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House passes bill requiring public schools to inform students and staff of religious‑expression rights
Summary
Senate Bill 2-23, described by its sponsor as a clarification of existing First Amendment protections, passed the House 79–17. The bill requires public schools to inform students and staff at the start of the year how the law protects religious expression, while giving districts flexibility in how they provide that information.
The Arkansas House on March 18 approved Senate Bill 2-23, the Religious Rights at Public Schools Act of 2025, by a vote of 79 yays and 17 nays. Representative Brown presented the bill on the House floor and said it ‘‘does not create new rights, and it does not limit rights to these just listed,’’ describing the measure as an effort to clarify existing protections under the First Amendment.
Why it matters: The bill requires each public school to educate students and…
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