A 2026 report ranks all 50 states based on religious freedom protections, and Utah is just shy of being in the top ten. According to the Religious Liberty in the States (RLS) ranking, Arkansas has the largest number of legal protections for religious exercise, 89% of the “safeguards” tracked in the report. Utah is ranked 11th, with a score of 59%. This percentage reflects whether a state has or does not have each of the possible protections measured in the report.
The report is created annually by the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy, led by Mark David Hall, a professor at Regent University and prolific researcher and writer. Hall and his associates identify a list of 20 “safeguards,” protections of various types of religious exercise. For instance, one safeguard is whether the state has enacted a Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a law that requires governments to show a compelling reason for any burdens placed on religious freedom and that the burdens imposed are as narrow as possible when they do promote a compelling interest. Other examples are laws that allow medical personnel to decline participation in abortions and provisions that allow public school students to act on their beliefs.
Within each of the 20 safeguard categories, there are often additional specific points, such as whether a state allows students to be excused for religious observances or for religious education. There are 50 total measures in the Index.
Utah did well compared to most states, though its total score is likely to improve next year. In the 2026 legislative session, the state enacted comprehensive protections for medical personnel who have religious objections to participating in certain procedures. This safeguard accounts for 30 points in the Index. Utah already has some of the protections being measures, but will get perhaps 20 more because of the 2026 bill , so its score should significantly increase.
Beyond rankings, though, this report can do a lot of good. Most obviously, states may be motivated to adopt some of the protections that other states have in place.
An additional feature of the report adds to its value. The report is built to adapt to new protections added by states. In past years, the Index has begun to include protections not initially included in the report, such as accommodations for religious university students to be excused for religious observances and for students who want to wear religious clothing as they participate in athletics.
This means that when a state adopts a new protection, the report can adjust and provide ideas to other states. Thus, the Index does not just create a contest but a collaboration to ensure people of faith are provided specific protections by showcasing various protections as they arise.
The principle of federalism provides great benefits. One of these is that states can learn from each other. Sometimes that learning is negative, what not to do, but the RLS Index can do the opposite: motivate a race to the top as the states learn ways to ensure religious exercise is fully protected.
