Arkansas offers millions to pregnancy help organizations

Arkansas lawmakers passed legislation this session awarding $2 million in grants to pregnancy help organizations such as pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) in the state.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation in April awarding $2 million to life-affirming organizations that assist pregnant women and children.

• Eligible organizations must not commit or refer for abortions.

• Accepting the funding is optional.

THE DETAILS

Arkansas lawmakers passed HB 1202 on April 1, and the legislation was signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on April 22. It designates $2 million in grant money to pregnancy health organizations in the state. Most preborn children are protected from abortion in Arkansas, except when the mother’s life is considered to be at risk.

In addition to PRCs, the grant money may also go to maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other entities that help provide material support to pregnant women.

The legislation stipulates that an eligible pregnancy organization is one that “does not perform, prescribe, provide referrals for, or encourage abortion or affiliate with any organization that performs, prescribes, provides referrals for, or encourages abortion.”

READ: Family says woman died after husband forced her to take abortion drugs

According to the Arkansas Family Council, this is not the first year that the state has offered grant money to PRCs.

“Since 2022 Family Council has worked with the Arkansas Legislature and the governor to secure funding every year for pregnancy resource centers,” the organization said in a statement. “These state-funded grants have helped support dozens of charities that assist women and children in Arkansas.”

As noted by the Family Council, grants are optional. “Pregnancy resource centers are not required to accept public tax dollars if they do not want to,” it explained. “But for those who do receive grant money, the funding may make a tremendous difference.”

WHY IT MATTERS:

PRCs and other pregnancy help organizations provide tangible support and help to pregnant women and young families, stepping in to give assistance that helps mothers choose life for their babies.

According to 2022 findings from the Charlotte Lozier Institute, pregnancy centers served nearly 975,000 clients with an estimated service value of $367 million at no cost to those clients. The organization notes that there are over 2,750 PRCs in the United States, serving women with goods and services including ultrasounds, STD testing, baby clothes, diapers, formula, food, connections to social services, and much more.

Arkansas Right to Life lists 48 such locations in the state.