Arkansas has been ranked the top state in the nation for religious liberty protections, according to the 2026 Religious Liberty in the States index released by the First Liberty Institute’s Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy.
The annual index compares all 50 states based on laws related to religious liberty, evaluating 50 legal protections that states can adopt to safeguard religious freedom in everyday life.
According to the report, Arkansas earned a score of 89.2%, ranking first in the nation. Tennessee placed second with a score of 85%, followed by Florida at 76.9%.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined officials with the First Liberty Institute to announce the rankings during a press conference Tuesday. Sanders said Arkansas has prioritized legislation aimed at strengthening legal protections for religious expression and faith-based rights in recent years.
Among the measures highlighted was Act 573, which permits the display of the Ten Commandments in Arkansas public schools under state law.
Arkansas moved up from sixth place in the 2025 rankings to first in the 2026 report, reflecting what the institute said were expanded legal protections for religious liberty enacted over the past year.
The First Liberty Institute publishes the Religious Liberty in the States index annually to compare state laws related to religious freedom across the country.
