Catholics across the Diocese of Little Rock — and diocesan lobbyists — are keeping a close eye on several bills in the Arkansas Legislature that could impact ministries and programs.
The bills — some good and some bad for the Church — would predominantly impact pro-life and pro-family efforts and education.
- HB1180, To create the Baby Olivia Act: This bill, sponsored by Rep. Mary Bentley, would require Arkansas public schools to begin showing students in fifth grade a video from the pro-life organization Live Action about the gestational development of a child in the womb from conception to birth.
- HB1142, to create the Reproductive Empowerment and Support Through Optimal Restoration (RESTORE) Act: This bill, sponsored by Rep. Alyssa Brown, would encourage the incorporation of restorative reproductive medicine treatments into Title X medical facilities, therefore giving women natural fertility treatment options instead of chemical, invasive or assistive ones and would protect health care providers who have conscientious objects to IVF.
- SR1 and HR1003, to honor St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro for being the first medical facility in the state to open a Maternal Life360 Home: This bill, sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan, honors St. Bernards following their creation of an innovative, hands-on program last year to help expectant mothers navigate pregnancy and the first two years of their child’s life. It was passed Jan. 22.
- HB1139, to create the Released Time Education Act: This bill, sponsored by Rep. Brit McKenzie, would allow students in public and charter schools to leave their school’s campus to pursue a course in religious moral instruction.
- HB1011, to create the Restore Roe Act, and to restore a woman’s access to abortion services: This bill, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Collins, would restore the abortion services provided legally under the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision.
- HB1020, to repeal the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program: to create a new education funding category for students who receive special education and related services; and to create the Community Schools Act Fund. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Collins, would aim to undo the EFA program created through the LEARNS Act, which allows eligible public school students to transfer to parochial schools.
- HB1013, to protect fertility treatment rights in Arkansas: This bill, introduced by Rep. Ashley Hudson, would protect assisted reproductive technology, such as artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization.
- HB1221, to amend Arkansas law concerning initiatives, referenda and constitutional amendments and HB 1222, to require the Attorney General to review ballot titles for conflicts with the United States Constitution and federal statutes; and to ban submission of multiple initiatives petitions and referendum petitions. These bills, both introduced by Rep. David Ray, would make it harder for petition initiatives to make it onto the ballot and for petition initiatives whose intention is in conflict with the U.S. Constitution to fall under further scrutiny.
- SB102, to amend the law concerning canvassers for local option elections; and to amend the law concerning compensation of paid canvassers for local option elections. This bill, introduced by Sen. Breanne Davis, would redefine and outline the concept of a paid canvasser for petition and ballot initiatives.
- HB1008, to require Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers for one year after giving birth: This bill was introduced by Rep. Andrew Collins.
- HB1144, to require a participating school under the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program to comply with the same statutory and Department of Education reporting requirements to which public schools are subject: This bill, introduced by Rep. Jim Wooten, would require any school, public or otherwise, participating in the EFA program to report to the Department of Education. This would include parochial schools.
- HB1202: An act for the Department of Finance and Administration – disbursing officer appropriation for the 2025-2026 fiscal year: This bill, originating in the House Chamber, includes suggestions for grant funding, which would allow $2 million for grants to pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies and pregnancy help agencies.
- SB142: To create the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act and to amend the requirements for public school discipline policies with regard to student use of personal electronic devices. Introduced by Sen. Tyler Dees and Rep. Jon S. Eubanks, this bill would ban public school students’ access to cell phones during the school day.
Many offices at the Diocese of Little Rock are keeping an eye on these bills and others. Catherine Phillips, director of the Respect Life Office, expressed concern over some of the bills.
“Rep. Collins, in November, filed a bill that would restore women’s access to abortion,” she said. “I really hope that given the pro-life mindset of most of our legislators, that’s not going anywhere. There was also a bill by Rep. Hudson to protect fertility rights, meaning IVF. Among other things, this bill gives the ‘right’ to a healthcare provider to test, use, store or dispose of embryos. Of course, that’s against Catholic teaching, so those are concerning.”
Phillips also said HB 1221 and HB 1222 are designed to clarify the ballot initiative process, which is something she’s monitoring following the failed Arkansas Abortion Amendment efforts from last year.
Phillips also praised SR1 and HR1003, honoring St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro for being the first medical facility in the state to open a Maternal Life360 Home.
“That resolution passed on Jan. 22, the Day of Prayer for Legal Protection of Unborn Children,” Philips said. “And I’m really glad — it’s incredible news.”
Phillips also said HB1180, The Baby Olivia Act, is pivotal in teaching that human life begins at the moment of conception, starting at a young age.
“It’s an educational directive that requires students to watch a Live Action video. I watched it, and it’s quite good,” she said. “I think what’s best about it is that it talks about Baby Olivia being a human person from the very moment of conception — from the moment that the spark of life begins. It’s a beautiful video about human development in the womb.”
This bill also requires school-based clinics that offer sex education to show this video and teach sexual abstinence.
Phillips praised Rep. Alyssa Brown for introducing the RESTORE Act.
“This bill shocked me and filled me with joy,” she said. “Rep. Brown’s act talks about restoring women’s natural fertility and natural family planning. This bill that she wrote is the most pro-fertility legislation I’ve ever seen. She’s about real reproductive rights, and she seems to really care about women and restoring optimal health.”
Several bills could also impact parochial schools too.
SB142 to create the Bell to Bell, No Cell Act was announced and supported by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders as an initiative to stem a growing mental health crisis among Arkansas youth. This proposal follows growing support in the parochial school system to delay introducing smart technology to students.
Last year, the “Wait Until 8th,” delayed cell phone initiative grew in popularity among parents and soon spread beyond Our Lady of Holy Souls School in Little Rock, where the initiative started. HB1139 to create the Released Time Education Act would allow Catholic students — among other students of faith — in public and charter schools to leave campus to pursue religious education. HB1144 would require parochial schools — as participants in the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program — to comply with the same statutory and Department of Education reporting requirements to which public schools are subjected.
Dennis Lee, executive director of Catholic Charities of Arkansas, has been a registered lobbyist for the diocese for many years.
“The elected officials who gather at the state capitol for a legislative session are greatly influenced by their constituents, the people who vote when they run for office or re-election,” he said. “Catholics who want their faith to inform decisions made by the Arkansas Legislature and our governor should not underestimate the influence they have. Hundreds of bills are filed each session, and a much smaller number become law. Among them are usually a few bills that will have a major impact on people and their families in our state.
“For example, a few years ago the LEARNS Act was passed and signed into law establishing and funding Education Freedom Accounts. This gave more parents who qualified the means to have a choice about where their children would receive an education, including at a Catholic school if there was one in their community and they had room to accept new students. While the Arkansas Legislature is in session, if Catholics learn about a bill they would like to see passed or defeated, they can have an impact on what happens by contacting their local representatives and the governor’s office.
“I hope hearing about some of the bills that have been filed so far will interest more Catholics to follow what is happening at the state capitol and to add their voice on the issues that are important to them.”
You can search for bills in the state legislature at https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Search.
Other bills to watch
A few other bills — while not as politically pressing — might be of interest to Catholics in Arkansas.
- HB1162, to establish Good Friday as an official state holiday: This bill is sponsored by Rep. Matt Duffield.
- HR1006, to recognize Feb. 7-14 as National Marriage Week: This bill, sponsored by Rep. David Ray, would recognize the role of a healthy marriage as “the foundational relationship for all of society,” and would acknowledge the importance of strong, healthy marriages.
