ATLANTA — A Georgia senate committee was due to take up a religious freedom bill, SB 150, on Thursday.
It’s a measure critics say would legalize discrimination based on religious beliefs and a Republican bill once vetoed by a Republican governor.
Although religious freedom gets protection from the U.S. Constitution, individuals observing their religious preferences also need specific protection in state law, said Mike Griffin of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.
"Anybody that’s for the first amendment can’t be, shouldn’t be against a religious freedom restoration act," said Griffin, who backs a bill with that name pushed by senate Republicans.
The bill states, “the government shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion,” and allows for civil penalties if it happens.
But other states have enacted such laws, and Executive Director of Georgia Equality Jeff Graham said he believes they've been used to discriminate by stating it is their belief that homosexuality or identifying as transgender goes against their own religious views.
"That's why we feel just protecting people of faith can create a license to discriminate," Graham said.
In 2016 Republican Governor Nathan Deal vetoed a religious freedom bill pushed by Republican lawmakers, citing "concern that (it) may in fact encourage or allow discrimination, that it be sanctioned by the state."
This year’s religious freedom bill has simpler language, which Gov. Brian Kemp has indicated he could support.
But Graham said Georgia should instead enact a broad anti-discrimination law, which would offer protection against religious, gender and racial bias.
"Georgia is one of only three states that lacks a broad civil rights bill that protects all people from all forms of discrimination," Graham said.
The 2016 religious freedom bill passed the legislature late in the 2016 session. A similar scenario may play out this year, with only 14 days left before adjournment.