Bill regulating drag shows advances from Arkansas Senate committee

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Members of a Senate committee on Thursday unanimously voted to advance a bill that would regulate some drag shows.

The City, County & Local Affairs Committee of the Arkansas Senate heard debate on Senate Bill 43. If passed, the legislation could force any performance involving cross dressing to be classified as an adult-oriented business if the performance appeals to “prurient interests.”

Much of the debate Thursday centered around the word “prurient.” Lawmakers insist the bill’s language would mean a performance would have to be sexual for it to violate the law. Holly Dickson, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, told the senators that the word “prurient” could be interpreted by courts to mean a wide variety of artistic performances.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-01-19/bill-regulating-drag-shows-advances-from-arkansas-senate-committee

Bill Allowing Arkansas Schools To Prohibit Some Ideas On Racism Fails Senate Committee

By SARAH KELLOGG

A bill that could have allowed public and open enrollment charter schools to place limitations on teaching certain aspects about racism failed in a Senate committee on Monday.

By a vote of 4-3, the Senate Education Committee did not get the five votes needed to advance House Bill 1761.

The legislation, which underwent significant changes through an amendment process, would have given schools the ability to prohibit materials, lessons or teachings on racism that fell under a list of five ideas. Those included that an individual from any race or ethnicity is "inherently" racist or that the United States as a whole is systemically racist.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/bill-allowing-arkansas-schools-prohibit-some-ideas-racism-fails-senate-committee

Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, presents House Bill 1761 to the Senate Education Committee.

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Bill Eliminating Voting The Monday Before An Election Day Fails In Committee

By SARAH KELLOGG

A bill that would have eliminated the ability for Arkansans to early vote the day before Election Day failed to advance a Senate committee on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 485 would modify the early voting period for primary and general elections to where it ends at 4 p.m. the Saturday before Election Day as opposed to 5 p.m. the Monday before Election Day. 

In presenting the bill to the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee, Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, framed it as an opportunity to give election staff a day to prepare for Election Day. He also said Arkansans would be able to vote on any other day of early voting if they wanted to.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/bill-eliminating-voting-monday-election-day-fails-committee

Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, presented numerous bills regarding voting to the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday.

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Bill Requiring Abortion-Seekers To Know About Alternatives Passes Committee

By SARAH KELLOGG

An Arkansas Senate Committee has advanced a bill that would require those seeking an abortion to know about the resources available to them in an attempt to reduce the rate of abortion in the state.

The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee approved House Bill 1195, by a voice vote on Wednesday.

House Bill 1195, or the "Every Mom Matters Act," would require a person seeking an abortion to first receive a "resource access assistance offer," which according to the bill, consists of a care agent informing the person the availability of pregnancy program services, care plan coordination services as well as other services.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/bill-requiring-abortion-seekers-know-about-alternatives-passes-committee

Sen. Bob Ballinger, R-Ozark and Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, presented the bill to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Wednesday.

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