Good Bill Would Let Public Schools Provide Chaplain Services

Legislation,

New legislation would let public schools in Arkansas offer chaplain services.

S.B. 266 by Sen. Jim Dotson (R — Bentonville) and Rep. Harlan Breaux (R — Holiday Island) clarifies that public schools can adopt policies letting chaplains serve public school students and their families as well as public school employees.

The bill does not require public schools to provide chaplain services, but it does clarify that schools are free to adopt policies making chaplain services available if they want.

Under S.B. 266, school chaplains would be members of the clergy who serve as volunteers or as employees of the school district. Chaplains would be required to pass a background check, and students would not be able to receive chaplain services without parental consent.

America has a longstanding tradition of recognizing the valuable services that chaplains provide. In Arkansas, county sheriff offices employ chaplains to provide spiritual support to employees and to inmates. Hospitals like UAMS provide chaplain services to patients, employees, and their families.

Public schools should have the same freedom to make chaplain services available to their students, employees, and families as well. S.B. 266 is a good bill that will help do that.

You Can Read S.B. 266 Here.

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

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Senate Committee Passes Good Bill Affirming Religious Liberty at School

Religious Freedom,

On Monday the Senate Education Committee passed the Religious Rights at Public Schools Act of 2025.

This good bill  by Sen. Mark Johnson (R — Little Rock) and Rep. Alyssa Brown (R — Heber Springs) affirms public school students’ and teachers’ religious liberties.

The bill identifies and upholds religious freedoms that are already protected by state and federal law — such as the right to pray, discuss religion, or read the Bible during free time at school.

The bill also helps make sure that religious expression is treated equally to other types of speech at school.

This will help prevent schools from squelching anyone’s religious liberties.

When it comes to religious liberty, public schools have been a battleground for more than 60 years. It’s important that we stand up for religious freedom at school. S.B. 223 is a good bill that helps do exactly that.

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

You can read the Religious Rights at Public Schools Act here.

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

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New Bill Would Implement Reporting for Assisted Reproduction Technology

Bioethics,

A new bill would mandate reporting regarding assisted reproductive technology — like in vitro fertilization — in Arkansas.

H.B. 1554 by Rep. Alyssa Brown (R — Heber Springs) and Sen. Jim Dotson (R — Bentonville) establishes the Assisted Reproductive Technology Reporting Act in Arkansas.

The bill would require fertility clinics to track and report key data related to assisted reproductive technology. H.B. 1554 also would mandate annual reporting on embryo creation, usage, and outcomes, as well as tracking maternal and neonatal health for children conceived through ART.

All of this would help the Arkansas Department of Health better track assisted reproductive technology in the state.

We have written before about the ethical problems with human egg harvesting, in vitro fertilization, commercial surrogacy, and other artificial reproductive technologies. H.B. 1554 could help expose unethical behavior in Arkansas.

You Can Read H.B. 1554 Here.

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