HSB 614

Topics:Courts & civil law

Same legislation: SF 2095, HF 2454

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 23, 2024
Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 24, 2024
Done: House committeeFebruary 8, 2024
Done: Passes the HouseFebruary 29, 202461–33
Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 20, 202431–16
Done: To the GovernorApril 2, 2024
Done: Signed into lawApril 2, 2024

Became HF 2454 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 2454 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill prohibits a governmental entity from substantially 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. Under current law, a court is not required to apply heightened scrutiny when reviewing a law that burdens a person’s exercise of religion when such law is generally applicable.

Read the full explanation

_____ compelling governmental interest test so that the government cannot substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion unless the government demonstrates that applying the law of general applicability is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest. The bill provides that a person whose exercise of religion has been substantially burdened by the government may assert such 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 in violation of the bill. The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies to all state and local laws.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text · What changed before it passed

House subcommittee

Named January 24, 2024. On January 30, 2024 it recommended passage. Vote Total: 2-1.

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

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§675.1 §675.2 §675.3 §675.4

Amends§331.301 §364.1

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

11 for · 18 against · 7 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.

Study bill

HSB 614Renumbered

90th General Assembly

SF 2095Became lawSenate companion HF 2454Didn’t advancefrom HSB 614

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.

SF 2170 Prohibiting the burdening of a person’s free exercise of religion
89th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2284 · similar
Cleared committee

Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.