Arkansas Ranks #1 for Religious Liberty

One of two states to earn first-ever "excellent" ratings

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced Arkansas ranks #1 in the nation for religious liberty according to the First Liberty Institute's Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy's (CRCD) Religious Liberty in the States (RLS) index. Arkansas earned a score of 89.2%, becoming one of only two states to receive the index's first-ever "excellent" rating.

"Religious liberty is America's First Freedom, and Arkansas is leading the nation in protecting it," said Governor Sanders. "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."

"Religious liberty is best protected when leaders are willing to act before the rights of people of faith are threatened," said Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, and Chief Counsel at First Liberty. "Governor Sanders and Arkansas lawmakers have taken that responsibility seriously, adopting strong protections that help ensure Arkansans can live and work according to conscience. Arkansas' top ranking is a well-earned recognition, and it should motivate leaders across the country to strengthen religious liberty protections in their own states."

The RLS index evaluates 50 legal protections across 20 safeguards states can adopt to support religious freedom in daily life from education and healthcare to family law, economic activity, and religious practice.

"States have always served as laboratories of liberty, and this year's results show why that matters," said Dr. Mark David Hall, director of the Religious Liberty in the States project. "Arkansas's rise to the top of the index demonstrates that state lawmakers can take concrete action to protect what America's founders called 'the sacred right of conscience.' These safeguards help ensure that Americans are free to live out their faith in public life, not only within the walls of a house of worship."

"This year's changes show that the Religious Liberty in the States index is dynamic by design," said Dr. Paul D. Mueller, Associate Director of the Religious Liberty in the States project. "Arkansas moved from sixth to first, and Tennessee moved from tenth to second, because both states adopted meaningful protections for religious liberty. 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 them better protect the right of conscience."

Arkansas rose from sixth in the nation in 2025 to first in 2026 after Governor Sanders signed Act 677, strengthening protections for individuals and institutions who recognize the difference between biological sexes and hold religious views related to biological sex and marriage.

In December, the Governor also defended her decision to close state offices in celebration of Christmas after activists called for her proclamation to be rescinded, arguing that "only by voicing our own faith and celebrating other faiths can we make our state's diverse religious communities to feel seen and heard."

Additionally, Governor Sanders signed the Conscience Protection Act in 2023, ensuring Arkansans are free to live and work according to their faith by building on existing protections in the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

More information about the CRDC's rankings and methodology is available here.

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