Bill > S593

Introduced Session

A bill to amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to protect civil rights and otherwise prevent meaningful harm to third parties, and for other purposes. This bill prohibits the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to specified federal laws or the implementation of such laws. Currently, RFRA prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest when using the least restrictive means. Under the bill, RFRA is inapplicable to laws or the implementation of laws that protect against discrimination or the promotion of equal opportunity (e.g., the Civil Rights Act of 1964); require employers to provide wages, other compensation, or benefits, including leave; protect collective activity in the workplace; protect against child labor, abuse, or exploitation; or provide for access to, information about, referrals for, provision of, or coverage for, any health care item or service. The bill prevents RFRA from being used to deny (1) goods or services the government has contracted, granted, or made an agreement to provide to a beneficiary; or (2) a person's full and equal enjoyment of a government-provided good, service, benefit, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation. In order for a person to assert a RFRA claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, the government must be a party to the proceeding.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Kamala Harris (D)*,  Tammy Baldwin (D),  Richard Blumenthal (D),  Cory Booker (D),  Sherrod Brown (D),  Maria Cantwell (D),  Ben Cardin (D),  Tom Carper (D),  Chris Coons (D),  Catherine Cortez Masto (D),  Tammy Duckworth (D),  Dick Durbin (D),  Dianne Feinstein (D),  Kirsten Gillibrand (D),  Maggie Hassan (D),  Mazie Hirono (D),  Amy Klobuchar (D),  Patrick Leahy (D),  Ed Markey (D),  Bob Menendez (D),  Jeff Merkley (D),  Chris Murphy (D),  Patty Murray (D),  Jack Reed (D),  Jacky Rosen (D),  Bernie Sanders (I),  Jeanne Shaheen (D),  Tina Smith (D),  Debbie Stabenow (D),  Tom Udall (D),  Chris Van Hollen (D),  Elizabeth Warren (D),  Sheldon Whitehouse (D),  Ron Wyden (D), 

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (on 02/28/2019)

Official Document