All Roll Calls
Yes: 107 • No: 32
ArkansasSB5912025 Regular SessionSenate
TO PROHIBIT RACE-SELECTION ABORTION IN THIS STATE; AND TO CREATE THE RACE DISCRIMINATION BY ABORTION PROHIBITION ACT.
Sponsored By: Clint Penzo (Republican), Karilyn Brown (Republican)
Enacted
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Women gain abortion-case liability and privacy protections
A woman who receives or tries to receive a prohibited abortion cannot be prosecuted or held criminally or civilly liable under this law. She also gets crime-victim rights, protections, and notices in related cases. Her identity stays confidential in civil cases unless she consents to disclosure. Specified proceedings must use a substitute name unless she gives written consent. These protections take effect only after Arkansas's attorney general certifies that a court blocks enforcement of the state's life-saving-emergency-only abortion limits, or that one or both underlying laws have been repealed or amended to allow other abortions.
Providers face race-selection abortion limits
Providers cannot intentionally perform or attempt an abortion they know is sought solely because of the unborn child's race. Before any abortion, providers must ask whether the woman knows that race and explain the ban if she does. They must request records covering her entire pregnancy history and spend reasonable time and effort obtaining them before proceeding. The definition excludes procedures to save life or preserve health, remove a pregnancy lost through miscarriage, or remove an ectopic pregnancy. If courts invalidate the ban before viability, it still applies after viability. These rules take effect only after Arkansas's attorney general certifies that a court blocks enforcement of the state's life-saving-emergency-only abortion limits, or that one or both underlying laws have been repealed or amended to allow other abortions.
Abortion violations bring penalties and damages
Knowingly performing or attempting a prohibited abortion is a Class A misdemeanor, and violating providers face license suspension or revocation. A woman who received a prohibited abortion without being told about the ban may sue for a reckless violation. A parent or guardian may also sue for a minor or legally incompetent woman. Claims can include actual and punitive damages, plus statutory damages equal to 10 times the abortion's cost. The woman's spouse, parent, guardian, current or former licensed healthcare provider, or Arkansas attorney general may seek a court order stopping further abortions. These penalties and remedies take effect only after Arkansas's attorney general certifies that a court blocks enforcement of the state's life-saving-emergency-only abortion limits, or that one or both underlying laws have been repealed or amended to allow other abortions.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Clint Penzo
Republican • Senate
Karilyn Brown
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/16/2025
House Vote - Wednesday, April 16, 2025 12:35:12 PM
Yes: 63 • No: 17 • Other: 4
Senate vote • 4/9/2025
Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 9, 2025 9:54:14 PM
Yes: 29 • No: 6
Senate vote • 4/8/2025
Senate Vote - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 6:24:03 PM
Yes: 15 • No: 9 • Other: 4
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB591 is now Act 973
4/23/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
4/16/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
4/16/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
4/16/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
4/16/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
4/16/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/16/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
4/15/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE
4/10/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
4/10/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
4/9/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/9/2025SenateRules suspended.
4/9/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/9/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
4/9/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
4/9/2025SenateRules suspended.
4/9/2025SenateMotion to Expunge the Vote by which SB591 failed. Motion Carried.
4/8/2025SenateRead the third time and failed.
4/8/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
4/7/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE
3/31/2025SenateFiled
3/31/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB591 - Introduced
3/31/2025
Act Version
Related Bills
HB1265, AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1237, TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIVIDUALS.
HB1686, TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.
SB440, TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES.
HB1695, TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO ALLOW A MUNICIPALITY TO PETITION TO SET ASIDE THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO CERTAIN PERSONS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRIORITY OF UNRECORDED MUNICIPAL LIENS.
HR1012, TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO REQUIRE THAT A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BE SELECTED AS A DESIGNATED SURVIVOR.