Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Senate Bill 101, passed in the Indiana House of Representatives on Monday with a vote of 63-31.
The bill would make it legal for businesses to refuse service to individuals on the basis of personally held religious beliefs, but critics of the bill are claiming that it is a form of state-sanctioned discrimination that targets gay and lesbian individuals.
This was just one of two RFRA bills that were ?introduced into the Indiana General Assembly this legislative session.
The other bill, Senate Bill 568, was never heard before the full Senate.
Critics are citing an unnecessary expansion of religious freedom despite there being no demonstrated need in Indiana.
Several religious figures spoke before the Senate on Monday claiming that their religious freedoms were not being violated and that the bill wasn’t necessary.
Indiana State Representative Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, spoke in front of the House and made reference to the push last year to insert a ban on same-sex marriage in the Indiana Constitution.
“We have no idea what problem we’re trying to solve here,” Pierce said. “To me it’s pretty clear that SB 101 is nothing more than a consolation prize.”
Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody considers the bill to be regressive and detrimental to the social welfare of Hoosiers.
“The so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act sets us on a dangerous, ?regressive course,” Zody said in a press release. “The ensuing court battles will take away time, money and effort that should be invested in moving us forward.”
The bill is now being sent back to the Indiana Senate for concurrence with the amendments made in the House.
If successful in the Sentate, Gov. Mike Pence will see the bill. Pence has stated before that if the RFRA is passed in the General Assembly, he will sign it into law.
Daniel Metz
