TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A gay rights group is mobilizing against a bill before a Kansas House committee that supporters say is an attempt to preserve religious freedom.
The House Judiciary Committee scheduled a hearing on the measure Tuesday afternoon.
The bill would declare that state and local government policies shall not “substantially burden” people’s right to exercise their religious beliefs without showing a compelling interest and imposing the burden in the least restrictive way possible.
The measure also would allow people to sue state and local government agencies if they feel their religious freedoms have been abridged
The Equality Kansas Coalition argues that the bill would nullify local ordinances and state university policies barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
