Bill > HB371

This bill strengthens religious freedom protections in Louisiana by amending existing laws to provide broader safeguards for religious institutions and practices. The bill explicitly defines the free exercise of religion as a fundamental right and prohibits government agencies from substantially burdening religious practices unless they can demonstrate a compelling governmental interest and use the least restrictive means to achieve that interest. It introduces specific protections for churches and places of worship, preventing government restrictions on their use for various activities like religious education, home study programs, Vacation Bible Schools, and mother's day out programs, as long as the facility meets basic zoning, building code, and safety regulations. The bill also expands the definition of "exercise of religion" to include the freedom to act or refuse to act based on sincerely-held religious beliefs and provides legal remedies for individuals whose religious exercise has been burdened, including the ability to seek injunctive relief, actual damages, and attorney fees. Additionally, the bill adds definitions for terms like "mother's day out program" and clarifies the circumstances under which legal actions related to religious freedom can be pursued, with a one-year statute of limitations and provisions for tolling the time limit under certain conditions.