Bill > HB757

This bill, known as the "Free Exercise Protection Act," aims to safeguard religious freedom by preventing the government from compelling individuals and religious organizations to act against their sincerely held religious beliefs. Specifically, it clarifies that religious officials cannot be forced to perform marriage ceremonies that violate their religious conscience, and individuals are free to attend or not attend such ceremonies. The bill also modifies provisions related to business operations on days of worship, stating that businesses should make reasonable accommodations for employees' religious needs and that counties and municipalities cannot mandate businesses operate on Saturdays or Sundays. Furthermore, it protects "faith-based organizations" (defined as churches, religious schools, and similar entities qualified under federal tax law) from being required to rent out their property for events they find objectionable or to provide social, educational, or charitable services that conflict with their religious tenets, while allowing for enforcement of existing contracts. The bill also establishes that government actions that substantially burden a person's exercise of religion are only permissible if they serve a compelling government interest and are the least restrictive means to achieve it. Importantly, the bill waives sovereign immunity for the state in cases where individuals or faith-based organizations seek legal remedies for violations of these religious freedom protections, allowing for declaratory judgments, injunctions, and recovery of attorney's fees and court costs.