FIRST ON FOX: Arkansas has been ranked the nation's top state for religious liberty after Republican Gov.Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a series of laws expanding faith protections that helped lift the state to the top.Earning a score of 89.2%, Arkansas became one of only two states to earn the First Liberty Institute's annual Religious Liberty in the States index's first-ever "excellent" rating.
The index evaluates states using 50 legal protections across 20 religious liberty safeguards spanning education, healthcare, family law, economic activity and other areas of daily life."Religious liberty is America’s First Freedom, and Arkansas is leading the nation in protecting it," Sanders said."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."AMERICA’S NEXT 250 YEARS DEPEND ON PASSING FAITH AND FREEDOM TO OUR CHILDRENGovernor Sarah Huckabee Sanders participates in the first-ever National Outdoor Recreation Executive Forum hosted by Outdoor Recreation Roundtable at Decatur House on May 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
(Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Outdoor Recreation Roundtable)The Natural State climbed six spots from last year's rankings after lawmakers approved several measures expanding legal protections for religious exercise and conscience rights.Arkansas' rise was driven largely by Act 677, legislation Sanders signed last year that bars state and local governments from penalizing people, businesses and religious organizations for acting according to their religious beliefs regarding marriage and biological sex.APPEALS COURT REVIVES LAWSUIT BY ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS FIRED AFTER OPPOSING PRIDE MESSAGEA group of people hold hands in prayer.Arkansas topped a new religious liberty index after expanding faith and conscience protections.
(iStock)The sta...