Arkansas House Passes H.B. 1211 Declaring Religion is Essential

Legislation, Legislature, Religious Freedom,

On Thursday afternoon the Arkansas House of Representatives passed H.B. 1211 declaring religion is essential.

This good bill by Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) recognizes that religion and religious organizations are essential in Arkansas.

Public officials have the authority to protect health and public safety, but the the free exercise of religion is never suspended.

H.B. 1211 ensures our government never closes churches during a disaster or other emergency.

H.B. 1211 protects churches from being singled out during an emergency. It prevents the government from penalizing a church that meets during an emergency. And it requires churches to comply with the same basic health and safety standards as everyone else.

Churches and charities support their communities during an emergency. They need to be free to serve people without worrying that the government might punish them. H.B. 1211 provides that protection.

H.B. 1211 passed with 75 votes; 10 representatives voted against it. The bill now goes to the Arkansas Senate.

Voted For The Bill

  • Barker
  • Beatty Jr.
  • Beck
  • Bentley
  • Berry
  • M. Berry
  • Boyd
  • Breaux
  • Brooks
  • Brown
  • Bryant
  • Carr
  • Cavenaugh
  • Christiansen
  • Cloud
  • Coleman
  • C. Cooper
  • Cozart
  • Crawford
  • Dalby
  • M. Davis
  • Deffenbaugh
  • Dotson
  • Eaves
  • Eubanks
  • Evans
  • C. Fite
  • Fortner
  • Furman
  • Gazaway
  • Gonzales
  • M. Gray
  • Haak
  • Hawks
  • Hillman
  • Hollowell
  • Hudson
  • Jean
  • Jett
  • L. Johnson
  • Ladyman
  • Lowery
  • Lundstrum
  • Lynch
  • Maddox
  • Magie
  • J. Mayberry
  • McClure
  • McCollum
  • M. McElroy
  • McGrew
  • McKenzie
  • McNair
  • S. Meeks
  • Miller
  • Milligan
  • Payton
  • Penzo
  • Pilkington
  • Ray
  • Richmond
  • Rye
  • Slape
  • B. Smith
  • S. Smith
  • Speaks
  • Tollett
  • Underwood
  • Vaught
  • Wardlaw
  • Warren
  • Watson
  • Wing
  • Womack
  • Wooten

Voted Against The Bill

  • Clowney
  • A. Collins
  • Ennett
  • Fielding
  • D. Garner
  • Godfrey
  • M. Hodges
  • McCullough
  • Springer
  • D. Whitaker

Voted “Present” On the Bill

  • F. Allen
  • V. Flowers
  • Love
  • Nicks
  • Richardson
  • Scott

Did Not Vote

  • Bragg
  • K. Ferguson
  • D. Ferguson
  • L. Fite
  • Holcomb
  • Murdock
  • Perry
  • Tosh
  • Shepherd

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Family Council Supports H.B. 1211 Recognizing Religion is Essential in Arkansas

Religious Freedom,

On Tuesday Representative Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Senator Kim Hammer (R – Benton) filed H.B. 1211 recognizing that religion and religious organizations are essential in Arkansas.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “This is a good bill. Public officials have the authority to protect health and public safety, but the First Amendment – including the free exercise of religion – is never suspended. H.B. 1211 ensures our government shall never close churches and other houses of worship even during a disaster or other emergency.”

Cox said H.B. 1211 will protect churches and religious groups without hampering the government’s ability to respond during a pandemic. “H.B. 1211 protects houses of worship from being singled out during an emergency the way they have been in other states. The bill prevents the government from penalizing a house of worship or other religious group that continues to hold services during an emergency. The bill also requires that churches and religious groups comply with the same basic health and safety standards everyone else does.”

Cox said the bill ensures that religious groups and charities are able to continue serving their communities during an emergency. “Churches, religious organizations, and charities provide support and stability to people in their communities during an emergency. They need to be free to serve people without worrying that the government might penalize them for it. H.B. 1211 helps make sure these groups continue to serve our state, and it makes sure that Arkansans are able to continue exercising their religious liberties even during a pandemic.”

Family Council is a conservative education and research organization based in Little Rock.

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