Danbury’s 2025 Legislative Priorities

With President Trump back in the White House, we celebrate several monumental executive orders already issued to protect life, religious liberty, and parental rights. These actions are a much-needed course correction for our nation—but executive orders alone are not enough. The time to act is now: we must codify these measures into law and address longstanding concerns on behalf of churches across the country.

At The Danbury Institute, we believe the church should not sit silently on the sidelines. We are working hand-in-hand with pastors, church leaders, and legislators to shape policy that reflects biblical convictions and honors our constitutional freedoms. Our team is actively engaged in advocacy on Capitol Hill and in statehouses across America.

Here are our current advocacy priorities:

Rollback of the Johnson Amendment

For far too long, pastors have been muzzled by a decades-old IRS regulation that threatens churches with the loss of their tax-exempt status if they speak too clearly about so-called “political issues,” legislation, or candidates. The Johnson Amendment has had a chilling effect on free speech from the pulpit, and Danbury is advocating for its repeal. Pastors should be free to speak the truth from the pulpit without fear of IRS retaliation.

Defunding the “Deadly Trifecta” – Planned Parenthood, NPR, and PBS

Each year, millions of taxpayer dollars fund organizations that actively undermine biblical values. Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion provider and now offers transgender hormone treatments to minors. NPR and PBS, originally intended to provide neutral public broadcasting, have become megaphones for progressive ideologies—shaping culture, politics, and public opinion through a distinctly liberal lens. Danbury supports a full and permanent end to government funding of these entities.

Protecting children from the scourge of pornography

The rise of online pornography has devastated families and desensitized a generation to exploitation and sexual perversion. It is far too easy for children to access pornographic content online. Danbury supports legislation, at the state and federal levels, that requires strict age verification measures for any website hosting adult content—placing necessary protections between minors and harmful material. Legislation has actually driven pornography sites completely out of states that enact such verification requirements.

State-level pro-life legislation

With Roe v. Wade overturned, the fight to protect life has shifted to the states. Danbury is working to support pro-life laws in key battleground states, equipping churches and leaders to advocate boldly for unborn children. This includes opposing dangerous ballot initiatives—like the one just defeated in Florida—and mobilizing believers to affirm the right of every human to equal protection under the law . We have also circulated a pro-life pledge, agreeing to seize every opportunity to protect life, including any opportunities at the federal level.

State-level laws to eliminate child pornography in museums

Following Danbury’s effort in Fort Worth, where we helped lead a coalition that resulted in the removal of explicit images of children from a major museum exhibit, we are advocating for laws to ensure this never happens again. Exploitation should never be tolerated under the guise of art, and we’re working with state legislators to confront this issue with clarity and courage.

UPDATES

✔ Florida Amendment 4 defeated

Danbury was proud to work with the governor and alongside Florida churches and pro-life leaders to oppose Amendment 4, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have enshrined abortion access in the Florida Constitution. Had it passed, Florida would have become a destination for abortion in the South. Its defeat is a victory for life and a sign that the church can make a difference when it stands together.

✔ Ohio SAFE Act

After Governor Mike DeWine vetoed a bill protecting minors from irreversible transgender procedures and preserving the integrity of women’s sports, both the Ohio House and Senate overwhelmingly voted to override the veto. The law is now facing legal challenges, and Danbury continues to support pro-family leaders in Ohio.

✔ “Take It Down” Act passed U.S. Senate

The “Take It Down” Act, a bill designed to empower victims and remove exploitative images of minors from the internet, passed the U.S. Senate and now awaits consideration in the U.S. House. Danbury was proud to work alongside Sen. Ted Cruz on this legislation, and now we encourage lawmakers to act swiftly. We urge churches to voice support for its passage.

Here for churches

At Danbury, our team is always available to pastors and churches. We’ll keep you informed on the latest policy developments, and we’re ready to listen if there’s a governmental issue affecting your congregation. We exist to serve churches, and we believe churches can change the course of our country.

If your church wants to stay connected or get more involved in advocacy efforts, reach out to us. Let’s make 2025 the year the Church stands—boldly, biblically, and together.