Arkansas Act 1

Arkansas Proposed Initiative Act No. 1 (2008) is an initiated state statute that was approved on November 4, 2008 election in Arkansas. This measure makes it illegal for any individuals cohabiting outside of a valid marriage to adopt or provide foster care to minors. While the measure was proposed primarily to prohibit same-sex couples from being adoptive or foster parents, this measure also applies to all otherwise qualified couples who are not legally married.[1]

Elections in Arkansas
Federal government Presidential elections 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Presidential primaries Democratic 2008 2016 2020 Republican 2008 2012 2020 U.S. Senate elections 1937 1942 1948 1954 1962 1966 1968 1972 1974 1978 1980 1984 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 2020 U.S. House elections 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Special elections Senate, 1937 3rd District, 2001
State government Gubernatorial elections 1912 1913 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 State elections 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2018 2020 State Senate elections 2020
Ballot measures 2004 Constitutional Amendment 3 2008 Proposed Initiative Act No. 1 2012 Issue 1 2018 Issue 5
Little Rock Mayoral elections 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018

On December 30, 2008, the ACLU filed suit in state court on behalf of 29 adults and children, challenging Act 1 as unconstitutional.[2]

On April 16, 2010, the law was overturned by Circuit Court Judge Chris Piazza in the case Arkansas Department of Human Services v. Cole.[3] The ruling was upheld unanimously by the Arkansas Supreme Court on April 7, 2011.[4]