Amplifying the voice of Southern Baptists with the 2025 Public Policy Agenda

Public policy advocacy is one of the primary ways that the ERLC fulfills its ministry and amplifies the voice of Southern Baptists in the public square. We recently released our 2025 Public Policy Agenda, which outlines more than three dozen policy issues that will shape our work in the areas of life, religious liberty, marriage & family and human dignity in Washington, D.C., this year.

As we begin the first session of the 119th Congress and President Trump’s second term, we are in a unique moment of opportunity to press forward on areas of importance to Southern Baptists. These realities shape the contours of this public policy agenda, produced annually by the ERLC, to showcase many of the priorities our organization has at the federal level—priorities that, as always, are rooted in Scripture, reflective of the Baptist Faith & Message, and responsive to the actions taken by messengers from the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention. The ERLC will press forward on the issues that matter to Southern Baptists by:

protecting life,
safeguarding religious liberty,
bolstering marriage and families,
and upholding human dignity.

Below is an overview of our policy priorities in these areas. You can learn more about each of these items in the agenda itself.

Life policies that matter to Southern Baptists

As Southern Baptists, we believe that every person is made in the image of God, and thus, is worthy of protection and dignity, regardless of age, level of ability, or stage of development. Because of that, the ERLC will always advocate for life to be protected.

We must persuade our lawmakers that the federal government still has an important role to play in protecting life and combatting this evil in all forms.

Following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in 2022, we’ve seen both monumental gains for life in many states and new challenges emerge such as:

the rising availability of chemical abortion drugs,
and “abortion tourism.”

Federal pro-life legislative priority highlights:

Protect Pro-life Riders in the Congressional Appropriations Process: Longstanding policy riders such as the Hyde Amendment are essential aspects of preventing taxpayer funding for abortion
Support Federal Abortion Restrictions: Though the Dobbs decision gave power back to the states on the issue of abortion, it did not absolve Congress of its responsibility to protect life in the womb.
Ending the Proliferation of Chemical Abortions: Chemical abortions make up a majority of all abortions and not only take the life of a preborn child, but also pose significant risks to women.
Reinstate the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy and similar Title X pro-life domestic policies: The Trump administration has the opportunity to reinstate policies that prohibit any entities that perform or counsel for abortions domestically and abroad from receiving government funds.
Defund Planned Parenthood: Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the United States, and the ERLC is calling on legislators and President Trump to ensure that no taxpayer funds are allocated to Planned Parenthood or its affiliates.
Repeal the Biden Administration’s Pro-Abortion Regulatory Agenda: The Biden administration used its regulatory powers to promote and expand access to abortion in all contexts. President Trump should swiftly reverse these actions.
Oppose Taxpayer-Funded Expansion of IVF and Support Regulation of IVF Industry: The IVF industry is wholly unregulated, lacking oversight, standards, and limitations that would mitigate many of the most egregious ethical harms of the practice. The ERLC is urging lawmakers to take steps to stop taxpayer funding for this practice, regulate this industry, and protect preborn lives from harm.
Respond to the Kerr v. Planned Parenthood Decision: This term, the Supreme Court has agreed to decide a case centered on the states’ ability to withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood.
Oppose the Women’s Health Protection Act: This act would allow for abortion on demand nationwide, strip away conscience protections, and allow for taxpayer funding for abortion.
Support the Work of Pregnancy Resource Centers: Pregnancy resource centers are on the front line of the pro-life movement and have faced increasing attacks regarding their funding and perceived legitimacy.
Oppose Physician-Assisted Suicide and all Euthanasia Efforts: Across the U.S., there is an effort to expand the availability of physician-assisted suicide under the guise of “compassionate healthcare.”

Visit erlc.com/life for resources on each of these policies.

Religious liberty policies that matter to Southern Baptists

A bedrock of Baptist belief is that “God alone is Lord of the conscience.” The Baptist Faith & Message continues in stating that “A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.”

A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal.

Our Baptist ancestors in the U.S. were instrumental in the crafting and adoption of the First Amendment to our Constitution, which guarantees free exercise of religion for all and forbids the establishment of a state-driven religion. The ERLC will continue this legacy in our moral education and in our advocacy for SBC churches.

Federal religious liberty legislative priority highlights:

Oppose attacks on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Recent legislation from both parties has explicitly removed vital religious liberty protections guaranteed by law in RFRA.
Support the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act: This bill would prohibit government discrimination against child welfare agencies on the basis of their beliefs and ultimately protect children in the foster system and children waiting for adoption by ensuring that a wide range of child welfare providers are available to serve them.
Support the Conscience Protection Act: This bill provides conscience protections for healthcare workers with religious and moral convictions that prohibit them from participating in activities that go against their pro-life beliefs.
Repeal the Biden Administration’s Regulatory Actions: The Biden administration has extensively used its regulatory powers to curtail religious liberty and conscience protections, especially as they intersect with sexual orientation and gender identity issues. The Trump administrations should swiftly reverse these actions.
Support the Safeguarding Charity Act: This bill would protect the religious liberty of faith-based organizations by clearly stating that simply holding tax-exempt status does not equate to receiving federal financial assistance.
Support a Universal Charitable Deduction to Encourage Giving to Charities: Under the federal tax code, people can only claim a deduction for charitable contributions if they itemize their deductions, but a universal charitable deduction would incentivize such giving from all taxpayers.
Respond to the Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission decision: In 2025, the Supreme Court will rule in, a case appealing a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that determined Catholic Charities’ services are not “typical” religious activities and cannot exempt them from the state’s unemployment tax.
Combat Global and Domestic Antisemitism: Following the horrific attack on Israel on Oct. 7, there has been a significant rise in antisemitism both domestically and abroad, with alarming tolerance for antisemitic rhetoric and actions on college campuses across the country and at many of our global institutions, such as the United Nations
Combatting Persecution of Religious Minorities by the Chinese Communist Party: Though national attention has shifted elsewhere, the Uyghur people continue to face a genocide, and more must be done to prioritize this issue in U.S. foreign policy with China.
Advocate for a Strong Office of International Religious Freedom: The ERLC urges the Trump administration and Congress to swiftly appoint and confirm a strong ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, a role essential for advancing global religious liberty and protecting conscience rights.
Support the Designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern: Despite intense persecution of Christians, the U.S. State Department has ignored the recommendation of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom for three consecutive years.

Visit erlc.com/religiousliberty for resources on each of these policies.

Marriage & family policies that matter to Southern Baptists

We believe that families are the foundational institution of our society. However, shifting views in our culture regarding marriage, gender, sexuality, and family have left our society in disarray.

We believe that families are the foundational institution of our society.

We will continue to advocate for policies that promote availability and accessibility in adoption and foster care.
We desire to wrap around vulnerable mothers and families, meeting their physical needs and empowering them to choose life.
At the same time, we will work to promote the rights and responsibilities of parents in raising their children and pushing back on harmful gender ideology.

Federal marriage and family legislative priority highlights:

Respond to the U.S. v. Skrmetti decision: One of the most consequential cases the Supreme Court will decide this term centers around Tennessee Senate Bill 1, a law that prohibits healthcare providers from offering prescriptions or performing procedures on a minor intending to affirm an identity inconsistent with a minor’s biological sex.
Revoke Biden EO 13988, Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation: The ERLC is urging President Trump to quickly revoke this executive order from President Biden which redefined sex-based discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity and repeal any federal rulemaking created by it.
Oppose Taxpayer Funding for “Gender-Transition” Surgeries and Procedures: It is unconscionable that taxpayer dollars continue to be used to fund “gender-transition” surgeries and procedures that harm those experiencing gender dysphoria and that millions of Americans find objectionable.
Support Proposals to Ban “Gender-Transition” Surgeries and Procedures: Going against both God’s good design and sound medical practice, “gender-transition” procedures are preying on vulnerable minors and should be outlawed.
Protect Women’s Sports: The ERLC is encouraging the incoming Trump administration to restore the original intent of Title IX and supports legislation such as the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
Support Parental Rights: Recent years have seen increased challenges to the fundamental rights and responsibilities of parents in areas of education, online access, and matters of gender and sexuality, and the ERLC will continue to support the rights of parents in both legislation and the courts.
Advocate for Pro-Family Tax Policies: As part of the 2025 tax negotiations, the ERLC will advocate for policies that remedy marriage penalties, reduce financial barriers for choosing life, and surge resources to parents in need around the birth of their child.
Support Adoption and Foster Care Policies: In addition to pushing back on the alarming religious liberty trends discussed above in the adoption and foster care systems, we are advocating for policies that would support and strengthen adoption, making it more affordable and accessible
Ensure Intercountry Adoption Remains a Viable Option: Amidst significant declines in international adoptions, the ERLC is working with like-minded partners and the U.S. Department of State to ensure that intercountry adoption remains a viable option for families and vulnerable children around the world.
Support Protections for Children Online: New data has demonstrated the detrimental effects on mental health, learning, and self-image that have come as a result from unhindered access for minors without the knowledge and consent of parents. More must be done to prevent children from accessing harmful content, such as pornography, and to empower parents in overseeing the online activity of their children.
Respond to the Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton decision: The Supreme Court has agreed to decide a first amendment challenge to a new Texas law requiring websites to verify the age of their users if at least one-third of their hosted content is considered “harmful to minors,” such as pornography.

Visit erlc .com/marriageandfamily for resources on each of these policies.

Human dignity policies that matter to Southern Baptists

We believe that every person is made in the image of God and is worthy of protection and dignity, regardless of age, race, nationality, level of ability, or stage of development. The Bible also calls us to seek justice and righteousness, especially for those who are vulnerable.

We believe that every person is made in the image of God and is worthy of protection and dignity, regardless of age, race, nationality, level of ability, or stage of development.

In our advocacy for fair and impartial judgment and equitable treatment of the unjustly oppressed and marginalized, we bear witness to a God who is ultimately the just Judge and to a gospel that saves all who believe without partiality.

Federal human dignity legislative priority highlights:

Support Border Security Enhancements and Asylum Reforms: At the 2023 annual meeting, Southern Baptists called on lawmakers to “provide clear guidance for immigrants and asylum seekers,” “maintain robust avenues for valid asylum claimants seeking refuge,” and “prioritize measures that secure our borders and to provide adequate resources to border patrol and those working in our immigration system.”
Preserve the Refugee Resettlement Program: The U.S. refugee resettlement program provides an essential lifeline to the most vulnerable, including many persecuted Christians around the world, and must be robustly maintained.
Support a Permanent Solution for Dreamers: With litigation on its way to the Supreme Court that will likely end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, these young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. by their parents remain in an unstable situation without action from Congress.
Support Further Criminal Justice Reform: The ERLC will continue to advocate for reforms that focus on fairness, safety, rehabilitation, and recognize the dignity of those in prison, including provisions requiring that only biological females may be housed together.
Combat the Epidemic of Mass Shootings and Gun Violence: In 2018, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention gave support for “preventative measures that would reduce gun violence and mass shootings while operating in accordance with the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.” In 2022, messengers urged lawmakers “to take concrete steps, towards solutions that uphold the dignity and value of every human life, especially the most vulnerable among us, and to minimize the threat of gun violence throughout our society.”
Support Payday Lending Regulations: Short-term payday loans often come with deceptive and predatory annual interest rates of over 400%, trapping the poor in a vicious cycle of debt and despair.
Oppose Efforts to Expand Gambling: Even as millions are trapped in the addictive and destructive cycle of gambling, efforts are underway at both the state and federal levels to expand gambling, particularly through sports betting.
Oppose Marijuana Expansion: The ERLC will continue to oppose various efforts to expand the availability and legality of marijuana in our communities, understanding the devastating impacts it has on many families.
Advocate for Anti-Human Trafficking Laws: The ERLC will continue to advocate for anti-human trafficking legislation in Congress—particularly legislation aimed at supporting trafficking victims and increasing the responsibility of companies to remove this explicit content from their platforms.
Support Efforts to Shape Artificial Intelligence and Technology that Emphasize Human Dignity: In 2023, Southern Baptists called on lawmakers to “proactively engage and shape these emerging technologies rather than simply respond to the challenges of AI and other emerging technologies after they have already affected our churches and communities.” The ERLC will continue to assist lawmakers in understanding these realities and advocate for policies in line with this call of human dignity and the common good.