Legislature – Page 37 – Family Council

Legislators Commend Pregnancy Resource Centers

Mar 31, 2015Jerry CoxLegislatureArkansas Legislature, Legislation, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

Yesterday the Arkansas Senate passed a resolution commending Arkansas’ pregnancy resource centers.

These centers provide support for young women with unplanned pregnancies. They offer vital resources and empower women to choose an alternative to abortion.

S.R. 24 by Senator Missy Irvin was adopted by the Arkansas Senate recognizing “the importance of pregnancy resource centers in Arkansas.” The resolution mirrors H.R. 1019, by Rep. Mary Benltey, which the Arkansas House of Representatives passed earlier this month.

House and Senate resolutions do not change state law, but they are a way legislators can make a public, pro-life declaration.

Senate Passes “Ten Commandments” Legislation

Mar 25, 2015Jerry CoxLegislatureArkansas Legislature

Today the Arkansas Senate passed a bill authorizing the State of Arkansas to place a monument of the Ten Commandments on the Capitol grounds.

The bill passed with 27 senators voting for it; 3 senators voting against it; 3 senators not voting; and 1 senator voting “Present.”

If passed, the bill would allow the State to work with private entities to pay for the monument and defend its constitutionality in court. You can see how your senator voted here.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas House of Representatives for consideration.

Lawmakers File Over 450 Bills in One Day

Mar 10, 2015Jerry CoxLegislatureArkansas Legislature, Legislation, Legislature

capitol3-1 Yesterday Arkansas’ lawmakers filed over 450 pieces of legislation ahead of the filing deadline.

Many of these bills were what we call “shell bills.” These are bills with little more than a title, like, “A Bill to Improve Public Education.” These bills may be amended later to flesh them out; we will keep an eye on them to see how they are amended.

However, several complete bills were filed. Below are a few you may want to know about.

A Bill Making Sexual-Orientation and Gender-Identity Protected Classes

Twenty-two years ago, the Arkansas Legislature passed the Arkansas Civil Rights Act of 1993. Over the years we have fought to make sure Arkansas’ civil rights and hate crimes laws are not used to promote a homosexual agenda.

House Bill 1950 by Rep. Leding makes sexual-orientation and gender-identity protected classes in the Arkansas Civil Rights Act of 1993—right alongside race, religion, national origin, gender, and disability.

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