Arkansas Senate Passes Bill Protecting Healthcare Professionals’ Rights of Conscience

Legislation, 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

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Bill Declaring Religion is Essential Becomes Law in Arkansas

Legislation,
Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) presents H.B. 1211 to the entire Arkansas House of Representatives.

On Wednesday H.B. 1211 declaring religious organizations essential in Arkansas became Act 94 of 2021.

The measure is now in effect as a part of state law.

This good law by Representative Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Senator Kim Hammer (R – Benton) recognizes that religion and religious organizations are essential in Arkansas.

It helps protect churches and other religious organizations from being targeted, penalized, or discriminated against during a time of emergency.

Act 94 will help protect churches and religious groups from discrimination without hampering the government’s ability to respond to an emergency. 

See how your state representative voted on this measure here. 

See how your state senator voted on this measure here. 

Read Act 94 of 2021 Here.

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Senate Public Health Committee Advances Bill to End Abortion in Arkansas

Abortion, Legislation, , , ,
Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) presents S.B. 6 in the Senate Public Health Committee on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

On Wednesday the Senate Public Health Committee advanced S.B. 6 by Sen. Jason Rapert (R – Conway) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) on a unanimous voice vote.

If enacted, this good bill would prevent abortion in Arkansas except in cases when the mother’s life is at risk and give the U.S. Supreme Court an opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade, Doe v. Bolton, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and other pro-abortion decisions.

Family Council fully supports the passage of this good measure. This is an opportunity for Arkansas to be a real leader in the effort to end abortion in America.

Many people have been saying for almost fifty years that abortion should be illegal. The time has come for us to make it so.

Several pro-lifers, including Rose Mimms of Arkansas Right to Life, testified in favor of the bill in Wednesday’s committee meeting.

Members of the Arkansas Abortion Support Network testified against the bill.

S.B. 6 now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for consideration; most of the members of the Arkansas Senate are co-sponsoring this good bill.

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