Anti-LGBT Religious Refusals Legislation Across the Country: 2015 Bills
VIEW ANTI-LGBT RELIGIOUS Exemption BILLS FROM THE 2016 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS
VIEW LGBT NONDISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-LGBT BILLS PENDING FOR THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS
2015 Bills
Types of bills:
- Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
- Marriage Refusals
- Adoption & Foster Care
- Access to Health Services
- College & University Student Groups
- Government Contractors
- Other anti-LGBT Backlash legislation
Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Allow lawsuits against any governmental policy, such as nondiscrimination laws, that substantially burdens someone’s religious beliefs. The government must prove that enforcing the policy is the least restrictive way of furthering a compelling governmental interest.
| State | Bill Number | Status | ||
| AR | HB 1228 | 3/27/2015: Dead | ||
| AR | SB 975 | 4/2/2015: Became Law | ||
| CO | HB 1171 | 3/9/2015: Dead | ||
| GA | HB 29 | 4/2/2014: Dead | ||
| GA | HB 218 | 4/2/2015: Dead | ||
| GA | SB 129 | 4/2/2015: Dead | ||
| HI | HB 1160 | 5/7/2015: Dead | ||
| IN | HB 1632 | 2/25/2015: Dead | ||
| IN | SB 101 | 3/26/2015: Became Law | ||
| IN | SB 568 | 2/25/2015: Dead | ||
| ME | LD 1340 | 4/16/2015: Dead | ||
| MI | SB 4 | 1/20/2015: Introduced | ||
| MT | HB 615 | 3/27/2015: Dead | ||
| NC | HB 348 | 9/30/2015: Dead | ||
| NC | SB 550 | 9/30/2015: Dead | ||
| NV | AB 277 | 4/10/2015: Dead | ||
| NV | SB 272 | 4/10/2015: Dead | ||
| OK | SB 723 | 2/26/2015: Dead | ||
| SD | HB 1220 | 2/24/2015: Dead | ||
| TX | HJR 55 | 6/1/2015: Dead | ||
| TX | HJR 125 | 6/1/2015: Dead | ||
| TX | SJR 10 | 6/1/2015: Dead | ||
| UT | HB 322 | 3/12/2015: Dead | ||
| WV | HB 2508 | 3/1/2015: Dead | ||
| WV | HB 2830 | 3/1/2015: Dead | ||
| WV | SB 487 | 3/1/2015: Dead | ||
| WY | HB 83 | 3/3/2015: Dead |
Marriage Refusals
These bills allow different kinds of refusals regarding marriage. They vary from state to state, but in general, do one or more of the following: Allow certain people authorized by the state, such as magistrates, judges, clerks and/or clergy, to refuse to perform marriages and/or issue marriage licenses. Other bills attempt to override the federal courts' constitutional decisions on marriage for same-sex couples. Other bills allow individuals, businesses and/or religious organizations to refuse to provide goods and services relating to marriage, and/or refuse to treat marriages as valid based on their religious beliefs. Some of these bills target same sex couples, others would allow a refusal to act as to any kind of marriage.
| State | Bill Number | Status | ||
| AL | HB 56 | 6/4/2015: Dead | ||
| AR | HB 1879 | 3/27/2015: Dead | ||
| IL | SB 2164 | 7/28/2015: Introduced | ||
| LA | HB 707 | 5/20/2015: Dead | ||
| MO | HB 1337 | 5/15/2015: Dead | ||
| MO | SB 555 | 5/15/2015: Dead | ||
| MN | SF 2158 | 5/18/2015: Dead | ||
| NC | SB 2 | 6/11/2015: Became Law | ||
| OK | HB 1371 | 3/12/2015: Dead | ||
| OK | HB 1597 | 2/26/2015: Dead | ||
| OK | HB 1599 | 3/12/2015: Dead | ||
| OK | SB 440 | 2/26/2015: Dead | ||
| OK | SB 478 | 2/26/2015: Dead | ||
| SC | HB 3022 | 6/4/2015: Dead | ||
| SC | HB 3150 | 6/4/2015: Dead | ||
| SC | SB 116 | 6/4/2015: Dead | ||
| TX | HB 623 | 6/1/2015: Dead | ||
| TX | HB 3567 | |||
| TX | HB 3602 | |||
| TX | SB 1799 | |||
| UT | HJR 5 | 3/12/2015: Dead | ||
| UT | HB 66 | 3/12/2015: Dead | ||
| UT | SB 297 | 3/20/2015: Became Law |
Adoption & Foster Care
Adoption and foster care agencies could refuse to provide any adoption services that would conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of the agency, regardless of the best interests of the children in their care.
| State | Bill Number | Status | ||
| AL | HB 296 | 6/3/2015: Dead | ||
| AL | SB 261 | 6/4/2015: Dead | ||
| FL | HB 7111 | 5/2/2015: Dead | ||
| MI | HB 4188 | 6/11/2015: Became Law | ||
| MI | HB 4189 | 6/11/2015: Became Law | ||
| MI | HB 4190 | 6/11/2015: Became Law | ||
| TX | HB 3864 | 6/1/2015: Dead |
Access to Health Services
Legislation would allow those with religious objections to undermine professional standards that apply equally to everyone. For instance, a high school guidance counselor could refuse to counsel a gay teenager, citing their sincerely held religious beliefs.
| State | Bill Number | Status | ||
| TN | HB 566 | 4/22/2015: Dead | ||
| TN | SB 397 | 4/22/2015: Dead | ||
| VA | HB 1414 | 2/10/2015: Dead |
Colleges & University Student Groups
Requires public colleges and universities to give benefits, including access to funding and the use of facilities, to student organizations even if the organization discriminates based on their religious beliefs.
| State | Bill Number | Status | ||
| CA | AB 1212 | 4/21/2015: Dead | ||
| CO | HB 1037 | 2/9/2015: Dead | ||
| KS | SB 175 | 6/12/2015: Dead | ||
| MO | HB 104 | 5/15/2015: Dead | ||
| MO | SB 248 | 5/15/2015: Dead | ||
| MS | HB 851 | 2/3/2015: Dead |
Government Contractors
Contractors that discriminate in hiring, even in defiance of existing state policies, are entitled to government contracts.
| State | Bill Number | Status | ||
| IN | SB 127 | 4/29/2015: Dead | ||
| VA | HB 1409 | 2/10/2015: Dead |
Other Anti-LGBT Backlash Legislation
Other laws have been introduced as backlash to gains in equality for LGBT people. These include laws allowing businesses to discriminate, a proposal to eliminate marriage licenses altogether, and laws that would ban local nondiscrimination ordinances.
| State | Bill Number | Status | ||
| AL | SB 4 | 9/16/2015: Dead | ||
| AR | SB 202 | 2/25/2015: Became Law | ||
| CO | HB 1161 | 3/9/2015: Dead | ||
| MS | HB 1243 | 2/3/2015: Dead | ||
| MS | SB 2801 | 2/3/2015: Dead | ||
| OK | HB 1125 | 5/29/2015: Dead | ||
| TX | HB 1556 | 6/1/2015: Dead | ||
| TX | HB 2553 | 6/1/2015: Dead | ||
| TX | HB 4105 | 6/1/2015: Dead | ||
| TX | SB 1155 | 6/1/2015: Dead | ||
| WV | HB 2881 | 3/14/2015: Dead |