Representative Jim Dotson (R – Bentonville) is a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and is running for State Senate. He is a conservative who has kept his promises. We call him a “Platform Hero” because of an outstanding record of voting with the principles and platform of the Republican Party of Arkansas.

First, we look at highlights from his voting record, and then we show how he scored based on the Economic Freedom Filter of Conduit For Commerce.

VOTING RECORD HIGHLIGHTS

Abortion/ Pro-Life

• Voted to ban abortions in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother – SB6 of 2021
• Voted to ban abortion if/when Roe v. Wade is overturned – SB149 of 2019
• Voted to prohibit abortions after 18 weeks of life – HB1439 of 2019
• Voted to prohibit abortions after the 12^th week of life – SB134 of 2013
• Voted to prohibits abortion after the 20^th week of pregnancy – HB1037 of 2013
• Voted to prohibit dismemberment abortions – HB1032 of 2017
• Voted to prohibit abortions based on a child having down syndrome – SB2 of 2019
• Voted to prohibits tax-funded abortions under Obamacare – HB1100 of 2013
• Voted to require abortion clinics to report child abuse – HB1447 of 2013
• Voted to allow homicide charges for wrongful death of the unborn – SB417 of 2013
• Voted to prohibit abortions based on the sex of an unborn child – HB1434 of 2017
• Voted to require doctors to save children who survive an abortion – SB148 of 2017
• Voted to prohibit “wrongful birth” lawsuits for those who wish they had an abortion after the baby has been born – SB340 of 2017
• Voted to prohibit taxpayer funding of human closing and destructive embryo research – HB1399 of 2019
• Voted to expand the waiting period for an abortion from 48 to 72 hours; requires abortion clinics to report babies born alive after a botched abortion – SB278 of 2019
• Voted to require abortion clinics to report any complications arising from an abortion – SB3 of 2019
• Voted to require abortionists to give patients who use abortion inducing drugs information about abortion pill reversal – SB341 of 2019
• Voted to require any abortionist be a board certified or eligible OBGYN physician – SB448 of 2019
• Voted to prohibit human remains from abortions to be treated as medical waste – HB1566 of 2017
• Voted for informed consent process for chemical abortions – HB1572 of 2021
• Voted to require any clinic that performs an abortion to be licensed as an abortion facility and prohibits hospitals to perform an abortion except to save the life of the mother – SB388 of 2021
• Voted to increase inspections at abortion facilities and require abortionists to report crimes for when a woman is a victim of rape or incest – SB463 of 2021

Life

• Voted to expand the safe haven law to allow people to surrender a newborn without criminal prosecution if surrendered in places like a fire or police station – SB168 of 2019
• Voted to enhance the penalty for physician assisted suicide – SB503 of 2019

Children

• Voted to prevent chemical castration and sex changes of minor children – HB1570 of 2021
• Voted to prevent liquor stores near a child daycare facility – HB1385 of 2019
• Voted to prohibit the sale of alcohol near child daycares – HB2002 of 2017

Women’s Sports

• Voted to protect women’s sports to ban boys from playing in girls sports – SB354 of 2021

COVID-19

• Voted to prohibit vaccine mandates in Arkansas – SB615 of 2021
• Voted to allow patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and similar facilities to be allowed visitors during a pandemic or similar emergency – HB1061 of 2021
• Voted to return COVID19 fines to Arkansas businesses – SB301 of 2021
• Voted for legislative oversight over emergency declarations – SB379 of 2021

Taxes

• Voted for income tax cuts – SB1 of 2021 (2^nd Special Session)
• Voted for income tax cut – SB211 of 2019
• Voted for reduced sales tax on used cars – HB1912 of 2021; HB1160 of 2021
• Voted for a sales tax cut on used cars – HB1342 of 2019
• Voted for unemployment tax cut for employers – SB298 of 2019
• Voted for unemployment tax cut – HB1405 of 2017
• Voted for a phase out of sales tax on business inputs – SB362 of 2017
• Voted against Gas and Diesel Tax increase – SB336 of 2019
• Voted against the $300 million sales tax increase proposal for highways and roads – HJR1018 of 2019
• Voted against the highway tax bond proposal – HB1726 of 2017
• Voted against increasing cell phone fees – HB1564 of 2019
• Voted against increasing water bill fees – HB1737 of 2019
• Voted against tire fee/tax increase – HB1267 OF 2017
• Voted against new taxes to support a proposed program to redistribute wealth though a fraud plagued tax program – HB1161 of 2017
• Voted against the Internet Sales Tax – SB140 of 2017

Freedom

• Voted to protect churches and religious groups from being forced to shut down by the government during an emergency government order and recognizes them as essential – HB1211 of 2021
• Voted to allow a constitutional amendment to protect a person’s religious freedom – SJR14 of 2021Voted to protect the rights of conscience for healthcare workers – SB289 of 2021
• Voted to protect the constitution against federal overreach – SB298 of 2021
• Voted to protect religious freedom, even during pandemics/emergencies – HB1211 of 2021
• Voted against denial of free speech in judicial elections – HB1899 of 2021
• Voted to protect free speech on college campuses – SB156 of 2019
• Voted for the religious freedom restoration act – HB1228 of 2015

Education

• Voted for school choice scholarships for children – HB1371 of 2021; SB680 of 2021
• Voted for school choice education savings accounts – HB1222 of 2017
• Voted to allow a bible course taught in government schools – HB1626 of 2019

Elections

• Voted for required voter I.D. – HJR1016 of 2017
• Voted for election integrity in provisional ballots – HB1112 of 2021
• Voted for special election reform to prevent tax increases at special elections – HB1368 of 2021

Deregulation

• Voted against new regulations and fees on ride sharing apps at airports – SB686 of 2021
• Voted for the least restrictive licensing requirements – HB1255 of 2019
• Voted to adopt the least restrictive rules in reciprocity licensing – HB1835 of 2017
• Voted for workforce freedom – uniform licensing laws statewide – HB1460 of 2021
• Voted for work from home freedom – HB1416 of 2021
• Voted for Housing Design Freedom – SB170 of 2019
• Voted for the food freedom act – SB248 of 2021
• Voted for apprentice plumber deregulation – SB514 of 2017
• Voted for expanded telemedicine use – HB1068 of 2021
• Voted for expansion of telemedicine to phone calls – HB1063 of 2021
• Voted for full practice authority for nurse midwives – HB1215 of 2021
• Voted for APRN’s as primary care providers in Medicaid – HB1254 of 2021
• Voted for a pathway for nurse Practioners to practice to full scope of training and education – HB1258 of 2021
• Voted for amended supervision requirements for nurse anesthetists – HB1198 of 2021
• Voted for expansion of the scope of practice for optometrists – HB1251 of 2019

Access to Government Information

• Voted to record public government meetings – HB1928 of 2019
• Voted for transparency in county government spending – HB1343 of 2019
• Voted against FOIA exemption for government attorneys – SB373 of 2017
• Voted for transparency in the Rainy Day fund – SB205 of 2021

Privacy

• Voted to protect private information held by nonprofit organizations – SB535 of 2021

Special Interests

• Voted against a new healthcare council to lobby legislators – HB1568 of 2019

Other Important Legislation

• Voted to prevent human trafficking – HB1203 of 2013
• Voted for a ten commandments monument on the state grounds – SB939 of 2015
• Voted against the largest welfare expansion in Arkansas history (Arkansas Private Option/Obamacare Medicaid Expansion) – HB1219 of 2013
• Voted for a freeze on Obamacare Medicaid Expansion – HB1465 of 2017
• Voted to promote working for food stamps recipients – HB1512 of 2021
• Voted to prohibit fraud in unemployment insurance – HB1765 of 2021
• Voted for child support cooperation for public housing welfare benefits – HB1642 of 2021
• Voted to index unemployment benefits to economic conditions – HB1676 of 2021

ECONOMIC FREEDOM FILTER OF CONDUIT FOR COMMERCE

Conduit for Commerce scores the votes of legislators based on Conduit’s Economic Freedom Filter.  The Economic Freedom Filter analyzes bills that do the following:

• Increase or decrease the size and scope of government
• Increase or decrease dependency on government
• Spend money we do not have
• Increase or decrease transparency in government

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

The Republican primary is May 24, 2022, and early voting begins May 9.