Arkansas Senate Votes to Appropriate $2M to Address Maternal and Infant Mortality, Support Women With Unplanned Pregnancies

On Wednesday the Arkansas Senate passed S.B. 64 by Sen. John Payton (R – Wilburn).

The measure passed overwhelmingly without a single senator voting against it.

S.B. 64 is a good bill that provides $2 million in state funding for pregnancy help organizations — including pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other organizations — that promote infant and maternal health and provide women with pro-life alternatives to abortion.

The bill clarifies that pregnancy help organizations can 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 but not limited to food banks, food pantries, and food distribution centers.

The measure includes language preventing state funds from going to abortionists and their affiliates.

S.B. 64 now goes to the entire Arkansas House of Representatives for consideration.

Family Council appreciates the Arkansas Senate passing this good measure. S.B. 64 will make a tremendous difference in Arkansas.

Below is a breakdown of how each senator voted on S.B. 64.