Rapert continues failed attempts to withhold funds from some libraries

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Former Republican state Sen. Jason Rapert continued his efforts to withhold funds from libraries at a meeting of the Arkansas State Library Board Friday.

Rapert began his tenure on the board this year. At every meeting since then, Rapert has unsuccessfully tried to remove funding from Arkansas libraries over specific books in their collections. None of his motions at Friday's meeting received a second, meaning the group was not able to vote on them.

Rapert was especially upset about two memoirs with LGBTQ+ themes found in some Arkansas libraries: "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson and "Genderqueer" by Maia Kobabe. He said he had learned about the books on a website called Take Back the Classroom. The organization is funded by the conservative Capitol Resource Institute, a group working to end sex education in schools.

Rapert continues failed attempts to withhold funds from some libraries

Rapert's attempt to halt library funding fails

KUAR | By Josie Lenora, Nathan Treece

An attempt by a former state lawmaker to withhold funding to some libraries failed on Friday.

Former Republican Sen. Jason Rapert was appointed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to the state Library Board in November. At his first meeting Friday, Rapert made a motion to withhold funding to libraries that are actively suing the state.

The lawsuit

A lawsuit was filed in June of last year over whether the state may enforce parts of Act 372. The law would require all libraries to create a restricted section for books considered “harmful to minors” and could criminally penalize librarians who do not comply. The law describes harmful items as “material or performance that depicts or describes nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse.”

Rapert's attempt to halt library funding fails

Michael Hibblen/Little Rock Public Radio

Library Board member Jason Rapert's motion to halt funding for the libraries suing the state failed, after the motion failed to receive a second.

Jason Rapert confirmed to the State Library Board

KUAR | By Josie Lenora,

Maggie Ryan

Former Sen. Jason Rapert has joined the state library board. Friday, the Arkansas Senate confirmed his nomination in a vote of 22-10. The vote was held without discussion.

The seven person library board has authority over how money is distributed in the state's libraries.

In November, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Jason Rapert to the State Library Board. He formerly served in the state senate from January 2011 to January 2023. Rapert is also the founder and president of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers.

Jason Rapert confirmed to the State Library Board

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

Former state Sen. Jason Rapert moves toward joining the library board.

Arkansas governor appoints two conservatives to state library board amid lawsuit, content debate

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

Former Arkansas state senator Jason Rapert, a Conway Republican who founded the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, is one of the newest members of the Arkansas State Library Board at a time when children’s access to library materials is a subject of statewide debate.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a range of appointments to state boards Monday. Rapert replaces Joan O’Neal of Greenbrier, whose term on the library board expired last year. Sanders also appointed Shari Bales of Hot Springs to the board, replacing Donna McDonald of Charleston, whose term expired in October.

Rapert’s term will last until Oct. 18, 2029, and Bales’ term will last until a year later.

Arkansas governor appoints two conservatives to state library board amid lawsuit, content debate

Arkansas Advocate/Screenshot From Court Documents

The “social section” in Crawford County Library’s Van Buren branch

Judge orders Sen. Jason Rapert to provide information from social media accounts

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

A U.S. district judge is ordering Arkansas state Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, to release information regarding his social media accounts. The order is part of a lawsuit filed against Rapert by the group American Atheists.

The lawsuit was filed in 2018 after members of the group were blocked by Rapert on Twitter and Facebook. Arkansas Atheists attorney Geoffrey Blackwell argues Rapert blocking the group is a violation of First Amendment rights and data from the senator’s accounts can help settle the case.

“The First Amendment applies to government officials online and in traditional public forums,” Blackwell said. “By restricting their ability to comment and engage in discussion with him and other constituents, he infringed on their right to free speech based on their viewpoint.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-07-29/judge-orders-sen-jason-rapert-to-provide-information-from-social-media-account

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

The group American Atheists argues state Sen. Jason Rapert violated the First Amendment rights of its members.

Arkansas senator optimistic Supreme Court will overturn landmark abortion ruling

KUAR | By Remington Miller, Michael Hibblen

With speculation the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority might overturn the nationwide right to abortion, an Arkansas lawmaker is reiterating his intention to introduce a Texas-style abortion bill during a special session that begins Tuesday. Gov. Asa Hutchinson has said the legislature should wait for a ruling from the high court.

State Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, made his comments in an interview Wednesday after the court heard oral arguments regarding a Mississippi ban on abortion after 15 weeks. Rapert said he was not surprised by what he heard in the hearing.

“I believe that the best decision that they could make is to allow states to exercise the same authority we had been exercising prior to the Roe v. Wade decision,” Rapert said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2021-12-05/arkansas-senator-optimistic-supreme-court-will-overturn-landmark-abortion-ruling

Zoom

State Sen. Jason Rapert said after listening to the Supreme Court's oral arguments, he's confident justices will overturn a landmark abortion ruling.

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.

Arkansas Legislature Advances Bills That Restrict Abortion Access

By SARAH KELLOGG & DANIEL BREEN

Members of the Arkansas Senate advanced two bills Monday that would restrict abortion access in the state.

A bill that would ban nearly all abortions in Arkansas is on its way to the House after passing the Arkansas Senate on Monday.

Senate Bill 6 would ban all abortions in the state. According to the legislation, abortions would be allowed to "save the life or preserve the health of the unborn child." The bill also allows for abortions to remove ectopic pregnancies and to remove a dead fetus caused by a "spontaneous abortion." There are no exceptions for instances of rape or incest.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-legislature-advances-bills-restrict-abortion-access

Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, presents SB6 to the Senate, which bans nearly all abortions in the state, with no exceptions for instances of rape or incest.

CREDIT 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.