Kentucky Bill Regarding Protected Rights Under RFRA (SB 180)

SB 180 would amend the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act, to clarify that businesses could not be punished for violating local ordinances that prohibit discrimination based on sexual preference or gender identity if the discriminatory practices were based on “sincerely held religious beliefs.”

The bill would prohibit any “protected activity provider” from being fined, imprisoned, held in contempt, or otherwise punished or held liable for damages, costs, expenses, or attorney fees by any court, commission, or public agency for:

• Actions or inactions arising from or related to providing protected activities; or
• Refusing to provide “protected activities.”

The bill defines “protected activities” to mean actions by people commissioned, employed, hired, retained, or otherwise used by the public or the government to provide customized, artistic, expressive, creative, ministerial, or spiritual goods or services, or judgments, attestations, or other commissions that involve protected rights.

The bill defines “protected activity provider” to mean a person who provides protected activities.

People