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Iowa Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SF 2338)
This law was last updated on Sep 6, 2018
This law is Anti–LGBTQ Model Bill
Number
SF 2338
Status
Failed to Pass
Proposed
Feb 19, 2018
Sponsors
Primary Sponsors: 1
Total Sponsors: 1
Full Bill Text
SF 2338 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
Identical to SF 2154 and HF 2209.
A sponsor of the bill, Sen. Dennis Guth (R), reportedly worked in conjunction with Alliance Defending Freedom to model the bill after Indiana’s 2015 RFRA.
Similar to HF 2032, HF 2200, and SF 2171, all of which failed to pass in 2016.
Sponsored by the Senate Local Government Committee.
People
Primary Sponsor
Organizations
- Alliance Defending Freedom — Drafted Model Law
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