Looking Back at the Second Week of the 2023 Legislative Session

Legislation, Legislature
Above: Rose Mimms with Arkansas Right to Life (left) and Rep. Julie Mayberry (right) present H.B. 1098 in the House Judiciary Committee.

A lot happened during the second week of the Arkansas Legislature. Here’s a quick look back at the past few days.

Monday

  • In observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Arkansas Legislature did not meet.

Tuesday

  • Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) filed H.B. 1156 addressing privacy in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and similar facilities.
  • Rep. DeAnn Vaught (R – Horatio) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) filed H.B. 1148 providing an income tax credit for purchasing certain baby supplies.
  • Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) filed S.B. 66 requiring pornographic websites to implement an age verification process to protect children from pornography.

Wednesday

  • The House Rules Committee passed H.B. 1024 by Rep. David Ray (R – Maumelle) and Sen. Matt McKee (R – Dist. 6) that could expand public drinking in “entertainment districts” across Arkansas.

Thursday

  • The House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed H.B. 1098 by Rep. Julie Mayberry (R – Hensley) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) that makes it possible for volunteer fire departments to install pro-life “baby boxes” at their stations.
  • The Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee passed S.B. 43 by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) clarifying that drag shows are a form of adult performance under Arkansas law, and that adult performances — including drag performances — cannot take place on public property or where children can see them.
  • The Arkansas House of Representatives passed H.B. 1024 that could expand public drinking in “entertainment districts” across Arkansas.

Good Bills Filed So Far

S.B. 43 (Decency): This good bill by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) prohibits drag performances on public property or in view of children. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1156 (Privacy): This bill by Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) addresses privacy in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and similar facilities by requiring public schools to designate these facilities for “male” or “female” use. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1098 (Pro-Life): This good bill by Rep. Julie Mayberry (R – Hensley) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) permits Safe Haven Baby Boxes at volunteer fire stations in Arkansas. Read The Bill Here.

S.B. 66 (Pornography): This good bill by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) requires pornographic websites to use a government-issued ID or a commercially available age verification method to protect children from pornography. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1006 (Abortion): This good bill by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R — Knoxville) would require an employer that covers abortions or travel expenses related to abortions to also provide 16 weeks of paid maternity leave to employees in Arkansas. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1148 (Family): This good bill by Rep. DeAnn Vaught (R – Horatio) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) provides an income tax credit of up to $1,000 for money spent on diapers, baby formula, baby wipes, and prepackaged baby food. Read The Bill Here.

H.C.R. 1005 (Religious Freedom): This good measure by Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) declares January 16, 2023, “Religious Freedom Day” in Arkansas. Read The Measure Here.

S.B. 4 (National Security): This good bill by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R — Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) restricts access to TikTok on computers, tablets, phones, and other devices owned by the State of Arkansas. Read The Bill Here.

Bad Bills Filed So Far

H.B. 1024 (Public Drinking): This bill by Rep. David Ray (R – Maumelle) and Sen. Matt McKee (R – Dist. 6) would let cities and towns that do not collect advertising and promotion taxes on hotels and restaurants establish entertainment districts where public drinking is legal. This would let communities authorize public drinking in entertainment districts even if the community does not cater toward hospitality and tourism. That has the potential to expand public drinking in Arkansas. Read The Bill Here.

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Arkansas House Passes Bill That Could Expand Public Drinking in Arkansas

Alcohol, Legislature, Public Drinking,

On Thursday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed a measure that could expand public drinking in “entertainment districts” across the state.

H.B. 1024 by Rep. David Ray (R – Maumelle) and Sen. Matt McKee (R – Dist. 6) eliminates the provision in Arkansas law that restricts public drinking to cities and towns that collect advertising and promotion taxes on hotels, restaurants, and similar businesses.

The tax provision in current law helps make sure that communities establish “entertainment districts” in areas where the hospitality and tourism industry is present.

Under this bill, communities could authorize public drinking in entertainment districts even if the community does not cater toward hospitality and tourism.

That has the potential to expand public drinking across the state.

H.B. 1024 now goes to the Arkansas Senate for consideration.

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Senate Committee Passes Bill Prohibiting Drag Shows on Public Property and in View of Children

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Above: Family Council President Jerry Cox (right) testifies alongside Sen. Gary Stubblefield (left) in support of S.B. 43.

On Thursday the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee passed S.B. 43 by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville).

S.B. 43 clarifies that drag shows are a form of adult performance under Arkansas law. It also says that adult performances — including drag performances — cannot take place on public property or where children can see them.

Over the past few years public schools, colleges, and libraries in Arkansas have scheduled drag performances — including performances intended for children. Some of these events have been canceled following public backlash.

At public libraries in particular there has been a push to let men dressed in hyper-sexualized, female costumes read books to children. In some parts of the country events like these have exposed children and families to sexual predators.

Drag shows should not take place on public property or anywhere near children. S.B. 43 would protect children from these performances.

S.B. 43 now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for a vote.

You can read S.B. 43 here.

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

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