Recapping the First Week of the 2023 Legislature

Legislation, Legislature
Lawmakers hear testimony in support of H.C.R. 1005 declaring January 16, 2023, as Religious Freedom Day in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Legislature is wrapping up its first week of the 2023 session in Little Rock.

Lawmakers have filed several measures as the session gets underway.

Below is a quick look back at the week.

  • On Monday Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) filed S.B. 43 prohibiting adult performances — including drag performances — on public property or in view of children.
  • Rep. Julie Mayberry (R – Hensley) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) filed H.B. 1098 permitting Safe Haven Baby Boxes at volunteer fire stations in Arkansas.
  • Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) filed H.C.R. 1005 declaring January 16, 2023, “Religious Freedom Day” in Arkansas.

Below is a breakdown of legislation filed so far this year.

Good Bills Filed

S.B. 43 (Decency): This good bill by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) prohibits drag performances on public property or in view of children. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1098 (Pro-Life): This good bill by Rep. Julie Mayberry (R – Hensley) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) permits Safe Haven Baby Boxes at volunteer fire stations in Arkansas. Read The Bill Here.

H.B. 1006 (Abortion): This good bill by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R — Knoxville) would require an employer that covers abortions or travel expenses related to abortions to also provide 16 weeks of paid maternity leave to employees in Arkansas. Read The Bill Here.

H.C.R. 1005 (Religious Freedom): This good measure by Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) declares January 16, 2023, “Religious Freedom Day” in Arkansas. Read The Measure Here.

S.B. 4 (National Security): This good bill by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R — Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) restricts access to TikTok on computers, tablets, phones, and other devices owned by the State of Arkansas. Read The Bill Here.

Bad Bills Filed

H.B. 1024 (Public Drinking): This bill by Rep. David Ray (R – Maumelle) and Sen. Matt McKee (R – Dist. 6) would let cities and towns that do not collect advertising and promotion taxes on hotels and restaurants establish entertainment districts where public drinking is legal. This would let communities authorize public drinking in entertainment districts even if the community does not cater toward hospitality and tourism. That has the potential to expand public drinking in Arkansas. Read The Bill Here.

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Gov. Sanders Issues Executive Orders Addressing CRT, TikTok

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This week Gov. Sarah Sanders issued executive orders addressing critical race theory (CRT) in public schools and use of the Chinese-owned social media application TikTok on state networks.

In her executive order on CRT, the governor notes,

Critical Race Theory (CRT) is antithetical to the traditional American values of neutrality, equality, and fairness. It emphasizes skin color as a person’s primary characteristic, thereby resurrecting segregationist values, which America has fought so hard to reject; . . . The Constitution of the State of Arkansas and the Constitution of the United States of America recognize the equal value of every individual, and provide equal protection under the law, regardless of color, creed, race, ethnicity, sex, age, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, and national origin.

The order goes on to direct the state Secretary of Education to review the Department of Education’s rules and policies and remove anything that promotes critical race theory.

In recent years, parents have expressed concern about critical theory in Arkansas’ public schools and universities.

As we have written before, Arkansans should oppose racism, but critical theory isn’t the way to do it.

Critical theory wrongly teaches that those who have power always use it to oppress those who don’t have power.

According to critical race theory, institutions — such as the church, family, government, or law — are always tools of oppression.

When educators promote critical theory to students, the consequences for children are serious.

Gov. Sanders also issued an executive order prohibiting the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok on state computer systems, saying,

Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Order, the Director of the [Office of State Procurement], in consultation with the Director of the [Division of Information Systems], shall implement efficient and effective plans to uninstall, disconnect, and prevent the use of TikTok with respect to all state networks and state-issued devices . . . and to prevent all future installations, connections, or uses of TikTok on such networks and devices.

TikTok is the most popular social media platform in the world, with a billion users worldwide and 135 million in the U.S.

However, security experts are bothered by the application’s possible ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

If the Chinese Communist Party can exert influence over TikTok, the CCP may be able to harvest data and manipulate people on the world’s largest social media platform.

Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R — Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) have already filed S.B. 4 to restrict access to TikTok on computers, tablets, phones, and other devices owned by the State of Arkansas. The governor’s executive order addresses this issue as well.

It does not ban TikTok for every Arkansan, but it does eliminate TikTok on devices that belong to the State of Arkansas.

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

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Bill Filed to Prohibit Drag Performances On Public Property or Near Children

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On Monday Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) filed S.B. 43 prohibiting drag performances on public property or in view of children.

The bill effectively would prevent drag shows at public libraries, public schools, or anywhere else where children might be.

Over the past few years public schools, colleges, and libraries in Arkansas have scheduled drag performances — including performances intended for children. Some of these events have been canceled following public backlash.

At public libraries in particular there has been a push to let men dressed up as exaggerated, hyper-sexualized caricatures of women read books to children. In some parts of the country events like these have exposed children and families to sexual predators.

Drag shows should not take place on public property or anywhere near children. S.B. 43 would protect children from these performances.

You can read S.B. 43 here.

Photo Credit: YouTube Screenshot.

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