Arkansas Legislators Can Begin Pre-Filing Bills Today

Legislature

The Arkansas Legislature will convene on January 13, and pre-filing for bills begins today.

Family Council plans to review every piece of legislation filed at the capitol, and we will alert our friends about any important measures.

We are preparing to defend good laws and defeat bad laws in the coming months. Here are a few good things that we would like to see lawmakers do in 2025:

  • Pass a tax credit and a budget appropriation for pregnancy help organizations.
  • Stop abortionists in other states from delivering abortion drugs to women in Arkansas.
  • Ensure homeschoolers are able to access and use public funding for education under Arkansas’ LEARNS Act.
  • Protect parental rights, religious liberty, and rights of conscience in Arkansas.
  • Reform the state’s petition process to prevent wealthy, out-of-state interests from placing misleading measures on the state ballot.
  • Promote restrictions on predatory gambling like sports betting.
  • Prevent assisted suicide and other policies that result in a disregard for the lives of the elderly and disabled.
  • Oppose efforts to weaken Arkansas’ pro-life laws.
  • Oppose efforts by the marijuana industry to expand sales.
  • Oppose legislation that would expand public drinking in entertainment districts in Arkansas.
  • Stop any “tort reform” measures that would put a price tag on human life or make it harder to hold nursing homes accountable when their negligence injures or kills another person.
  • Defeat “hate crimes” legislation in Arkansas.
  • Stop any effort to weaken Arkansas’ good transparency laws.

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

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Cherokee Nation Sues to Block Arkansas Issue 2 in Federal Court

Casinos

Cherokee Nation Business is suing in federal court to block enforcement of Issue 2 that voters passed last week.

Issue 2 is a constitutional amendment. It prevents the State of Arkansas from licensing a casino in Pope County, and it prevents any additional casinos from being opened in Arkansas without a new constitutional amendment and without local voter approval at a special election.

Cherokee Nation Business had received a license to operate a casino in Pope County. Issue 2’s passage on election day keeps their casino — and any other casinos — out of Pope County.

Issue 2 passed with strong support from Arkansans on November 5. But after the election, Cherokee Nation Business filed a federal lawsuit to undo the will of the people and block Issue 2.

The lawsuit argues that Issue 2 violates Cherokee Nation Business’s constitutional rights. It also claims Issue 2 lacks due process, impairs contracts, and unfairly targets their casino license.

In a decision issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr., denied Cherokee Nation Business’s request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would have blocked Issue 2. The ruling indicated the case would be expedited and that a trial in the case would be scheduled soon.

Legalized gambling has become a scourge in our state. On average, Arkansans are gambling more than a million dollars every day on sports betting alone. In spite of that, casino tax revenue has not improved Arkansas’ roads or boosted the economy. Instead it’s hurt our communities. The Arkansas Problem Gambling Council has seen a 22% increase in calls for help with problem gambling this year. Unless Arkansas’ lawmakers and its people take a stand, gambling addiction is simply going to continue wrecking lives and hurting families in our state.

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

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Lawmakers to Discuss Rules for Pregnancy Resource Center Grant Funding

Abortion, , , ,

A legislative subcommittee will meet this afternoon to discuss new rules governing grants to pregnancy help organizations in Arkansas.

Act 125 of 2024 by Sen. John Payton (R – Wilburn), which passed in April, provides $2 million in state grant funding for pregnancy help organizations.

The $2 million will be distributed via grants to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other organizations that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Act 125 contains language preventing public funds from going to abortionists and their affiliates — such as Planned Parenthood’s facilities in Little Rock and Rogers.

Governor Sanders signed Act 125 into law on April 30, but the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration has not promulgated rules explaining how pro-life charities apply for grants and receive funding — until recently.

The Arkansas Legislative Council’s Administrative Rules subcommittee will meet today at 2:00 P.M. to review and vote on the proposed rules for the grant program. If approved, the rules will go to the entire ALC committee for a final vote — which would pave the way for pregnancy resource centers to begin receiving funding.

Since the supreme court overturned Roe in 2022, state legislatures around the country have increased funding for pregnancy help organizations.

Now that abortion is prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother, we need to support women and families and eliminate the demand for abortion. Act 125’s grant funding  does that. It provides women in Arkansas with actual, pro-life support — meaning they are less likely to order illegal abortion drugs by mail or travel out of state for abortion.

Family Council is grateful to the General Assembly and Governor Sanders for supporting pro-life charities in Arkansas. We look forward to continuing this important, pro-life work in our state.

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

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