Signed by Governor Phil Bryant

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes certain protections for individuals, religious organizations, and private associations regarding religious beliefs or moral convictions.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the State from taking legal action against an individual who declines to provide services, facilities, or goods that are designed to solemnize, celebrate, or recognize a same-sex marriage based on “sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions” (Sec. 3).
• Defines “sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions” as adhering to the following beliefs (Sec. 2):
• The belief that marriage is or should be a union between one man and one woman;
• The belief that sexual relations are properly reserved for such a marriage; and
• The belief that the terms “male” and “female” refer to an individual’s immutable, objectively determined biological sex based on anatomy and genetics at the time of birth.
• Authorizes an individual employed by the state government to seek recusal from licensing lawful marriages based on sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions (Sec. 3).
• Specifies that this bill is referred to as the “Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act” (Sec. 1).
• Specifies that the provisions of this bill apply to, and in cases of conflict, supersede any ordinance, rule, regulation, order, opinion, decision, practice or other exercise of states government’s authority that impinges upon the free exercise of religious beliefs or moral convictions (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes certain protections for individuals, religious organizations, and private associations regarding religious beliefs or moral convictions, effective July 1, 2016.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the State from taking legal action against an individual who declines to provide services, facilities, or goods that are designed to solemnize, celebrate, or recognize a same-sex marriage based on “sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions” (Sec. 3).

• Defines “sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions” as adhering to the following beliefs (Sec. 2):

• The belief that marriage is or should be a union between one man and one woman;

• The belief that sexual relations are properly reserved for such a marriage; and

• The belief that the terms “male” and “female” refer to an individual’s immutable, objectively determined biological sex based on anatomy and genetics at the time of birth.

• Authorizes an individual employed by the state government to seek recusal from licensing lawful marriages based on sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that this bill is referred to as the “Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act” (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text