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Senate passes state-level religious-freedom bill after floor debate and assurances
Summary
First-substitute SB111, described by sponsors as a state Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed following debate about constitutional standards and requests for supporting materials; sponsors said university and AG materials would be supplied in House committee.
The Utah Senate passed the first-substitute version of Senate Bill 111 on the floor after a period of debate over its scope and legal standard.
Senator Butters, sponsor of the floor bill, described the measure as a state-level Religious Freedom Restoration Act that adopts an intermediate scrutiny standard intended to protect religious exercise while limiting potential litigation. Senator Bell said he did not take the bill lightly and described his conversations with counsel; after having his concerns addressed he said he intended to vote aye.
Senator Romero asked whether handouts from the attorney general and university collaborators would be provided to address questions raised on the previous day; the sponsor said those materials would be provided in the House committee and that the University of Utah welcomed the amendments. Senator Romero said he would vote no without seeing that additional information.
Supporters argued the bill removes fear of litigation for ordinary religious expression by providing a state process that shifts the burden to the state to defend restrictions on religious exercise. Opponents, where recorded, described the bill as unnecessary given existing precedent.
The clerk announced final passage with 26 yes votes, 3 nay votes and 0 absent; SB111 was referred to the House for further action.
The transcript records senators debating legal standards, referencing counsel and university involvement, but does not reproduce the handout materials the floor referenced. The bill as debated was described by supporters as a "middle of the road" approach to religious-liberty protections at the state level.
