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House committee advances HCR 15, a concurrent resolution affirming religious freedom after brief debate and public comment
Summary
The committee voted to adopt a first substitute and then passed HCR 15 as sub, a nonbinding concurrent resolution affirming religious freedom and urging accommodation of religious observances; the measure drew public testimony from faith advocates and one recorded opposing vote on committee action.
Representative John Peterson presented HCR 15, a concurrent resolution on religious freedom, to the committee and urged members to support it as a reaffirmation of religious liberties reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. "Religious freedom is not a privilege. It's a right," Peterson said.
The sponsor described four purposes for the resolution: support public expression of religion, encourage accommodation of religious observances, protect religious symbols in public spaces, and affirm historical protections recognized by the courts. Peterson cited Supreme Court decisions including American Legion v. American Humanist Association (2019) and Kennedy v. Bremerton (2022) as part of the…
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