Arkansas Pro-Life Leaders Host Press Conference with Governor Sanders, Americans United for Life

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From Left: Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders; AUL Senior Director of Public Relations and Communication Sarah Zagorski; Arkansas Right to Life Executive Director Rose Mimms; Family Council President Jerry Cox; Lt. Governor Leslie Rutledge; and Secretary of State Cole Jester celebrate that Arkansas has been named the most pro-life state in America for the sixth year in a row.

On Monday, Family Council and other pro-life leaders from Arkansas hosted a special press conference with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Americans United for Life (AUL).

AUL announced that Arkansas has been named the most pro-life state in America for the sixth year in a row. Gov. Sanders recognized the pro-life work of the state’s lawmakers and constitutional officers. Family Council and Arkansas Right to Life shared remarks as well.

Above: Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivers remarks during a press conference honoring Arkansas as the most pro-life state in the nation.

Arkansas has enacted at least 63 good, pro-life laws since 2011 as well as other resolutions and measures affirming the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life.

After the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade in 2022, Arkansas was able to enforce its laws generally prohibiting abortion except to save the life of the mother. This year, the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 387 clarifying that good law.

Act 387 of 2025 closes possible loopholes in the current abortion law. The measure makes it clear Arkansas’ law that prohibits abortion except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency. It also clarifies the definition of “medical emergency” in state law, and it strengthens legal protections for doctors who treat pregnant women.

Above: AUL Senior Director Public Relations and Communication Sarah Zagorski presents Family Council President Jerry Cox with a plaque honoring Arkansas as the most pro-life state in the nation during Monday’s press conference.

Governor Sanders has signed many good, pro-life laws including Act 973 of 2025 to prohibit abortions performed due to an unborn baby’s race, Act 485 of 2025 to prohibit giving a pregnant woman abortion drugs without her consent, and Act 1006 of 2025, Act 125 of 2024, and Act 622 of 2023 to provide $5 million to support women with unplanned pregnancies.

These good laws — and many other pro-life measures like them — are part of the reason Arkansas has been ranked the most pro-life state in America since 2021.

Being pro-life is about much more than opposing abortion. Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned and abortion in Arkansas is prohibited except to save the life of the mother, the pro-life movement in Arkansas has entered a new phase. We are focused on helping women and families with unexpected pregnancies, and we are making sure our laws respect and protect innocent human life at every stage from conception until natural death. We look forward to continuing that pro-life mission in 2026.

Arkansans should be proud of their state legislators for passing the best laws in the nation when it comes to protecting unborn children, the elderly, the disabled, and the terminally ill. That’s something to celebrate.

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

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Arkansas Named Most Pro-Life State in America for the Sixth Year in a Row

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Little Rock, Ark. – On Monday Americans United for Life announced Arkansas is the most pro-life state in America for the sixth year in a row. The pro-life organization ranks all fifty states based on state laws protecting the unborn, the elderly, the disabled, and the terminally ill.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “Today Americans United for Life recognized the many pro-life laws and policies our state has enacted over the years. Arkansans should be proud of their state legislators for passing the best laws in the nation when it comes to protecting unborn children, the elderly, the disabled, and the terminally ill. That’s something to celebrate.”

Cox pointed out that most Arkansans are pro-life and do not support abortion on demand. “Long before Roe v. Wade was overturned, Arkansas’ abortion rate had plummeted to historic lows. Public opinion polling has shown for years that Arkansans do not support abortion on demand, and more than forty pregnancy resource centers around the state help women and girls with unexpected pregnancies. Arkansas is the nation’s most pro-life state, because Arkansans themselves are deeply pro-life.”

Cox noted that making Arkansas a pro-life state has taken a lot of work by many different people. “Arkansas Right to Life has been defending human life for fifty years, and Family Council has been at it for nearly thirty-seven. Arkansas’ General Assembly has passed at least sixty-five good, pro-life measures since 2011. Ministers, churches, elected officials, pregnancy resource centers, and everyday Arkansans all have worked tirelessly to make Arkansas the pro-life state that it is today. Being pro-life is about much more than opposing abortion. Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned and abortion in Arkansas is prohibited except to save the life of the mother, the pro-life movement in Arkansas has entered a new phase. We are focused on helping women and families with unexpected pregnancies, and we are making sure our laws respect and protect innocent human life at every stage from conception until natural death. We look forward to continuing that pro-life mission in 2026.”

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Arkansas Named Most Pro-Life State in America Fifth Year in a Row

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On Friday, Americans United for Life (AUL) named Arkansas the most pro-life state in the country for the fifth year in a row.

AUL analyzes state laws related to abortion, euthanasia, suicide, and bioethics, and ranks all 50 states in its annual Life List. AUL writes,

Arkansas, the Most Pro-life State in America

This past legislative session, the pro-life movement faced many challenges including pro-abortion ballot initiatives and legislation targeting pregnancy resource centers. However, several states stood firm in their courageous defense and advocacy for life. For the fifth year in a row, Arkansas is at the top of the Life List as the most pro-life state in America. Continuing in its momentum from last year, Louisiana comes in second after enacting numerous life-affirming laws, including a law that protects unsuspecting pregnant women from the fraudulent provision of chemical abortion drugs. Tennessee secured its spot as the biggest mover on the Life List, advancing from 13th to 6th. The state enacted strong protections against abortion trafficking of minors and allocated funds to pregnancy resource centers. Kentucky also jumped five spots to 9th. 

The group also praised Arkansas and other states for providing public funds to pro-life pregnancy help organizations.

Becoming the most pro-life state in America did not happen overnight. It took many years of hard work from a lot of people.

More than a decade ago Family Council joined with Arkansas Right to Life and others in setting out to make Arkansas the most pro-life state in America. By working together, we have done that. Keeping Arkansas the most pro-life state will take constant effort.

As a pro-life leader, Arkansas has done important work, but we can’t stop. There is more pro-life work to do. We look forward to continuing that work when the Arkansas Legislature convenes next week.

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

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