Arkansas group collecting signatures to roll back abortion ban

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A group in Arkansas has less than 150 days to collect enough signatures to put abortion on the ballot in 2024.

For AR People is a nonprofit advocacy group organizing the effort to pass the Arkansas Abortion Amendment. This law would legalize abortion for up to 18 weeks of pregnancy or in cases of rape or incest.

Abortion became illegal in June of 2022, after Roe v. Wade was overturned. At that time, a trigger law went into effect which banned all abortions in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother.

The amendment was originally put forth by the group Arkansans for Limited Government, a ballot question committee formed by For AR People. After several failed attempts, Attorney General Tim Griffin approved the ballot title in January. For AR People is required to collect over 90,000 signatures from across the state in under 150 days to place it on the November ballot.

Arkansas group collecting signatures to roll back abortion ban

Meg Kelly/NPR

Arkansans for Limited Government has until July 5 to collect all the needed signatures to place an amendment rolling back the state's abortion restrictions on the November ballot.

A year without abortion in Arkansas: more sterilizations and continued struggles in maternal health

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate, Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

A year after abortion effectively ended in Arkansas, more Arkansans than ever are seeking permanent sterilization, and abortion access groups have seen their costs increase.

A renewed focus to implement policies experts say would improve maternal health saw mixed results, and Arkansas’ maternal mortality rate continues to be among the worst in the U.S.

Arkansas was one of several states with a “trigger law” that banned abortion in June 2022 almost immediately following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-06-26/a-year-without-abortion-in-arkansas-more-sterilizations-and-continued-struggles-in-maternal-health

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center’s office in west Little Rock provides testing and other services for pregnant people. It was one of nearly two dozen facilities that received state funds in 2022 and 2023 directed at entities that help those experiencing an unintended pregnancy give birth.

Arkansas attorney general files amicus brief in Arizona abortion case

KUAR | By Sonny Albarado / Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas is leading a 17-state coalition asking the Arizona Supreme Court to reinstate that state’s near total abortion ban.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the attorneys general of Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and West Virginia in a case involving Planned Parenthood of Arizona.

“One year after the Supreme Court of the United States decided that States may regulate or ban abortion, Planned Parenthood is still asking courts to thwart the law and block democratically enacted abortion laws and regulations,” Griffin said in a statement.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-05-25/arkansas-attorney-general-files-amicus-brief-in-arizona-abortion-case

Abortion ban exception fails in Arkansas House committee

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

An effort to roll back Arkansas’ near-total ban on abortion failed in the state legislature Tuesday.

Lawmakers on the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee rejected House Bill 1301, which would allow for abortions in cases of fetal abnormalities incompatible with life.

The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Nicole Clowney of Fayetteville, said it would help minimize the trauma felt by women who, under current Arkansas law, must carry a fetus to term despite any diagnoses during pregnancy.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-03-07/abortion-ban-exception-fails-in-arkansas-house-committee

Arkansas Legislature

(From L to R) Rep. Nicole Clowney, D-Fayetteville, presents HB1301 to the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee alongside genetic counselor Shannon Barringer and OB-GYN Dr. Luann Racher.

AUDIO: A Fraught History of Abortion and Contraception in Arkansas

By Jacqueline Froelich KUAF

A century before Roe v. Wade federally legalized abortion in America, girls and women in Arkansas seeking to prevent or terminate unwanted pregnancies were often required to resort to extreme measures. Independent historian Melanie K. Welch, Ph.D. chronicles the history of contraception and abortion in Arkansas.

https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2022-07-28/a-fraught-history-of-abortion-and-contraception-in-arkansas

J. Froleich/KUAF

Lavender was a common herb consumed by women in the 19th century as an abortifacient.

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson on FOX News Special Report with Bret Baier LIVE (05.03.22)

Arkansas lawmaker pushes ahead with plans to introduce Texas-style abortion bill

KUAR | By Michael Hibblen, Remington Miller

As an Arkansas lawmaker remains adamant about introducing abortion legislation similar to a Texas law that is the most restrictive in the nation, Planned Parenthood says it will resume offering medication abortions at its clinic in Rogers.

State Sen. Jason Rapert, a Republican of Conway, said he has a meeting scheduled next week with Gov. Asa Hutchinson to discuss a special session the governor wants to call for the legislature to consider a tax cut package. The session was initially planned to begin on Oct. 25, but Hutchinson said he would wait because of concerns about unrelated issues being introduced.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2021-11-18/arkansas-lawmaker-pushes-ahead-with-plans-to-introduce-texas-style-abortion-bill

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

Arkansas state Sen. Jason Rapert, seen here in 2017, said he remains determined to introduce abortion legislation similar to a recently-enacted Texas law if Gov. Asa Hutchinson calls a special session of the Arkansas General Assembly.

ACLU Of Arkansas Through Lawsuits, Hope To Stop Two Laws Before They Go Into Effect

By SARAH KELLOGG

The deadline for when most laws passed during the 2021 Arkansas Legislative session officially go into effect is fewer than 15 days away. However, some bills are facing legal challenges that could strike them down before become law.

The ACLU of Arkansas filed two lawsuits against two bills passed by the Arkansas legislature this past session. Holly Dickson, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas says these two bills, one a ban on the practice of abortion with few medical exceptions and the other bill that blocks Arkansas transgender youth from accessing transition related care, threaten the health of Arkansans. According to Dickson, a hearing on the lawsuit concerning transgender healthcare is scheduled for next week, while a decision on the abortion ban bill could come at any time.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/aclu-arkansas-through-lawsuits-hope-stop-two-laws-they-go-effect

Laws passed during the Arkansas Legislative Session without an emergency clause do not go into effect until 90 days after the legislature adjourns. For laws passed in the 2021 Legislative Session, that day is less than 15 days away.

CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS

ACLU Preparing Legal Challenge To Arkansas Abortion Ban

By STEVE BRAWNER / TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS

The American Civil Liberties Union is planning lawsuits against two recent laws passed by Arkansas legislators banning abortions and gender affirming medical procedures, while other laws could draw legal challenges from that group and others.

The ACLU will sue in Arkansas’ Eastern District U.S. District Court to block those two laws, said Holly Dickson, ACLU executive director.

“We’ll be filing before the bills go into effect asking that those laws never go into effect,” she said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/aclu-preparing-legal-challenge-arkansas-abortion-ban

Arkansas Governor Signs Near-Total Abortion Ban Into Law

By MICHAEL HIBBLEN

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a bill into law Tuesday that would ban nearly all abortions in the state. Senate Bill 6 makes no exceptions for rape or incest, and only lists a few medical exceptions.

While abortion rights advocates are promising a legal fight, legislative backers have said they hope the case will eventually be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court and that the addition of more conservative justices in recent years will lead to an overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

"I will sign SB6 because of overwhelming legislative support and my sincere and long-held pro-life convictions. SB6 is in contradiction of binding precedents of the U.S. Supreme Court, but it is the intent of the legislation to set the stage for the Supreme Court overturning current case law," Hutchinson said in a statement. "I would have preferred the legislation to include the exceptions for rape and incest, which has been my consistent view, and such exceptions would increase the chances for a review by the U.S. Supreme Court."

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-governor-signs-near-total-abortion-ban-law

Speaking to reporters in his office last Wednesday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson expressed reservations about the near-total abortion ban because it didn't make exceptions for rape or incest. On Tuesday, he signed the legislation into law.

CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS

Arkansas Legislature Votes To Pass Abortion Ban, Awaits Action From Governor

By SARAH KELLOGG

The Arkansas Legislature on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that would ban nearly all abortions in the state.

By a vote of 76-19, the Arkansas House passed Senate Bill 6, which bans the legal practice of abortion with few medical exceptions and no exceptions for rape or incest. Anyone found guilty of performing or attempting to perform an abortion could face a fine of up to $100,000, up to 10 years in prison, or both a fine and prison sentence.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-legislature-votes-pass-abortion-ban-awaits-action-governor

The Arkansas House voted to ultimately pass SB6. It's undetermined whether Gov. Asa Hutchinson will sign it into law.

CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE

Senate Committee Advances Bill That Would Ban All Abortions In Arkansas

By SARAH KELLOGG

A bill that would ban all abortions in the state with few exceptions will now go to the Arkansas Senate floor after a committee voted to advance it Wednesday.

Under Senate Bill 6, a person is not allowed to perform an abortion under any circumstance unless it is to "save the life or preserve the health of the child, remove a dead unborn child caused by spontaneous abortion or remove an ectopic pregnancy."

There are no exceptions listed in the legislation for instances of rape or incest.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/senate-committee-advances-bill-would-ban-all-abortions-arkansas

ARKANSAS SENATE

Arkansas Lawmakers To Vote On Near-Total Abortion Ban

A new bill would make nearly all forms of abortion a crime in Arkansas, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, and Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, allows abortion to be performed legally only when the mother’s life is threatened or to remove an ectopic pregnancy.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-lawmakers-vote-near-total-abortion-ban

Arkansas Lawmakers To Vote On Near-Total Abortion Ban

A new bill would make nearly all forms of abortion a crime in Arkansas, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, and Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, allows abortion to be performed legally only when the mother's life is threatened or to remove an ectopic pregnancy.