Teaching Students About Unborn Children Would Be Cost-Free to State of Arkansas: Report

Legislation, , ,

An official report published on Friday found that teaching public school students about fetal growth and development won’t cost the state any additional money.

S.B. 450 is a good bill by Sen. Breanne Davis (R — Russellville) and Rep. Kendra Moore (R — Lincoln) that lets public school students see a recording of a high-definition ultrasound video as part of human fetal growth and development education courses.

The bill also contains provisions letting students learn important facts about how unborn children develop in the womb.

The Arkansas Senate passed S.B. 450 last week. However, the bill could not be presented to the House Education Committee before state officials reviewed what it would cost to implement S.B. 450. Friday’s fiscal impact statement showed S.B. 450 will not cost the state a dime.

This year, lawmakers have proposed multiple laws that would let public school students see ultrasound videos of unborn children and learn about fetal development in the womb.

H.B. 1180 by Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) and Sen. Clint Penzo (R — Springdale) ensures public schools show students a high-definition ultrasound video that is at least three minutes long as part of sex-education and human growth and development education courses. The bill also ensures students see a video like Live Action’s computer-animated “Meet Baby Olivia” video that teaches about human development from conception to birth.

And H.B. 1946 — which is also by Rep. Bentley and Sen. Penzo — requires public schools to provide human growth and development education in grades 6 – 12 every school year. Under this bill, the courses must include a three-minute high-definition ultrasound video and a high-quality, computer animated video depicting the process of fertilization and every stage of fetal development.

As we have said before, it’s good to see lawmakers taking a strong interest in teaching public school students about unborn children.

Ultrasound technology provides what some people call a “window into the womb.” Good bills like H.B. 1180, S.B. 450, and H.B. 1946 help students understand that unborn children are living human beings.

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

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Arkansans Wagered $2M+ Daily on Sports Betting in March: News Report

Gambling, ,

A recent news story indicated Arkansans likely wagered more than $2 million per day, on average, last month.

KFSM reports,

According to Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, the state could see around $20 million more dollars spent on sports gambling this March compared to the same period last year. 

“In March of 2024 the Razorbacks were not in the [NCAA basketball] tournament, and we had $50 million wagered on sports and that’s through the state’s three casinos,” Hardin said. “I think it’s fair to say right now, we’re expecting somewhere around $70 million.” 

Internet sports betting through Arkansas’ three casinos has made it possible for people to gamble and lose on sporting events from anywhere in the state.

Nationwide, sports betting is now legal in 39 states — including Arkansas, where people, on average, wager more than a million dollars a day, most months.

That kind of gambling ruins lives, tears families apart, and hurts communities.

Studies indicate people who gamble on sports may be twice as likely to suffer from gambling problems.

Young men are particularly hurt by sports gambling. Twenty-year-old males account for approximately 40% of calls to gambling addiction hotlines, and upwards of 20 million men are in debt or have been in debt as a result of sports betting.

And research now shows that the legalization of sports betting may be linked to serious financial problems in America — such as credit card debt, overdrafts, late payments on loans, lower credit scores, and higher bankruptcy rates.

Last year the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council announced it has seen a 22% increase in calls for help with problem gambling — driven largely by sports betting.

News stories like this one underscore why the Arkansas Legislature was right to reject a gambling expansion proposal last week.

H.B. 1861 by Rep. Matt Duffield (R — Russellville) and Sen. Jamie Scott (D — North Little Rock) would let Oaklawn, Southland, and Saracen casinos conduct Internet gambling — such as slots and other casino-style games — online from anywhere in Arkansas. After extensive debate, the bill was pulled down so it could be sent to Interim Study.

Gambling in Arkansas and nationwide is out of control and ruining lives. Tax revenue from casinos and sports betting has not improved Arkansas’ roads or boosted the economy.

As powerful corporations try to make gambling part of everyday life, it’s important for Arkansas to protect citizens and families from predatory gambling. Otherwise gambling addiction will simply continue wrecking lives and hurting families in our state.

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

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State of Arkansas Has Awarded Nearly $1.7M to Pro-Life Pregnancy Help Organizations This Year

Abortion, , , ,

This fiscal year, the State of Arkansas has awarded nearly $1.7 million to pro-life pregnancy help organizations.

Act 125 of 2024 by Sen. John Payton (R — Wilburn) authorized $2 million in grant funding to support pregnancy help organizations and maternal and infant wellness in Arkansas.

That funding has provided grants to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other organizations that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Since 2022, Family Council has worked closely with elected officials in Arkansas to provide publicly funded grants to good, pro-life charities.

So far, 35 pregnancy help organizations have received grant funding this year to help women and children in Arkansas. That’s something to celebrate!

Pregnancy resource centers and similar organizations give women real options besides abortion. That’s why a growing number of states provide these organizations with public funding.

It’s important to pass laws to prohibit abortion, but we also need to assist women with unplanned pregnancies.

Family Council is working with lawmakers to continue providing grant money to pregnancy help organizations in the 2025-2026 budget cycle.

Below is a list of pregnancy help organizations and the amount of grant funding each has received from the State of Arkansas so far this fiscal year.

PREGNANCY CENTERGRANT AMOUNT
INFORMED CHOICES WOMENS CENTER OF THE OZ$100,000.00
CRITTENDEN COUNTY CARES50,004.00
NEW BEGINNINGS PREGNANCY CENTER50,000.00
ST FRANCIS HOUSE NWA INCCOMMUNITY CLINIC50,000.00
PLUM FOUNDATIONPEACE LOVE UNDERSTANDING MERCY50,000.00
ST BERNARDS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION50,000.00
NEW BEGINNINGS PREGNANCY HELP CENTER OF50,000.00
HOPEPLACE – FORDYCE50,000.00
CHANGEPOINT PREGNANCY CARE AND PARENTING50,000.00
PREGNANCY HELP CENTERPREGNANCY HELP CLINIC50,000.00
ST JOSEPHS HELPERS OF PULASKI COUNTYARKANSAS PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER50,000.00
HOPEPLACE MONTICELLO50,000.00
OPTIONS A PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER INCOPTIONS50,000.00
OPEN ARMS PREGNANCY CENTER INC50,000.00
HEART TO HEART PREGNANCY SUPPORT CENTER50,000.00
COMPASSION MINISTRIES LTD50,000.00
SOUTH ARKANSAS CARING PREGNANCY CENTERHANNAH PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER50,000.00
ARKANSAS BAPTIST CHILDRENS HOMES AND FAMLIVING WELL COUNSELING49,980.00
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER OF CENTRAL ARKANCARING HEARTS PREGNANCY CENTER49,957.34
ABUNDANT LIFE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER49,876.00
FORT SMITH CHRISTIAN FAMILY SERVICES INC1ST CHOICE PREGNANCY MEDICAL CENTER49,850.00
HOPE OF THE DELTA CENTER49,349.04
DISCERNMENT LLC49,185.00
HOPEPLACE NEWPORT49,000.00
CRADLE THE MATERNITY SUPPORT CENTER OF CKATHLEEN BLOSSOM49,000.00
ACTS OF HOPE INCACTS OF HOPE, PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER48,776.00
PATHWAY RESOURCE CENTER47,660.00
CHOICES PREGNANCY RESOURCE CLINIC INC45,048.00
LIFES CHOICE PREGNANCY CARE CENTER44,535.00
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD FAMILY SERVICESCOMPACT FAMILY SERVICES44,273.00
PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST43,700.00
BAPTIST HEALTH FOUNDATION43,500.00
HOPES FIRST CHOICE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CE26,415.00
CENTRAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONBREATH OF LIFE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER26,249.00
ARKANSAS PREGNANCY NETWORK20,423.82
TOTAL$1,686,781.20

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