It's official: it's over for Georgia's HB 757. House Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today that they would not challenge Governor Nathan Deal's veto on the controversial "religious liberty" bill, but that the larger fight is far from over.
Mississippi Senate Passes Sweeping "Religious Liberty" Bill
Mississippi Set To Vote On Discriminatory Bill
Sibling Rivalry: Religious Freedom Puts Economic and Religious Conservatives At Odds
About that Order for Supplemental Briefing in Zubik v. Burwell
Last Week In Review: March 21–25
Because many state legislative sessions have ended (Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming), we can report that 13 of the so-called religious liberty bills we have been tracking are officially dead. Here is some of the big state legislative news that occurred last week and what we expect to see moving this week.
Louisiana Governor To Rescind Anti-LGBT Executive Order
In the wake of Governor Nathan Deal's veto of HB 757 in Georgia, Governor John Bel Edwards' press secretary has announced that the Louisiana governor will rescind the anti-LGBT executive order issued by Bobby Jindal in 2015.
Transparent Trickery: Claims Of ‘Persecution’ In Idaho Fail To Sway Court
Say You (Don’t) Want A Revolution?: Perkins Proves To Be No Prophet
Georgia Governor Vetoes "Religious Liberty" Bill
In a brief press conference today, Governor Nathan Deal vetoed HB 757, a bill that would have sanctioned discrimination in the name of "religious liberty".
Americans United Hails Georgia Governor’s Veto Of HB 757, A So-Called ‘Religious Freedom Bill’
Somehow We're Still Arguing Over Birth Control In The Supreme Court
Zubik v. Burwell Case Attracts Major Media Attention
Bill That Allows For Discrimination Moves To Mississippi Senate Floor
On Wednesday, a Mississippi Senate Committee approved HB 1523, the misleadingly named “Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act.” The state House has already passed the bill and the Senate will likely vote on it very soon. The goal of HB 1523 is to allow discrimination against LGBT couples. But its reach goes much further.
Faith-Based College Groups Can Now Discriminate In Kansas
According to The Kansas City Star, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has signed into law SB 175, a bill that would allow faith-based groups at universities to restrict membership to only like-minded people. This means that school tuition dollars could go to groups that deny membership to minority students, such as those in the LGBT community.
A Sign Speaks: The Message Behind ‘The PILL KILLS’
North Carolina Rushes Anti-LGBT Bill Through Legislature
North Carolina lawmakers are so dead set on passing a bill that would ban all cities in the state from enacting anti-discrimination ordinances that they convened a special session today that is costing $42,000 in taxpayer funds. And, in an effort to get their dollar's worth, legislators look ready to pass HB 2 through both chambers before the end of the day.
The Mouse Has Spoken: Disney Threatens To Boycott Georgia If HB 757 Passes
Disney fired a warning shot across Georgia's bow today, vowing that neither it nor its Marvel Studios unit would film in the state should HB 757 pass.
Birth Control Battle: U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Limits Of ‘Religious Freedom’
People of faith who live in the United States sometimes have to make compromises between their personal beliefs and following the law. As far as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy is concerned, there is no obvious way to distinguish when violating one’s faith is acceptable and when it isn’t.
Americans United Law Clerk Explains Why Zubik Is Vital For Students
In an interview with NPR about the Zubik v. Burwell Supreme Court case, Georgetown University student and Americans United law clerk Allison Tanner explained why it was necessary for students of religiously affiliated universities to receive contraception coverage from their schools.