By: Ryan Jayne, Senior Policy Counsel
Ryan Dudley, State Policy Manager
Mickey Dollens, Regional Governmental Affairs Manager
As several state legislatures begin to sprint toward the finish line of their 2025 sessions, we are closely monitoring what the new laws are and where advocates should focus their efforts. Here are some issues that you should be aware of.
Focus on Texas
Texas lawmakers are pushing their religious priorities on the public with a trio of bills, two previously highlighted on our FFRF AF page. First up, SB 10 mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, which passed the Senate and is now knocking on the House chamber’s doors. SB 11 requires schools to carve out valuable instructional time for prayer and bible reading, which is also Senate-approved and awaiting the House. Then there’s SB 619, fresh off a committee vote on March 26, allowing health care providers to refuse patient care if it conflicts with their personal (read: religious) beliefs. Together, these bills add fuel to the already blazing voucher fight as things start to heat up in the Lone Star State.
Child Marriage
We are pleased to announce that Washington, D.C., has just banned child marriage! As is true in 13 states, the minimum age in the district for marriage is now 18, with no exceptions for religious reasons or otherwise. We are working with our allies at Unchained At Last to track similar “18, no exceptions” bills around the country, including:
- HI HB 729 (passed the House on March 6)
- OR SB 548 (passed nearly unanimously out of the Senate and is now awaiting action in the House Judiciary Committee)
- AZ HB 2528 (has not moved since late January)
- OK SB 504 (introduced, but has not received a hearing)
- MO HB 737 (one of several similar bills)
- KS HB 2026 (has not had a hearing)
Here are some other states with notable updates:
Arizona
The Arizona Senate has passed SB 1269, which would allow school districts in Arizona to accept volunteer chaplains to serve in public schools. Proponents of this legislation argue that chaplains will fill the void left by school social worker and school counselor shortages. However, the true goal of this legislation is clear in the fact that proponents have outwardly supported the idea that Christianity is an upgrade from school counselors (see more on that in the I’m sorry, what?! section). The bill now heads to the House, where we will urge lawmakers to stop it.
Arkansas
A couple of good bills sit in committee purgatory, waiting to be heard. These bills seek to undo harms caused by theocratic legislators in the past. HB 1011 would restore a woman’s right to reproductive freedoms. The bill, called in part the “Restore Roe Act,” would restore access to abortion services by repealing restrictive laws and aligning state policies with the principles established in the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. And HB 1032 would prohibit the practice of conversion therapy within the state of Arkansas. Conversion therapy has long been discredited as a harmful and deceptive practice often used by religious entities to “pray the gay away.”
Delaware
The Delaware House has passed DE HB 140, which would legalize medical aid in dying, giving terminally ill patients the right to choose a dignified, compassionate end-of-life option. It is currently awaiting consideration by the Senate Executive Committee. The same bill was vetoed last session, but Delaware’s new governor, Matt Meyer, has stated his intent to sign the bill into law.
Kentucky
Kentucky’s HJR 15, placing a permanent Ten Commandments monument on the Capitol grounds, has unfortunately become law. Gov. Andy Beshear chose to neither sign nor veto the bill, which passed with veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the Legislature. As a result, it became effective last week. The Action Fund hopes advocates will show strong but peaceful dissent at this anti-constitutional monument being placed at the heart of Kentucky’s state government.
Maine
There’s good news out of Maine, where the country’s worst public school chaplain bill, LD 927, is now dead. Unlike other chaplain bills, this one would have required school districts across the state to employ or accept volunteer chaplains. We hope this shockingly bad idea does not indicate the next step for states that have recently passed dubious chaplain bills.
Missouri
Missouri lawmakers are going all-in on exploiting grievances under the guise of religious freedom, with two bills making their way through the state Legislature. First, HB 75 prohibits public officials from issuing orders that limit or ban religious meetings at places of worship during public health emergencies. Meanwhile, SB 160 requires public colleges to recognize student groups even if they openly discriminate against other students.
New Hampshire
Like Delaware, New Hampshire is considering a bill to allow medical aid in dying. Unfortunately, after passing its first legislative hurdle, HB 254 was set aside by New Hampshire’s curiously enormous House of Representatives, and by only one vote — 183 to 182, with 11 abstensions and 22 absences. The bill could still be revived, but otherwise, it should have a good chance of passing in the next session with a showing of public support.
North Dakota
North Dakota is one of the few states left that has not fallen victim to the “school choice” fraud to adopt public funding of vouchers. Sadly, however, lawmakers in the state are on the verge of being the next to succumb to this scheme. HB 1540 would create an Education Savings Account to funnel public money to private, almost entirely religious schools.
Oklahoma
Last week, the Oklahoma House heard HB 1224, a “denial of care” bill that would allow health care providers and payors to discriminate against patients and others if they believe that serving these individuals is not “consistent with their religious beliefs.” Meanwhile, theocratic Oklahoma lawmakers are attempting to pass a ridiculous resolution that thankfully failed in North Dakota and Montana — to officially recognize that “Christ is King.” Not only is this ridiculous, but it runs counter to what senators were elected to do: represent the views of all of their constituents and uphold the constitutions of the United States and Oklahoma, both of which prohibit the state from picking a favored religion.
I’m sorry, what?!
“I think Jesus is a lot better than a psychologist.” Arizona Rep. David Marshall, R-Snowflake
Thank you for your interest in FFRF Action Fund’s state policy work. We need advocates in every state to stand up for our secular government, and we could not do this crucial work without your help! If you’re not already receiving FFRF AF Action Alerts, please sign up here.
FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.
