Abortion

Member Station KUAR’s Michael Hibblen in Little Rock has reaction from Arkansas abortion opponent, state Senator Jason Rapert (R-Conway), on the oral augments heard on Wednesday over national abortion legislation.

With a majority of support from legislators for a tax reduction package, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday (Nov. 30) he is calling a special legislative session for Dec. 7. The session also will include a vote on security personnel for the Arkansas House and Senate.

Arkansas lawmakers on Monday voted to require a woman undergoing an abortion to first view an ultrasound, the latest restriction to advance in a state that has already enacted an outright abortion ban.

The Arkansas Senate on Thursday voted to require victims of rape and incest to have first reported the crime to law enforcement before they could undergo an abortion past the state's 20-week limit.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Tuesday (March 9) a bill that prohibits abortions except in cases involving the health of the mother. The pro-life measure does not have an allowance for abortions in the case of rape or incest.

The Arkansas Legislature on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that would ban nearly all abortions in the state.

Despite the emotional debate to include exceptions for rape and incest victims, Arkansas senators passed this pro-life, anti-abortion bill along party lines on a 27-7 vote.

A bill that would ban all abortions in the state with few exceptions will now go to the Arkansas Senate floor after a committee voted to advance it Wednesday.

Experts say the Biden-Harris administration could expand Medicaid and implement policies that boost reproductive rights. However, in Arkansas, state lawmakers and the addition of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court could complicate the picture. Comments from Elizabeth Nash, associate director of state issues, Guttmacher Institute.

Second Congressional District Democrat State Sen. Joyce Elliott took part in a Talk Business & Politics-KATV forum a week ago answering questions from reporters and viewers for a full hour.