State of Arkansas Reopens Submissions for Pro-Life Monument to the Unborn

On Tuesday the State of Arkansas reopened submissions for a planned monument to the unborn on the Capitol lawn.

Act 310 of 2023 by Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) authorizes a privately funded pro-life monument on the Arkansas Capitol Grounds.

The Secretary of State and the Arts and Grounds Commission, which is responsible for the property around the Capitol, previously approved a monument proposal, but reportedly chose not to move forward with construction after the monument’s artist filed to copyright the design.

In a letter, Sen. Hammer told Secretary of State Jester, the copyrighted design would present challenges if the state needed to modify the monument in the future.

“It was never my intent for the monument to be anything other than under the full control of the state once built,” Sen. Hammer said, “and, in my opinion, a copyright could severely limit future modification.”

In a statement, Secretary of State Jester said, “We stand committed to moving this important project forward. It will provide a place of prayer at the Arkansas State Capitol to honor the unborn children of Arkansas and their families.”

Once it is complete, the monument will commemorate the 236,243 unborn children whose lives were lost to abortion from 1973 – 2022.

Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, and abortion is prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother, it’s important to remember the dignity and humanity of all unborn children.

Act 310 does that by establishing this monument as “a constant reminder of our duty to protect the life of every innocent human person, no matter how young or old, or how helpless and vulnerable that person may be.”

This monument to the unborn is more than just a structure. It is a powerful testament to Arkansas’ resolve to honor and protect innocent human life at all stages of development, from conception until natural death.

Arkansas Right to Life was the lead pro-life proponent of Act 310. Family Council was proud to support their efforts.

Artists interested in submitting designs for Arkansas’ monument to the unborn may send submissions or proposals to arkansascagc@gmail.com by March 14, 2026.

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