Legislation Filed to Protect Physical Privacy in Arkansas

On Wednesday Rep. Cindy Crawford (R – Fort Smith) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) filed H.B. 1882.

This good bill protects physical privacy and safety of Arkansans in showers, locker rooms, changing facilities, and restrooms on government property.

The bill is narrowly tailored.

H.B. 1882 does not affect private businesses like Walmart or Target. It only applies to facilities on government property — such as public schools, state parks, and government buildings.

H.B. 1882 requires a person using a public shower, locker room, restroom, or similar facility on government property to use the facility that corresponds to the person’s biological sex.

The bill also provides reasonable accommodations for transgender individuals.

Read The Bill Here.

Arkansas Enacts Good Laws Protecting Women, Unborn Children From Abortion Drugs

On Monday Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed two good, pro-life laws protecting women and unborn children from dangerous abortion-inducing drugs.

The first was H.B. 1572 — now Act 560 of of 2021.

This good law by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) and Sen. Scott Flippo (R – Mountain Home) outlines the informed-consent process for chemical abortion. Arkansas’ current informed-consent laws for abortion are geared primarily for surgical abortion procedures. Act 560 will help ensure women get all the facts about chemical abortion — including its risks, consequences, and pro-life alternatives.

This will help women choose options besides abortion.

The second was H.B. 1402 — now Act 562 of 2021.

This good law by Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) and Sen. Blake Johnson (R – Corning) updates Arkansas’ restrictions on abortion-inducing drugs like RU-486. It outlines requirements that abortionists must follow in administering abortion-inducing drugs, and it prohibits abortion drugs from being delivered by mail in Arkansas. It also updates current law to ensure doctors who perform chemical abortions are credentialed to handle abortion complications and can transfer the woman to a hospital if she experiences complications.

This will help protect women and unborn children from abortion-inducing drugs.

In 2019 two out of five abortions performed in Arkansas were chemical abortions that used the RU-486 regimen.

With chemical abortion on the rise — and with the Biden Administration expected to relax the rules for RU-486 in the coming months — it’s more important than ever before that states make sure women get all the facts about abortion-inducing drugs and protect women and unborn children from these dangerous abortion methods.

Act 560 and Act 562 will protect women and help save unborn children from abortion. That’s something to celebrate.

Arkansas Legislature Passes Bill Addressing Fertility Fraud

Rep. Gazaway presents S.B. 474 in the Arkansas House of Representatives.

On Tuesday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed S.B. 474.

The bill previously passed the Arkansas Senate with strong support.

This good bill by Sen. Charles Beckham (R – McNeil) and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould) prohibits fraud and abuse in fertility treatments.

S.B. 474 ensures people performing fertility treatments are honest, ethical, and abide by principles of informed-consent.

It’s a good bill that helps support and protect bioethics in Arkansas.

The bill now goes to the governor to become law.

Read The Bill Here.