Senate Committee Passes Bill That Could Expand Public Drinking in Arkansas

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Above: Sen. McKee presents H.B. 1024 that could expand public drinking in Arkansas.

On Tuesday a bill that could expand public drinking in “entertainment districts” in Arkansas passed in the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.

H.B. 1024 by Rep. David Ray (R – Maumelle) and Sen. Matt McKee (R – Pearcy) eliminates the provision in Arkansas law that restricts public drinking in “entertainment districts” to cities and towns that collect advertising and promotion taxes on hotels, restaurants, and similar businesses.

The tax provision in current law helps restrict “entertainment districts” to communities where the hospitality and tourism industry is present.

Under H.B. 1024, communities could authorize public drinking in entertainment districts even if the community does not cater toward hospitality and tourism.

That has the potential to expand public drinking across the state.

H.B. 1024 previously failed in the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.

However, Sen. McKee brought the bill back up for consideration during Tuesday’s committee meeting, and it passed.

Public drinking is a scourge in our state, and H.B. 1024 eliminates an important restriction on communities that conduct public drinking in entertainment districts.

H.B. 1024 now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for consideration.

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

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Committee Passes Bill to Protect Children From Internet Pornography

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On Tuesday the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee passed a measure that would help protect children in Arkansas from Internet pornography.

S.B. 66 by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Mindy McAlindon (R – Centerton) requires pornographic websites to implement an age verification process to protect children from pornography.

The measure is similar to a law Louisiana recently passed.

S.B. 66 requires pornographic websites to verify users are 18 or older using a government-issued ID or another commercially available method.

In practice, this means pornographic websites would rely on IDs like state driver’s licenses or some sort of third-party system to prevent minors from accessing pornographic material online.

Websites that violate S.B. 66 would be held liable under the law.

Technology has given children unprecedented access to pornography. Among other things, pornography is believed to contribute to mental health problems.

S.B. 66 helps address this problem in Arkansas.

The bill now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for consideration.

Read S.B. 66 Here.

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