In 2016, Protect Thy Neighbor monitored and fought a number of bills across the country that would have allowed individuals, businesses, and government employees to harm others in the name of religion. The most common bills would allow discrimination against LGBTQ Americans and deny access to reproductive healthcare, but these bills have other negative and far reaching consequences as well. View the bills we monitored in 2016 below, or learn more about the most recent 2019 bills that have been introduced in your state here.
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
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RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACTS
These bills would create or expand a state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. RFRAs authorize religious exemptions to each and every state law on the books. If any state law or policy is deemed to place a “substantial burden” on the religious beliefs of a person (and often even a for-profit corporation), the state must show that it has a “compelling interest” and that the law is “narrowly tailored” to fulfilling that interest. Although RFRAs were originally intended to protect genuine religious freedom, many states are now adopting RFRAs in order to override nondiscrimination laws and deny women reproductive healthcare. For more on RFRA, including talking points on why states shouldn't adopt Indiana-like RFRAs -or- replicate the federal RFRA, please check out our RFRA page.
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee), Adoption, Healthcare
Our View
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Our View
Spotlight On: Georgia's Discriminatory Religious Exemption Bills
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Our View
Spotlight On: Georgia and SB 129
Bill status: Vetoed by Governor Deal on March 28, 2016
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (State FADA, added Pastor Protection Act on February 17, 2016)
Our View
Spotlight On: Georgia's HB 757 State FADA/Pastor Protection Act
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Our View
Spotlight On: Georgia's Discriminatory Religious Exemption Bills
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Our View
Spotlight On: Headline-Making RFRA Bills
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee)
Our View
Spotlight On: Kentucky's Marriage Bills
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee)
Our View
Spotlight On: Kentucky's Marriage Bills
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee)
Our View
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee)
Our View
Spotlight On: Kentucky's Marriage Bills
Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on January 20, 2015 (carryover)
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Our View
Spotlight On: Headline-Making RFRA Bills
Bill status: Passed House on February 11, 2016; Voted down on Senate Floor on March 2, 2016
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Our View
MARRIAGE
These bills would allow or even require government employees, for-profit business, or government contractors and grantees to discriminate against same-sex couples who are married or seeking to marry. Find out more about this issue on our marriage page.
Government Employee: These bills would allow government employees and officials to withhold marriage licenses, refuse to solemnize weddings, or otherwise block recognition of some or all marriages. Check out our talking points here.
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee), Adoption, Healthcare
Our View
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee)
Our View
Spotlight On: Kentucky's Marriage Bills
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee)
Our View
Spotlight On: Kentucky's Marriage Bills
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee)
Our View
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee)
Our View
Spotlight On: Kentucky's Marriage Bills
Bill status: Vetoed by Governor Terry McAuliffe on March 30, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (Was Government employee refusal, amended to a State FADA on March 3, 2016)
Our View
Bill status: Died on February 17, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (Government-Employee)
Our View
First Amendment Defense Acts: Also known as FADAs, these are based on a federal bill that would allow private businesses, federal contractors and grantees, and even government employees to discriminate against same-sex couples, unmarried couples, people who have remarried, single mothers, those who have had sex outside of marriage, and others. Some state bills are narrower or broader than the federal FADA; however, all of these bills seek to sanction discrimination, allowing individuals and entities to ignore laws that conflict with their religious beliefs about marriage. See more about FADAs here.
Bill status: Vetoed by Governor Deal on March 28, 2016
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (State FADA, added Pastor Protection Act on February 17, 2016)
Our View
Spotlight On: Georgia's HB 757 State FADA/Pastor Protection Act
Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on February 3, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (First Amendment Defense Act)
Our View
The So-Called First Amendment Defense Act Reaches the States
Bill status: Referred to House Committee on February 9, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (First Amendment Defense Acts)
Bill status: Signed by Governor Bryant on April 5, 2016; law blocked from going into effect by federal court on June 30, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (State FADA)
Our View
Americans United Joins The Fight In Court Against Mississippi's "Religious Freedom" Law
Bill status: Failed in House Committee on April 27, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (State FADA, Pastor Protection Act, and wedding services refusal)
Our View
Spotlight On: Missouri's SB 916 and SJR 39
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Marriage (State FADA, Pastor Protection Act and wedding services refusal)
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Marriage (State FADA, Pastor Protection Act and wedding services refusal)
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Marriage (First Amendment Defense Acts)
Our View
Read our letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee
Wedding-Services: These bills would allow private businesses and individuals to refuse to provide wedding services or products to same-sex couples or other couples.
Bill status: Signed by Governor Rick Scott on March 10, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (Wedding-Services, Pastor Protection Acts)
Our View
Read our letter to Senate President Andy Gardiner
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Marriage (Wedding-Services)
Our View
Spotlight On: Georgia's Discriminatory Religious Exemption Bills
Bill status: Passed the Senate on March 15, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (Pastor Protection Act and wedding services refusal)
Bill status: Passed House on April 19, 2016; Referred to Senate Committee
Bill type: Marriage (Pastor Protection Act and wedding services refusal)
Bill status: Referred to House Committee on September 9, 2015 (carryover)
Bill type: Marriage (Pastor Protection Acts, Wedding-Services)
Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on February 12, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (Wedding services refusal)
Bill status: Failed in House Committee on April 27, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (State FADA, Pastor Protection Act, and wedding services refusal)
Our View
Spotlight On: Missouri's SB 916 and SJR 39
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Marriage (State FADA, Pastor Protection Act and wedding services refusal)
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Marriage (State FADA, Pastor Protection Act and wedding services refusal)
Bill status: House Committee hearing set for May 10, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (Pastor Protection Act and wedding related services)
Bill status: Referred to 2nd House Committee on September 16, 2015 (carryover)
Bill type: Marriage (Wedding-Services)
Penalties for Recognizing Marriage: These bills would require firing of or pay cuts for government officials and employees who follow the Constitution and recognize the marriages of same-sex couples.
Pastor Protection Acts: Generally, these bills prohibit the state from requiring clergy and religious institutions to perform marriages for same-sex or other couples if such marriages conflict with their religious beliefs. Some Pastor Protection Acts, however, are more expansive and would also allow commercial entities owned or run by religious organizations to refuse to provide any wedding related services to couples whose marriage conflicts with their religious beliefs. See more about clergy and marriage equality here.
Bill status: Signed by Governor Rick Scott on March 10, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (Wedding-Services, Pastor Protection Acts)
Our View
Read our letter to Senate President Andy Gardiner
Bill status: Passed the Senate on March 15, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (Pastor Protection Act and wedding services refusal)
Bill status: Passed House on April 19, 2016; Referred to Senate Committee
Bill type: Marriage (Pastor Protection Act and wedding services refusal)
Bill status: Referred to House Committee on September 9, 2015 (carryover)
Bill type: Marriage (Pastor Protection Acts, Wedding-Services)
Bill status: Referred to House Committee on September 9, 2015 (carryover)
Bill type: Marriage (Pastor Protection Act)
Bill status: Failed in House Committee on April 27, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (State FADA, Pastor Protection Act, and wedding services refusal)
Our View
Spotlight On: Missouri's SB 916 and SJR 39
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Marriage (State FADA, Pastor Protection Act and wedding services refusal)
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Marriage (State FADA, Pastor Protection Act and wedding services refusal)
Bill status: House Committee hearing set for May 10, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (Pastor Protection Act and wedding related services)
Bill status: Hearing in House Committee on April 12, 2016; No vote
Bill type: Marriage (Pastor Protection Acts)
Our View
Read our letter to the House Community and Family Advancement Committee
Nullification of Marriage-Equality: These bills would defy the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Constitution by declaring that the state will recognize only marriages between one man and one woman.
Changing The State's Role In Marriage: These bills would eliminate or reduce the state’s role in licensing or solemnizing marriages.
Bill status: Passed Senate on February 18, 2016
Bill type: Marriage (Changing The State's Role in Marriage)
Our View
Spotlight On: Kentucky's Marriage Bills
Bill status: Referred to House Committee on June 17, 2015 (carryover)
Bill status: Referred to House Committee on June 17, 2015 (carryover)
Bill type: Marriage (Changing state's role in marriage)
Adoption
These bills that would allow government-funded agencies to deprive children of safe, loving, and happy families in order to facilitate religion-based discrimination against families with LGBTQ or single parents. Check out our talking points here.
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Adoption
Our View
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Adoption
Letters
Read our letter to the Alabama legislature on behalf of our Alabama members and supporters
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee), Adoption, Healthcare
Our View
Bill status: Withdrawn by sponsor on April 1, 2016
Bill type: Adoption
Our View
Nebraska Adoption Bill Would Discriminate Against LGBT Parents
Healthcare
These bills would allow individuals or businesses to withhold healthcare and health insurance from certain patients (most often LGBTQ and women patients) or for certain services and products (most often related to reproductive health). Find out more about this issue on our healthcare page.
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, Marriage (Government-Employee), Adoption, Healthcare
Our View
Bill status: Signed by governor on April 27, 2016
Bill type: Healthcare
Our View
Student GROUPS
These bills would bar colleges and universities from enforcing nondiscrimination policies that apply to student religious clubs. Find out more about this issue on our student groups page.
Bill status: Signed by the governor on March 22, 2016
Bill type: Student Groups
Our View
Campus Crusade For Bias?: How Religious Demands For Exemptions Harm Higher Education
Government Services
These bills would allow government employees or taxpayer-funded entities to discriminate against those they hire or serve, or to withhold certain services (such as reproductive care) even if otherwise required by law.
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Government Services
Our View
Spotlight On: Georgia's Discriminatory Religious Exemption Bills
Bill status: Passed both House and Senate; Sent back to the House for concurrence; House refused to concur in Senate amendments; Dead
Bill type: Government Services
Other Refusals
Bill status: Passed Senate Committee on May 2, 2016
Bill type: Other refusals
Bill status: Dead
Bill type: Other Refusals
Our View
Oklahoma Senate Committee Passes Anti-LGBT Bathroom Bill That Allows For Religious Accommodations