Category: Arkansas

Arkansas Becomes First State to Ban Gender Reassignment Surgeries in Children

Arkansas on Tuesday became the first state to outlaw gender reassignment surgeries and hormone treatments for children under the age of 18, after Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, vetoed the measure. The House voted 71-24 and Senate voted 25-8 on Tuesday to override his veto. The bill, known as House Bill 1570—or Arkansas SAFE (Save Adolescents…


Arkansas Governor Vetoes Ban on Youth Gender Reassignment Procedures

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday vetoed a bill that sought to ban gender reassignment surgeries and hormone treatments for children under the age of 18. Hutchinson said he believed the bill, House Bill 1570, is overly broad and could set a new standard of government interference into medical care and relationships between medical providers, youths,…


Arkansas State Senate Passes Bill Banning Enforcement Federal Gun Control Laws

The Arkansas state Senate voted this week to block federal law enforcement officials enforcing certain gun laws and regulations, sending a bill to the state House in the midst of congressional gun-control proposals. The Senate voted 28-7 to approve the measure, which will then be sent to the House. Arkansas’ Legislature is overwhelmingly Republican. “All…


Arkansas State Senate Passes Bill Banning Enforcement of Federal Gun Control Laws

The Arkansas state Senate voted this week to block federal law enforcement officials enforcing certain gun laws and regulations, sending a bill to the state House in the midst of congressional gun-control proposals. The Senate voted 28-7 to approve the measure, which will then be sent to the House. Arkansas’ Legislature is overwhelmingly Republican. “All…


Ban on Gender Transition Procedures for Minors Passes Arkansas Senate

The Arkansas Senate on Monday approved a bill that would ban gender transition procedures on minors, sending it to the governor’s desk. The Republican-controlled state Senate voted 28-7 in favor of the measure. Katie Beck, a spokesperson for Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, said that the governor “will review the bill more closely, listen to…


Video: Facts Matter (March 26): City Program Excludes White Families, Gives Low-Income Families of Color $500 Per Month

The city of Oakland is trying a new universal basic income program. The catch is that to qualify, you cannot be white. Meanwhile, the governor of Arkansas signed a new bill into law that will ban biological males from participating in women’s sports. A new report reveals that the Biden administration’s plan to house migrants…


Arkansas Governor Signs Bill Protecting Conscience Rights for Health Care Providers

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Friday signed into law a bill that protects health care providers from discrimination if they refuse to provide medical services for religious or moral reasons. The bill, known as the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act, states that doctors and other health care workers have the right to not participate in a…


Arkansas Governor Signs Transgender Bill Banning Biological Males From Participating in Women’s Sports

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Thursday signed a bill that would bar biological males from participating in women’s sports into law, becoming the second state this year to adopt the measure aimed at protecting student opportunities for female athletes. Hutchinson confirmed that he signed Senate Bill 354, also known as Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which recognizes…


Arkansas AG Proposes Bills Pushing Back Against ‘Cancel Culture’ at Schools

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, who is seeking to become the next governor, has introduced a pair of bills aimed at promoting patriotism in public schools. The first proposed legislation is the Star-Spangled Banner Act, which requires public schools in Arkansas to play the Star-Spangled Banner before school-sanctioned sporting events. The second is the Moment…


Arkansas Governor Says State’s Near-Total Abortion Ban Designed to Challenge Roe v. Wade

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said on Sunday that his state’s near-total abortion ban, which he signed into law earlier this month, is designed to set the stage for the Supreme Court to review the legality of abortion under Roe v. Wade. “That was the whole design of the law. It is not constitutional under Supreme Court…