SF 2095: Relating to the exercise of religion, and including effective date and applicability provisions

What it does

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.

Senate subcommittee · named January 29, 2024

• Sen. Jason Schultz (R) · jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Sandy Salmon (R) · sandy.salmon@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Janice Weiner (D) · janice.weiner@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 11 for, 18 against

For: 1st Amendment Partnership; ADF Action; Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church; Inspired Life; Iowa Baptists For Biblical Values; Iowa Catholic Conference; Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition; Iowans for Medical Marijuana; The Family Leader; The Family Leader Foundation; VALOR Iowa

Against: AFSCME Iowa Council 61; American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance; City of Iowa City; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Family Planning Council of Iowa; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund; Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers; Iowa Chamber Alliance; Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Krause Group, LTD; Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce; and 6 more

In plain words

1. January 23, 2024Filed in the Senate and sent to the State Government committee
2. January 29, 2024Senate subcommittee named: Schultz, Salmon and Weiner
3. January 30, 2024Subcommittee recommended passing it
4. February 1, 2024Approved by the Senate committee
5. February 20, 2024Passed the Senate, 31–16
6. February 29, 2024Took the place of HF 2454 on the House floor (the same legislation)
7. February 29, 2024Passed the House, 61–33
8. April 2, 2024Sent to the Governor
9. April 2, 2024Signed into law