Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 859 of the Regular Session
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State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/19/25 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1142 3
4
By: Representative A. Brown 5
By: Senator J. Dotson 6
7
For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO CREATE THE REPRODUCTIVE EMPOWERMENT AND 9
SUPPORT THROUGH OPTIMAL RESTORATION (RESTORE) ACT; 10
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 11
12
13
Subtitle 14
TO CREATE THE REPRODUCTIVE EMPOWERMENT 15
AND SUPPORT THROUGH OPTIMAL RESTORATION 16
(RESTORE) ACT. 17
18
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 19
20
SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Title. 21
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Reproductive 22
Empowerment and Support Through Optimal Restoration (RESTORE) Act". 23
24
SECTION 2. Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 16, is amended to add an 25
additional subchapter to read as follows: 26
Subchapter 26 — Reproductive Empowerment and Support Through Optimal 27
Restoration Act 28
29
20-16-2601. Title. 30
This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Reproductive 31
Empowerment and Support Through Optimal Restoration Act". 32
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20-16-2602. Legislative findings. 34
The General Assembly finds that: 35
(1) There is a growing interest among women to proactively 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 HB1142
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assess their overall health and understand how factors such as age and 1
medical history contribute to reproductive health and fertility; 2
(2)(A) Women are worthy of the highest standard of medical care, 3
including the opportunity to assess, understand, and improve their 4
reproductive health. 5
(B) Unfortunately, many women do not receive adequate 6
information about their reproductive health and do not have access to 7
restorative reproductive medicine; 8
(3) Reproductive health conditions are the leading causes of 9
infertility, which affects fifteen to sixteen percent (15 -16%) of couples in 10
the United States; 11
(4) Research shows four (4) or more conditions or factors are 12
the cause of most female infertility; 13
(5) There is a gap in research and care for female reproductive 14
health conditions, which affects many Americans struggling with unexplained 15
infertility; 16
(6) Restorative reproductive medicine aims to diagnose and treat 17
underlying hormonal and other imbalances, restore health when possible, and 18
improve women’s health functioning and long -term outcomes; 19
(7) Restorative reproductive medicine can eliminate barriers to 20
successful conception, pregnancy, and birth as well as address some causes of 21
recurrent miscarriages; and 22
(8) Restorative reproductive medicine often alleviates some 23
difficult symptoms associated with reproductive health conditions, including 24
hormonal acne, hormonal weight gain, hormonal mood changes and depression, 25
painful menstruation, painful flare -ups, bloating, inflammation, heavy 26
menstruation, irregular menstruation, nerve pain, bowel symptoms, pain during 27
sexual intercourse, and back pain. 28
29
20-16-2603. Definitions. 30
As used in this subchapter: 31
(1) "Assisted reproductive technology" means a treatment or 32
procedure involving the handling of a human egg, sperm, or embryo outside of 33
the body with the intent of facilitating a pregnancy, including: 34
(A) Artificial insemination; 35
(B) Intrauterine insemination; 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 HB1142
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(C) In vitro fertilization; 1
(D) Gamete intrafallopian fertilization; 2
(E) Zygote intrafallopian fertilization; 3
(F) Egg, embryo, or sperm cryopreservation; and 4
(G) Egg, sperm, or embryo donation; 5
(2)(A) "Fertility awareness -based methods" means modern, 6
evidence-based methods of tracking the menstrual cycle through observable 7
biological signs in a woman, such as body temperature, cervical fluid, or 8
hormone production in the reproductive system, including luteinizing hormone 9
and estrogen. 10
(B) "Fertility awareness -based methods" includes without 11
limitation: 12
(i) Fertility education and medical management; 13
(ii) The symptothermal method; 14
(iii) The Creighton Model FertilityCare System; and 15
(iv) The Billings Ovulation Method; 16
(3) "Fertility education and medical management" means the 17
program developed in collaboration with the Reproductive Health Research 18
Institute for medical research, protocols, and medical training for 19
healthcare professionals in order to enable the clinical application of 20
research advances in reproductive endocrinology, by providing education for 21
women about their bodies and hormonal health and medical support, as 22
appropriate; 23
(4) "Infertility" means a symptom of an underlying disease or 24
condition within a person’s body that makes successfully conceiving and 25
carrying a child to term difficult or impossible, which is diagnosed after: 26
(A) Twelve (12) months of sexual intercourse without the 27
use of a chemical, barrier, or other contraceptive method for women under 28
thirty-five (35) years of age; or 29
(B) Six (6) months of targeted sexual intercourse without 30
the use of a chemical, barrier, or other contraceptive method for women who 31
are thirty-five (35) years of age and older, when conception should otherwise 32
be possible; 33
(5) "Natural procreative technology" means an approach to health 34
care that monitors and maintains a woman's reproductive and gynecological 35
health, including laparoscopic gynecologic surgery to reconstruct the uterus, 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 HB1142
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fallopian tubes, ovaries, or other organ structures to eliminate 1
endometriosis and other reproductive health conditions; 2
(6) "Reproductive health condition" means a health condition 3
that makes successfully conceiving a child difficult to impossible when 4
conception should otherwise be possible, including without limitation: 5
(A) Endometriosis; 6
(B) Adenomyosis; 7
(C) Polycystic ovary syndrome; 8
(D) Uterine fibroids; 9
(E) Blocked fallopian tubes; 10
(F) Hormonal imbalances; 11
(G) Hyperprolactinemia; 12
(H) Thyroid conditions; and 13
(I) Ovulation dysfunctions; 14
(7) "Restorative reproductive health" means a scientific 15
approach to reproductive medicine that seeks to cooperate with or restore the 16
normal physiology and anatomy of the human reproductive system, including 17
without limitation: 18
(A) Body literacy programs that incorporate science -based 19
charting methods; 20
(B) Teacher-led reproductive health education; 21
(C) Restorative reproductive medicine; 22
(D) Natural procreative technology; 23
(E) Fertility awareness -based methods; and 24
(F) Fertility education and medical management; and 25
(8)(A) "Restorative reproductive medicine" means a scientific 26
approach to reproductive medicine that seeks to cooperate with or restore the 27
normal physiology and anatomy of the human reproductive system without the 28
use of methods that are inherently suppressive, circumventive, or destructive 29
to natural human functions. 30
(B) "Restorative reproductive medicine" includes: 31
(i) Ultrasounds; 32
(ii) Blood tests; 33
(iii) Hormone panels; 34
(iv) Laparoscopic and exploratory surgeries; 35
(v) Examinations of a patient's overall health and 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 HB1142
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lifestyle; 1
(vi) Elimination of environmental endocrine disruptors; 2
(vii) Assessment of the health and fertility of a 3
patient's partner; 4
(viii) Natural procreative technology; 5
(ix) Fertility awareness -based methods; and 6
(x) Fertility education and medical management. 7
8
20-16-2604. Assisted reproductive technology — Discrimination against 9
nonparticipating healthcare providers prohibited. 10
Notwithstanding any other state law, a person or entity that receives 11
state financial assistance or local government assistance shall not penalize, 12
retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against a healthcare provider on 13
the basis that the healthcare provider does not or declines to: 14
(1) Assist in, receive training in, provide, perform, refer for, 15
pay for, or otherwise participate in assisted reproductive technology; or 16
(2) Facilitate or make arrangements for any of the activities 17
under subdivision (1) of this section in a manner that violates the 18
healthcare provider's sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions. 19
20
20-16-2605. Fertility awareness-based methods — Incorporation into 21
Title X programs. 22
(a) All Title X-funded facilities in Arkansas shall include fertility 23
awareness-based methods as part of covered family planning and reproductive 24
health services. 25
(b)(1) The Department of Health shall work with Title X -funded 26
facilities to integrate fertility awareness-based methods into existing 27
programs within twelve (12) months of the effective date of this section. 28
(2) The department shall provide guidance and support to 29
facilities in implementing the fertility awareness-based methods, including: 30
(A) Training for healthcare providers on fertility 31
awareness-based methods; and 32
(B) Development of patient education materials on 33
fertility awareness-based methods. 34
(c) Title X-funded facilities shall allocate a portion of existing 35
Title X funds to cover implementing and providing fertility awareness-based 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 HB1142
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methods. 1
2
20-16-2606. Advancing education on reproductive health conditions. 3
(a) As authorized by state or federal funding, the Department of Health 4
shall integrate information about fertility awareness-based methods into 5
existing public health programs, including: 6
(1) Family planning services; 7
(2) Maternal and child health programs; and 8
(3) Women's health initiatives. 9
(b) Existing health education materials and resources shall be updated 10
to include information on restorative reproductive medicine. 11
12
SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 23 -85-137 is amended to read as follows: 13
23-85-137. In vitro fertilization coverage required — Definitions. 14
(a) As used in this section: 15
(1)(A) "Fertility awareness -based methods" means modern, 16
evidence-based methods of tracking the menstrual cycle of a woman through 17
observable biological signs, including without limitation: 18
(i) Body temperature; 19
(ii) Cervical fluid; or 20
(iii) Hormone production in the reproductive system, 21
including luteinizing hormone and estrogen. 22
(B) "Fertility awareness -based methods" includes without 23
limitation: 24
(i) Fertility education and medical management; 25
(ii) The symptothermal method; 26
(iii) The Creighton Model FertilityCare System; or 27
(iv) Billings Ovulation Method; 28
(2) "Fertility education and medical management" means a program 29
developed in collaboration with the Reproductive Health Research Institute 30
for medical research, protocols, and medical training for healthcare 31
professionals in order to enable the clinical application of research 32
advances in reproductive endocrinology by providing education for a woman 33
about her body and hormonal health and medical support, as appropriate; 34
(3) "Natural procreative technology" means an approach to 35
healthcare services that monitors and maintains a woman's reproductive and 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 HB1142
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gynecological health, including without limitation laparoscopic gynecologic 1
surgery to reconstruct the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and other organ 2
structures, to eliminate endometriosis and other reproductive health 3
conditions; and 4
(4)(A) "Restorative reproductive medicine" means any scientific 5
approach to reproductive medicine that seeks to cooperate with or restore the 6
normal physiology and anatomy of the human reproductive system without the 7
use of methods that are suppressive, circumventive, or destructive to natural 8
human functions. 9
(B) "Restorative reproductive medicine" includes without 10
limitation: 11
(i) An ultrasound; 12
(ii) A blood test; 13
(iii) A hormone panel test; 14
(iv) A Laparoscopic or exploratory surgery; 15
(v) An examination of a patient's overall health and 16
lifestyle; 17
(vi) Eliminating environmental endocrine disruptors; 18
(vii) Assessing the health and fertility of a 19
patient's partner; 20
(viii) Natural procreative technology; 21
(ix) Fertility awareness -based methods; or 22
(x) Fertility education and medical management. 23
(b) All An accident and health insurance companies company doing 24
business in this state shall include, as a covered expense, in vitro 25
fertilization and restorative reproductive medicine . 26
(b)(c) Pursuant to the applicable provisions of Under the Arkansas 27
Insurance Code, the Insurance Commissioner may suspend or revoke the 28
certificate of authority of any insurance company failing to comply with the 29
provisions of this section. 30
(c)(d) After conducting appropriate studies and public hearings, the 31
commissioner shall establish minimum and maximum levels of coverage to be 32
provided by the an accident and health insurance companies company. 33
(d)(e) Coverage required under this section shall include services and 34
procedures performed at a medical facility licensed or certified by the 35
Department of Health or another state health department that conform to the 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 HB1142
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guidelines and minimum standards of the: 1
(1) American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for in 2
vitro fertilization clinics; or 3
(2) American Society for Reproductive Medicine for programs of 4
in vitro fertilization ; or 5
(3) Institute of Restorative Reproductive Medicine of America 6
for programs of restorative reproductive medicine . 7
(e)(f) Continued certification shall require that the facility is 8
achieving a reasonable success rate with both fertilization, fertility, and 9
births. 10
(f)(g) Appropriate laboratory facilities must shall be provided by the 11
entity requesting certification. 12
13
SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 23 -86-118 is amended to read as follows: 14
23-86-118. In vitro fertilization coverage required — Definitions. 15
(a) As used in this section: 16
(1)(A) "Fertility awareness -based methods" means modern, 17
evidence-based methods of tracking the menstrual cycle of a woman through 18
observable biological signs, including without limitation: 19
(i) Body temperature; 20
(ii) Cervical fluid; or 21
(iii) Hormone production in the reproductive system, 22
including luteinizing hormone and estrogen. 23
(B) "Fertility awareness -based methods" includes without 24
limitation: 25
(i) Fertility education and medical management; 26
(ii) The symptothermal method; 27
(iii) The Creighton Model FertilityCare System; or 28
(iv) The Billings Ovulation Method; 29
(2) "Fertility education and medical management" means a program 30
developed in collaboration with the Reproductive Health Research Institute 31
for medical research, protocols, and medical training for healthcare 32
professionals in order to enable the clinical application of research 33
advances in reproductive endocrinology by providing education for a woman 34
about her body and hormonal health and medical support, as appropriate; 35
(3) "Natural procreative technology" means an approach to 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 HB1142
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healthcare services that monitors and maintains a woman's reproductive and 1
gynecological health, including without limitation laparoscopic gynecologic 2
surgery to reconstruct the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and other organ 3
structures, to eliminate endometriosis and other reproductive health 4
conditions; and 5
(4)(A) "Restorative reproductive medicine" means any scientific 6
approach to reproductive medicine that seeks to cooperate with or restore the 7
normal physiology and anatomy of the human reproductive system without the 8
use of methods that are suppressive, circumventive, or destructive to natural 9
human functions. 10
(B) "Restorative reproductive medicine" includes without 11
limitation: 12
(i) An ultrasound; 13
(ii) A blood test; 14
(iii) A hormone panel test; 15
(iv) A Laparoscopic or exploratory surgery; 16
(v) An examination of a patient's overall health and 17
lifestyle; 18
(vi) Eliminating environmental endocrine disruptors; 19
(vii) Assessing the health and fertility of a 20
patient's partner; 21
(viii) Natural procreative technology; 22
(ix) Fertility awareness -based methods; or 23
(x) Fertility education and medical management. 24
(b) All An accident and health insurance companies company doing 25
business in this state shall include, as a covered expense, in vitro 26
fertilization and restorative reproductive medicine . 27
(b)(c) Pursuant to the applicable provisions of Under the Arkansas 28
Insurance Code, the Insurance Commissioner may suspend or revoke the 29
certificate of authority of any insurance company failing to comply with the 30
provisions of this section. 31
(c)(d) After conducting appropriate studies and public hearings, the 32
commissioner shall establish minimum and maximum levels of coverage to be 33
provided by the an accident and health insurance companies company. 34
(d)(e) Coverage required under this section shall include services 35
performed at: 36 As Engrossed: H3/19/25 HB1142
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(1) a A medical facility licensed or certified by the Department 1
of Health,; 2
(2) those performed at a A facility certified by the department 3
that conforms to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 4
guidelines for in vitro fertilization clinics , or; 5
(3) those performed at a A facility certified by the department 6
that meets the American Society for Reproductive Medicine minimal standards 7
for programs of in vitro fertilization ; or 8
(4) A facility certified by the department that meets the 9
guidelines and standards of the Institute of Restorative Reproductive 10
Medicine of America for programs of restorative reproductive medicine . 11
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/s/A. Brown 13
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APPROVED: 4/17/25 16
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