SF 2170: Prohibiting the burdening of a person’s free exercise of religion

What it does

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 governmental entity shall not substantially burden a person’s free exercise of religion unless the governmental entity can demonstrate that the action constituting or resulting in the burden is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest.

Senate subcommittee · named February 2, 2022

• Sen. Julian B. Garrett (R)
• Sen. Robert Hogg (D)
• Sen. Craig Steven Williams (R) · craig.williams@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 13 for, 12 against

For: 1st Amendment Partnership; Homeschool Iowa; Informed Choice Iowa; Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Catholic Conference; Iowa Patients For Medical Marijuana; Iowans for Medical Marijuana; Personal Interest -Bill Gustoff; Rural School Advocates of Iowa; The Family Leader; The Family Leader Foundation; Urban Education Network of Iowa; and 1 more

Against: American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance; Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce; Greater Des Moines Partnership; Human Rights Campaign; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa Business Council; Iowa Chamber Alliance; Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence; One Iowa; One Iowa Action; Principal Financial Group

In plain words

1. February 1, 2022Filed in the Senate and sent to the Local Government committee
2. February 2, 2022Senate subcommittee named: Garrett, Hogg and Williams
3. February 9, 2022Subcommittee recommended passing it
4. February 15, 2022Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SF 2284