Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill that was passed by Congress into law last week aimed at protecting Christian families and faith-based organizations from religious discrimination in adoption and foster care processes. This new law will ensure religious freedom, but critics argue it could harm vulnerable children.
The Bill
The Keep Kids First Act, officially House Bill 1669, prohibits the state from discriminating against individuals or organizations involved in adoption or foster care based on their sincerely held religious beliefs. According to the bill’s sponsors, this legislation is intended to protect Christians and other religious groups who wish to participate in child welfare services without compromising their faith.
Supporters
Supporters, including the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group, hailed the measure as a safeguard for religious organizations that play a significant role in placing children in homes. They argue that excluding faith-based providers could shrink the pool of available foster and adoptive parents, leaving more children in state care.
Anyone Else?
Arkansas joins other states, including Tennessee and South Carolina, with similar laws to protect religious providers in child welfare services. The Arkansas’s Department of Human Services reported more than 4,000 children in foster care as of last year, with hundreds awaiting adoption.
The Keep Kids First Act takes effect immediately, though its broader impact remains unclear. Legal challenges are possible, as similar laws elsewhere have faced lawsuits alleging violations of federal nondiscrimination protections.
