document

Anti-LGBT Religious Refusals Legislation Across the Country: 2015 Bills

Document Date: October 5, 2015

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

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

6/1/2015: Dead

TX

HB 3602

6/1/2015: Dead

TX

SB 1799

6/1/2015: Dead

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

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