Bill > HB1615

This bill proposes the Conscience Protection Act, which would amend the existing Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Arkansas. The key provisions are: 1. Defining terms like "compelling governmental interest," "exercise of religion," "government," and "substantially burden" to provide a broader protection for the free exercise of religion. 2. Prohibiting the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion unless it is essential to further a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of doing so. 3. Allowing individuals to assert violations of the Act as a claim or defense in judicial or administrative proceedings and obtain appropriate relief. 4. Adding a new subchapter to prohibit the government from discriminating against religious organizations based on their religious identity or conduct, unless such action is essential to further a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means. 5. Providing broad construction of the Act in favor of protecting the free exercise of religious beliefs to the maximum extent permitted by the state and federal constitutions.

Justice

https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1615&ddBienniumSession=2023%2F2023R