Abortion Lawsuit in Ohio Serves as a Warning for Arkansas

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The ACLU and abortionists have joined in a lawsuit challenging common-sense abortion restrictions in Ohio.

If successful, the lawsuit would overturn informed-consent laws that require abortionists in Ohio to give women information about abortion and provide them with at least 24 hours to consider their options before proceeding with the abortion.

Since Ohio enshrined abortion in its state constitution last year, the lawsuit claims the informed-consent requirements unconstitutionally “delay” abortions in the state. The case provides a glimpse of what could happen if the Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024 passes this year.

The proposed Arkansas abortion measure would write abortion into the state constitution, and it says the state cannot “prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion” during the first five months of pregnancy — allowing thousands of elective abortions every year and paving the way for taxpayer-funded abortions in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Abortion Amendment also contains sweeping health exceptions for abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy, and it nullifies all state abortion laws that conflict with the amendment — jeopardizing informed-consent laws that offer women critical information about the abortion procedure.

In 2015, the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 1086, the Woman’s Right to Know Act, requiring abortionists to explain the abortion procedure — including its risks, its consequences, and its alternatives — before performing an abortion.

The Woman’s Right to Know Act passed with strong, bipartisan support in the Arkansas Legislature.

Data from the Arkansas Department of Health indicates that from August 1, 2015, to June 24, 2022, over 3,500 women chose not to have abortions after receiving the information outlined in this one law.

The lawsuit in Ohio illustrates how informed-consent requirements in Arkansas could be challenged and nullified if voters write unrestricted abortion into the Arkansas Constitution by passing the proposed abortion amendment.

You can download a copy of the amendment here.

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Saline County Quorum Court Committee Passes Pro-Life Resolution

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On Monday a committee of the Saline County Quorum Court passed a pro-life resolution, clearing it for consideration by the entire Quorum Court later this month.

The resolution is titled, “A Resolution to Oppose the Proposed Arkansas Abortion Amendment to Amendment 68 of the Arkansas Constitution in Accordance with the Policy of Saline County, Arkansas as set forth in Saline County Resolution No. 2021-8“

Right now a group is working to place the Arkansas Abortion Amendment on the November ballot.

The measure would write abortion into the state constitution, and it would prevent the Arkansas Legislature from restricting abortion during the first five months of pregnancy — allowing thousands of elective abortions every year and paving the way for taxpayer-funded abortions in Arkansas.

Supporters of the abortion amendment have until July 5 to collect nearly 91,000 petition signatures from registered voters in order to qualify for the November ballot.

In 2021, Saline County passed a resolution affirming that the county is Pro-Life. Monday’s resolution would reaffirm the county’s Pro-Life status and oppose the 2024 Arkansas Abortion Amendment. Faulkner County recently passed a similar pro-life resolution opposing the abortion amendment.

The Saline County Quorum Court will vote on the pro-life resolution at its next meeting on April 15.

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Arkansas Lawmakers Filing Budget Measures Ahead of April 10 Fiscal Session

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This week Arkansas Legislators have filed several appropriation measures ahead of the April 10 fiscal session.

The legislature will convene next week to set the state’s budget for the 2025 Fiscal Year.

To date, lawmakers have filed about 90 bills appropriating state funds for various government agencies.

One of our goals for the 2024 budget session is to secure an appropriation that will provide funding for pro-life pregnancy resource centers in the state.

 In 2022 we worked with the legislature and the governor to secure $1 million in funding for pregnancy centers. We did the same thing last year as well.

This funding has gone to good organizations across the state that give women and families real assistance when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.

Since the 2022 Dobbs decision reversing Roe v. Wade, state legislatures around the country have ramped up state funding for pregnancy help organizations, and Arkansas risks lagging behind other states if we don’t provide adequate funding for these organizations.

More than 50 pregnancy help organizations serve thousands of women in Arkansas. Providing them with assistance from state-funded grants enables them to do even more in our state.

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

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