House Passes Bill Protecting Healthcare Workers’ Rights of Conscience

On Monday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed S.B. 289.

This good bill by by Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) and Rep. Brandt Smith (R – Jonesboro) protects healthcare workers’ rights of conscience in Arkansas.

State law’s current conscience protections are narrowly focused. They protect only a limited number of people.

S.B. 289 helps broaden and safeguard healthcare workers’ conscience protections.

The bill passed by a vote of 72 to 20.

S.B. 289 now goes back to the Arkansas Senate for concurrence in amendments the House of Representatives made to it.

Conscience Protection Bill Has Only One Step Left to Go

From Left: Rep. Brandt Smith, Alliance Defending Freedom Attorney Stephanie Nichols, and Family Council staff member Luke McCoy gather following passage of S.B. 289.

On Thursday afternoon the House Public Health Committee passed S.B. 289, the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act, by by Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) and Rep. Brandt Smith (R – Jonesboro).

The bill has only one final step — passing the entire Arkansas House of Representatives — before going to the senate for concurrence in amendments and then the governor’s desk.

S.B. 289 protects healthcare workers’ rights of conscience in Arkansas.

Current conscience protections in state law are narrowly focused and protect only a limited number of people.

S.B. 289 helps broaden these protections for healthcare workers.

The bill passed the Arkansas Senate, but it previously failed to pass in the House Public Health Committee.

Thursday’s vote clears the way for S.B. 289 to head to the entire Arkansas House of Representatives for consideration.

Arkansas Senate Passes Bill Protecting Healthcare Professionals’ Rights of Conscience

Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) presents S.B. 289 from the floor of the Arkansas Senate on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

On Wednesday the Arkansas Senate passed S.B. 289 by Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) and Rep. Brandt Smith (R – Jonesboro).

This good bill protects healthcare workers’ rights of conscience.

Arkansas’ current conscience protections are narrowly focused on abortion, abortifacients, and end of life decisions, and they protect only a limited number of people.

S.B. 289 helps broaden these protections for all healthcare professionals.

No one should have to worry about facing retaliation or discrimination for obeying their conscientious convictions.

Rights-of-conscience is a long-established tradition that predates the U.S. Constitution. This right should not be ignored.

S.B. 289 now goes to the Arkansas House, where it likely will be assigned to the House Public Health Committee.

Below is a breakdown of the Arkansas Senate’s vote on S.B. 289.

Voted for S.B. 289

  • B. Ballinger
  • Beckham
  • Bledsoe
  • Caldwell
  • A. Clark
  • B. Davis
  • J. Dismang
  • L. Eads
  • J. English
  • Flippo
  • T. Garner
  • Gilmore
  • K. Hammer
  • Hester
  • Hickey
  • Hill
  • M. Johnson
  • B. Johnson
  • M. Pitsch
  • Rapert
  • Rice
  • B. Sample
  • G. Stubblefield
  • J. Sturch
  • D. Sullivan
  • Teague
  • D. Wallace

Voted Against S.B. 289

  • L. Chesterfield
  • Elliott
  • S. Flowers
  • K. Ingram
  • G. Leding
  • C. Tucker

Did Not Vote on S.B. 289

  • Irvin

Excused From the Vote

  • J. Hendren