House Committee Passes Bad Bill Permitting No-Fault Divorce in Arkansas

Marriage, ,

On Tuesday the House Judiciary Committee passed H.B. 1697 by Rep. Ashley Hudson (D – Little Rock), Rep. Andrew Collins (D – Little Rock), and Sen. Greg Leding (D – Fayetteville).

This bad bill permits no-fault divorce in Arkansas.

Under current law, couples in Arkansas can divorce in cases such as infidelity, abuse, following a lengthy separation, and other circumstances.

H.B. 1697 would permit divorce due to irreconcilable differences, discord, or conflict of personalities regardless of if the husband or wife is at fault.

Arkansas already has a high divorce rate. We should pass laws encouraging people to stay married rather than making it even easier to end marriages in our state.

The bill now goes to the entire Arkansas House of Representatives for consideration.

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Arkansas Senate Passes Informed-Consent Bill for RU-486

Abortion,
Sen. Flippo explains H.B. 1572 in the Arkansas Senate.

On Tuesday the Arkansas Senate passed H.B. 1572 by a vote of 29 to six.

H.B. 1572 is a good, pro-life bill by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) and Sen. Scott Flippo (R – Mountain Home). The measure previously passed the Arkansas House of Representatives.

As we have written before, H.B. 1572 outlines the informed-consent process for chemical abortion drugs like the RU-486 regimen.

Arkansas’ already has some of the best informed-consent laws for abortion of any state in the country.

However, current laws are geared primarily for surgical abortion procedures. With the rise in chemical abortion drugs like RU-486, Arkansas law needs to address drug-induced abortions as well.

H.B. 1572 will help ensure women get all the facts about chemical abortion — including its risks, its consequences, and its alternatives.

H.B. 1572 will save the lives of unborn children by helping women know their options besides abortion.

The bill now goes to the governor to become law. Read H.B. 1572 Here.

Below is a breakdown of the senate vote on H.B. 1572.

The Following Senators Voted FOR H.B. 1572

  • B. Ballinger
  • Beckham
  • Bledsoe
  • Caldwell
  • A. Clark
  • B. Davis
  • J. Dismang
  • L. Eads
  • J. English
  • Flippo
  • T. Garner
  • Gilmore
  • K. Hammer
  • J. Hendren
  • Hester
  • Hickey
  • Hill
  • Irvin
  • M. Johnson
  • B. Johnson
  • M. Pitsch
  • Rapert
  • Rice
  • B. Sample
  • G. Stubblefield
  • J. Sturch
  • D. Sullivan
  • Teague
  • D. Wallace

The Following Senators Voted AGAINST H.B. 1572

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

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These Bad Bills Weaken Arkansas’ End-of-Life Laws

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, , ,

Two bad bills are up for consideration at the Arkansas Legislature: H.B. 1685 and H.B. 1686.

H.B. 1685 amends the Arkansas Healthcare Decisions Act.

H.B. 1686 amends the state’s Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment Act.

Among other things, H.B. 1685 makes it easier for healthcare providers to deny a dying person food or water.

H.B. 1686 inserts a vague and subjective definition of “terminal illness” into state law.

Both bills would make it possible for patients and their families to work through decisions about end-of-life care and life-sustaining treatment without the help of a physician.

Arkansas has excellent laws governing end-of-life medical care. H.B. 1685 and H.B. 1686 weaken these good laws.

Below are additional points to consider.

Current Law

  • Arkansas’ Healthcare Decisions Act outlines how patients and their family members make end-of-life healthcare decisions.
  • Arkansas’ Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment Act lets patients work with a physician to document their life-sustaining treatment wishes.
  • Physicians are involved in decisions made under the Healthcare Decisions Act and the Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment Act.
  • State law is careful to note that a Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment form is not intended to replace an advance directive.

What H.B. 1685 and H.B. 1686 Would Do

  • H.B. 1685 makes it easier for healthcare providers to withhold food and water from a patient who is dying.
  • H.B. 1686 inserts a vague and subjective definition of “terminal illness” into state law.
    • The definition is very similar to one found in a 2019 physician-assisted suicide bill that the Arkansas Legislature defeated.
    • A number of medical conditions could be considered “terminal illnesses” under this bill.
  • Under these bills, Arkansans may never see a physician when making critical end-of-life decisions. They could die without ever seeing a physician.
  • Under H.B. 1686, patients may not work with a physician when completing a Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment form.
  • H.B. 1686 strikes language in existing law clearly stating that a Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment form is not intended to replace an advance directive.

Additional Points to Consider

  • Arkansas has excellent laws that provide patients and their families with protection and assistance near the end of life. H.B. 1685 and H.B. 1686 weaken those good laws.
  • These bills do not ensure that physician assistants and advance practice registered nurses have the training or the experience to assist patients and their families with end-of-life decisions.
  • It is inappropriate for healthcare professionals other than physicians to complete a Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment form with a patient.

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