Bill > HB1669

This bill, known as the Keep Kids First Act, aims to protect faith-based adoption and foster care agencies from discrimination when they refuse to provide services that conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs. The bill establishes that private child placement agencies cannot be required to perform, assist, or participate in child placements that violate their religious or moral convictions. It prohibits state government from taking discriminatory actions against foster or adoptive parents based on their religious beliefs, including their stance on sexual orientation or gender identity. The legislation provides a legal mechanism for agencies and individuals to defend themselves against potential discrimination, allowing them to seek declaratory relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and attorney's fees if they are subjected to adverse actions. The bill's legislative findings emphasize the importance of maintaining diverse adoption and foster care providers, recognizing the constitutional right to free exercise of religion, and ensuring that faith-based organizations can continue to serve children in need. The law explicitly states that it does not prevent the state from making placement decisions in the best interests of children and is meant to provide additional protections for religious freedom in the context of child welfare services.