Legislation filed Wednesday would affirm religious liberty for Arkansas’ public school students and teachers.
Public schools are not religion-free zones. Our constitution and our laws protect everyone’s freedom to practice their faith — including at school. Students and teachers do not surrender their First Amendment rights when they walk through the doors of a school building.
S.B. 223, the Religious Rights at Public Schools Act of 2025, by Sen. Mark Johnson (R — Little Rock) and Rep. Alyssa Brown (R — Heber Springs) affirms public school students’ and teachers’ religious liberties.
The bill identifies and upholds religious freedoms that are already protected by state and federal law — such as the right to pray, discuss religion, or read the Bible during free time at school.
The bill also helps make sure that religious expression is treated equally to other types of speech at school.
This will help prevent schools from squelching anyone’s religious liberties.
When it comes to religious liberty, public schools have been a battleground for more than 60 years. It’s important that we stand up for religious freedom at school. S.B. 223 is a good bill that helps do exactly that.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
