SB 975 - Religious Freedom Restoration Act

Author/Sponsor: Senator J. Hutchinson
Date Enacted: 3 April 2015

Description:

• Another so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
• Gov't Summary: Amends Arkansas law concerning the free exercise of religion; enacts the religious freedom restoration act; declares an emergency.
• 3 April 2015, signed into law by the governor.

SB202 - AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ORDINANCES OF 10 CITIES AND COUNTIES BY CREATING THE INTRASTATE 11 COMMERCE IMPROVEMENT ACT; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; 12 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Author/Sponsor:Senator Hester and Representative Ballinger
Date Introduced: 2 February 2015
Date Enacted: 24 February 2015

Description:

• This is a "license to discriminate" bill - according to the authors, it was brought to the legislature in direct reaction to the city of Fayetteville temporarily making it illegal to discriminate against a person based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the areas of housing, work and public accommodation. The bill forbids local municipalities from enacting anti-discrimination ordinances that are outside of what is already included in existing state law. 
• The bill is described: "TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING ORDINANCES OF 17 CITIES AND COUNTIES BY CREATING THE 18 INTRASTATE COMMERCE IMPROVEMENT ACT AND 19 TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY."
• 13 February 2015, this bill passed the House although without having the emergency clause approved that would have allowed the Governor to neither veto or sign it to allow it to go into effect.
• 13 February 2015,  Arkansas House passes two bills critics say would sanction LGBT discrimination - Associate Press. 
• 13 February 2015, Arkansas Lawmakers Send 'Right To Discriminate' Bill To Governor's Desk - By David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement
• 13 February 2015, Arkansas Legislature Passes Bill Allowing LGBT Discrimination ~ Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he will allow the bill to become law, thereby preventing cities and counties from passing ordinances designed to protect LGBT people from discrimination in housing, jobs, and businesses - By Dominic Holden, BuzzFeed News. 
• 16 February 2015, ACTION ALERT - Tell Arkansas Governor @AsaHutchinson that SB202 (a bill to ban LGBTQ anti-discrimination laws) is BAD for Arkansas by calling at 501-682-2345 and emailing.
• 17 February 2015, Arkansas wants to attract businesses by allowing them to discriminate against gay people - By Jeff Guo, Washington Post
• 19 February 2015, Watch MBNBC's José Díaz Balart and AP's Andrew DeMillo Report on Arkansas' anti-gay bill SB 202
• 23 February 2015, in Arkansas, Gov. Hutchinson firm on allowing gay discrimination bill to become law - Posted By Max Brantley, Arkansas Blog, Arkansas Times

A non-binding resolution opposing marriage equality

Author/Sponsor: Sen. Jason Rapert (R-Bigelow)
Date Introduced: 16 May 2014
Date Enacted: Non-binding (vote was blocked on 16 May 2014)

Description:

• Expresses support for Amendment 83, the 2004 state amendment that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.
• Also asks the state Supreme Court to invalidate several hundred gay marriages issued after Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza ruled the state's bans unconstitutional in May 2014 and calls his decision "an abuse of his judicial authority."
•  Rapert's resolution, which was also signed by 58 other legislators, passed by a voice vote after about a half hour of discussion.
• Before the vote, Sen. David Johnson, D-Little Rock, said the resolution is "incorrect and false" and Rep. John Walker, D-Little Rock, called it a civil and human rights issue as he spoke against it.