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 in the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. The act emphasizes the General Assembly's intent to uphold a woman's 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 minors. The bill includes new legal language that explicitly states this intent and provides a title for the act. It also repeals the Arkansas Human Life Protection Act and the Arkansas Unborn Child Protection Act, which previously imposed stricter regulations on abortion, reflecting a significant shift towards ensuring access to reproductive health care.

In addition to these changes, the bill introduces new licensing requirements for abortion clinics, mandating that facilities terminating ten or more pregnancies per month must be licensed by the Department of Health, with a $500 annual fee. It also establishes penalties for performing abortions outside defined medical emergencies and removes previous provisions that required written agreements with hospitals for patient transfers. The bill aims to streamline the regulatory framework for abortion facilities by eliminating certain compliance requirements while emphasizing informed consent and the rights of women seeking abortions. Overall, the legislation represents a comprehensive overhaul of Arkansas's abortion laws, focusing on both access and regulatory compliance.

Statutes affected:
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)
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)
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)