AR SB223

Creates the "Religious Rights at Public Schools Act of 2025" requiring all public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide a copy of the act to students and employees at the beginning of each school year

Enumerates 14 specific student religious rights including praying silently or aloud, forming religious clubs, giving away Bibles, inviting clergy to campus, expressing religious viewpoints in assignments, and reading religious texts—all permitted in the same manner as similar non-religious activities

Grants school employees 5 religious rights including silent prayer during moments of silence, displaying the U.S. motto, posting historical documents with religious content, and possessing and reading religious texts at school

Authorizes schools to place Bibles and religious texts in libraries, classrooms, and other locations where books are available, and to offer academic Bible study courses under existing state law (§ 6-16-145)

Approved March 25, 2025; sponsored by Senator M. Johnson and Representative A. Brown