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Sponsor says Senate bill would add state-level free-exercise protections and a balancing test; opponents warned of discrimination risk
Summary
Senate Bill 36, described by its sponsor as extending federal-style free-exercise protections to state and local government action, drew extended debate over whether it would enable discrimination; the sponsor said the bill creates a balancing test and does not nullify local nondiscrimination ordinances.
Senator Sutzler presented Senate Bill 36 as a state-level measure to recognize and protect free-exercise rights in interactions with state and local government, saying the bill "takes the center road" and does not preempt local nondiscrimination ordinances.
Committee members raised concerns that, if enacted, the measure could function as…
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