Rev. Franklin Graham Urges Gov. Hutchinson to Sign SAFE Act

On Wednesday night Rev. Franklin Graham of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse urged Gov. Asa Hutchinson to sign H.B. 1570, the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act.

This good bill by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) and Sen. Alan Clark (R – Lonsdale) prohibits sex-reassignment procedures on children in Arkansas.

The bill also prevents funding of sex-reassignment procedures performed on children.

Gender-reassignment surgeries can leave children sterilized and scarred for life.

Medical researchers do not know the long term effects these procedures and therapies can have on kids. That is why many people equate them with experimenting on children.

Rev. Graham asked that “God would give the Governor of Arkansas a thick skin” and that the governor would do the right thing for Arkansans.

You can watch a short clip of Rev. Graham below.

Senate Committee Passes Bill Requiring Abortion Facilities to Maintain Transfer Agreements With Hospitals

Sen. Gilmore presents S.B. 527 in committee on Wednesday, March 31.

On Wednesday the Senate Public Health Committee passed S.B. 527.

This good bill by Sen. Ben Gilmore (R – Crossett) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) requires abortion facilities to have transfer agreements with hospitals, and it fixes a flawed definition in a pro-life law passed in 2019.

S.B. 527 is similar to a Kentucky law that survived a legal challenge.

This is a good bill that will help protect women from botched abortions.

Abortion carries a number of serious risks — including risk of laceration, hemorrhaging, and death.

Legislation like S.B. 527 helps protect women from dangerous abortion practices.

The bill now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for consideration.

Read The Bill Here.

Arkansas House Rejects Bill Legalizing No-Fault Divorce

On Wednesday the Arkansas House of Representatives soundly rejected H.B. 1697 by Rep. Ashley Hudson (D – Little Rock), Rep. Andrew Collins (D – Little Rock), and Sen. Greg Leding (D – Fayetteville).

This bad bill would permit no-fault divorce in Arkansas.

Under current law, couples in Arkansas can divorce in cases such as infidelity, abuse, following a lengthy separation, and other circumstances.

H.B. 1697 would permit divorce due to irreconcilable differences, discord, or conflict of personalities regardless of whether or not the husband or wife is at fault.

The bill only received 31 votes in favor of it.

Fifty-eight representatives voted against the bill. Two voted “Present.”

Reps. Pilkington (R – Russellville), Dotson (R – Bentonville), and Breaux (R – Holiday Island) all spoke against this bad bill. Reps. Dalby (R – Texarkana) and Cozart (R – Hot Springs) spoke in favor of the bill.

Below is a breakdown of the vote on H.B. 1697.

Voted For H.B. 1697

  • F. Allen
  • Christiansen
  • Clowney
  • A. Collins
  • Cozart
  • Dalby
  • Ennett
  • Eubanks
  • K. Ferguson
  • D. Ferguson
  • Fielding
  • D. Garner
  • Godfrey
  • M. Gray
  • Haak
  • Hillman
  • M. Hodges
  • Hudson
  • Jett
  • Love
  • Magie
  • McCullough
  • Murdock
  • Nicks
  • Perry
  • Richardson
  • Scott
  • Springer
  • Wardlaw
  • Warren
  • D. Whitaker

Voted Against H.B. 1697

  • Barker
  • Beatty Jr.
  • Beck
  • Bentley
  • S. Berry
  • M. Berry
  • Boyd
  • Bragg
  • Breaux
  • Brooks
  • Brown
  • Bryant
  • Carr
  • Cloud
  • Coleman
  • C. Cooper
  • Crawford
  • Deffenbaugh
  • Dotson
  • Evans
  • C. Fite
  • L. Fite
  • Fortner
  • Furman
  • Gazaway
  • Gonzales
  • Hawks
  • Holcomb
  • L. Johnson
  • Ladyman
  • Lowery
  • Lundstrum
  • Lynch
  • Maddox
  • J. Mayberry
  • McClure
  • McCollum
  • M. McElroy
  • McGrew
  • McKenzie
  • McNair
  • S. Meeks
  • Penzo
  • Pilkington
  • Ray
  • Richmond
  • Rye
  • Slape
  • B. Smith
  • S. Smith
  • Speaks
  • Tollett
  • Tosh
  • Underwood
  • Vaught
  • Watson
  • Womack
  • Wooten

Voted “Present” on H.B. 1697

  • Payton
  • Wing

Did Not Vote

  • Cavenaugh
  • M. Davis
  • Eaves
  • V. Flowers
  • Hollowell
  • Jean
  • Miller
  • Milligan
  • Shepherd