HB 1669 Arkansas House · 2025 Regular Session

TO CREATE THE KEEP KIDS FIRST ACT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR PROTECTIONS FROM DISCRIMINATION FOR ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE PROVIDERS ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

HB 1669, now Act 509, creates the "Keep Kids First Act" to protect adoption and foster care providers who refuse services based on sincerely held religious beliefs. The law prevents discrimination against these providers (such as agencies or workers) when they decline to place children due to religious objections. It specifically adds legal safeguards ensuring providers cannot face penalties or lose licensing for such actions. This law directly affects adoption/foster care providers and the children/parents seeking services, making religiously based refusals legally protected. The bill passed the Arkansas legislature and was signed into law on April 10, 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Signed Apr 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Act 509 → HB 1669 · 1 edit

MINOR

The diff shows only minor formatting and header changes between Act 509 and HB 1669, with no substantive policy modifications. The bill number, date, and assembly information remain consistent, indicating this is a technical update rather than a legislative change.

TECHNICAL

Header formatting adjustments including spacing and line breaks in the document title section

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 10, 2025

Signed into law

Notification that HB1669 is now Act 509

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate amendment # 1 read and concurred in.

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass, concur in Senate Amendment No. 1

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to the Committee on AGING, CHILDREN AND YOUTH, & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS- HOUSE

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned from Senate as passed, as amended # 1

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned to the House as passed as amended # 1 .

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read the third time and passed.

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned by the Committee Do Pass

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors