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

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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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Arkansas Legislature Will Convene Budget Session On Valentine’s Day

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The Arkansas Legislature will convene its 2022 fiscal session on Valentine’s Day — in less than two weeks.

In 2008 voters approved Amendment 86 to the Arkansas Constitution authorizing the General Assembly to convene in even-numbered years to approve the state’s annual budget.

During odd-numbered years, lawmakers approve the state’s annual budget, but they also propose legislation amending Arkansas’ laws.

During a budget session like the one coming up on February 14, 2022, Amendment 86 lets lawmakers take up regular legislation if 2/3 of the Arkansas House and Arkansas Senate first approve a resolution authorizing introduction of a non-budget measure.

That means introducing pro-life legislation or other non-appropriation measures during a budget session first requires 67 out of 100 votes in the Arkansas House of Representatives and 24 out of 35 votes in the Arkansas Senate.

Our team is not aware of any successful effort to introduce a non-appropriation measure during a budget session since the Arkansas Legislature convened its first budget session in 2010.

Lawmakers can introduce and pass budget proposals spending taxpayer funds with a simple majority vote.

This year we really want to see lawmakers approve a state budget that will provide taxpayer funding to pregnancy resource centers.

This is something that our team has worked toward since 2018.

Many states earmark money in their budgets to provide alternatives to abortion. Oftentimes this funding comes directly from the federal government. The money can go to pregnancy resource centers that provide resources to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Pregnancy resource centers are on the front lines in the fight to provide women with options besides abortion. Many offer everything from adoption referrals to maternity clothes and diapers to ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, and counseling services—all free of charge.

Funding from the state can help them provide even more services to women and families in their communities.

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

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