Senate Education Committee Rejects Pro-Life Ultrasound Education Bill

Abortion, , , ,
Above: The Senate Education Committee hears an explanation of H.B. 1180, the Baby Olivia Act by Rep. Bentley and Sen. Penzo. The committee has failed to pass this good bill twice this year. (File Photo: 2/10/25)

On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee rejected a good bill that would help provide public school students in Arkansas with appropriate education about unborn children.

H.B. 1180, The Baby Olivia Act, by Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) and Sen. Clint Penzo (R — Springdale) ensures public schools show students a recording of a high-definition ultrasound video that is at least three minutes long as part of sex-education and human growth and development education courses.

It also lets students see a video like Live Action’s computer-animated “Meet Baby Olivia” video that teaches about human development from conception to birth.

The bill passed with overwhelming support in the Arkansas House, but the Senate Education Committee failed to pass H.B. 1180 on Wednesday morning.

The bill is backed by the Arkansas Surgeon General, pro-life OB/GYNs, and various pro-life groups and leaders in the state.

Pro-abortion groups like the Arkansas Abortion Support Network, For AR People, and the liberal medical organization ACOG oppose H.B. 1180.

This is the second time the Senate Education Committee has refused to pass this good bill.

H.B. 1180 narrowly avoided a “Do Not Pass” motion from the committee on February 10. After that, Rep. Bentley and Sen. Penzo amended the measure to help address questions and concerns some of the Senate Education Committee members expressed about it.

Passing a bill in committee requires five votes, but only four senators voted for H.B. 1180. Three senators voted against the bill, and one senator chose not to vote.

The Following Senators Voted FOR H.B. 1180:

  • Sen. Jim Dotson (R — Bentonville)
  • Sen. Joshua Bryant (R — Rogers)
  • Sen. Dan Sullivan (R — Jonesboro)
  • Sen. Bryan King (R — Green Forrest)

The Following Senators Voted AGAINST H.B. 1180:

  • Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D — Pine Bluff)
  • Sen. Breanne Davis (R — Russellville)
  • Sen. Reginald Murdock (D — Marianna)

The Following Senator Did Not Vote:

  • Sen. Jane English (R — North Little Rock)

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

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Elective But Essential: Reflecting on 12 Years of Bible Courses in Arkansas Public Schools

Legislation,

This month marks 12 years since the Arkansas House of Representatives passed legislation clarifying that public schools may offer elective, academic courses on the Bible.

Act 1440 of 2013 — which was sponsored by Rep. Denny Altes (R — Fort Smith) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R — Branch) and enacted under Governor Mike Beebe — lets public schools offer elective, academic courses that study “the Bible and its influence on literature, art, music, culture, and politics.”

The law says the course must be objective and nonsectarian, and it must meet the same academic standards as other elective courses offered in public schools. Anyone wishing to teach the course must be licensed to teach in the State of Arkansas.

In 2019 the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 1016 by Rep. Joe Cloud (R — Russellville), Rep. Jim Dotson (R — Bentonville), and Sen. Bob Ballinger (R — Ozark). Act 1016 helped make technical clarifications to Act 1440 of 2013.

Since Act 1440’s passage, the Arkansas Department of Education has outlined curriculum frameworks for the academic study of the Bible the same way it does for other classes.

The department’s academic framework for Academic Study of the Bible says,

Academic Study of the Bible is a one-semester English elective course that is designed to strengthen students’ understanding of the Bible and its impact upon American culture. This nonsectarian, nonreligious, academic course integrates the study of the Bible as a piece of literature with art, music, literature, culture, and politics in order to understand the relationships between the Bible, society, and culture. As an English Language Arts elective, it is expected that students will develop and apply literacy skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The Academic Study of the Bible course does not need Arkansas Department of Education approval.

Over the past 12 years, different school districts in the state have chosen to offer academic courses on the Bible under this type of official state framework.

Courts have said the U.S. Constitution does not prevent public school students from being taught about the Bible and its significance throughout human history, provided that the instruction is neutral and educational.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 1980 Stone v. Graham decision went so far as to say, “the Bible may constitutionally be used in an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like.”

This year lawmakers are considering S.B. 223, the Religious Rights at Public School Act by by Sen. Mark Johnson (R — Little Rock) and Rep. Alyssa Brown (R — Heber Springs). This good bill affirms public school students’ and teachers’ religious liberties.

The bill does not create any new rights or freedoms, but it does identify existing religious freedoms that are already protected by state and federal law — such as the freedom to pray, discuss religion, or read the Bible during free time at school.

The bill also highlights the freedom that schools have to offer academic courses on the Bible under Act 1440 of 2013.

S.B. 223 does not change any laws about the academic study of the Bible in Arkansas, but it does help draw attention to the fact that state law and U.S. Supreme Court rulings let public schools offer these elective courses.

Arkansas law makes it clear the purpose of studying the Bible in these classes is to understand its impact on our culture.

After all, no single book has been more influential over our civilization than the Bible.

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

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No Place Like Home: New Bill Would Block Out-of-State Petition Canvassers

Legislation,

New legislation filed at the capitol on Tuesday would require petition canvassers to live in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Constitution lets people circulate petitions to place measures on the ballot for a vote. However, Arkansas’ ballot initiative process has become the opposite of what it was intended to be. Instead of giving citizens a way to pass good laws, powerful special interests have hired canvassers to collect petition signatures for their own legislative purposes.

Arkansans have testified in committee alleging that canvassers for the 2024 Arkansas Abortion Amendment violated state law and were paid bonuses for “altercations” with pro-lifers who opposed the abortion amendment.

If the Arkansas Legislature does not enact good laws that bring accountability and transparency to the ballot initiative process, these sorts of problems will simply continue to get worse.

H.B. 1574 by Rep. DeAnn Vaught (R — Horatio) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R — Benton) requires petition canvassers to be Arkansas residents who actually live in the state.

Companies that specialize in gathering petition signatures for ballot measures often hire canvassers as temporary workers. Current law may make it possible for canvassers from out-of-state to move to Arkansas temporarily to work as petition canvassers for these businesses.

The ballot initiative process is supposed to give Arkansans a way to change their own state laws. H.B. 1574 will help clarify that canvassers must be Arkansas residents who truly live in Arkansas.

You Can Read H.B. 1574 Here.

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

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