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