UPDATE: The Religious Freedom Restoration act language fix has been signed by Gov. Mike Pence. Continue checking back with idsnews.com for updates.
Read about the newly proposed language regarding the fiercely debated RFRA below.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Amid an intense legislative scramble and immense national scrutiny, state Republican leaders announced clarifying language in the new “religious freedom” law, spelling out that Indiana businesses may not refuse service to gay and lesbian customers.
The language announced this morning in the Statehouse is supplementary to Senate Bill 101, which Gov. Mike Pence signed into law last week during a private ceremony. The language in the report is currently being discussed in conference committee. Although members of the committee are still hearing testimony and debating the new bill, both Republican Senate President Pro Tem David Long and House Speaker Brian Bosma said the measure is expected to pass.
"We can unequivocally say RFRA cannot be used to discriminate against anyone," Bosma said. "RFRA will not be used for that purpose. It was misinterpreted. We are sorry the misinterpretation hurt so many people."
While this new language offers gay Hoosiers reprieve at the possibility of facing legal discrimination from business operators and employers, the new language does not afford these same people the status of a protected class.
Just a day after Gov. Pence signed the bill last Thursday, talks of clarifying measures were circulating before the governor’s signature had dried. By Tuesday, Pence announced he would be expecting clarifying language on his desk by week’s end.
At the end of a press conference announcing the new language, Bosma begged the question the nation is asking: is the damage to Indiana's reputation able to be turned back?
"That's yet to be seen," he said.
Follow reporter Michael Majchrowicz on Twitter @mjmajchrowicz.
This story will be updated.
