AR HR1002

Proclaims January 16, 2019, as "Religious Freedom Day" in Arkansas to honor the anniversary of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom enacted on January 16, 1786.

Affirms that religious freedom is a fundamental human right protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Free Exercise Clause.

References historical statements from U.S. Presidents including Franklin D. Roosevelt, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama affirming the importance of religious freedom.

Cites the Supreme Court decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway (2013) affirming that people of many faiths may be united in a community of tolerance and devotion.

Acknowledges that for countless Americans, faith is an integral part of daily life and public engagement, reflecting a long and robust tradition of religion in U.S. society.