Articles and Videos – Family Council

Arkansas Passes Law to Protect Physical Privacy and Safety in State Buildings, Jails, and Shelters

Apr 17, 2025Jerry CoxLegislationArkansas Legislature, Privacy

On Wednesday, the Arkansas House of Representatives passed S.B. 486 by Sen. Blake Johnson (R — Corning) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville).

This good bill protects physical privacy and safety of Arkansans in showers, locker rooms, changing rooms, restrooms, and sleeping quarters in government buildings and in state and local jails.

The bill also applies to changing rooms, restrooms, and sleeping quarters in shelters for victims of domestic violence.

S.B. 486 is similar to a law Arkansas passed in 2023 to protect privacy in public schools and on overnight school trips.

The bill would require the facilities named in the bill to be designated for “male” or “female” use. The measure generally requires people to use the facility that corresponds to their biological sex.

Over the years, we have seen efforts to house men with women in jails, let men stay in women’s shelters, and give men access to women’s changing areas, locker rooms, showers, and restrooms.

S.B. 486 is common sense legislation narrowly tailored to protect physical privacy and safety in public buildings and shelters in Arkansas.

S.B. 486 already passed in the Arkansas Senate. With its passage in the House, the measure now goes to Governor Sanders’ desk to be signed into law.

The Following Representatives Voted For S.B. 486

Andrews
Barker
Beaty Jr.
Beck
Bentley
S. Berry
Brooks
A. Brown
K. Brown
M. Brown
N. Burkes
R. Burkes
Joey Carr
John Carr
Cavenaugh
Childress
C. Cooper
Cozart
Crawford
Duffield
Duke
Eaves
Furman
Gazaway
Gramlich
Hall
Hawk
Henley
Hollowell
L. Johnson
Ladyman
Long
Lundstrum
Maddox
McClure
McCollum
McGrew
B. McKenzie
McNair
Milligan
J. Moore
K. Moore
Nazarenko
Painter
Pearce
Pilkington
Puryear
Ray
Rose
Rye
Schulz
R. Scott Richardson
M. Shepherd
Steimel
Torres
Tosh
Underwood
Wing
Wooldridge
Wooten

The Following Representatives Voted Against S.B. 486

F. Allen
Barnett
Clowney
A. Collins
Ennett
K. Ferguson
D. Garner
Gonzales
Hudson
Magie
J. Mayberry
McCullough
McGruder
Perry
J. Richardson
T. Shephard
Springer
Steele
Vaught
D. Whitaker
Womack
Gonzales Worthen

The Following Representatives Did Not Vote

Achor
Barnes
Breaux
Dalby
Eaton
Eubanks
Holcomb
Jean
Lynch
McAlindon
M. McElroy
S. Meeks
Richmond
Unger
Walker
Wardlaw
Warren
Speaker Evans

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

Arkansas Legislature Passes Another Good Pro-Life Law

Apr 17, 2025Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

On Wednesday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed a good law to prohibit certain abortions if Arkansas’ pro-life laws ever change.

Since 2022, abortion in Arkansas has been prohibited except to save the life of the mother. This year the Arkansas Legislature passed a law clarifying and closing possible loopholes in the state’s pro-life laws.

Before the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Arkansas enacted dozens of different laws restricting and prohibiting abortion — including laws protecting unborn children from being aborted because of their sex or because they may be at risk for Down Syndrome. Technically, those good laws are still on the books, and they could be enforced if a federal court ever blocked Arkansas’ laws that generally prohibit abortion.

S.B. 591 by Sen. Clint Penzo (R — Springdale) and Rep. Karilyn Brown (R — Sherwood) would prohibit abortions performed due to the unborn baby’s race if Arkansas’ pro-life laws are ever amended or struck down.

Family Council was very pleased to work with our friends in the legislature to secure passage of S.B. 591. The Arkansas House and Senate both voted overwhelmingly for this good law. We appreciate lawmakers’ continued dedication to upholding the sanctity and dignity of human life.

The Following Representatives Voted For S.B. 591

Andrews
Barker
Beaty Jr.
Beck
Bentley
Brooks
A. Brown
K. Brown
M. Brown
N. Burkes
R. Burkes
John Carr
Cavenaugh
Childress
C. Cooper
Cozart
Crawford
Duffield
Duke
Furman
Gazaway
Gramlich
Hawk
Holcomb
Hollowell
L. Johnson
Ladyman
Long
Lundstrum
Lynch
Maddox
J. Mayberry
McAlindon
McClure
McCollum
B. McKenzie
McNair
S. Meeks
Milligan
J. Moore
K. Moore
Nazarenko
Painter
Pearce
Pilkington
Puryear
Ray
Richmond
Rose
Rye
Schulz
R. Scott Richardson
M. Shepherd
Steimel
Torres
Tosh
Underwood
Unger
Vaught
Walker
Wing
Womack
Wooldridge

The Following Representatives Voted Against S.B. 591

F. Allen
Barnett
Clowney
A. Collins
Ennett
K. Ferguson
D. Garner
Hudson
McCullough
McGruder
Perry
J. Richardson
T. Shephard
Springer
Steele
D. Whitaker
Gonzales Worthen

The Following Representatives Voted “Present”

Joey Carr
Eaves
McGrew
Wooten

The Following Representatives Did Not Vote

Achor
Barnes
S. Berry
Breaux
Dalby
Eaton
Eubanks
Gonzales
Hall
Henley
Jean
Magie
M. McElroy
Wardlaw
Warren
Speaker Evans

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

Arkansas Passes Medical Conscience Protection Law

Apr 17, 2025Jerry CoxBioethics, LegislationAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Bioethics, Life, Medical Ethics, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

On Wednesday the Arkansas Legislature passed a law protecting medical rights of conscience in the state.

Four years ago, Arkansas passed Act 462 of 2021 to uphold healthcare workers’ rights of conscience.

Before that law passed, Arkansas’ conscience protections were narrowly focused on abortion and end of life decisions, and they protected very few people.

Act 462 changed that. It helped broaden those protections and apply them to all healthcare workers.

S.B. 444 by Sen. Kim Hammer (R — Benton) and Rep. Lee Johnson (R — Greenwood) strengthens the healthcare workers’ rights of conscience law Arkansas passed in 2021.

Among other things, this good law adds whistleblower protections for healthcare workers, and it helps protect all medical professionals from having their rights of conscience violated.

S.B. 444 will help enhance the conscience protections Arkansas enacted four years ago. It now goes to the governor to be signed into law.

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