Bill > SB0344

This bill expands civil rights protections to include sexual orientation and military active duty status in areas such as real estate, housing, education, public accommodations, employment, credit, and public contracts, while also providing protections for religious liberty and conscience. It limits the ability of local governments to enact civil rights ordinances that cover groups not already protected by state law, specifically prohibiting ordinances adopted after December 31, 2015, that apply to classes of persons not covered by state law. The bill also allows local civil rights agencies to order the employment of a veteran and clarifies that changes to civil rights and fair housing laws within this act are non-severable, meaning if one part is found invalid, all related changes are void. Additionally, it introduces new definitions for "active duty" and "sexual orientation" and repeals the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (IC 34-13-9), replacing it with a new chapter (IC 34-28-10) that mandates courts use a specific legal analysis for claims involving religious freedom and other constitutional rights, and includes exemptions for religious or religious-affiliated organizations in certain contexts.