Senate Passes Measure Authorizing Pro-Life Monument On Arkansas Capitol Grounds

On Wednesday the Arkansas Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill placing a pro-life monument at the Arkansas Capitol.

S.B. 307 by Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) authorizes a monument on the state capitol grounds commemorating the unborn children whose lives were lost in abortion.

The bill estimates that between 1973 and 2022, at least 236,243 unborn children were aborted in Arkansas.

S.B. 307 authorizes a privately-funded monument “as a memorial to the lives lost from 1973 to 2022 due to the decisions of the United States Supreme Court, and as a constant reminder of our duty to protect the life of every innocent human person, no matter how young or old, or how helpless and vulnerable that person may be.”

This good memorial will honor the lives of unborn children lost to abortion on demand.

S.B. 307 now goes to the Arkansas House of Representatives.

The Following Senators Voted For S.B. 307

  • J. Boyd
  • J. Bryant
  • Caldwell
  • A. Clark
  • Crowell
  • B. Davis
  • Dees
  • J. Dotson
  • J. English
  • Flippo
  • Gilmore
  • K. Hammer
  • Hester
  • Hill
  • B. Johnson
  • M. Johnson
  • M. McKee
  • J. Payton
  • C. Penzo
  • J. Petty
  • Rice
  • Stone
  • G. Stubblefield
  • D. Sullivan
  • D. Wallace

The Following Senators Voted Against S.B. 307

  • L. Chesterfield
  • J. Dismang
  • S. Flowers
  • G. Leding
  • F. Love
  • R. Murdock
  • C. Tucker

The Following Senator Voted “Present” On S.B. 307

  • Hickey

The Following Senators Did Not Vote On S.B. 307

  • Irvin
  • B. King

Senate Committee Advances Bill to Place Monument to the Unborn on Arkansas Capitol Grounds

Above: Sen. Kim Hammer presented S.B. 307 in the Senate State Agencies Committee on Tuesday.

On Tuesday the Senate State Agencies Committee advanced a bill authorizing a pro-life monument at the Arkansas Capitol.

S.B. 307 by Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) authorizes a monument on the state capitol grounds commemorating the unborn children whose lives were lost in abortion.

The bill estimates that between 1973 and 2022, at least 236,243 unborn children were aborted in Arkansas.

S.B. 307 authorizes a privately-funded monument “as a memorial to the lives lost from 1973 to 2022 due to the decisions of the United States Supreme Court, and as a constant reminder of our duty to protect the life of every innocent human person, no matter how young or old, or how helpless and vulnerable that person may be.”

Since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade in June of last year, abortion has been prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother.

Family Council estimates that in the future, Arkansas’ pro-life laws could save up to 3,000 unborn children every year.

S.B. 307 now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for consideration.

Arkansas Senate Passes Bill to Repeal Abortion Facility Licensing Requirements

On Thursday the Arkansas Senate passed a bill that repeals licensing requirements for abortion facilities in Arkansas law. The measure now goes to Gov. Sanders’ office.

S.B. 138 by Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) and Rep. Rebecca Burkes (R – Lowell) eliminates a provision in Arkansas law that says any facility that performs abortions must be licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health.

The Arkansas Department of Health has said Arkansas should repeal the licensing requirement, because abortion is now prohibited except to save the life of the mother.

Arkansas’ abortion facility licensing requirement is tied to other provisions related to abortion in state code. Repealing the licensing requirement could have unintended consequences for those good laws if abortion were once again made legal by a state or federal court decision or law.

Pro-lifers have asked lawmakers to amend S.B. 138 or pass follow-up legislation that would help address unintended consequences that could arise from the bill.

You Can Read S.B. 138 Here.