Study Finds Pro-Life Laws Boost Births in Arkansas and Beyond

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A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) estimates more than 300 children were born in Arkansas in 2023 as a direct result of the state’s pro-life laws.

Since 2022, abortion in Arkansas has been generally prohibited except to save the life of the mother. It is also against the law to deliver abortion-inducing drugs like RU-486 into the state. Government data and news reports indicate some women from Arkansas may cross state lines for abortion, but so far there has been very little data estimating exactly how many children are alive today as a result of pro-life laws.

The JAMA study published in February reviewed abortion laws and birth rates from 2023 in all 50 states — including Arkansas. Researchers found the number of births were higher than expected in states that generally prohibited abortion.

Overall, the study estimated that at least 22,180 children across America were born in 2023 as a direct result of pro-life laws — including an estimated 325 children in Arkansas.

National Review analyzed the JAMA study, writing,

The JAMA study is unique because it is the first study that analyzes the impact of recent pro-life laws on different demographic groups. The study found that pro-life laws had a statistically larger impact on the fertility rates of unmarried women, African Americans, Hispanics, and women on Medicaid. The study also considered the impact of individual pro-life laws. Some state pro-life laws, such as the those enacted in Texas, had a larger impact than others. However, every abortion ban or heartbeat act was correlated with an increase in the state fertility rate. In short, every pro-life law that was analyzed saved lives.

As National Review notes in its analysis of the study, JAMA likely underestimated the number of children born as a result of pro-life laws. JAMA reviewed birth data in each state from 2012 to 2022, and then compared the number of births that were projected in 2023 with the number of children who were actually born. JAMA referred to these as “excess births.” The number of unborn children saved as a result of pro-life laws may be much higher than JAMA estimates.

The JAMA study underscores that pro-life laws save lives. We have written repeatedly about how many children in Arkansas are alive today simply because of informed-consent laws the state legislature enacted. Abortion hurts women and it kills unborn children. Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has reversed Roe v. Wade, states are free to restrict or prohibit abortion. Laws against abortion are saving the lives of unborn children. That’s something to celebrate.

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

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Arkansas Legislature Passes Another Good Pro-Life Law

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On Wednesday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed a good law to prohibit certain abortions if Arkansas’ pro-life laws ever change.

Since 2022, abortion in Arkansas has been prohibited except to save the life of the mother. This year the Arkansas Legislature passed a law clarifying and closing possible loopholes in the state’s pro-life laws.

Before the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Arkansas enacted dozens of different laws restricting and prohibiting abortion — including laws protecting unborn children from being aborted because of their sex or because they may be at risk for Down Syndrome. Technically, those good laws are still on the books, and they could be enforced if a federal court ever blocked Arkansas’ laws that generally prohibit abortion.

S.B. 591 by Sen. Clint Penzo (R — Springdale) and Rep. Karilyn Brown (R — Sherwood) would prohibit abortions performed due to the unborn baby’s race if Arkansas’ pro-life laws are ever amended or struck down.

Family Council was very pleased to work with our friends in the legislature to secure passage of S.B. 591. The Arkansas House and Senate both voted overwhelmingly for this good law. We appreciate lawmakers’ continued dedication to upholding the sanctity and dignity of human life.

The Following Representatives Voted For S.B. 591

  • Andrews
  • Barker
  • Beaty Jr.
  • Beck
  • Bentley
  • Brooks
  • A. Brown
  • K. Brown
  • M. Brown
  • N. Burkes
  • R. Burkes
  • John Carr
  • Cavenaugh
  • Childress
  • C. Cooper
  • Cozart
  • Crawford
  • Duffield
  • Duke
  • Furman
  • Gazaway
  • Gramlich
  • Hawk
  • Holcomb
  • Hollowell
  • L. Johnson
  • Ladyman
  • Long
  • Lundstrum
  • Lynch
  • Maddox
  • J. Mayberry
  • McAlindon
  • McClure
  • McCollum
  • B. McKenzie
  • McNair
  • S. Meeks
  • Milligan
  • J. Moore
  • K. Moore
  • Nazarenko
  • Painter
  • Pearce
  • Pilkington
  • Puryear
  • Ray
  • Richmond
  • Rose
  • Rye
  • Schulz
  • R. Scott Richardson
  • M. Shepherd
  • Steimel
  • Torres
  • Tosh
  • Underwood
  • Unger
  • Vaught
  • Walker
  • Wing
  • Womack
  • Wooldridge

The Following Representatives Voted Against S.B. 591

  • F. Allen
  • Barnett
  • Clowney
  • A. Collins
  • Ennett
  • K. Ferguson
  • D. Garner
  • Hudson
  • McCullough
  • McGruder
  • Perry
  • J. Richardson
  • T. Shephard
  • Springer
  • Steele
  • D. Whitaker
  • Gonzales Worthen

The Following Representatives Voted “Present”

  • Joey Carr
  • Eaves
  • McGrew
  • Wooten

The Following Representatives Did Not Vote

  • Achor
  • Barnes
  • S. Berry
  • Breaux
  • Dalby
  • Eaton
  • Eubanks
  • Gonzales
  • Hall
  • Henley
  • Jean
  • Magie
  • M. McElroy
  • Wardlaw
  • Warren
  • Speaker Evans

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

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Arkansas Lawmakers Earmark $2M for Moms in Need

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On Tuesday the Arkansas Legislature passed a measure budgeting $2 million for grant funding to charities that help women with unplanned pregnancies.

H.B. 1202 by the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee allocates funds for various state programs, grants, and administrative needs in Arkansas’ upcoming 2025-2026 budget cycle.

H.B. 1202 includes $2 million in funding for grants to pregnancy help organizations.

Under H.B. 1202, grant money can go to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other charitable organizations that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

The State of Arkansas also can award funding to charities that promote infant and maternal wellness and reduce infant and maternal mortality by:

  • Providing nutritional information and/or nutritional counseling;
  • Providing prenatal vitamins;
  • Providing a list of prenatal medical care options;
  • Providing social, emotional, and/or material support; or
  • Providing referrals for WIC and community-based nutritional services, including food banks, food pantries, and food distribution centers.

The measure makes it clear that grant money will not go to abortionists or their affiliates.

Since 2022 Family Council has worked with the Arkansas Legislature and the governor to secure funding every year for pregnancy resource centers. These state-funded grants have helped support dozens of charities that assist women and children in Arkansas.

The grants are optional. Pregnancy resource centers are not required to accept public tax dollars if they do not want to. But for those who do receive grant money, the funding may make a tremendous difference.

Pro-lifers in Arkansas have worked hard to prohibit abortion. We need to work to make abortion irrelevant and unthinkable as well. Supporting pregnancy resource centers is one way we can do that.

Pregnancy resource centers give women real options besides abortion — making it less likely they will travel out of state for abortion or order illegal abortion drugs online.

Passage of H.B. 1202 means Arkansas will be able to continue providing real support to women and families. That is something to celebrate!

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

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