To Establish The Pregnancy Parking Act; To Amend The Law Concerning Parking For A Person With A Disability; And To Authorize The Issuance Of A Temporary Special Certificate To Pregnant Women.
Summary
HB1770 would create the “Pregnancy Parking Act” in Arkansas law and allow a pregnant woman, as determined by a licensed physician, to apply to the Office of Motor Vehicle for a temporary special certificate that functions like a person-with-a-disability parking certificate. The certificate would be available during pregnancy and would expire one year after the date of birth. It would need to meet the same general requirements as existing disability parking certificates under Arkansas Code § 27-15-304.
The bill also directs the Office of Motor Vehicle to create application forms, including a sworn statement of pregnancy, distribute the new law to law enforcement, adopt public-facing procedures and rules, keep records of certificates issued, and notify applicants that the parking privilege applies only when the pregnant or disabled person is actually in the vehicle. In effect, the bill expands the state’s parking-permit framework to include a temporary pregnancy-related credential and adds administrative duties for the motor vehicle agency.
Impact
HB1770 would amend Arkansas’s disability parking statutes in Title 27, Chapter 15, Subchapter 3 by adding a new section authorizing temporary special certificates for pregnant and postpartum women. It would not create a general parking exemption, but instead extend access to designated disability parking spaces through a new temporary certificate program administered by the Office of Motor Vehicle. The bill would also require agency rulemaking, recordkeeping, and public notice, and would affect pregnant women, postpartum women, physicians, law enforcement, and parking enforcement officials.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests the bill was controversial and did not receive majority support on third reading, failing 35-39. With no committee transcript available, the strongest indicator of sentiment is the floor vote, which shows substantial opposition alongside meaningful support. Overall, the bill appears to have generated interest as a pregnancy-related accommodation measure, but not enough consensus to pass the chamber.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely whether pregnancy should qualify for access to disability parking spaces, even on a temporary basis. Supporters would view the bill as a practical accommodation for mobility and safety during pregnancy and after childbirth, while opponents may have concerns about expanding disability parking privileges, the medical certification process, enforcement, and whether pregnancy is comparable to a disability for parking purposes. The close but unsuccessful floor vote indicates the issue divided members rather than drawing broad agreement.