A bill to end affirmative action programs in the state has passed its first hurdle to becoming law Tuesday.

Senate Bill 3 to “prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment” in state entities is sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro. The bill strikes terms such as “equity,” “civil rights,” “minority,” and “diversity” from Arkansas law and repeals sections creating scholarships, support services, and retention programs for minorities.

The bill says “the state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, an individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in matters of state employment, public education, or state procurement,” and creates a pathway for people who believe their rights have been impacted under the legislation to sue.

Bill to ban affirmative action passes Arkansas Senate committee

KUAR | By Talk Business & Politics Staff

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, a Republican, said he agreed with the U.S Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action. The decision by the Supreme Court ends the ability for public and private universities to consider race as a factor during the admissions process, according to NPR News.

During an interview with Talk Business & Politics, Griffin said overturning affirmative action was the correct decision because the U.S Constitution is color blind.

“I’m not surprised by this ruling. In fact, we had several issues here in Arkansas that involved minority set asides like you have to have pigment in your skin to get this job or you have to be of a certain race to get this job,” he said. “We knew that was not going to fly. We thought that’s where this [Supreme Court] opinion was going and that’s exactly what they said.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-07-02/arkansas-ag-tim-griffin-agrees-with-u-s-supreme-courts-decision-to-end-affirmative-action