prevent the State of Arkansas from placing a price tag on human life. Family Council strongly supports this good amendment. Read The Bill Here.

H.J.R.1006 (Recall): H.J.R. 1006 by Rep. Frances Cavenaugh (R – Walnut Ridge) amends the Arkansas Constitution to permit voters to recall elected officials and judges in Arkansas. Upon initial review, Family Council supports this amendment. Read The Bill Here.

H.J.R.1010 (Casino Gambling): H.J.R. 1010 by Rep. Joe Cloud (R – Russellville) amends the Arkansas Constitution to remove authorization of a casino in Pope County. This is a good amendment that will help curtail casino gambling in Arkansas. Family Council supports H.J.R. 1010. Read The Bill Here.

H.J.R.1011 (Casino Gambling): H.J.R. 1011 by Rep. Joe Cloud (R – Russellville) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It changes the casino amendment that authorizes casino gambling in Pope, Jefferson, Garland, and Crittenden counties. Under H.J.R. 1011, the Arkansas Racing Commission would not issue a casino license in Pope County unless the voters of the county approve conducting casino gaming at a local election. Family Council supports H.J.R. 1011. Read The Bill Here.

H.J.R.1018 (Lottery): H.J.R. 1018 by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale), Sen. Jane English (R – North Little Rock) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It clarifies that proceeds from the Arkansas Lottery may be used to fund scholarships and grants to students at vocational-technical and technical institutes. Currently, lottery scholarships are only available to students enrolled in public or private two-year and four-year colleges and universities. Family Council supports legislation that ensures lottery-funded scholarships are managed responsibly. We support H.J.R. 1018. Read The Bill Here.

S.J.R.16 (Boys and Girls Athletics): S.J.R. 16 by Sen. Alan Clark (R – Lonsdale) would amend the Arkansas Constitution to require public schools to designate their athletic teams as “male” or “female,” and require student athletes to compete according to their biological sex. This would prevent boys who claim to be girls from competing in girls’ sports at school — and vice versa. Family Council supports this measure. Read The Bill Here.

S.B. 6 (Prohibiting Abortion): This good bill by Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) prohibits abortion in Arkansas, except in cases when the mother’s life is in jeopardy. Family Council fully supports this good bill. Family Council is working closely with Sen. Rapert to pass this good bill that could save the lives of thousands of children and give the courts an opportunity to overturn decades of bad, pro-abortion rulings. The bill has passed the Arkansas Senate and been sent to the Arkansas House Public Health Committee. See how your state senator voted hereRead The Bill Here.

H.B. 1441 (Pro-Life/Bioethics): This good bill by Rep. Cindy Crawford (R – Fort Smith) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) regulates the buying and selling of human eggs. Arkansas law currently lets companies harvest women’s eggs for profit. Commercial egg harvesting carries a number of risks and is ethically suspect. H.B. 1441 prohibits companies from paying women for their eggs, but contains exceptions for free egg donations and for fertility treatments. The bill is currently in the House Public Health Committee. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1402 (Abortion-Inducing Drugs): This good bill by Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) and Sen. Blake Johnson (R – Corning) updates Arkansas’ restrictions on abortion-inducing drugs like RU-486. It outlines requirements that abortionists must follow in administering abortion-inducing drugs, and it prohibits abortion drugs from being delivered by mail in Arkansas. It also updates current law to ensure doctors who perform chemical abortions are credentialed to handle abortion complications and can transfer the woman to a hospital if she experiences complications. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1324 (Substance Abuse Treatment for Pregnant Women): This good bill by Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould) gives pregnant women priority in accessing substance abuse treatment programs that accept Medicaid. Read The Bill Here.

H.C.R. 1007 (Abortion): This good resolution by Rep. Jim Wooten (R – Beebe) and Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) recognizes January 22 — the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade abortion decision — as “The Day of Tears” in Arkansas. The resolution acknowledges the 61 million of unborn babies killed in abortion in America over the past five decades, and encourages Arkansans to lower their flags to half-staff on January 22 to mourn the innocent children who have lost their lives. The resolution has passed the House and been sent to the Arkansas Senate. Read The Resolution Here.

S.B. 85 (Abortion): This good bill by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Joe Cloud (R – Russellville) requires an abortionist to show an ultrasound image of the unborn baby to the pregnant woman before an abortion. Currently, Arkansas law says an abortionist must offer to let the woman see the ultrasound image. Research indicates that some women are less likely to have an abortion once they see an ultrasound image of their unborn child. That means pro-life bills like S.B. 85 can help further decrease the number of abortions in Arkansas. Arkansas Right to Life is the chief proponent of this bill, and we fully support their efforts. The bill is currently before the entire Arkansas Senate. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1408 (Abortion): This good bill by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) helps prevent abortion providers and their affiliates in Arkansas from receiving Medicaid reimbursements from the state. Read The Bill Here.

Rep. Julie Mayberry presents H.B. 1061 in the House Public Health Committee on February 25.

H.B. 1061 (No Patient Left Alone): This good bill by Rep. Julie Mayberry (R – Hensley) and Sen. Breanne Davis (R – Russellville) protects patients from being left alone and denied visitors in hospitals, nursing homes, and similar facilities. No one should be barred from being in the hospital with their dying child, spouse, or parent. This bill helps address that in Arkansas. H.B. 1061 passed the Arkansas House Public Health Committee and has gone to the entire Arkansas House. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1160 (Used Car Tax): This good bill by Rep. John Payton (R – Wilburn) and Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) would eliminate the tax on used cars sold for less than $7,500; the bill contains a provision that would take effect in 2023 eliminating the tax on used cars sold for less than $10,000. Family Council has worked for years to eliminate the used car tax, because it hurts single moms and middle class families who often can barely afford to buy a used vehicle, much less pay sales tax on one. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1431 (Used Car Tax): This good bill by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) and Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) eliminates the sales tax on used cars sold for less than $10,000. The bill is similar to H.B. 1160 by Rep. Payton and Sen. Rapert. Family Council has worked for years to eliminate the used car tax, because it hurts single moms and middle class families who often can barely afford to buy a used vehicle, much less pay sales tax on one. Read The Bill Here.

The Arkansas House Public Health Committee hears testimony in favor of S.B. 289 from Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Greg Bledsoe and Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Stephanie Nichols on February 25.

S.B. 289 (Conscience): This good bill by Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) and Rep. Brandt Smith (R – Jonesboro) protects healthcare workers’ rights of conscience. Arkansas’ current conscience protections are narrowly focused on abortion, abortifacients, and end of life decisions, and they protect only a limited number of people. S.B. 289 helps broaden these protections for healthcare workers. The bill passed the Arkansas Senate, but the Arkansas House Public Health Committee has failed to pass it so far. See how your state senator voted hereRead The Bill Here.

H.B. 1353 (Marijuana Advertisements): This good bill by Rep. Delia Haak (R – Gentry) and Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) closes a loophole in Arkansas’ laws regarding medical marijuana advertisements. It clarifies the law to say that marijuana dispensaries and cultivators cannot use a cross of any color or other symbols commonly associated with the practice of medicine in their advertisements. The bill has passed the Arkansas House of Representatives. See how your state representative voted hereRead The Bill Here.

H.B. 1430 (“Tim Tebow” Law): This good bill by Rep. Mark Lowery (R – Maumelle) makes technical adjustments to Arkansas’ “Tim Tebow” law that allows home schoolers to participate in interscholastic activities at public and private schools. H.B. 1430 makes it easier for home schoolers to play sports or other activities outside their resident school district. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1461 (Home School): This good bill by Rep. Mark Lowery (R – Maumelle) helps give home schooled students equal access to tests like the ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP Test, and other assessments. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1429 (Home School): This good bill by Rep. Mark Lowery (R – Maumelle) and Sen. Ben Gilmore (R – Crossett) makes it easier for a student to withdraw from a public school to home school. The bill eliminates the fourteen-day waiting period currently in Arkansas law for families wishing to transfer out of a public school. It also makes technical corrections to the home school law. Read The Bill Here.

Bad Bills Filed

H.J.R.1014 (Capping Damages): H.J.R. 1014 by Rep. Lee Johnson (R – Greenwood), Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It gives the Arkansas Legislature the power to cap non-economic and punitive damages that courts can award when a person is injured or killed through someone else’s negligence. Family Council has never opposed responsible lawsuit reforms. However, H.J.R. 1014 makes it possible for the Arkansas Legislature to put a price tag on human life. Family Council opposes this proposed constitutional amendment. Read The Bill Here.

S.J.R.8 (Capping Damages): S.J.R. 8 by Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View), Rep. Lee Johnson (R – Greenwood) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It gives the Arkansas Legislature the power to cap non-economic and punitive damages courts can award when a person is injured or killed through someone else’s negligence. Family Council has never opposed responsible lawsuit reforms. However, S.J.R. 8 makes it possible for the Arkansas Legislature to put a price tag on human life. Family Council opposes this proposed constitutional amendment. Read The Bill Here.

H.J.R.1015 (Restricting Evidence): H.J.R. 1015 by Rep. Jim Dotson (R – Bentonville), Sen. Bob Ballinger (R – Ozark) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It gives the Arkansas Legislature the power to set rules about pleading, practice, procedure, and evidence for all courts in Arkansas. Family Council has never opposed responsible lawsuit reforms. However, giving the Arkansas Legislature the ability to restrict evidence that can or cannot be used in court may make it difficult or impossible for people to obtain justice in court. Family Council opposes this proposed constitutional amendment. Read The Bill Here.

S.J.R.7 (Restricting Evidence): S.J.R. 7 by Sen. Bob Ballinger (R – Ozark), Rep. Jim Dotson (R – Bentonville) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It gives the Arkansas Legislature the power to set rules about pleading, practice, procedure, and evidence for all courts in Arkansas. Family Council has never opposed responsible lawsuit reforms. However, giving the Arkansas Legislature the ability to restrict evidence that can or cannot be used in court may make it difficult or impossible for people to obtain justice in court. Family Council opposes this proposed constitutional amendment. Read The Bill Here.

S.J.R.9 (Restricting Evidence): S.J.R. 9 by Sen. Bob Ballinger (R – Ozark), Rep. Jim Dotson (R – Bentonville) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It gives the Arkansas Legislature the power to set rules about pleading, practice, procedure, and evidence for all courts in Arkansas. Family Council has never opposed responsible lawsuit reforms. However, giving the Arkansas Legislature the ability to restrict evidence that can or cannot be used in court may make it difficult or impossible for people to obtain justice in court. Family Council opposes this proposed constitutional amendment. Read The Bill Here.

S.B. 3 (Enacting Hate Crimes Legislation): This bad bill by Sen. Jim Hendren (I – Gravette) and Rep. Fred Love (D – Little Rock) enacts hate crimes legislation by enhancing penalties for crimes committed against certain protected classes of people listed in the bill. The bill is virtually identical to H.B. 1020. Family Council has opposed hate crimes legislation for more than 20 years, and we oppose this bill as well. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1020 (Enacting Hate Crimes Legislation): This bad bill by Rep. Fred Love (D – Little Rock) and Sen. Jim Hendren (I – Gravette) enacts hate crimes legislation by enhancing penalties for crimes committed against certain protected classes of people listed in the bill. The bill is virtually identical to S.B. 3. Family Council has opposed hate crimes legislation for more than 20 years, and we oppose this bill as well. Read The Bill Here.

H.J.R.1008 (Initiatives and Referenda): H.J.R. 1008 by Rep. DeAnn Vaught (R – Horatio) amends the Arkansas Constitution. It requires initiatives and referenda submitted to voters via petition drives to be approved by at least 60% of the votes cast on the measure in order to pass. However, it would not require constitutional amendments submitted by the General Assembly to be approved by 60% of the vote. Family Council opposes this measure. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1228 (Public Drinking): This bad bill by Rep. Lee Johnson (R – Greenwood) and Sen. Breanne Davis (R – Russellville) would let cities in dry counties approve public drinking in “entertainment districts” if the city contains a private club that serves alcohol. Under Arkansas’ “entertainment district” law, alcohol can be carried and consumed outdoors on city streets and sidewalks around bars and restaurants, if approved by the city council. The bill has passed the Arkansas House of Representatives and been sent to the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee. See how your state representative voted hereRead The Bill Here.

H.B. 1066 (Alcohol): This bill by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R – Clarksville) would let microbrewery operators ship beer directly to private residences anywhere in the state of Arkansas or to residences in other states that allow direct shipment of alcohol. The bill may not contain sufficient safeguards to prevent alcohol from being delivered to someone who is under 21. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1148 (Alcohol): This bill by Rep. Frances Cavenaugh (R – Walnut Ridge) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) overhauls Arkansas’ local option election law concerning alcohol. The bill reduces the threshold for taking a county wet or dry via a petition drive. Liquor stores in wet counties would be able to continue operating even if the county voted to go dry. The bill would make it easier for some cities or towns in a dry county to be wet while the rest of the county is dry. Read The Bill Here.

Other Bills

H.R. 1011 (Recognizing the Cherokee Nation West): This resolution by Rep. Marcus Richmond (R – Harvey) and others calls on the federal government to recognize Cherokee Nation West as a separate tribe from the larger Cherokee Nation. Recognizing Native American tribes in Arkansas could facilitate future efforts to build Indian casinos in the state. For this reason, Family Council generally has had concerns about formal recognizing this tribe and others. Read The Resolution Here.

S.B.339 (Alcohol): This bill by Sen. Jane English (R – North Little Rock) and Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R – Russellville) would let restaurants sell sealed containers of alcohol to-go and deliver alcoholic beverages to consumers in a wet county. The bill may not have sufficient safeguards to prevent alcohol from being delivered to someone who is under 21. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1069  (Contraceptives): This bill by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R – Clarksville) and Sen. Breanne Davis (R – Russellville) lets pharmacists dispense oral contraceptives to women without a prescription from a doctor. Family Council previously opposed this bill. However, Rep. Pilkington has filed amendments to the bill. His amendments address objections Family Council raised against H.B. 1069. At this time, Family Council is neutral on this bill. Read The Bill Here.

S.B. 32 (Alcohol): This bill by Sen. Jane English (R – North Little Rock) and Rep. Karilyn Brown (R – Sherwood) would let retail liquor permit holders — such as liquor stores — deliver alcoholic beverages to private residences in the county where the store is located. The bill may not contain sufficient safeguards to prevent alcohol from being delivered to someone who is under 21. The bill has passed the Arkansas Senate and the Arkansas House. See how your senator voted hereSee how your state representative voted hereRead The Bill Here.

S.B. 76 (Alcohol): This bill by Sen. Lance Eads (R – Springdale) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) lets “excursion trains” serve alcoholic beverages to passengers. It has passed the Arkansas Senate and the Arkansas House. See how your senator voted hereSee how your representative voted hereRead The Bill Here.

H.B. 1341 (Alcohol): This bill by Rep. Karilyn Brown (R – Sherwood) and Sen. Jane English (R – North Little Rock) permits on-premises consumption of alcohol on Christmas Day. Currently, Arkansas law generally prohibits bars and liquor stores from selling alcohol on Christmas. This bill would allow alcohol to be sold for on-premises consumption in bars and restaurants on Christmas. It would not let liquor stores sell alcohol for off-premises consumption. Read The Bill Here.

S.B. 155 (Organ Donations): This bill by Sen. Breanne Davis (R -Russellville) and Rep. Austin McCollum (R – Bentonville) helps prevent people with physical or mental disabilities from being denied organ transplants because of their disabilities. The bill has passed the Arkansas Senate and been sent to the House Public Health Committee. See how your state senator voted hereRead The Bill Here.

H.B. 1522 (Marijuana Transportation and Possession): This bill by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) and Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) prohibits a person from being under the influence of marijuana in public or at a marijuana dispensary or marijuana cultivation facility. It clarifies that it is unlawful for a person to use marijuana by inhalation in a place where marijuana is prohibited by the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016. It also imposes penalties for possessing more marijuana than Arkansas’ medical marijuana amendment allows. And it makes it a crime to transport medical marijuana into Arkansas from another state. Read The Bill Here.

S.B. 389 (Parental Review of Sex-Education): This bill by Sen. Bob Ballinger (R – Ozark) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) requires public schools to notify parents about sex-education material and give parents the option of opting their students out of the class or activity. Read The Bill Here.

Gov. Hutchinson Signs Marijuana Restrictions

This week Gov. Asa Hutchinson held a bill-signing ceremony for two bills that restrict marijuana edibles and marijuana advertising.

S.B. 440 by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Elm Springs) prohibits marijuana stores from selling marijuana-infused candy and other foods that are likely to appeal to children.

We have read time and again about children hospitalized after eating gummies, cookies, or other foods laced with so-called “medical” marijuana. S.B. 440 helps protect Arkansas’ children from this dangerous drug.

S.B. 441 by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Elm Springs) restricts medical marijuana advertisements in much the same way as tobacco advertisements. Marijuana ads cannot target children. They cannot be placed near schools or daycares. And they have to include disclaimers about the dangers of marijuana.

This bill will help tighten Arkansas’ restrictions on “medical” marijuana.

Family Council was pleased to support both of these bills during the legislative session, and we enjoyed attending the bill-signing ceremony with Gov. Hutchinson, Sen. Bledsoe, and Rep. Lundstrum this week.

A Legislative Recap

The Arkansas Legislature wrapped up this week. Here’s a look at legislation that passed and failed and how lawmakers voted on important bills.

Good Bills Passed at the Legislature This Year

Act 180 / S.B. 149 (Abortion): This good law by Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) prohibits abortion in Arkansas if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The bill was hotly debated in the Arkansas Legislature, but ultimately passed and was signed into law. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

Act 493 / H.B. 1439 (Abortion): This good law by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Elm Springs) and Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) prohibits abortion in Arkansas after the eighteenth week of pregnancy unless the mother’s life or physical health is in serious jeopardy. Our team estimates that this law will save upwards of 170 – 200 unborn children from abortion each year. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

Act 700 / S.B. 448 (Abortion): This good law by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) requires an abortionist to be a board-certified or board-eligible OB/GYN. Currently any medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy in Arkansas can perform a chemical or surgical abortion. S.B. 448 will protect women from dangerous abortion practices. The bill also updates Arkansas’ definition of a “viable fetus.” Under current federal case law, states have a lot of leeway to restrict abortion when an unborn child is considered “viable.” Updating this definition will make it easier to pass and enforce pro-life legislation in Arkansas. Planned Parenthood dubbed this pro-life bill “the worst” one they faced all session—so you know it’s a good law. We estimate this law could save hundreds of unborn children from abortion each year. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

S.B. 278 (Abortion): This good law by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Spencer Hawks (R – Conway) makes several improvements to Arkansas’ abortion laws. It expands the waiting period for an abortion from 48 hours to 72 hours. This will give women more time to consider all their options besides abortion—which will make them less likely to have an abortion. We estimate this law will save as many as 50 unborn children each year. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

H.B. 1453 (Abortion): This good law by Rep. Clint Penzo (R – Springdale) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) requires abortionists to give women information about perinatal hospice. Modern medicine has made it possible to test unborn children for deadly fetal abnormalities, and most children who test positive for these abnormalities are aborted. Perinatal hospice services provide palliative care for women whose unborn children are not expect to survive to birth or live long following birth. They provide emotional support for the woman and her family and hospice services for the child after birth. Data shows when women know perinatal hospice services are available for them and their unborn child, they are less likely to have an abortion. H.B. 1453 will help women choose options besides abortion when their unborn child has a life-threatening condition. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

H.B. 1399 (Pro-Life): This good law by Rep. Karilyn Brown (R – Sherwood) and Sen. Scott Flippo (R – Bull Shoals) prohibits public funds from being used to clone or kill unborn children for scientific research. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

Act 185 / S.B. 168 (Pro-Life): This good law by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Rebecca Petty (R – Rogers) updates Arkansas’ Safe Haven Act. It lets a woman surrender her newborn to law enforcement personnel, fire department personnel, or medical personnel. Arkansas’ Safe Haven Act protects children from being abandoned, and it provides women with options besides abortion. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

Act 522 / S.B. 341 (Abortion): This good law by Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) and Rep. Joe Cloud (R – Russellville) amends Arkansas’ informed-consent law for abortion to ensure women know how to find information about chemical abortion pill reversal. Doctors have demonstrated that chemical abortion drugs can be counteracted if the woman receives treatment quickly. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

S.B. 2 (Abortion): This good law by Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) prohibits abortions performed because the baby has Down Syndrome. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

S.B. 3 (Abortion): This good law by Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) requires abortionist to report complications arising from an abortion. Abortion carries a number of risks and consequences, and the reporting required by this bill will help Arkansas craft better pro-life laws in the future. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

S.B. 503 (Anti-Assisted Suicide): This good law by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) enhances the penalty for physician-assisted suicide in Arkansas. Besides increasing the penalty for this crime, the bill sent a powerful message that the Arkansas Legislature opposes assisted suicide. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

Act 429 / H.B. 1413 (Home Schooling): This good law by Rep. Mark Lowery (R – Maumelle) prevents schools from charging home schooled students extra to take concurrent credit courses for college credit. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

Act 430 / H.B. 1419 (Home Schooling): This good law by Rep. Mark Lowery (R – Maumelle) makes it easier for home schooled students to access academic courses offered though the local public school system. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

Act 184 / S.B. 156 (Free Speech): This good law by Sen. Bob Ballinger (R – Berryville) and Rep. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) prevents public colleges and universities from infringing the free speech of students and faculty on campus. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

S.B. 440 (Marijuana Edibles): This good law by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Elm Springs) prohibits marijuana stores from selling marijuana-infused candy and other foods that are likely to appeal to children. We have read time and again about children hospitalized after eating gummies, cookies, or other foods laced with so-called “medical” marijuana. S.B. 440 helps protect Arkansas’ children from this dangerous drug. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

S.B. 441 (Marijuana Advertising): This good law by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Elm Springs) restricts medical marijuana advertisements in much the same way as tobacco advertisements. Marijuana ads cannot target children. They cannot be placed near schools or daycares. And they have to include disclaimers about the dangers of marijuana. This bill will help tighten Arkansas’ restrictions on “medical” marijuana. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

Good Bills That Did Not Pass This Year

H.B. 1289 (Conscience): This good bill by Rep. Brandt Smith (R – Jonesboro) protects the rights of conscience of all healthcare workers and companies. This would prevent healthcare workers and organizations from being forced to promote, participate in, or pay for medical procedures that violate their conscience. Unfortunately, the bill failed to pass in the House Public Health Committee.

H.B. 1342 (Used Car Tax): This good bill by Rep. John Payton (R – Wilburn) and Sen. Terry Rice (R – Waldron) eliminates the sales tax on used cars sold for less than $7,500. Currently, sales tax is collected on new and used cars sold for $4,000 or more. This bill would have provided tax relief to a lot of families who rely on used vehicles. The bill passed in the Arkansas House, but failed to pass in the Senate Revenue and Tax Committee.

H.B. 1761 (Pro-Life/Bioethics): This good bill by Rep. Cindy Crawford (R – Fort Smith) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) regulates the buying and selling of human eggs. Arkansas law currently lets companies harvest women’s eggs for profit. Commercial egg harvesting carries a number of risks and is ethically suspect. H.B. 1761 prohibits companies from paying women for their eggs, but contains exceptions for free egg donations and for fertility treatments. The bill passed in the Arkansas House, but failed to make it through the senate before the session adjourned.

H.B. 1511 (Home Schooling): This good bill by Rep. Mark Lowery (R – Maumelle) ensures home schooled students and private school students can access the Succeed Scholarship the state offers to students with special needs. Currently, this scholarship is only available for students enrolled in a public school. Unfortunately, the bill never really got off the ground at the legislature.

H.B. 1378 (Lottery): This good bill by Rep. Jim Dotson (R – Bentonville) and Sen. Bob Ballinger (R – Berryville) raises the percentage of Arkansas Lottery revenue allocated for college scholarships to 25% by the year 2025. Currently, the Arkansas Lottery spends about 18% of the money it makes on scholarships. Unfortunately, the bill did not pass the House Rules Committee.

S.B. 387 (Lottery): This good bill by Sen. Joyce Elliott (D – Little Rock) and Rep. Jasen Kelly (R – Benton) raises the percentage of Arkansas Lottery revenue allocated for college scholarships to 25% by the year 2025. Currently, the Arkansas Lottery spends about 18% of the money it makes on scholarships. Unfortunately, the bill failed to pass in the Senate Education Committee.

Bad Bills Passed at the Legislature This Year

Act 812 / S.B. 492 (Entertainment Districts): This law by Sen. Trent Garner (R – El Dorado) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) lets cities create “entertainment districts” where open containers of alcohol can be carried and consumed outdoors on streets and sidewalks.

Entertainment districts essentially are areas where public drinking and public intoxication are legal. Under this law, an entertainment district could be temporary — such as at an event or festival — or it could be permanent. Because of their association with excessive drinking, entertainment districts in other states have raised serious concerns about crime, DUI offenses, and public safety. This bad bill narrowly passed the Arkansas House and Senate, and Governor Hutchinson signed the bill into law this week. See how your senator voted here. See how your state representative voted here.

Bad Bills Defeated at the Legislature This Year

S.B. 304 (Sex-Education): This bad bill by Sen. Will Bond (D – Little Rock) and Rep. LeAnne Burch (D – Monticello) would have made it possible for Planned Parenthood—the nation’s largest abortion provider and largest provider of sex-education—to worm its way into Arkansas’ public schools under the auspices of teaching sex-education and teen pregnancy prevention. The initial draft of the bill would have mandated sex-education for students in grades 7-12 in every public school in Arkansas. That bill passed the Arkansas Senate, but was amended in the House to make the sex-education optional. Even with amendments, the bill still left the door wide open for Planned Parenthood to teach its liberal sex-education in Arkansas’ public schools. Rep. Mark Lowery (R – Maumelle) asked the House Education Committee to amend the bill to ensure abortion-providers would not be able to teach sex-education in Arkansas’ public schools, but his good amendment failed to get enough support from committee members. Thankfully we were able to defeat this bad bill in committee, but the fight lasted until the final days of the session.

SJR 18 (Ratifying the Federal Equal Rights Amendment): This proposal by Sen. Joyce Elliott (D – Little Rock) and Rep. Jamie Scott (D – North Little Rock) would make Arkansas the 38th state to ratify the federal Equal Rights Amendment. This amendment to the U.S. Constitution is intended to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex, but the way it is worded could cause it to have a number of unintended consequences. States that have passed similar amendments have been forced to pay for abortions with taxpayer funds, and the Equal Rights Amendment could affect everything from college fraternities and sororities to how men and women are housed in federal prisons. The measure was defeated in the Senate State Agencies Committee in February.

H.B. 1290 (Contraceptives): This bill by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R – Clarksville) and Sen. Bart Hester (R – Cave Springs) lets pharmacists dispense oral contraceptives to women without a prescription from a doctor. Oral contraceptives carry a number of health risks — which is why women currently need a prescription from a doctor — and they can cause the death of an unborn child by preventing the unborn child from implanting and growing inside the mother’s womb. We were able to defeat it, but the fight lasted until the end of the session.

H.B. 1536 (Physician-Assisted Suicide): This bill by Rep. Dan Douglas (R – Bentonville) lets doctors prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill patients who want to end their lives. There was so much wrong with H.B. 1536 that it’s hard to know where to begin. In one way or another, the bill was worse than virtually any other assisted-suicide proposal that’s been offered elsewhere in the U.S. After intense outcry, the bill was soundly defeated in the House Public Health Committee in March.

A Few Other Noteworthy Bills

Here are a few other noteworthy bills that came up at the legislature this year:

H.B. 1664: This bill by Rep. Cindy Crawford (R – Fort Smith) and Sen. Bob Ballinger (R – Berryville) creates programs that assist women and families with unplanned pregnancies and young children. The bill passed into law.

S.B. 470: This bill by Rep. Cindy Crawford (R – Fort Smith) and Sen. Bob Ballinger (R – Berryville) provided $1.5 million in funding for the program created by H.B. 1664. However, the appropriation did not pass.

H.B. 1625: This bill by Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould) makes it a felony to encourage someone to commit suicide. The bill passed into law.

H.B. 1621: This bill Rep. Jim Dotson (R – Bentonville) and Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) creates “primary prevention programs” that teach students how to avoid risky behaviors and situations and minimize risk overall. These programs are similar to Arkansas’ successful abstinence education programs of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The bill passed into law.

H.B. 1508: This bill by Rep. Andy Davis (R – Little Rock) helps close loopholes in Arkansas’ “Tim Tebow” law that had previously kept some home schoolers from being able to participate in extracurricular activities in their local private schools. The bill passed into law.

S.B. 463: This bill by Sen. Mark Johnson (R – Little Rock) regulated paid petition canvassers and organizations that employ paid petition canvassers in efforts to gather signatures and place measures on the ballot. The bill was referred to Interim Study, and the issue will be researched and discussed by lawmakers over the next two years.

S.B. 352: This bill by Sen. Alan Clark (R – Lonsdale) provided protections for private, faith-based adoption and foster care agencies operating according to their deeply-held religious beliefs. However, the bill never made it out of committee.