Arkansas Legislature – Page 12

Bill Banning Delta-8 THC Overwhelmingly Passes in Arkansas House of Representatives

Apr 5, 2023Jerry CoxMarijuanaArkansas Legislature, Marijuana

On Wednesday the Arkansas House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a good bill prohibiting Delta-8 THC in Arkansas.

S.B. 358 by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould) prevents Delta-8 THC from being manufactured via industrial hemp in Arkansas.

The bill would place Delta-8, Delta-9, Delta-10 THC, and other psychoactive drugs made from industrial hemp on the list of controlled substances in state law.

S.B. 358 also contains language enacting drug restrictions that would take effect if a state or federal court someday blocked Arkansas from prohibiting Delta-8 altogether.

Delta-8 THC is a mind-altering substance made from cannabis, and Arkansas law does not adequately prohibit it.

S.B. 358 is a good bill that will clarify Arkansas’ drug laws and helps provide protections against dangerous marijuana products.

The bill now goes back to the Arkansas Senate for concurrence in amendments the House made to the measure.

The Following Representatives Voted For S.B. 358

Achor
Andrews
Barker
Beaty Jr.
Beck
Bentley
M. Berry
S. Berry
Breaux
Brooks
K. Brown
M. Brown
Burkes
Joey Carr
Cavenaugh
A. Collins
C. Cooper
Cozart
Crawford
Dalby
Duffield
Duke
Eaves
Ennett
Eubanks
Evans
D. Ferguson
C. Fite
L. Fite
V. Flowers
Fortner
Furman
Gazaway
Gonzales
Gramlich
Haak
G. Hodges
Holcomb
Hollowell
Hudson
Jean
L. Johnson
Ladyman
Lundstrum
Lynch
Maddox
Magie
J. Mayberry
McAlindon
McClure
McCullough
M. McElroy
McGrew
McNair
S. Meeks
Milligan
J. Moore
Nicks
Painter
Pearce
Perry
Pilkington
Puryear
Ray
J. Richardson
Richmond
Rose
Rye
Schulz
Scott
R. Scott Richardson
T. Shephard
Springer
Steimel
Tosh
Underwood
Unger
Vaught
Walker
Wardlaw
Watson
D. Whitaker
Wing
Wooldridge
Wooten

The Following Representatives Voted Against S.B. 358

Clowney
D. Garner
Long
B. McKenzie
Womack

The Following Representatives Voted “Present”

John Carr
Hawk
McCollum

The Following Representatives Did Not Vote

F. Allen
K. Ferguson
D. Hodges
Miller
K. Moore
Warren
Speaker Shepherd

Pro-Life Bill Clears Arkansas Senate Committee

Apr 5, 2023Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

*Above: File photo of the Arkansas Senate.*

On Wednesday the Senate Public Health Committee passed a bill that would help clarify Arkansas’ abortion restrictions and protect women’s health in the state.

H.B. 1786 by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R – Knoxville) and Sen. Clint Penzo (R – Springdale) is a good, pro-life bill that specifies that abortions performed to save the life of the mother must take place in a hospital or emergency room.

Currently, abortion is prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency.

H.B. 1786 will help clarify Arkansas’ restrictions on abortion. It will also protect women’s health by ensuring that any abortion performed to save the mother’s life takes place in a facility that is properly equipped to handle medical emergencies.

The bill previously passed in the Arkansas House of Representatives, where it received overwhelming support.

H.B. 1786 now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for a vote.

Arkansas House Passes Measure Promoting Transparency in Public Education

Apr 5, 2023Jerry CoxEducationArkansas Legislature, Education

On Tuesday the Arkansas House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a measure promoting transparency in public education.

H.B. 1738, the Parents’ Bill of Rights by Rep. Mindy McAlindon (R – Centerton) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch), lets parents review any public school teaching materials, instructional materials, required textbooks, lesson plans, and other teaching aids used in their child’s classes.

The bill also lets parents temporarily withdraw their child from an objectionable lesson or activity.

H.B. 1738 is a good bill that helps ensure parents have a say in their child’s education.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas Senate for consideration.