Georgia Preventing Government Overreach on Religious Expression Act (HB 218)

HB 218 would prohibit the government from substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability unless the government demonstrates that the application of such burden to a person is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

The bill would allow a person to assert a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief against the government if their religious exercise has been burdened.

The bill defines “religious exercise” as to mean the practice or observance of religion, whether or not compelled by or central to a system of religious belief, including but not limited to the use, building, or conversion of real property for the practice or observance of religion.

STATUS

Similar to HB 29, which also failed.

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People