Bills Filed to Clarify State Laws Regarding Paid Petition Canvassers, Deceptive Ballot Measures

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Two bills filed at the Arkansas Legislature on Monday would help clarify state law concerning paid petition canvassers and deceptive ballot measures.

The Arkansas Constitution lets canvassers circulate petitions to place measures on a general election ballot. Its original intent was to give citizens a way to function as a “legislative body.” Unfortunately, powerful special interests have used the initiative process to put flawed, misleading, and deceptive measures on the ballot in Arkansas.

Two good bills at the state legislature would help address this problem.

H.B. 1713 by Rep. Ryan Rose (R — Van Buren) and Sen. Mark Johnson (R — Little Rock) requires ballot initiative titles to be written at or below an eighth grade reading level. A ballot title is supposed to summarize the measure so voters can decide if they support or oppose the measure.

H.B. 1713 is similar to legislation enacted in other states to help make sure ballot measures are easy for voters to read and understand. This will help address deceptive or misleading ballot initiatives in Arkansas.

H.B. 1714 by Rep. Ryan Rose (R — Van Buren) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R — Benton) clarifies the definition of a “paid canvasser” in state law.

Current law says that anyone who receives anything of value in return for soliciting signatures on a petition is a paid canvasser. Paid canvassers are subject to certain laws that do not apply to volunteer canvassers.

H.B. 1714 further clarifies that receiving anything of value includes receiving payment for items like food, lodging, travel, bonuses, fees, gift cards, and other payments associated with obtaining signatures on a petition. This will help bring better clarity to state law.

Arkansas’ ballot initiative process has become the opposite of what it was intended to be, and if lawmakers do not act soon, the problem is simply going to get worse.

You can read H.B. 1713 here, and you can read H.B. 1714 here.

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

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ACLU Among Pro-Abortion Groups Opposing “Baby Olivia Act” in Arkansas

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Above: A screenshot of the ACLU of Arkansas’ statement against H.B. 1180, the Baby Olivia Act.

The ACLU is among the pro-abortion groups who oppose a bill that would help provide public school students in Arkansas with appropriate education about unborn children.

H.B. 1180, The Baby Olivia Act, by Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) and Sen. Clint Penzo (R — Springdale) makes it possible for public school students to see a recording of a high-definition ultrasound video as part of sex-education and human growth and development education courses.

It also lets students see a video like Live Action’s computer-animated “Meet Baby Olivia” video that teaches about human development from conception to birth.

The bill passed with overwhelming support in the Arkansas House last month, but so far the Senate Education Committee has failed to pass H.B. 1180.

The Baby Olivia Act is a good bill that teaches students about unborn children, but pro-abortion groups like the ACLU, the Arkansas Abortion Support Network, For AR People, and the liberal medical organization ACOG oppose H.B. 1180.

The ACLU says H.B. 1180 “is a dangerous and misleading bill that seeks to force anti-abortion propaganda into Arkansas classrooms under the guise of sex education.”

The truth is the “Meet Baby Olivia” video never mentions abortion.

It is simply intended to depict human development with factual, scientific accuracy.

As supporters of the bill told lawmakers during committee testimony, the “Meet Baby Olivia” video’s fetal development data came from the Endowment for Human Development — a nonprofit, scientific and medical organization that does not take a position on public policy issues. Multiple medical professionals reviewed and accredited the video.

That is part of the reason the Arkansas Surgeon General, pro-life OB/GYNs, and various pro-life groups and leaders in the state have come out in support of H.B. 1180.

There is still time for the Senate Education Committee to pass this good bill. Arkansans can call the Senate during normal business hours at 501-682-2902 and leave a message in support of H.B. 1180, the “Baby Olivia Act” by Rep. Bentley and Sen. Penzo.

Below is the “Meet Baby Olivia” video by Live Action. H.B. 1180 would let public schools show a video like this one to students as part of human fetal growth and development education.

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

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