Faith
States Ranked for Protecting Faith Groups
Faith Facts
- The 2025 Faith and Freedom Index by Napa Legal Institute ranks states on protections for faith-based nonprofits.
- Alabama and Kansas lead the nation in religious freedom, while Michigan and Washington lag behind.
- Regulatory freedom scores are highest in Indiana and Montana, with Illinois scoring the lowest.
The Faith and Freedom Index evaluates states by measuring their legal safeguards for faith-based nonprofits, integrating religious and regulatory freedom scores. These factors include state constitutional protections, Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, and legal exemptions that are vital for Christian organizations to operate in alignment with their beliefs.
States such as Alabama and Kansas are examples for their robust protection of religious liberty, earning the highest marks for their strong constitutional safeguards and automatic state tax exemptions for faith-driven charities. In contrast, states like Michigan and Washington are noted for imposing significant burdens on ministries, particularly through restrictive laws that ignore faithful values.
Frank DeVito, Senior Counsel at Napa Legal Institute, emphasized,
“The many religious freedom attacks over the past few years are chilling reminders that without staunch state level protections for religious freedom, ordinary Americans will suffer, regardless of how supportive the current Administration may be.”
Indiana, Montana, Iowa, and Arizona also excel in minimizing bureaucracy for religious organizations, recognizing the importance of empowering churches and Christian service groups to focus on serving their communities. By contrast, states such as Illinois and Massachusetts present regulatory obstacles that can undermine faith-based missions.
The Institute’s report serves as a timely call for action, urging lawmakers across the country to fortify freedom for faith-based ministries and uphold biblical principles in public policy.
Stand for faith, family, and freedom by staying informed on how your state ranks, and encourage local leaders to promote Christian values through policy reforms.