Bill regulating transgender Arkansans’ bathroom use heads to House despite public pushback

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas House will consider a bill denounced by advocates for transgender Arkansans on Wednesday, the final day of the 2025 legislative session.

Senate Bill 486 would allow Arkansans to sue for damages if they encounter someone in a bathroom, changing room, shelter or correctional facility who does not align with the “designated sex” of the restroom. The bill narrowly passed the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Tuesday after 15 people spoke against it and no member of the public spoke for it.

“The intention here is to make it so that trans people cannot exist in public,” said Maricella Garcia, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families’ race equity director. “If you cannot use the restroom, you cannot go out in public.”

Bill regulating transgender Arkansans’ bathroom use heads to House despite public pushback

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Family Council attorney Stephanie Nichols (left) and Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, present Senate Bill 486 to the House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Monday, April 14, 2025.

Bill limiting care for trans minors moves through Arkansas Legislature

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

In the current legislative session, the first bill about transgender kids Republican Rep. Mary Bentley tried to pass didn't live a day past the committee.

She pulled it after hearing testimony from Arkansas Assistant Attorney General Justin Brasher. He said, Rep. Bentley, we agree with you, but if the state gets sued, the AG'S office isn't going to bat over this one.

“We have facial constitutional concerns with this bill,” he said.

The problem with the initial draft of the bill, also called the Vulnerable Youth Protection Act, is that it was too broad. Draft one could have encompassed speech protected in the Constitution: the right to cut your hair the way you want to, the right to wear what you want, the right to be called the name of your choice.

Bill limiting care for trans minors moves through Arkansas Legislature

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock.

Affirmative action ban passes Arkansas House

KUAR | By Maggie Ryan

A bill to ban state-run affirmative action programs has advanced through another legislative hurdle. Senate Bill 3 received approval from the House Thursday with a vote of 64-27.

The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro and Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville. It now returns to the Senate to approve an amendment before heading to the governor’s desk.

Bentley discussed a brief history of affirmative action as she presented the bill on the House floor. She referenced a 1965 executive order from then-President Lyndon B. Johnson which required the government to expand hiring practices and prevent discrimination in government jobs.

Affirmative action ban passes Arkansas House

State lawmakers discuss changes to Medicaid as a result of COVID-era regulation ending

During an appearance on KARK Channel 4’s Capitol View, Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, and Sen. Fred Love, D-Mabelvale, spoke about upcoming changes to Medicaid.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, former President Donald Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which stopped states from disenrolling Medicaid recipients, while the public health emergency was in effect.

Through an appropriations bill at the end of last year, Congress ended the public health emergency, which will require states to disenroll Medicaid recipients who were eligible for coverage as a result of COVID-era regulations.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-04-23/state-lawmakers-discuss-changes-to-medicaid-as-a-result-of-covid-era-regulation-ending

KARK Channel 4'S Capitol View

Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, and Sen. Fred Love, D-Mabelvale, are reaching out to healthcare providers and constituents to make sure eligible Medicaid recipients don't lose coverage. Last year, Congress ended COVID-era regulations that stopped states from disenrolling Medicaid recipients.

Arkansas House passes legislation on adult entertainment, public housing

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

The Arkansas House passed legislation regarding public housing benefits and adult performances on Monday.

Senate Bill 43 initially would have barred children from watching certain drag shows, but, after a rewrite, may now only ban children from attending explicitly sexual performances. House members voted in favor of the bill Monday.

Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, presented the bill on the House floor, saying it aims to protect the innocence of children.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-02-07/arkansas-house-passes-legislation-on-adult-entertainment-public-housing

Josie Lenora/KUAR News

The Arkansas House chamber is seen on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023.

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.