Trans Legislation Tracker

Arkansas

We are tracking 14 anti-trans bills in Arkansas in 2025. The legislation impacts 5 categories:

OTHER

EDUCATION

HEALTHCARE

ADOPTION

BATHROOM

AR HB1307

OTHER
PASSED

To Ensure Responsible Fund Management; And To Amend The Uniform Prudent Management Of Institutional Funds Act (2006).

In managing and investing an institutional fund, an institution under § 28-69- 802(4)(B), including without limitation a two-year or four-year state supported institution of higher education, shall not: [...] Select any service provider that [...] participates in any initiative or organization that has a purpose or ambition for its signatories' or members' customers, investment portfolios, or portfolio companies, to be aligned with any of the following goals beyond what is required by controlling law: [...] (C) Providing access to or facilitating an abortion, gender-reassignment, or sex-reassignment medication or procedure;

AR HB1512

EDUCATION
PASSED

To Create The Arkansas Access Act; And To Amend Various Provisions Of The Arkansas Code As They Relate To Education In The State Of Arkansas.

When taking an action on the accreditation or renewal of accreditation of a state-supported institution of higher education, an accrediting agency shall not: (1) Base the accrediting decision in any way on a review or consideration of DEI; (2) Collect information related to DEI; (3) Include any requirement related to DEI, including without limitation requirement of a diversity statement from a state-supported institution of higher education or any employee or contractor of a state-supported institution of higher education;

INTRODUCED

To Amend The Law Concerning Religious Nondiscrimination.

Prohibit the government from discriminating against certain individuals and organizations because of their beliefs regarding marriage or what it means to be female or male;

AR HB1668

HEALTHCARE
INTRODUCED

To Create The Vulnerable Youth Protection Act; And To Authorize A Civil Action For Social Transitioning And Castration, Sterilization, Or Mutilation Of A Minor.

Civil action — Liability. (a)(1) Any person who causes or contributes to the social transitioning of a minor or the castration, sterilization, or mutilation of a minor shall be [...] liable to the minor and the minor’s parents for any personal injuries.

AR HB1669

ADOPTION
ENGROSSED

To Create The Keep Kids First Act; And To Provide For Protections From Discrimination For Adoption And Foster Care Providers Acting In Accordance With Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs.

The state government shall not take any discriminatory action against a person whom the state government places custody of a foster or preadoptive child with [...] based on the person's: (i) Sincerely held religious belief, or intent to guide, instruct, or raise a child, based upon or in a manner that is consistent with that person's sincerely held religious belief; or (ii) Refusal to accept or support any government policy regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that conflicts with the person's sincerely held religious beliefs.

AR HB1684

EDUCATION
ENGROSSED

To Create The Parents And Teachers Helping Students Succeed (paths) Act.

A parent shall be entitled to: [...] Remove his or her student temporarily from a class or other school activity if the class or other school activity conflicts with his or her religious or moral beliefs or if he or she deems the class or other school activity to espouse, promote, advance, or compel his or her student to adopt a critical theory concept.

ENGROSSED

To Require The Display Of Gender Information On An Arkansas Driver’s License Or Identification Card.

A driver’s license or identification card issued by the Office of Driver Services shall state the applicant’s gender information as “M” for male or “F” for female. [The license...] shall contain the same gender information as stated on the applicant’s identity document.

AR HB1916

HEALTHCARE
INTRODUCED

To Amend The Protecting Minors From Medical Malpractice Act Of 2023; And To Include Gender-affirming Interventions As A Right Of Action For Medical Malpractice.

A healthcare professional who performs a gender transition procedure or a mental health professional who performs gender-affirming interventionon a minor is liable to the minor if the minor is injured, including without limitation any physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological injury, by the gender transition procedure, gender-affirming intervention, related treatment, or the after effects of the gender transition procedure, or gender-affirming intervention, or related treatment.

AR SB246

EDUCATION
PASSED

To Create The Arkansas Access Act; And To Amend Various Provisions Of The Arkansas Code As They Relate To Education In The State Of Arkansas.

When taking an action on the accreditation or renewal of accreditation of a state-supported institution of higher education, an accrediting agency shall not: (1) Base the accrediting decision in any way on a review or consideration of DEI; (2) Collect information related to DEI; (3) Include any requirement related to DEI, including without limitation requirement of a diversity statement from a state-supported institution of higher education or any employee or contractor of a state-supported institution of higher education;

AR SB362

EDUCATION
INTRODUCED

An Act For The Department Of Education - Division Of Elementary And Secondary Education Youth Organization Grants Appropriation For The 2025-2026 Fiscal Year.

YOUTH ORGANIZATION GRANT REQUIREMENTS. (a) Grants [...] shall be granted to youth organizations that are not affiliated in any capacity with local or national organizations that promote [...] DEI requirements, identification by pronouns, or presence of woke ideologies.

AR SB444

HEALTHCARE
INTRODUCED

To Amend The Medical Ethics And Diversity Act.

A worker in the medical field, whether a contractor or employee, has the right to not facilitate or participate in an abortion, assisted suicide, or gender transition procedure or service in any manner.

AR SB486

BATHROOM
INTRODUCED

Concerning Safety And Privacy In Certain Entities; And Concerning The Designation Of Multi-occupancy Restrooms, Changing Rooms, And Sleeping Quarters In Certain Entities Based On An Individual's Sex.

It is the intent of the General Assembly to: (1) Clarify and reconcile the meaning of sex, male, and female in state law; and (2) Preserve order and dignity in women's restrooms, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters in facilities where women have traditionally been afforded privacy and safety.

INTRODUCED

To Prohibit Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Offices, Officers, Policies, Or Practices In Local Government.

A local government shall not: (1) Establish or implement a diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative; (2) Expend any state funds and shall reject any federal funds the receipt of which requires the local government to violate this section; or (3) Require a current or prospective officer, agent, administrator, employee, or contractor of local government to submit a statement or diversity statement describing his or her views on matters related to race, ethnicity, sex, color, or national origin to be considered for the purposes of hiring, evaluating, admitting, or promoting the officer, agent, administrator, employee, or contractor of local government.

AR SB536

EDUCATION
INTRODUCED

To Abolish And Transfer The Arkansas State Library And The State Library Board; And To Declare An Emergency.

(1) The Arkansas State Library is abolished. [...] The duties and property of the Arkansas State Library are transferred to the Department of Education. [...] (a) The Department of Education shall administer a program to distribute funds appropriated by the General Assembly as state aid to a public library [...] (b) State aid shall be made available to a public library that satisfies all of the following requirements: (1) The governing body of the public library shall: (C) Adopt and enforce policies that: (i) Govern the development of the collection of materials and resources of the public library; (ii) Prohibit access to age-inappropriate materials to a person who is sixteen (16) years old or younger;