TEXAS: Senate Revives “Save Chick-Fil-A” Bill That Would Protect Anti-LGBT Discrimination By Businesses

The Dallas News reports:

After the so-called “Save Chick-fil-A” bill was sunk in the Texas House last week, a Senate committee on Monday quietly revived the legislation which LGBTQ advocates say perpetuates anti-gay discrimination. The Senate Bill 1978, filed by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, is the companion bill to Fort Worth GOP Rep. Matt Krause’s House Bill 3172, which was called the “most extreme anti-LGBT” legislation filed this year by gay rights groups.

“The bill as filed ensures religious beliefs are protected from discrimination. It’s about the First Amendment and freedom of speech, freedom of religion — those uniquely American rights,” Hughes said as he laid out his bill before a nearly empty committee room. Hughes’ bill would prevent the government from penalizing an individual or business for actions associated to religious beliefs or moral convictions.

Republicans has rushed the bill through its committee and waived a rule calling for public notice on its hearing, so of course there was nobody there to debate it, unlike what happened last week in the Texas House. This is all Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s doing.