Arkansas Senate Passes Several Good Measures

On Thursday afternoon the Arkansas Senate passed several good measures.

The senators voted to give final approval to S.B. 289 protecting healthcare workers’ rights of conscience. The senate previously approved this bill, but had to vote to concur in amendments that the Arkansas House of Representatives made last week. The bill now goes to Governor Hutchinson.

The Arkansas Senate also passed S.B. 474. This good bill by Sen. Charles Beckham (R – McNeil) and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould) prohibits fraud and abuse in fertility treatments. The bill ensures people performing fertility treatments are honest, ethical, and abide by principles of informed-consent. The bill passed with overwhelming support with 33 votes.

The senate also passed S.B. 463. This good bill by Sen. Blake Johnson (R – Corning) and Rep. Tony Furman (R – Benton) requires the State of Arkansas to provide abortion data to the federal Centers for Disease Control for statistical purposes. It also tightens Arkansas law concerning abortion facility inspections, and it requires abortionists to file certain documentation when the woman is a victim of rape or incest. Read The Bill Here.

Below is a breakdown of the vote on S.B. 463.

Voted FOR S.B. 463

  • B. Ballinger
  • Beckham
  • Bledsoe
  • A. Clark
  • B. Davis
  • L. Eads
  • J. English
  • Flippo
  • T. Garner
  • Gilmore
  • K. Hammer
  • J. Hendren
  • Hester
  • Hickey
  • Hill
  • M. Johnson
  • B. Johnson
  • M. Pitsch
  • Rapert
  • Rice
  • B. Sample
  • G. Stubblefield
  • J. Sturch
  • D. Sullivan
  • Teague
  • D. Wallace

Voted Against S.B. 463

  • L. Chesterfield
  • Elliott
  • S. Flowers
  • K. Ingram
  • G. Leding
  • C. Tucker

Excused From Voting

  • J. Dismang
  • Irvin

Did Not Vote

Caldwell

House Committee Passes Bill Protecting Fairness in Women’s Sports

Rep. Barker and Family Council’s Ken Yang testify in favor of S.B. 354 in the House Education Committee.

On Thursday the House Education Committee passed S.B. 354.

This good bill by Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) preserves fairness in girls’ athletics at school.

S.B. 354 would protect girls from being forced to compete against biological males in girls’ athletics.

Letting biological males who identify as female compete against girls can rob female student athletes of opportunities for scholarships.

Time and again we have heard stories of biological males dominating women’s sports — especially athletics like track and field.

In some athletic events, it can even be dangerous.

S.B. 354 helps protect fairness in women’s sports in Arkansas.

The bill now goes to the entire Arkansas House of Representatives for consideration.

Arkansas House Passes Informed-Consent Bill for Abortion Drugs

On Wednesday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed H.B. 1572 by a vote of 76 to 15.

This good bill by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) and Sen. Scott Flippo (R – Mountain Home) outlines the informed-consent requirements for chemical abortions in Arkansas.

Arkansas’ current informed-consent laws for abortion are geared primarily for surgical abortion procedures. With the rise in chemical abortion drugs like RU-486, Arkansas law needs to be strengthened to address drug-induced abortion as well as surgical abortion.

H.B. 1572 will help make sure women get all the facts about chemical abortion — including its risks, consequences, and pro-life alternatives.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas Senate. Below is a breakdown of Wednesday’s vote on H.B. 1572.

Voted FOR H.B. 1572

  • Barker
  • Beatty Jr.
  • Beck
  • Bentley
  • S. Berry
  • M. Berry
  • Boyd
  • Bragg
  • Breaux
  • Brooks
  • Brown
  • Bryant
  • Carr
  • Cavenaugh
  • Christiansen
  • Cloud
  • Coleman
  • C. Cooper
  • Cozart
  • Crawford
  • Dalby
  • M. Davis
  • Deffenbaugh
  • Dotson
  • Eaves
  • Eubanks
  • Evans
  • C. Fite
  • L. Fite
  • Fortner
  • Furman
  • Gazaway
  • Gonzales
  • M. Gray
  • Haak
  • Hawks
  • Hillman
  • Holcomb
  • Hollowell
  • Jean
  • Jett
  • L. Johnson
  • Ladyman
  • Lowery
  • Lundstrum
  • Lynch
  • Maddox
  • J. Mayberry
  • McClure
  • McCollum
  • M. McElroy
  • McGrew
  • McKenzie
  • McNair
  • S. Meeks
  • Milligan
  • Payton
  • Penzo
  • Pilkington
  • Ray
  • Richmond
  • Rye
  • Slape
  • B. Smith
  • S. Smith
  • Speaks
  • Tollett
  • Tosh
  • Underwood
  • Vaught
  • Wardlaw
  • Warren
  • Watson
  • Wing
  • Womack
  • Wooten

Voted AGAINST H.B. 1572

  • F. Allen
  • Clowney
  • A. Collins
  • Ennett
  • D. Ferguson
  • D. Garner
  • Godfrey
  • M. Hodges
  • Hudson
  • Love
  • Magie
  • McCullough
  • Richardson
  • Scott
  • D. Whitaker

Did Not Vote

  • K. Ferguson
  • Fielding
  • V. Flowers
  • Miller
  • Murdock
  • Nicks
  • Perry
  • Shepherd
  • Springer