All Roll Calls
Yes: 104 • No: 25
ArkansasSB2232025 Regular SessionSenate
TO CREATE THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT OF 2025.
Sponsored By: Alyssa Brown (Republican), Mark Johnson (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Religious rights protected for Arkansas students
The law protects students in Arkansas public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools. Students can pray silently or aloud when free speech is allowed, and silently during school moments of silence. They can gather for prayer, hold religious observances, form religious clubs, and promote lawful religious activities like comparable nonreligious activities. They can invite clergy on the same terms as other visitors and possess, read, or give religious texts like other books. Students can express religious views in schoolwork and speech, including religious content in assignments where they choose the topic. They can display and discuss the U.S. motto and read, discuss, or post historically important religious documents. These rights follow First Amendment limits and Supreme Court rulings; schools must give each student the Act at each school year's start, electronically or in a handbook or similar resource.
Religious rights protected for school employees
The law protects employees of Arkansas public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools. Employees can pray silently during school moments of silence and display or discuss the U.S. motto. They can read, discuss, and post historically important religious documents, and possess or read religious texts like other books. These rights follow First Amendment limits and Supreme Court rulings. Schools must give every employee the Act at each school year's start, electronically or in a handbook or similar resource.
Arkansas schools can offer Bible courses
Arkansas public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools can place Bibles and other religious texts where books are available. This includes libraries, classrooms, and other book areas used by students or employees. Schools can also offer an academic study of the Bible course under Arkansas Code § 6-16-145. These options remain subject to constitutional limits; the law does not require schools to offer them or provide funding.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Alyssa Brown
Republican • House
Mark Johnson
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/19/2025
House Vote - Wednesday, March 19, 2025 3:12:49 PM
Yes: 79 • No: 17
Senate vote • 2/25/2025
Senate Vote - Tuesday, February 25, 2025 3:20:29 PM
Yes: 25 • No: 8
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB223 is now Act 400
3/31/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
3/20/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
3/20/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
3/19/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
3/19/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
3/19/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
3/19/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
3/18/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE
2/25/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
2/25/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
2/25/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
2/25/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
2/24/2025SenateRe-referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE
2/18/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/18/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
2/18/2025SenateWithdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 1
2/18/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE
2/12/2025SenateFiled
2/12/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB223 - Introduced
2/12/2025
Act Version
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