South Dakota

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The Ripple Effect Of The Supreme Court’s Masterpiece Cakeshop Decision

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The US Supreme Court’s Masterpiece Cakeshop opinion is having an immediate and wide-ranging impact. The Arizona Court of Appeals cited the Masterpiece opinion when it ruled against Brush & Nib Studio, one of several businesses around the country that, like Masterpiece, is trying to use religious beliefs to justify discrimination.

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Michigan Law Allowing State-Contracted Foster Care Organizations To Use Religion As Excuse To Turn Away Families Challenged In Court

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Religious freedom is about fairness. It’s not fair to the children who will remain in foster care longer when state contractors use religion to reject qualified families who want to provide safe, loving homes.

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South Dakota's Dangerous "Religious Freedom" Adoption Bill On Verge Of Becoming Law

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SB 149 gives taxpayer-funded child-placement agencies the right to refuse to provide services to children if doing so is contrary to the agency’s religious beliefs—basically providing them with a religious right to discriminate against nearly anyone.

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Why Does South Dakota Want to Discriminate Against Vulnerable Children?

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Earlier this week, the South Dakota House Health and Human Services Committee voted 5-2 to allow child placement agencies to substitute their religious beliefs for the child’s best interest, leaving us wondering why?

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Last Week In Review: February 22–26

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As bills continue to pick up speed through their respective legislatures, we've decided to add a new feature to our legislative coverage that helps our readers keep track of the previous week's bill movement.

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South Dakota's FADA Tabled By Senate Committee

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South Dakota's HB 1107 FADA bill has been tabled by the state's Senate Judiciary Committee, effectively killing it.

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Government Employees Have No ‘Religious Freedom’ Right To Refuse Service To Same-Sex Couples, Says Americans United

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Clerks Must Issue Marriage Licenses To All Qualified Couples, Church-State Watchdog Says

Government employees who oppose marriage equality because of their religious beliefs are not entitled to refuse service to same-sex couples, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has informed officials in all 50 states today.

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Protect Thy Neighbor's First Initiative: Remind State Officials That They Have No Right to Discriminate

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From Americans United's Wall of Separation blog:

"[Protect Thy Neighbor] hits the ground running today with its first initiative: AU’s Legal Department is sending a letter to every state attorney general in the country as well as every county clerk in the states of Texas and South Dakota reminding them that they have a legal obligation to give wedding licenses and otherwise provide service to all qualified couples, including those who are of the same sex.

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South Dakota Attorney General Says Clerks Can Refuse Marriage License for Same-Sex Couples

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From The Advocate:

The Attorney General of South Dakota has taken the position that “country clerks in his state who oppose marriage equality on religious grounds can refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, so long as another clerk in the office will issue the license.”  And if every clerk in the county refuses to issue licenses, “the state itself could issue the license.”