Arkansas Legislature Votes for $2M in Grants to Pregnancy Centers, Supporting Maternal Wellness

On Thursday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed S.B. 64 by Sen. John Payton (R – Wilburn) providing $2 million in state grant funding for pregnancy help organizations. The bill previously passed the Arkansas Senate.

The funding will provide grants to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other organizations that promote infant and maternal health and provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

In 2022 Family Council worked with the legislature and the governor to secure $1 million for pregnancy centers. This funding provided grants to more than 20 pregnancy help organizations.

Last year we worked with lawmakers to renew this funding. This grant money has gone to more than two dozen good organizations across the state that give women and families real assistance when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.

S.B. 64 would make improvements to the grant program. It would increase state funding from $1 million per year to $2 million. This would put Arkansas’ funding on parr with other states.

The bill also clarifies that “pregnancy help organizations” include nonprofit organizations 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 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.

The Arkansas Legislature passed S.B. 64 with virtually no opposition. We appreciate the the legislators who have supported this good legislation. Below is a breakdown of how each state representative voted on the measure.