Louisiana committee advances bill clarifying when church activities are treated as religious versus educational

House Bill 371, a measure intended to protect places of worship from what supporters described as inconsistent application of building‑code and zoning rules, was reported with amendments by the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure on May 6.

The bill’s author, Representative Amity, told the committee the measure is written to ensure government does not “discriminate against places of worship by requiring restrictions that are greater than what they apply to secular businesses or services.” The committee adopted amendment set 2,176 and a later amendment making the bill effective on the governor’s signature before reporting the measure with amendments.

Supporters said the central problem is that local officials in some cases have treated weekday ministry activities — such as Vacation Bible School, Mother’s Day Out programs and…