Culture & Conversation Human Rights
Iowa Religious Freedom Restoration Act (HF 258)
This law was last updated on Feb 19, 2019
This law is Anti–LGBTQ
Number
HF 258
Status
Proposed
Proposed
Feb 6, 2019
Sponsors
Primary Sponsors: 17
Total Sponsors: 17
Full Bill Text
HF 258 would prohibit a government entity from substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a law of general applicability.
The bill states that a government entity shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion unless the government entity demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is essential to further a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
A person whose exercise of religion has been burdened by a government entity in violation of this provision may assert that violation as a claim or defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding and may obtain such declaratory relief or monetary damages as may properly be awarded by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The bill does not apply to the department of corrections, a district department of correctional services, a county jail, or other detention facility.
The law allows religious freedom to be raised as a defense in lawsuits between private citizens and therefore does not track the federal RFRA.
Related Legislation
Companion bill to SF 240.
Identical to HF 2209, SF 2154 and HF 2209; all of which failed to pass in 2018.
Similar to HF 2032, HF 2200, and SF 2171, all of which failed to pass in 2016.
Latest Action
2/6/19 – Introduced.
People
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