Arkansas Legislature – Page 75

Arkansas House Passes Bill to Help Keep Planned Parenthood Out of Public Schools

Apr 8, 2021Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Arkansas Legislature

On Wednesday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed H.B. 1592 by a vote of 73 to 18.

This good bill by Rep. Mark Lowery (R – Maumelle) prohibits public schools in Arkansas from engaging in transactions with abortion providers.

The measure is similar to H.B. 1589 that recently passed into law.

Planned Parenthood has issued multiple statements opposing this good bill.

We have written many times about Planned Parenthood’s efforts to gain access to public school students in Arkansas.

H.B. 1592 will help make sure Planned Parenthood and other abortionists don’t work their way into our state’s public schools.

H.B. 1592 now goes to the Arkansas Senate for consideration.

Below is a breakdown of the vote on H.B. 1592 in the Arkansas House of Representatives.

Voted FOR H.B. 1592

Barker
Beatty Jr.
Beck
Bentley
S. Berry
M. Berry
Boyd
Bragg
Breaux
Brooks
Brown
Bryant
Carr
Cavenaugh
Christiansen
Cloud
Coleman
C. Cooper
Cozart
Crawford
Dalby
M. Davis
Deffenbaugh
Eaves
Eubanks
Evans
C. Fite
L. Fite
Fortner
Furman
Gazaway
Gonzales
M. Gray
Haak
Hawks
Holcomb
Hollowell
Jean
Jett
L. Johnson
Ladyman
Lowery
Lundstrum
Lynch
Maddox
J. Mayberry
McClure
McCollum
M. McElroy
McGrew
McKenzie
McNair
S. Meeks
Miller
Milligan
Penzo
Pilkington
Ray
Richmond
Rye
B. Smith
S. Smith
Speaks
Tollett
Tosh
Underwood
Vaught
Wardlaw
Warren
Watson
Wing
Womack
Wooten

Voted AGAINST H.B. 1592

F. Allen
Clowney
A. Collins
Ennett
D. Ferguson
V. Flowers
D. Garner
Godfrey
M. Hodges
Hudson
Love
Magie
McCullough
Murdock
Richardson
Scott
Springer
D. Whitaker

Did Not Vote

Dotson
K. Ferguson
Fielding
Hillman
Nicks
Payton
Perry
Slape
Shepherd

Arkansas Senate Passes Bad “Hate Crimes” Bill

Apr 7, 2021Jerry CoxHate CrimesArkansas Legislature, Hate Crimes

On Wednesday the Arkansas Senate passed S.B. 622, a bad bill widely being referred to as a “hate crimes” measure.

As we have written repeatedly, S.B. 622 is vague and subjective.

The bill is so ambiguous that it’s impossible to know just how far-reaching this legislation may be.

S.B. 622 fails to define important terms like ‘recognizable and identifiable.’

Its protections for religious liberty are not adequate.

It does not contain sufficient safeguards to prevent cities and counties from enacting their own, more stringent hate crimes ordinances.

It does not do enough to protect free speech or prevent thought-policing.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas House for consideration.

Below is a breakdown of the vote on S.B. 622.

The Following Senators Voted FOR S.B. 622

B. Ballinger
Beckham
Bledsoe
Caldwell
B. Davis
J. Dismang
L. Eads
J. English
Flippo
T. Garner
K. Hammer
J. Hendren
Hester
Hickey
Irvin
B. Johnson
M. Pitsch
Rice
B. Sample
J. Sturch
D. Sullivan
D. Wallace

The Following Senators Voted AGAINST S.B. 622

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

The Following Senators Voted “Present” on S.B. 622

Gilmore
Hill
M. Johnson
Rapert
G. Stubblefield

The Following Senator Was Excused

A. Clark

Legislation Filed to Protect Physical Privacy in Arkansas

Apr 7, 2021Jerry CoxLGBTArkansas Legislature, LGBT, Privacy

On Wednesday Rep. Cindy Crawford (R – Fort Smith) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) filed H.B. 1882.

This good bill protects physical privacy and safety of Arkansans in showers, locker rooms, changing facilities, and restrooms on government property.

The bill is narrowly tailored.

H.B. 1882 does not affect private businesses like Walmart or Target. It only applies to facilities on government property — such as public schools, state parks, and government buildings.

H.B. 1882 requires a person using a public shower, locker room, restroom, or similar facility on government property to use the facility that corresponds to the person’s biological sex.

The bill also provides reasonable accommodations for transgender individuals.

Read The Bill Here.