The "Restore Roe Act" seeks to restore and protect a woman's access to abortion services in Arkansas, aligning state law with the protections established by the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. The bill emphasizes the right to obtain abortion services up to the point of fetal viability, with limited exceptions for the health or life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest involving a minor. It introduces new legal language that reinforces this commitment to reproductive rights while repealing the Arkansas Human Life Protection Act and the Arkansas Unborn Child Protection Act, which previously imposed restrictions on abortion access. The bill also modifies existing laws by removing definitions and provisions related to abortion, including those concerning spontaneous abortion and ectopic pregnancies, and establishes that performing an abortion is classified as an unclassified felony.

In addition to these changes, the bill introduces new licensing requirements for abortion clinics, mandating that facilities performing ten or more abortions monthly must be licensed by the Department of Health, with annual inspections and a licensing fee. It also repeals existing provisions that required written agreements with hospitals for patient transfers and eliminates penalties for concealing information during inspections. The bill aims to streamline the regulatory framework for abortion facilities by reducing compliance requirements while tightening regulations surrounding abortion practices. Overall, the legislation reflects a significant shift in Arkansas's approach to abortion, moving towards a framework that supports access to reproductive health care while imposing stricter controls on abortion procedures.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1011 V2 - 1-16-2025 04:29 PM: 12-12-315(a), 12-18-210, 20-16-801, 20-16-804, 5-1-101, 16-93-1802(2), 01-16-2025, 17-95-409(a), 19-6-301, 20-9-302, 5-61-304, 5-61-404, 20-9-312, 25-15-201, 20-16-602, 20-16-603, 17-95-201, 17-95-301, 17-95-401, 20-16-605, 25-19-101, 20-16-607, 25-15-204(f), 10-3-309, 10-3-309(c), 20-16-608, 20-16-701, 20-16-702(1), 20-16-705(c), 20-16-704, 20-16-1502, 20-16-1505, 20-16-1504, 20-16-1506, 20-16-1507(f)
Old version HB1011 Original - 11-20-2024 02:12 PM: 12-12-315(a), 12-18-210, 20-16-801, 20-16-804, 5-1-101, 16-93-1802(2), 17-95-409(a), 19-6-301, 20-9-302, 5-61-304, 5-61-404, 20-9-312, 25-15-201, 20-16-602, 20-16-603, 17-95-201, 17-95-301, 17-95-401, 20-16-605, 25-19-101, 20-16-607, 25-15-204(f), 10-3-309, 10-3-309(c), 20-16-608, 20-16-701, 20-16-702(1), 20-16-705(c), 20-16-704, 20-16-1502, 20-16-1505, 20-16-1504, 20-16-1506, 20-16-1507(f)
HB 1011: 12-12-315(a), 12-18-210, 20-16-801, 20-16-804, 5-1-101, 16-93-1802(2), 17-95-409(a), 19-6-301, 20-9-302, 5-61-304, 5-61-404, 20-9-312, 25-15-201, 20-16-602, 20-16-603, 17-95-201, 17-95-301, 17-95-401, 20-16-605, 25-19-101, 20-16-607, 25-15-204(f), 10-3-309, 10-3-309(c), 20-16-608, 20-16-701, 20-16-702(1), 20-16-705(c), 20-16-704, 20-16-1502, 20-16-1505, 20-16-1504, 20-16-1506, 20-16-1507(f)