Bill > SB60

This bill amends Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 446.350 to strengthen protections for religious liberty by defining key terms and establishing legal remedies for individuals whose religious freedom has been substantially burdened by government actions. The bill defines "government action" broadly to include any law, rule, regulation, or policy implemented by state or local authorities, and clarifies that "substantially burden" means curtailing or denying a person's right to act or refuse to act based on a sincerely held religious belief. Under the new provisions, government actions cannot substantially burden religious freedom unless the government can prove by clear and convincing evidence that it has a compelling governmental interest and has used the least restrictive means to achieve that interest. The bill allows individuals whose religious exercise has been substantially burdened to seek legal relief, including costs and attorney's fees, and applies to all government actions regardless of when they were adopted. Additionally, the bill includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the statute is found invalid, the rest of the law remains in effect, and it explicitly waives sovereign and governmental immunity for claims related to religious freedom violations.

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https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/25RS/sb60.html