Gabrielle Russon
Florida is rated No. 1 for protecting religious liberty on the First Liberty Institute’s new state rankings, and Gov. Ron DeSantis is celebrating the recognition.
“We get to add another number one ranking to our list of successes,” DeSantis said during a Sarasota press conference about the accolades from the conservative think tank. “We’re grateful for this recognition from the First Liberty Institute. “
DeSantis argued that religious liberty has been “under assault in recent years,” as he has made protecting it a priority as Governor. Meanwhile, DeSantis’ critics have accused him of being heavy-handed in shifting higher education rightward and trying to weaken the separation of church and state.
Speaking at New College of Florida, DeSantis brought up various measures he has signed, such as requiring public schools to require time for a moment of silence at the start of the school day and his support for homeschooling in Florida.
DeSantis brought up his action during the COVID pandemic to deem churches “essential services” in order to override local restrictions.
A Florida law also created a statewide school chaplain program that allows volunteer chaplains to provide counseling for students. Democrats opposed to the measure voiced concerns about the chaplains’ qualifications.
“We’ve really worked to kind of rebalance this in the direction that the Founding Fathers originally intended and I think people are better for it, and I think religious freedom is better for it,” DeSantis said Monday.
Florida was not in the top 5 in the protecting religious category two years ago until it “vaulted in first place” this year, said Kelly Shackelford, the CEO and President of the Texas-based First Liberty Institute.
“That doesn’t happen without a governor who embraces religious freedom,” Shackelford said. “Every citizen and business in Florida can know they have the most religious freedom protections than any other state in the nation.”
4 comments
Bill Pollard
July 14, 2025 at 6:38 pm
First Liberty Institute is a rightwing organization. Being first on their list is not a positive.
Michael K
July 15, 2025 at 8:03 am
The only people whose liberty has been under assault in the DeSantis regime are people of color, gay people, poor people, teachers, university professors, and those working to promote an engaged citizenry.
bob the dog
July 15, 2025 at 8:26 am
How about some freedom from interference for ballot initiatives? How about some transparency about the “Hope Florida” debacle. Why is Bridget Zeigler still sitting on a school board? There’s a moral morass that needs attention. Desantis will never go far in Politics on the national level. He is a bitter person, look at his resting face, it is a subdued scowl at best. He does well speaking in a protected atmosphere surrounded by sycophants, but put him in front of a press gaggle where there is some measure of pushback and he falls all over himself grinding his teeth.
LawLib
July 15, 2025 at 9:41 am
What does Christian nationalism, Project 2025, consolidation of executive power in the office of the President, right-wing conservatism, etc. have in common – they’re ideologies espoused and promoted by First Liberty Institute. DeSantis continues to reveal his true colors by lapping up propaganda by all sorts of right wing prothelizers as his badge of pride. ” Religious freedom” in our governor’s hands is the ultimate oxymoron.
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