The Arkansas Family Council, which is campaigning for a similar restriction that’s on the ballot next month, also launched a new offensive touting its initiated act as a fight against a "gay agenda" in the state. The group's proposal would ban unmarried couples living together from becoming foster or adoptive parents.

The state Department of Human Services said Thursday that it will halt its plan to formalize a prohibition on unmarried foster parents that has been in place since an executive directive was signed in 2005. DHS says it will instead propose a policy allowing workers to place foster children on a case-by-case basis.

Family Council officials questioned the timing of the decision, which was announced a week after a public hearing was held on the policy and before the end of the public comment period on Oct. 18. Family Council Vice President John Thomas said the agency had already made up its mind last week.

A DHS spokeswoman denied agency officials already made up their minds and said the policy's public comment period lasted longer than the 30 days required under state law.