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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Bill Filed to Block TikTok Access on State Phones, Computers

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On Monday Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R — Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) filed S.B. 4 to restrict access to TikTok on computers, tablets, phones, and other devices owned by the State of Arkansas.

TikTok is the most popular social media platform in the world. The application boasts a billion users worldwide, and 135 million in the U.S., but many Americans are bothered by the application’s possible ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

The Chinese company ByteDance owns TikTok. Last week FBI Director Christopher Wray voiced concerns about the CCP’s ability to influence ByteDance and TikTok.

The concerns are similar to those raised about Facebook’s and Twitter’s abilities to harvest user data and display or suppress information in their news feeds.

If the Chinese Communist Party can influence TikTok, the CCP may be able to manipulate content and influence users on the world’s largest social media platform.

S.B. 4 prohibits state employees and contractors from downloading or using the TikTok application on a device that is owned or leased by the State of Arkansas.

The bill does not ban TikTok for every Arkansan, but it does prevent government employees and contractors — such as public school teachers or people who work for government agencies — from using TikTok on phones or computers that belong to the State of Arkansas.

You can read S.B. 4 here.

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

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Arkansas Lawmakers Pre-Filing Legislation Ahead of 2023 Session

Legislature

The Arkansas Legislature does not convene until January, but lawmakers are already pre-filing bills ahead of the 2023 session.

To date, legislators have pre-filed about a dozen measures.

Among them is H.B. 1006 by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R — Knoxville). It 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.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last June, corporations like Walmart have announced plans to pay for employees to have abortions. Some cover travel expenses — such as if a woman from Arkansas travels across state lines to have an abortion.

While many companies have made it clear that they support abortion and oppose the overturn of Roe v. Wade, it’s possible that some are comparing the cost of abortion coverage against the cost of paid maternity leave.

In Arkansas, six weeks of paid maternity leave for a full time employee earning minimum wage would cost a company $2,640.

An abortion procedure could cost as little as $500 – $900.

Even with coverage for travel expenses, the total costs for abortion could be less than the cost of paid maternity leave. In other words, it may be cheaper for employers to pay for abortions than for maternity leave.

It is worth noting that large employers — such as Walmart — are subject to the federal Family Medical Leave Act, which effectively requires employers to provide 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave to employees.

As we said last summer, abortion has claimed the lives of more than 200,000 Arkansans since 1973.

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has reversed Roe v. Wade and given states the ability to restrict or prohibit abortion, companies like Walmart are using their money and influence to promote abortion to their employees. That is simply tragic.

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

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