Georgia lawmakers pass religious freedom bill despite discrimination concerns

ATLANTA (AP) — Lawmakers successful Georgia's House passed a arguable measure Wednesday that aims to support people's rights to explicit their religion, but that critics accidental could pb to discrimination.

Modeled aft the national Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the measure would forestall governments from impeding connected someone's spiritual rights successful astir cases and halt the enforcement of laws that struggle with someone’s spiritual expression. The Republican-led authorities House approved the measure 96-70.

But Democrats — including those who spoke astir their Christian religion — said that without added protections, the measure volition fto radical discriminate against LGBTQ+ radical and spiritual minorities. Two Republicans voted against it, portion 1 Democrat supported it.

The measure passed Wednesday is akin to a highly contested 1 that erstwhile Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed successful 2016 amid wide protests and concerns from Georgia's concern assemblage that it would wounded their quality to pull employees and tourists. The Metro Atlanta Chamber opposed this year's bill.

Bill sponsor Sen. Ed Setzler, a Republican from Acworth, called Deal a “hero” for vetoing the earlier proposal. He said the caller bill, designed successful portion by existent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s staff, is little extreme.

“Every Georgian should beryllium escaped to workout their religion without unfair federal, authorities and section authorities intrusion,” Setzler said astatine a quality league Tuesday. He said the measure "protects mean radical from unfair authorities and section authorities intrusion.”

Kemp commended the bill’s transition successful a connection and promised to motion it. The Senate passed the measure connected March 4.

At slightest 29 states person akin laws.

Opponents are acrophobic that the measure could pb to favoritism successful a authorities that doesn't person a broad civilian rights instrumentality galore states do. Opponents besides accidental much spiritual protections aren’t necessary. When pressed during a House Judiciary committee meeting, Setzler could not sanction a lawsuit wherever someone’s spiritual liberties were violated successful a mode that would necessitate the bill’s protections.

“We are swatting astatine imaginary flies, and I’m sick of it,” Atlanta Democratic Rep. Stacey Evans said Wednesday.

Supporters accidental the measure would not override section civilian rights protections imposed by a fistful of Georgia municipalities.

“This is not a licence of backstage citizens to discriminate against backstage citizens,” said Republican Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, who presented the measure successful the House. “This prohibits the authorities from burning spiritual workout successful our state.”

Two Republicans, Rep. Deborah Silcox of Sandy Springs Rep. Stan Gunter of Blairsville, joined Democrats successful voting against the measurement successful an earlier House Judiciary committee meeting. Silcox tried to adhd an anti-discrimination measurement to the measure but that didn’t pass. She voted against the measure connected the House floor, but Gunter voted for it.

___

Charlotte Kramon is simply a corps subordinate for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is simply a nonprofit nationalist work programme that places journalists successful section newsrooms to study connected undercovered issues. Follow Kramon connected X: @charlottekramon.