Arkansas Legislature – Page 92

Senate Health Committee Passes Measure to Ensure Patients, Nursing Home Residents Have Visitors

Mar 9, 2021Jerry CoxCurrent Events, LegislatureArkansas Legislature, COVID-19

*Above: Rep. Mayberry explains H.B. 1061, the No Patient Left Alone Act, to state representatives in this file photo.*

On Monday the Senate Public Health Committee passed H.B. 1061 by Rep. Julie Mayberry (R – Hensley) and Sen. Breanne Davis (R – Russellville).

This good bill protects people from being left alone and denied visitors in hospitals, nursing homes, and similar facilities.

Since the coronavirus outbreak began, we’ve heard story after story of people separated from their loved ones.

Nobody should be barred from being in the hospital with their dying child, their spouse, or their parent. This bill helps address that in Arkansas.

H.B. 1061 now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for consideration.

Senate Education Committee Passes Bill to Protect Fairness in Women’s Sports

Mar 8, 2021Jerry CoxLGBTArkansas Legislature, LGBT

*Above: Sen. Missy Irvin and Alliance Defending Freedom Attorney Matt Sharp present S.B. 354 in committee.*

On Monday afternoon the Senate Education Committee passed S.B. 354 along party lines in a vote of five to three.

This good bill by Sen. Irvin and Rep. Barker would protect fairness in girls’ athletics at school by preventing biologically male student athletes from competing in women’s sports.

Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Matt Sharp traveled to Arkansas to testify in favor of the bill as well as Minnesota powerlifter Beth Seltzer of the group Save Women’s Sports.

Following passage of S.B. 354, an unruly group of activists who opposed the bill began shouting “Shame! Shame!” while calling some of the bill’s supporters “weak” and other names.

S.B. 354 now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for consideration.

Arkansas Senate Passes Pro-Life Ultrasound Measure

Mar 8, 2021Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

On Monday the Arkansas Senate passed S.B. 85 with a vote of 29 to 6.

This good bill by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Joe Cloud (R – Russellville) requires an abortionist to show an ultrasound image of the unborn baby to the pregnant woman before an abortion.

Research indicates that some women are less likely to have an abortion once they see an ultrasound image of their unborn child.

That means pro-life bills like S.B. 85 can help further decrease the number of abortions in Arkansas.

Currently, Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the Arkansas Abortion Support Network are fighting against S.B. 85.

Arkansas Right to Life is the chief proponent of S.B. 85, and we fully support their efforts.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas House for consideration.

Below is a breakdown of how the Arkansas Senate voted on this good bill.