All Roll Calls
Yes: 95 • No: 22
ArkansasHB16152025 Regular SessionHouse
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING RELIGIOUS NONDISCRIMINATION.
Sponsored By: Gary Stubblefield (Republican), Robin Lundstrum (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Religious beliefs cannot block state benefits
Arkansas cannot deny, cut, end, or materially change covered state benefits because of a person's sincere religious beliefs. Covered benefits include grants, benefit programs, contracts, subcontracts, cooperative agreements, guarantees, loans, and scholarships. The protection also covers state contract terms that contradict those beliefs.
Religious protections for professional licenses grow
Arkansas must license or certify otherwise qualified people despite sincere religious beliefs or inability to provide services conflicting with those beliefs. It also cannot deny, revoke, or refuse to renew covered degrees, licenses, or certificates on those grounds. Arkansas cannot require occupational group membership for these credentials when the group requires services conflicting with those beliefs. These protections include religious beliefs about biological sex or marriage. Exceptions must be essential to a compelling government interest and use the least restrictive means.
State workers gain belief-based speech protections
Arkansas cannot discriminate against state workers for lawful speech or expressive conduct reflecting covered beliefs about biological sex or marriage. At work, the same time, place, manner, and frequency rules apply as for other permitted religious, political, or moral expression. Expression at public colleges remains subject to the institutional policies identified in the law. Outside work, protection covers personal expression outside the worker's job duties.
Students gain religious protections during training
Arkansas public schools must protect students studying for a state-licensed or state-certified job from certain conflicting service requirements. Schools cannot require students to assist or serve clients toward goals, outcomes, or behaviors conflicting with their sincere religious beliefs. This includes potential clients. Exceptions must be essential to a compelling government interest and use the least restrictive means.
Marriage officials gain belief-based recusal protections
Covered personnel can seek to step aside from authorizing, licensing, performing, or solemnizing lawful marriages because of covered beliefs. These are beliefs about biological sex or marriage. After prior written notice to the state, Arkansas cannot discriminate against them for stepping aside. The government must not unduly burden access to constitutional rights, including marriage, because of these recusals.
Marriage service providers gain belief-based protections
Arkansas cannot discriminate against people or religious groups for covered choices based on religious or philosophical beliefs about sex or marriage. The law defines these beliefs around male and female meaning only biological sex determined at birth, which cannot change. Covered choices include providing or refusing marriage-related goods, services, and accommodations, such as photography, cakes, counseling, and venue rentals. Protection also covers specified employment decisions and keeping separate intimate facilities based on biological sex. These protections limit state action, not all private disputes.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Gary Stubblefield
Republican • Senate
Robin Lundstrum
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Alyssa Brown
Republican • House
Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Republican • House
Brad Hall
Republican • House
Joey L. Carr
Republican • House
Jack Ladyman
Republican • House
Wayne Long
Republican • House
Mindy McAlindon
Republican • House
Rebecca Burkes
Republican • House
Ryan A. Rose
Republican • House
Randy Torres
Republican • House
Steve Unger
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/9/2025
Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 6:23:16 PM
Yes: 29 • No: 5 • Other: 1
House vote • 4/3/2025
House Vote - Thursday, April 3, 2025 2:20:33 PM
Yes: 66 • No: 17 • Other: 7
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1615 is now Act 677
4/16/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
4/10/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
4/9/2025HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
4/9/2025HouseReturned to the House as passed.
4/9/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/9/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
4/7/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - SENATE
4/3/2025SenateReceived from the House.
4/3/2025SenateRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/3/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/2/2025HouseAmendment No. 5 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
4/2/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
4/2/2025HouseReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass as amended 5
4/1/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/31/2025HouseAmendment No. 4 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
3/31/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
3/31/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/12/2025HouseAmendment No. 3 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
3/12/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
3/12/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/11/2025HouseAmendment No. 2 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
3/11/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
3/11/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/5/2025HouseAmendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
3/5/2025House
Bill Text
HB1615 - Introduced
2/27/2025
Act Version
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