The Associated Press reports:
The Montana House has endorsed a bill that would allow people to challenge government regulations that interfere with their religious beliefs. The approval came Wednesday after lawmakers rejected an amendment that would have made it clear the law couldn’t be used to justify discrimination.
Under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the government would have to prove any regulations that substantially interfere with someone’s religious beliefs are justified by a compelling state interest and are being accomplished by the least restrictive means possible.
Read the full article. Montana, like many states, has no statewide LGBT protections, but several municipalities have local ordinances. Gov. Greg Gianforte has said that he will sign the bill, which has already been approved by the state senate.
The Montana House endorsed a bill that would allow people to challenge government regulations that interfere with their religious beliefs. First lawmakers rejected an amendment that would make it clear the law couldn’t be used to justify discrimination. https://t.co/2zlJ4gk3I9
— NBC Montana (@NBCMontana) April 1, 2021
BREAKING: The Montana Legislature just passed a bill that grants a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people, people of faith, and women under the guise of religious freedom.
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 1, 2021