Arkansas Legislature Leads Nation In 2015 Anti-Abortion Laws

KUAR | By The Associated Press

Published April 13, 2015 at 9:08 AM CDT

The Arkansas House of Representatives chamber.

The Arkansas Legislature and Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson have enacted more abortion restrictions than any other state so far this year. The Center for Reproductive Rights and Americans United for Life have different takes on the legislation but agree that no other state has topped the six laws and two resolutions passed in Arkansas.

The restrictions include a telemedicine abortion ban, stricter information requirements, a 48-hour waiting period between an in-person meeting and the procedure, restrictions on the disposal of fetal tissue and a prohibition on state funding for providers.

Proponents say the legislation this year focused on women's health and making abortions safer while opponents have dismissed the laws as thinly veiled attempts to outlaw a legal procedure.

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