Montana Religious Freedom Restoration Act (HB 615)

This law was last updated on Dec 12, 2016

State

Montana

Number

HB 615

Status

Failed to Pass

Proposed

Mar 17, 2015

Topics

LGBTQ, Religious Freedom, RFRA

Full Bill Text

leg.mt.gov

HB 615 would prohibit the state from burdening a person’s right to the exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless it 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 or is likely to be burdened may assert the violation or impending violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding, regardless of whether the state of Montana or one of its political subdivisions is a party to the proceeding.

The language of the bill would allow religious freedom to be raised as a defense in lawsuits between private citizens and therefore does not track the federal RFRA.