Arkansas Passes Bill Authorizing Monument for Unborn Children Lost to Abortion

Abortion, , , ,

On Tuesday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed S.B. 307 by Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) authorizing a privately funded pro-life monument on the Arkansas Capitol Grounds.

Under S.B. 307, the monument would commemorate the 236,243 unborn children whose lives were lost in abortion from 1973 – 2022.

The bill establishes the monument “a constant reminder of our duty to protect the life of every innocent human person, no matter how young or old, or how helpless and vulnerable that person may be.”

S.B. 307 is a good measure that will help Arkansans honor and remember children lost to abortion. The bill now goes to Gov. Sanders to become law.

The Following Representatives Voted For S.B. 307

  • Achor
  • Andrews
  • Beaty Jr.
  • Beck
  • Bentley
  • S. Berry
  • Breaux
  • Brooks
  • M. Brown
  • Burkes
  • Joey Carr
  • John Carr
  • Cavenaugh
  • C. Cooper
  • Crawford
  • Duffield
  • Duke
  • Evans
  • C. Fite
  • L. Fite
  • Fortner
  • Furman
  • Gazaway
  • Haak
  • D. Hodges
  • G. Hodges
  • Holcomb
  • Hollowell
  • Jean
  • L. Johnson
  • Ladyman
  • Long
  • Lundstrum
  • Lynch
  • Maddox
  • J. Mayberry
  • McAlindon
  • McCollum
  • M. McElroy
  • B. McKenzie
  • McNair
  • S. Meeks
  • Milligan
  • Painter
  • Pearce
  • Pilkington
  • Ray
  • Richmond
  • Rose
  • Rye
  • Schulz
  • R. Scott Richardson
  • Steimel
  • Tosh
  • Underwood
  • Walker
  • Wing
  • Womack
  • Wooldridge
  • Wooten

The Following Representatives Voted Against S.B. 307

  • F. Allen
  • Clowney
  • A. Collins
  • Ennett
  • D. Ferguson
  • V. Flowers
  • D. Garner
  • Hudson
  • Magie
  • McCullough
  • J. Moore
  • Nicks
  • Perry
  • J. Richardson
  • Scott
  • T. Shephard
  • Springer
  • Unger
  • D. Whitaker

The Following Representatives Voted “Present” on S.B. 307

  • Barker
  • K. Brown
  • Cozart
  • Dalby
  • K. Ferguson
  • Gonzales
  • Hawk
  • McGrew
  • Puryear
  • Vaught
  • Warren

The Following Representatives Did Not Vote

  • M. Berry
  • Eaves
  • Eubanks
  • Gramlich*
  • McClure
  • Miller
  • K. Moore
  • Wardlaw
  • Watson
  • Mr. Speaker

*Rep. Gramlich was absent on Tuesday, and granted leave by Speaker Shepherd.

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Senate Approves Bill Protecting Physical Privacy in Public Schools

Legislature,
Above: Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) present H.B. 1156 protecting student privacy in Arkansas.

On Monday the Arkansas Senate approved a bill protecting physical privacy at public schools.

H.B. 1156 by Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) addresses privacy in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and similar facilities by requiring public schools to designate these facilities for “male” or “female” use.

The bill also addresses sleeping accommodations for students on overnight school trips.

H.B. 1156 passed in the Arkansas House of Representatives last month, where it received very strong support from lawmakers.

This is a good bill that will help protect Arkansas’ students.

The Senate amended the bill — which means the House has to vote on the bill one more time before it can pass and go to Gov. Sanders to become law.

Below is a breakdown of Monday’s vote on H.B. 1156

The Following Senators Voted For H.B. 1156

  • J. Boyd
  • J. Bryant
  • Caldwell
  • A. Clark
  • Crowell
  • B. Davis
  • Dees
  • J. Dismang
  • J. Dotson
  • J. English
  • Flippo
  • Gilmore
  • K. Hammer
  • Hester
  • Hickey
  • Hill
  • Irvin
  • B. Johnson
  • M. Johnson
  • B. King
  • M. McKee
  • J. Payton
  • C. Penzo
  • J. Petty
  • Rice
  • Stone
  • G. Stubblefield
  • D. Sullivan
  • D. Wallace

The Following Senators Voted Against H.B. 1156

  • L. Chesterfield
  • S. Flowers
  • G. Leding
  • F. Love
  • R. Murdock
  • C. Tucker

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Lawmakers Continue Filing Bills to Expand Alcohol in Arkansas

Alcohol, Legislature, Public Drinking,

Alcohol expansion continues to be a major topic at the Arkansas Legislature.

This year, lawmakers have filed multiple bills amending and expanding the state’s alcohol laws.

For example, S.B. 411 by Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) and Rep. Matt Brown (R – Conway) more than doubles the percentage of alcohol by weight that beer can contain under Arkansas law.

Current law says beer can contain no more than 5% alcohol by weight. S.B. 411 raises that limit to 12% alcohol by weight. This could drastically increase the alcohol content of beer sold in Arkansas.

H.B. 1589 by Rep. Jay Richardson (D – Fort Smith) repeals Arkansas’ limit on the number of alcohol wholesaler permits in the state. Repealing this limit could expand the number of wholesalers selling alcohol in Arkansas.

H.B. 1498 by Rep. Matt Brown (R – Conway) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) would expand alcohol at microbrewery-restaurant private clubs and let municipalities authorize public drinking in entertainment districts outside microbrewery-restaurant private clubs. The bill passed the Arkansas House last week, and is in the Arkansas Senate this week.

The Arkansas Legislature has already passed Act 34 of 2023 by Rep. David Ray (R – Maumelle) and Sen. Matt McKee (R – Pearcy) letting cities and towns that do not collect advertising and promotion taxes on hotels and restaurants establish entertainment districts where public drinking is legal. This has the potential to expand public drinking in Arkansas by letting communities authorize public drinking in entertainment districts even if the community does not cater toward hospitality and tourism. Another new law — Act 169 of 2023 by Rep. David Ray (R – Maumelle) and Sen. Justin Boyd (R – Fort Smith) — would expand alcohol sales via microbreweries.

Alcohol is readily available in Arkansas. At this point, any law expanding its availability or consumption raises serious concerns about DUI offenses, crime, public health, and public safety.

That is why Family Council generally opposes the expansion of alcohol in Arkansas.

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