Developments at the Legislature

Larry Page, Executive Director • Arkansas Faith & Ethics Council

The Arkansas General Assembly began its regular session three weeks ago. As is always the case, things started off rather slow, but the pace is increasing. There are some measures I should point out. I will be as brief as possible, but I will share more details about any of these at your request:

• House Bill 1306 — This bill will provide civil immunity (not criminal immunity) to authorized volunteers who “provide safety, security, or protection for a church… as authorized by the church.” The immunity is only available to security personnel who receive mandatory security training from the church. Immunity is not available for acts or omissions due to intentional, reckless or grossly negligent conduct. We think this is a good bill.

• Senate Bill 98 — This bill will expand the permissible delivery of alcoholic beverages to consumers. Currently, alcohol can be delivered to a consumer in a wet county by an employee of the liquor store or microbrewery-restaurant. This bill will add grocery stores, small farm wine stores and convenience stores as businesses allowed to deliver alcoholic beverages. In addition, the bill will allow businesses to contract with a third-party independent contractor. In our opinion, this bill, if amended, will have too many loose ends and be ripe for abuse.

• House Bill 1173 — This bill will dramatically increase the percentage of alcohol permitted in beer sold in grocery and convenience stores. Currently, the percentage is set at 5% alcohol by weight; this bill will increase that to 14% alcohol by weight. Cold beer is sold in grocery stores and convenience stores. It is common for drivers to consume the cold beer purchased at a store. The evidence is clear by all the beer cans we see on the shoulders and ditches along our highways. These drivers may down two or three of the 5% beers and get a good buzz. What will happen when those two or three beers contain 14% alcohol? Impaired drivers, DWI arrests and mayhem, injury and death on our highways will be some of the results. This is a bad bill. It is important to note that this bill was defeated in the House of Representatives in its first shot at passage. However, sponsors can bring a bill back for another vote. We must assume it can come back, so we need to continue to monitor it.

• House Bill 1011 — This bill is entitled the “Restore Roe Act.” It is an extreme measure that would set the clock back on our state’s abortion laws. It would essentially return us to the standards prior to the Dobbs decision that reversed the Roe v. Wade decision in a stunning move by the U.S. Supreme Court. We will vigorously oppose this measure to retain our very strong pro-life standards we all have worked so hard to achieve.

While it has not been filed yet, there is some talk about a legislative proposal that would amend our current state law on abortion and permit abortions in the claimed cases of rape or incest. This, by its nature, is a very difficult scenario, and one that causes the greatest differences of opinions among people, including Christians. There are good people on both sides of this issue, and their opinions are genuine and sincere. Our position is to maintain the status quo.

• House Bill 1044 — This is the “Sports Raffle Act,” which would permit colleges and universities or a nonprofit organization affiliated with the school to conduct a raffle in conjunction with the school’s sporting event. The school could utilize the proceeds for several purposes, including, and probably most importantly to the bill’s supporters, additional funds to provide financial assistance to student-athletes.

Thanks for your participation in good government. It works best when we get involved, have our voices heard, and our preferences known. Let me encourage you to do a couple of things. First, we want to hear your thoughts about these issues. Contact us at llp@arfaith.org or (501) 837-1688. Secondly, let your state representative or senator know how you feel about any issues that resonate with you and how you would like them to handle your concerns.

To identify your state senator and get contact information for him or her, take the following steps:

• Go to senate.arkansas.gov

• On the Senate’s home page, click on the green box that says Find My Senator.

• On the page it takes you to, type in your address and click on Search.

• Your senator’s name and contact information will appear.

To identify your state representative and get contact information for him or her, take the following steps:

• Go to arkansashouse.org.

• On the house’s home page, click on Find Your Representative.

• On the page it takes you to, type in your address and click on Search.

• Your representative’s name and contact information will appear in a box.

• For an email address, click on "Full profile," and on the page it takes you to, scroll to the bottom for the email address.

You can call the Senate switchboard at (501) 682-2902 and the House of Representatives at (501) 682-6211 during regular office hours and leave a message for your legislator requesting support or opposition to a bill under deliberation. Please use the bill number when conveying this information or describe the issue sufficiently.