Arkansas has surged to the top of a national religious liberty ranking after a wave of laws expanded protections for faith-based conscience and practice, and the result has drawn praise from conservative legal groups and state leaders. The state earned an unusually high score from a leading religious-liberty index, driven by new statutes that shield churches, businesses, and individuals acting on conscience. This piece walks through the measures that moved the needle, the reactions from advocates, and why the state’s approach is winning attention outside its borders.
The Religious Liberty in the States index gave Arkansas an 89.2% rating and labeled it “excellent” under the metrics it uses to measure protections across education, healthcare, family law, and everyday civic life. That assessment counts a wide range of legal safeguards, and Arkansas climbed six spots from the prior year after passing targeted legislation to strengthen conscience protections. The score is notable because few states earn that top-tier designation, and the change reflects a deliberate push by lawmakers and the governor.
At the center of the rise is Act 677, a law that prevents state and local officials from punishing people, businesses, and religious organizations that act according to their religious convictions about marriage and biological sex. Supporters say the law restores common-sense protections for faith-based decision making in daily life, from hiring and event hosting to ministry activities. Opponents argue such measures can create tension in public spaces, but the state moved forward with clear legal text intended to secure conscience rights.
Another key piece was the Conscience Protection Act, signed in 2023, which broadened the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act and forbids discrimination by state government against religious organizations for their beliefs or status. Together, these laws create a layered legal framework that elevates religious exercise as a protected interest in administrative decisions and contract matters. Legal advocates pointed to the combined effect as the reason Arkansas jumped in the rankings.
“Religious liberty is America’s First Freedom, and Arkansas is leading the nation in protecting it,” Sanders said. She also framed the changes in moral terms: “Our rights come from God, not government, and every American should be free to live according to their faith and conscience. We’ll continue defending that freedom and ensuring the Natural State remains the best place in the country to live, work and worship.”
National legal leaders took notice, urging other states to follow suit. Kelly Shackelford, president, CEO and chief counsel at First Liberty, said other states should emulate Arkansas and “strengthen religious liberty protections in their own states.” Shackelford’s group helped craft the index and applauded lawmakers who acted proactively rather than reacting after disputes arise.
Dr. Mark David Hall, who directs the Religious Liberty in the States project, emphasized the experimental role of state government in protecting conscience rights. “States have always served as laboratories of liberty, and this year’s results show why that matters,” he said, arguing that the legal variations among states let citizens choose the environments that best reflect their values.
Not every response was positive. The Freedom From Religion Foundation pushed back when the governor closed state offices for Christmas, demanding the proclamation be reversed as an improper mix of government and religion. Sanders rejected that demand and defended the decision in writing, arguing public celebration can include and uplift diverse believers: “only by voicing our own faith and celebrating other faiths can we make our state’s diverse religious communities feel seen and heard.”
Advocates point to the index as a tool for citizens and policymakers to see where protections are working and where the law can still improve. “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,” Dr. Paul D. Mueller said. The conversation in Arkansas suggests a broader national debate about how to balance non-discrimination with free exercise, but for now the state’s legal trajectory is clear and draws firm support from conservatives who prioritize religious liberty.
