Arkansas has earned the top ranking for religious liberty in the United States, according to the First Liberty Institute's annual Religious Liberty in the States index. The state received an "excellent" rating, scoring 89.2% and becoming one of only two states to achieve this designation.
The index evaluates states based on 50 legal protections across 20 religious liberty safeguards in areas such as education, healthcare, family law, and economic activity.
"Religious liberty is America’s First Freedom, and Arkansas is leading the nation in protecting it," stated Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. "Our rights come from God, not government, and every American should be free to live according to their faith and conscience."
Arkansas climbed six spots from the previous year's rankings. This advancement was significantly influenced by Act 677, a law signed by Governor Sanders that prohibits state and local governments from penalizing individuals, businesses, and religious organizations for adhering to their religious beliefs concerning marriage and biological sex. Another key measure was the Conscience Protection Act, also signed by Sanders in 2023, which strengthens Arkansas' Religious Freedom Restoration Act by preventing state government discrimination against religious organizations based on their religious identity or status.
Kelly Shackelford, president, CEO, and chief counsel at First Liberty, encouraged other states to emulate Arkansas' approach. "Religious liberty is best protected when leaders are willing to act before the rights of people of faith are threatened," Shackelford said.
Dr. Mark David Hall, director of the Religious Liberty in the States project, commented on Arkansas' performance, noting that the state demonstrates how governments can safeguard what American founders referred to as "the sacred right of conscience," enabling individuals to practice their faith in daily life, not just in religious services.
Governor Sanders also publicly defended religious freedom in December, responding to demands from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. She rejected claims that her proclamation closing state offices for Christmas was unconstitutional, asserting that "only by voicing our own faith and celebrating other faiths can we make our state's diverse religious communities feel seen and heard."
Dr. Paul D. Mueller, associate director of the Religious Liberty in the States project, highlighted the index's utility, stating, "With this index, citizens and legislators can see where their state is doing well, where it still has room to improve, and which existing laws could help better protect the right of conscience."