TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A bill that supporters say enshrines
religious freedom in state statutes has won first-round approval in
the Kansas House.
The 89-27 vote Wednesday sent the measure to final action, set
for Thursday.
Conservative Republicans drafted the bill to protect Kansas
residents from laws that they say infringe upon their rights to
religious freedom.
The bill declares that state and local government policies shall
not "substantially burden" people’s right to exercise their
religious beliefs without showing a compelling interest and
imposing the burden in the least restrictive way possible.
It also declares that people have the right to sue state and
local government agencies if they feel their religious freedoms
have been abridged.
Critics argue the bill would allow discrimination under the
guise of protecting religious beliefs.