LITTLE ROCK – Representative Ashley Hudson (D-Little Rock) presented HB1880, which provides narrow exceptions to Arkansas’s extreme total abortion ban. Republicans voted NO.

While presenting the Democratic bill to the House Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee this morning,. Hudson made the case for expanding abortion access to women and girls who are survivors of rape and incest, women whose health is in danger due to the pregnancy, and in cases where the fetus has a deadly condition or anomaly.

“These exceptions are designed to address the rare and heart-wrenching situations where a woman or girl is confronted with choices that no one should ever have to face,” Hudson said. “By allowing for these exceptions, we ensure that our laws reflect not only our commitment to the sanctity of life but also our ability to respond with humanity and empathy when the circumstances are both extraordinary and tragic. It is about striking the right balance, upholding core values of life while providing necessary protections when there is no clear path forward without significant physical, emotional, or moral harm.”

Mylissa Farmer, an Arkansan who experienced devastating complications during her pregnancy but was not provided abortion access due to a similar extreme ban in neighboring Missouri, spoke in favor of HB1880. 

“My dream became a nightmare. I heard the doctors’ prognosis of [premature rupturing of membranes]. But the law prevented me from getting the care that I needed. They told me I was at great risk, and even though Maeve was no longer viable, there was still a heartbeat. That meant that they wouldn’t help me until I was suffering immediate death,” Farmer said.

Republicans were unmoved. “This bill would completely destroy the abortion ban in our state,” Rep. Mary Bentley (R-Perryville) said in opposition. 

“We have a good law on the books now,” said Matt Gilmore from the Arkansas Department of Health, speaking on behalf of the department and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ administration. When asked by Rep. Jay Richardson (D-Fort Smith) about his response to Farmer’s compelling testimony, Gilmore responded, “I am sympathetic. I respect that, but as far as the position of the department and the executive branch, we stand behind the current laws in Arkansas.”

Republicans voted the bill down, showing their commitment to the dangerous and unpopular status quo of no exceptions for rape, incest, child victims, deadly fetal conditions, or the mom’s health.

“Arkansas Democrats support your freedom to make decisions for your health and family,” Democratic Party of Arkansas chair Grant Tennille said after HB1880 was defeated by Republicans. “We will keep fighting for common-sense exceptions to our extreme abortion ban. We will keep fighting to protect women.”