Bills › 89th General Assembly
Prohibiting the burdening of a person’s free exercise of religion by governmental entities, officials, and employees
Sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee
Topics:Civil rightsState government
Same legislation: HSB 677
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 8, 2022
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 8, 2022
- Done: House committeeFebruary 15, 2022
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 17, 202293–1
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Government agencies and local cities or counties cannot pass rules that unfairly restrict how people practice their religion. They are not allowed to treat religious activities more strictly than non-religious activities that carry a similar risk. If a person's religious freedom is limited this way, they can take legal action to stop it and seek payment for damages or legal fees.1
Read the official explanation
This bill prohibits a governmental entity from burdening a person’s free exercise of religion. The bill prohibits governmental entities from treating religious conduct more restrictively than any secular conduct of reasonably comparable risk or treating religious conduct more restrictively than comparable secular conduct because of alleged economic need or benefit. The bill provides that a person whose free exercise of religion has been burdened in violation of the bill may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding, and provides that the governmental entity may be liable for actual damages, attorney fees, costs, and other appropriate remedies. The bill also allows the person to obtain injunctive relief against the governmental entity. The bill prohibits a county or city from enacting a private or civil law that would burden a person’s free exercise of religion.
House subcommittee
Named February 8, 2022 (as HSB 677). On February 10, 2022 it recommended passage. Vote Total: 2-0.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
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89th General Assembly
Similar bills
- HSB 593 HSB 59389th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passageVery similar
- SF 2170 Prohibiting the burdening of a person’s free exercise of religion89th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2284Similar
Matched by wording or an identical title.