The Aaron Renn Show State Laws and Your Religious Freedom | Mark David Hall
Oct 27, 2025
Dr. Mark David Hall, a senior research fellow and director at First Liberty's Center for Religion, dives into the impact of state-level laws on religious freedom. He reveals surprising state rankings, highlighting why Illinois scores high while some red states like Indiana struggle. Key topics include the importance of statutory protections, the overlap between religious liberty and parental rights, and the influence of corporate pressures on state laws. Hall encourages citizens to advocate for stronger protections in their states.
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Federal Limits Left States To Protect Religion
- The Supreme Court weakened First Amendment religious protections with Employment Division v. Smith in 1990.
- Congress passed RFRA in 1993, but the Supreme Court limited its reach to the federal government in 1996.
Use The Index To Push State Reform
- Use the Religious Liberty in the States index to identify gaps in your state's protections.
- Share the study with your state legislator to prompt change and model legislation.
Top Two State Protections
- State RFRA laws are the single most important protection and 29 states now have one.
- Broad medical conscience protections are the next key safeguard for religious freedom.
