Arizona has become amajor flashpointin the national debate over the boundaries between religious freedom and discrimination, as legislators there push to enact a new law that would allow business owners to deny service to customers for religious reasons. <\/p>\n
But the state is hardly alone in mulling more explicit protections for religious business owners and individuals, whose objections to same-sex marriage have come into increasing conflict with newer lawsexpandingthe rights of gays andlesbians. <\/p>\n
Heres a roundup of various religious-liberty measures circulating in other statehouses. Most have yet to pass a single chamber and a number have been tabled. Some deal specifically with the rights of businesses or students, while others are more broadly worded. In at least two states, the issue may go before voters as a ballot initiative. <\/p>\n
* Proposed legislation: <\/p>\n
Alabama:Abill introduced in the state Housewould create the Alabama Student Religious Liberties Act, which would prohibit school districts from discriminating against a student or parent on the basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression in public schools and require school districts to allow religious expression in class assignments, coursework, and artwork. <\/p>\n
Georgia:Lawmakers have introduced thePreservation of Religious Freedom Actmodeled after a two-decade-old federal law that sets a high legal bar for when the government may substantially burden an individuals exercise of religion. <\/p>\n
Legislators in the lower house have also proposed a Georgia Student Religious Liberties Act that would prohibit teachers from penalizing students for expressing religious beliefs in assignments or homeworkand would also require schools to create forums for students to express their faith at school events. <\/p>\n
Idaho:House lawmakers areconsidering a measurethat would prohibit the government from denying, revoking or suspending any professional or occupational license or registration based upon actions involving the exercise or expression of sincerely held religious beliefs. Another measure would expand the states existing Religious Freedom Restoration Act. <\/p>\n
Kansas:Kansas lawmakersintroduced a measurethat would prohibit religious individuals or businesses from being required to serve customers or hire people if doing so would be contrary to the sincerely held religious beliefs about sex or gender. The states attorney general said if enacted, the measure would likely be challenged in court. It passed the House on Feb. 12 and was referred to the Senates judiciary committee. <\/p>\n
Currently, Senate leadership has no intention of working or voting on the bill, said Senate majority leader Terry Bruce, who thought the measure was too ambiguously worded. He said the chamber is going back and reviewing religious-protection statutes already on the books. <\/p>\n
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Religious-Freedom Bills Proliferate in Statehouses<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Arizona has become amajor flashpointin the national debate over the boundaries between religious freedom and discrimination, as legislators there push to enact a new law that would allow business owners to deny service to customers for religious reasons. But the state is hardly alone in mulling more explicit protections for religious business owners and individuals, whose objections to same-sex marriage have come into increasing conflict with newer lawsexpandingthe rights of gays andlesbians. Continue reading