Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas Senate Bill SB433

Introduced
3/11/25  
Refer
3/12/25  
Refer
3/17/25  
Report Pass
3/18/25  
Engrossed
3/19/25  
Refer
3/19/25  
Report Pass
4/2/25  
Enrolled
4/9/25  
Chaptered
4/14/25  

Caption

Regarding The Display Of The National Motto And The Ten Commandments.

Impact

The bill aims to promote religious acknowledgment within state-run establishments by mandating these displays. Proponents believe that by placing the national motto and the Ten Commandments in public spaces, the bill reinforces a sense of national identity and moral foundation grounded in biblical values. The expectation is that this will instill a sense of ethics and community pride, particularly among younger generations in educational settings.

Summary

Senate Bill 433, titled 'Regarding The Display Of The National Motto And The Ten Commandments,' seeks to mandate the display of the national motto 'In God We Trust' and the Ten Commandments in various public settings throughout Arkansas. This includes public schools, institutions of higher learning, and other state facilities operated with taxpayer funds. The bill details specific requirements concerning the size, prominence, and legibility of the displays, emphasizing that they should be easily readable and centrally focused on the walls of these institutions.

Contention

However, SB433 has prompted debates regarding the separation of church and state, with concerns that such mandatory displays may favor a specific religious viewpoint over others. Opponents argue that the law could alienate non-religious individuals and minority faiths, effectively using public resources to promote a singular religious narrative. Critics assert that this could lead to unnecessary legal challenges, costing taxpayers money and generating controversy within communities.

Further_considerations

Moreover, the bill specifies that funding for these displays should come from voluntary contributions or donations, leaving some ambiguity about the roles of public and private funding in these installations. The implications of potential legal disputes and the broader question of religious symbolism in public spaces will likely feature prominently in ongoing discussions about the bill's ramifications in Arkansas.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AR HB1677

To Amend The Law Regarding Livestock; To Amend The Law Regarding Livestock Running At Large; To Amend The Law Regarding Fencing; And To Repeal The Law Regarding Fencing Districts.

AR SB433

To Abolish The Arkansas Geological Survey; To Create The Office Of The State Geologist And Transfer The Authority And Duties Of The Arkansas Geological Survey To The Office; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB358

To Prohibit Industrial Hemp That Contain Certain Delta Tetrahydrocannabinol Substances; To Include Certain Tetrahydrocannabinol In The List Of Schedule Vi Controlled Substances; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB403

To Consolidate Agriculture Boards And Commissions; To Abolish Certain Boards Within The Department Of Agriculture; To Transfer The Duties Of Certain Boards Within The Department Of Agriculture; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB195

To Clarify When Parents' Rights No Longer Attach Regarding Safe Haven Infants And To Amend Definitions Under The Laws Regarding Safe Haven.

AR HR1042

To Condemn The Displays Of Antisemitism On University Campuses Across The United States.

AR SB33

An Act For The Department Of Commerce - Division Of Workforce Services Appropriation For The 2023-2024 Fiscal Year.

AR SB354

To Transfer The Duties Of Certain Boards To The State Board Of Appraisers, Abstracters, And Home Inspectors; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB356

To Abolish Inactive State Entities; To Amend The Law Concerning The Reporting Of Boards And Commissions; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB91

To Establish The Audiology And Speech-language Pathology Interstate Compact In Arkansas.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.