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Georgia Senate passes state Religious Freedom Restoration Act after hours of debate
Summary
The Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 36, a state Religious Freedom Restoration Act, on March 5 after hours of floor debate and a 32-23 roll-call vote.
The Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 36, the state Religious Freedom Restoration Act, on March 5 after several hours of debate and a 32-23 vote. The bill mirrors the federal RFRA and would require courts to apply a ‘‘compelling government interest’’ and ‘‘least restrictive means’’ test before the state or local governments may substantially burden a person’s religious exercise.
Supporters said the bill fills a legal gap that the U.S. Supreme Court left after City of Boerne v. Flores (1997) and that 39 other states have enacted comparable protections. Senator Sutzler (sponsor, 30th/7th) framed the measure as a…
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