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Committee advances bill clarifying Religious Freedom Act protections for organizations; heated debate on scope
Summary
House Bill 16 15, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Gary Stubblefield and presented by Rep. Robin Lundstrum, would clarify application of the state's Religious Freedom Act to religious organizations and their hiring; senators debated whether the bill favors specific beliefs and whether it risks establishment-clause or equal-protection problems.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance House Bill 16 15, legislation that clarifies how Arkansas’s Religious Freedom Act applies to religious organizations and their employment decisions.
Representative Robin Lundstrum (House District 18) presented the bill, saying it ‘‘refines’’ the state’s Religious Freedom Act to allow religious organizations to make employment decisions consistent with their faith. Using the example of a religious youth camp, Lundstrum said a Baptist organization should be…
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