BREAKING: Arkansas Legislature Rejects Attempts to Pass “Sue Thy Neighbor” Total Abortion Ban 

LITTLE ROCK — Today, Arkansas legislators overwhelmingly voted against an attempt to pass a near-total abortion ban styled after Texas S.B. 8, the unconstitutional “sue thy neighbor” ban that has decimated abortion access in the state. In a nearly two-thirds vote, legislators defeated a resolution introduced by Senator Jason Rapert to extend the special session and take up this abortion ban, choosing instead to adjourn the special session that had been called to address tax cuts.

The proposed legislation, Arkansas S.B.15,  would have been a full-scale assault on patients, their health care providers, and their support systems. Arkansans already must navigate a web of restrictions to access abortion, including a medically-unnecessary, three-day waiting period that requires two trips to a health center; a ban on telemedicine for medication abortion; and a ban on insurance coverage for abortion. For many Arkansans, particularly those who are Black and Latino, who live in rural areas, and who have low incomes, these barriers already put abortion out of reach.  

Statement from Emily Wales, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes:

“While we still have a long way to go to ensure people across Arkansas can access the reproductive health care they need, today’s vote was a step in the right direction. Senator Rapert’s attempt to pass yet another unconstitutional and dangerous abortion ban was a transparent ploy to forward his political agenda at the very real expense of Arkansans and their bodily autonomy. Though the legislature did not let this attempt stand today, the fight for abortion access in Arkansas is far from over. State politicians have been trying to shut down Planned Parenthood for decades. But we are still here — providing accurate information, non-judgmental help, and a full array of health care services, including abortion. And we will not stop fighting for our patients’ right to access essential health care in their communities.”

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“While we still have a long way to go to ensure people across Arkansas can access the reproductive health care they need, today’s vote was a step in the right direction. Senator Rapert’s attempt to pass yet another unconstitutional and dangerous abortion ban was a transparent ploy to forward his political agenda at the very real expense of Arkansans and their bodily autonomy. Though the legislature did not let this attempt stand today, the fight for abortion access in Arkansas is far from over. State politicians have been trying to shut down Planned Parenthood for decades. But we are still here — providing accurate information, non-judgmental help, and a full array of health care services, including abortion. And we will not stop fighting for our patients’ right to access essential health care in their communities.”

“Today, thanks to the hard work of organizers across Arkansas, an effort to introduce an exceptionally cruel abortion ban was defeated. It is still incredibly difficult to access abortion in the state, but abortion remains legal and health centers remain open. Now, we must turn to the fight ahead. From the 20 restrictions enacted in the state this year alone, we know that abortion opponents in Arkansas will not stop until access is completely eliminated. Nationwide, the right to abortion faces severe threat as the Supreme Court considers unraveling longstanding constitutional protections. Planned Parenthood will continue fighting until everyone, regardless of their race, zip code, or income, is able to freely decide what is best for themselves, their bodies, and their futures."

Arkansas is one of 12 states where abortion could immediately be banned if the Supreme Court issues a decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Nationwide, 26 states could quickly move to ban abortion, leaving nearly half of the country’s women — and more people who can become pregnant — without access to legal abortion in their state. Already, more than 7 million women in Texas are experiencing this post-Roe reality. Since Texas S.B. 8 took effect on September 1, abortion access has been decimated across the state. Texans have been forced to flee the state, traveling hundreds of miles to seek constitutionally-protected care, or carry unwanted pregnancies to term against their will. In neighboring states, abortion providers — including those at Planned Parenthood Great Plains — continue to serve as many patients as possible, even as appointments become booked out for weeks.

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Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)4 nonprofit organization that advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. We lobby state lawmakers, mobilize more than 120,000 grassroots supporters, and engage in issue education in order to protect and expand access to health care and comprehensive sex education in the communities we serve, and to promote Planned Parenthood’s mission.

 Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.