Check Out Some Of The New Arkansas Laws Effective Tuesday, August 1

The Arkansas Legislature finished its session back on May 1 of this year and many of the new laws they passed during the 94th General Assembly go into effect 90 days from when the laws were passed, that day is next week, Tuesday, August 1, 2023. Let's take a look at what you need to know.

Act 11: Flags purchased using public funds must be manufactured in the USA.
Darn tootin!

Act 30: Allows individuals who have sought out voluntary mental health treatment to be able to obtain a concealed carry firearm permit after a certain time period.

Act 35: Prevents Registered Sex Offenders from purchasing, owning, flying, or using/operating any type of unmanned aircraft or drone.

Act 131: Originally, this bill was to prevent children from attending drag show performances, after a few amendments it now more broadly restricts children from being present at any sexually oriented show that features partial or complete nudity or sexual acts. It also better defines what Adult-Oriented Performance is.

Act 168: Establishes Samantha's Law, enabling a juvenile's preferences to be considered in Foster care placement.

Act 195: Changes Child Labor laws in the state and, establishes the Youth Hiring Act of 2023 which effectively lowers the working age below the age of 16 in Arkansas. It does not kill Child Labor Laws in the state, just makes it easier to hire younger people. In fact, Act 687 increases the penalties for related to child labor violations.

Act 305: The elimination of write-in candidates in the state of Arkansas.

Act 317: This law prohibits Transgender people from using multi-person restrooms and changing areas in Arkansas public schools that match their gender identity, but rather their gender at birth.

Act 372: This law changes how libraries in the state classify obscene materials and creates the offense of furnishing harmful items to a minor.

Act 477: A law defining a Spaceport along with a feasibility study on building one in Arkansas.

Act 611: This law prohibits public entities from contracting with companies who boycott energy, fossil fuels, firearms, or ammunition industries.

Act 612: This law creates the Protection Of Minors From Distribution of Harmful Materials Act. It requires reasonable digital proof of age before viewing porn over the Internet.

Act 689: Creation of the Social Media Safety Act, to require age verification before the use of Social Media, and clarify liability for failure to do so. The Social Media Safety Act won't go into effect until September 1, 2023.

Act 757: Amending a law concerning Concealed Handguns, protecting the rights of medical marijuana patients and caregivers to be able to obtain a Concealed Carry permit.

Act 811: This law requires Opioid Overdose Rescue Kits to be available on every public high school campus and state-supported school in Arkansas.

If you would like to see a full list, click here for the original story.

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