Bad Legislation Would Protect Creation and Destruction of Human Embryos in Arkansas

Bioethics, , , ,

Legislation has been filed in Arkansas guaranteeing that people have a “right” to create and kill human embryos.

H.B. 1013 by Rep. Andrew Collins (D — Little Rock) governs fertility treatments in Arkansas. The bill says every individual has a “right” to receive fertility treatments from healthcare providers — including a right to sign contracts with providers concerning the way the provider handle, test, store, ship, and dispose of “the individual’s reproductive genetic material.”

The bill makes it clear that “reproductive genetic material” includes fertilized eggs and embryos.

Lawmakers will have the opportunity to discuss H.B. 1013 and other measures when they convene for their next legislative session in Little Rock on January 13.

H.B. 1013 would protect unethical practices that violate the sanctity of human life in Arkansas.

Unethical fertility clinics have come under fire for creating and killing surplus human embryos, allowing them to be used for medical experimentation, or leaving them in cold storage indefinitely.

Being pro-life means believing that human life is sacred from conception until natural death.

Human embryos are human beings — and human beings are not products that can be created and destroyed at will.

H.B. 1013 would give people and medical facilities the “right” to violate the sanctity and dignity of human life.

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

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Bill Filed to Repeal Pro-Life Laws, Legalize Abortion in Arkansas

Abortion, , , ,

On Wednesday Rep. Andrew Collins (D — Little Rock) filed a bill repealing virtually all of Arkansas’ pro-life laws and legalizing abortion in the state.

State law currently prohibits abortion except to save the life of the mother. The law also contains clear exceptions for ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage treatment, and other situations.

Prior to the reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Arkansas had enacted more than 50 laws restricting or prohibiting abortion — including laws concerning parental-consent and informed-consent for abortion, and laws preventing public funds from going to abortionists or their affiliates.

H.B. 1011 — the “Restore Roe Act” by Rep. Collins — is a bad bill that would repeal Arkansas’ pro-life laws and legalize abortion throughout the state.

The measure is nearly 128 pages long. It not only legalizes abortion in Arkansas, but it also strikes virtually all of the good, pro-life laws that Arkansas passed prior to 2022.

Arkansans do not support elective abortion. Time and again, public opinion polling has shown Arkansas voters believe abortion ought to be either completely illegal or limited to certain circumstances. Arkansas’ current laws reflect that.

H.B. 1011 would erase nearly four decades of good laws that protect women and unborn children from abortion. Family Council has worked for 35 years to promote and protect the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life, and we remain firmly committed to stopping abortion in Arkansas.

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

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Lawmakers to Discuss Rules for Pregnancy Resource Center Grant Funding

Abortion, , , ,

A legislative subcommittee will meet this afternoon to discuss new rules governing grants to pregnancy help organizations in Arkansas.

Act 125 of 2024 by Sen. John Payton (R – Wilburn), which passed in April, provides $2 million in state grant funding for pregnancy help organizations.

The $2 million will be distributed via grants to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other organizations that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Act 125 contains language preventing public funds from going to abortionists and their affiliates — such as Planned Parenthood’s facilities in Little Rock and Rogers.

Governor Sanders signed Act 125 into law on April 30, but the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration has not promulgated rules explaining how pro-life charities apply for grants and receive funding — until recently.

The Arkansas Legislative Council’s Administrative Rules subcommittee will meet today at 2:00 P.M. to review and vote on the proposed rules for the grant program. If approved, the rules will go to the entire ALC committee for a final vote — which would pave the way for pregnancy resource centers to begin receiving funding.

Since the supreme court overturned Roe in 2022, state legislatures around the country have increased funding for pregnancy help organizations.

Now that abortion is prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother, we need to support women and families and eliminate the demand for abortion. Act 125’s grant funding  does that. It provides women in Arkansas with actual, pro-life support — meaning they are less likely to order illegal abortion drugs by mail or travel out of state for abortion.

Family Council is grateful to the General Assembly and Governor Sanders for supporting pro-life charities in Arkansas. We look forward to continuing this important, pro-life work in our state.

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

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