These states are protecting families: is your state one of them?
Meet the winners of the 2021 "Craig's (Best) List"
awards! These states went above and beyond to protect families in the
past year, from significant pro-life wins to educational choice for
families and even protecting people of faith. Read to the end to find
out which state received our "Most Pro-Family State"
award! Is it your state?
10. Best Team Effort: Virginia
This year, Virginia schools have exposed to children to a variety of
bad curriculum and school policies, ranging from concerning
"transgender guidelines" to critical race theory. But this
award isn't for the policymakers who made those decisions:
it's for the many Virginia parents, policy advocates, and our
friends at Virginia's Family Foundation who showed up in force
to speak out against them. Way to go, Virginia! Keep speaking up for
what's right!
9. Cherishing Life Award: Arizona
Arizona is a state with only slim pro-life majorities - meaning
it can be difficult to pass pro-life protections. Despite that
challenge, pro-life Arizonans were able to pass several important
protections. Among them were prohibiting abortions that occur because
of genetic abnormalities and mail-order abortions. The state also took
steps to promote adoption as a loving option, and passed a law
protecting the aged and those with disabilities in health emergencies
like COVID. And, that's not to mention many other ways that
Arizona protected families outside of the life issue! Well done!
Honorable mention: Arkansas. We'd be remiss if we did not give
an honorable mention to Arkansas, which successfully passed a whopping
sixteen pro-life and medical ethics protections in their state.
Outstanding work, Arkansas! Keep reading to see another hard-earned
award we gave to Arkansas this year.
8. Save Girls' Sports Award: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho,
Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee, West Virginia
Last year, Idaho led the way as the first state to #SaveGirlsSports
and ensure that girls' sports were reserved for biological
females. This year, each of the other states listed above followed
suit and passed similar protections. Thanks to the courage of these
leaders, female athletes in these states can compete on a level
playing field. We also applaud the work of the many states whose
lawmakers introduced #SaveGirlsSports legislation this year and will
resume that battle in the next legislative session!
7. Facing the Giants Award: Florida
While each of the "Save Girls' Sports Award"
recipients took significant steps to protect athletes in their state,
Florida deserves an award all its own. As #SaveGirlsSports began to
sweep the nation, the NCAA seemed to suggest that it might pull major
events from states with laws protecting female athletes. But
Florida's governor signed #SaveGirlsSports in his state and
said, "...in Florida, we're going to do what's
right. We'll stand up to corporations, they're not going
to dictate the policies of this state." Well said, Governor
DeSantis, and way to stand up to bullying threats. (And, for the
record, the NCAA has so far not acted on its threats).
6. Defending Religious Freedom Award: Kansas
COVID made the last year-and-a-half quite a battleground for religious
freedom in some states. In Kansas, the fight became particularly
intense when the Governor restricted church services to just 10
people. She even compared church services to a Kansas University
basketball game! But Kansans wouldn't stand for it. Bold
churches filed a lawsuit against the Governor, and the side of
religious freedom ultimately won. Well done to those who fought hard,
even going to court against a Democratic governor, to keep church
doors open.
Honorable mention: Massachusetts. Massachusetts faced a similar plight
in their own state - twice. Each time, pro-family leaders and
pastors worked together to file suit against the governor, and each
time the governor relented within days. Well done to those leaders!
5. Wide Open Future School Choice Award: West Virginia
This was an incredible year for school choice, and we're
celebrating all the states who saw wins in this area! But one state
especially made waves: West Virginia. The state's new law has
been described as the "broadest" and "most expansive
school choice program in the country." What is it? It's a
universal education savings account. If a child is entering
kindergarten or was previously enrolled in public school, they are
eligible to take the amount that the state would have spent on their
schooling and apply it for other educational choices like private
school tuition or home tutoring. What a big win for West Virginia
children and families!
4. Groundbreaking Family Policy Award: Arkansas
Arkansas has been busy passing many good laws, from a range of
pro-life laws to legislation to protect girls' sports. But the
one that stands out the most? The Save Adolescents From
Experimentation (SAFE) Act. This truly groundbreaking law was the
first in the nation to protect minors from dangerous transgender
"treatments" including cross-sex hormones and mutilating
surgeries. This is hugely significant, not only for Arkansas children
but also for other states as Arkansas has paved the way for other
states to follow suit. We are grateful for the courageous work of our
friends who made this win possible.
3. Defensive Player of the Year: New Jersey
If you read Craig's (Worst) List, you know that one of the worst
policies pushed this year was a New Jersey bill that would legalize
abortion up to birth. With the governor's backing for the bill,
and a generally liberal political climate, you might expect that the
bill would have become law already. But here's the amazing news:
the people of New Jersey have been fighting hard to prevent this bill
from becoming law, and so far they have been successful in that
effort. That's no small feat, and it's worth celebrating.
We heartily applaud the people of New Jersey for speaking out, and the
lawmakers who have chosen not to support this bill.
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2. Offensive Player of the Year: Iowa
Iowa protected families in many ways this year. In addition to two
critical pro-life wins, Iowa was hard at work for families and
students, too. The legislature expanded tax credits for parents who
choose private school and allowed homeschooling parents to receive the
credit for the first time. They also ensured parents who choose public
school can send their children to the public school of their choice.
And, the legislature prohibited government-mandated training or
teaching on critical race theory as a fact. As a cherry on top, our
state ally, the FAMiLY LEADER, reports that they defeated every bill
they opposed this session. Well done, Iowa!
Honorable mention: New Hampshire. New Hampshire also had a great set
of successes this year, including establishing education freedom
accounts to promote educational choice, protecting children from
critical race theory in schools, and banning abortions at 24 weeks.
Great work, New Hampshire!
1. Most Pro-Family State: Montana
What state has the most pro-family new laws? In 2021, we had to say
Montana. Lawmakers in Big Sky Country passed a #SaveGirlsSports law,
tax credit education scholarships, and several pro-life protections
including preventing abortions when the baby is capable of feeling
pain. They also required parental permission for sex education and
succeeded in many important religious freedom protections (including
the hard-fought Religious Freedom Restoration Act). All told, our
state ally, Montana Family Foundation, reported 17 wins. Montana,
"Most Pro-Family State" was a well-deserved title!
That's a wrap for Craig's (Best) List 2021! Well done to
each of these states, and to the people in every state who worked to
protect children and families. This work makes our vision possible: a
nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families
thrive, and life is cherished.
Sincerely,
Meridian Baldacci
Policy and Communications Strategist
Donate: [link removed]
Mailing Address:
8675 Explorer Drive, Suite 112
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
(866) 655-4545
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