Page 506 – Family Council

Proposal Would Provide Income Tax Credit for Baby Supplies

Jan 18, 2023Jerry CoxLegislationAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

*Above: Sen. Hammer presents legislation in this file photo from 2021.*

On Tuesday Rep. DeAnn Vaught (R – Horatio) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) filed H.B. 1148 providing an income tax credit for purchasing certain baby supplies.

Under H.B. 1148, Arkansans would receive an income tax credit of up to $1,000 for money spent on diapers, baby formula, baby wipes, and prepackaged baby food.

Now that abortion is prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother, Arkansans need to look for ways to assist women and families.

Measures like H.B. 1148 could alleviate taxes for parents with small children and help families who are struggling.

You can read H.B. 1148 here.

Bill Filed Addressing Privacy in School Locker Rooms, Restrooms

Jan 18, 2023Jerry CoxLegislation, TransgenderArkansas Legislature, LGBT, Privacy, Transgender

On Tuesday Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) filed H.B. 1156 addressing privacy in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and similar facilities.

The bill requires public schools to designate these facilities for “male” or “female” use.

In the past federal officials and others have tried to force public schools to let students use whatever locker room or restroom they want regardless of their biological sex. In some cases, this has threatened students’ privacy and physical safety.

That is why Family Council has said for years that Arkansas needs to pass legislation that will protect the privacy and safety of children in public school showers, locker rooms, and restrooms.

You can read H.B. 1156 here.

Lower Your Flags to Half Mast On Sunday

Jan 17, 2023Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

Sunday, January 22, marks Arkansas’ second annual Day of Tears.

In 2021 the state legislature passed H.C.R. 1007 acknowledging January 22 — the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade abortion decision — as the Day of Tears in Arkansas.

The resolution encourages all Arkansans to lower their flags to half-staff to mourn the millions of lives lost to abortion.

The resolution reads,

WHEREAS, on January 22, 1973, the majority of the members of the United States Supreme Court ruled that abortion was a right secured by the United States Constitution; and

WHEREAS, over sixty-one million (61,000,000) unborn children have perished since that fateful day,

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:

THAT the House of Representatives of the Ninety-Third General Assembly, the Senate concurring, recognize January 22, in perpetuity, as the “Day of Tears” in Arkansas and that the citizens of Arkansas are encouraged to lower their flags to half-staff to mourn the innocent unborn children who have lost their lives to abortion.

The U.S. Supreme Court has reversed Roe v. Wade and Arkansas’ laws prohibit abortion except to save the life of the mother, but it’s still important to remember the innocent lives that abortion claimed for nearly 50 years.

The Day of Tears is a simple way to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade in Arkansas and acknowledge the destruction that abortion has caused in our country.