Tennessee Child-Placing Agency Religious Freedom Bill (SB 848)

SB 848 would prohibit a child-placing agency from being required to provide adoption services that conflict with the agency’s “sincerely held religious beliefs.”

The bill would prohibit the state from taking any adverse action against a child-placing agency for declining to provide or facilitate adoption services that conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs, or declining to provide or facilitate adoption services under circumstances that conflict their sincerely held religious beliefs.

The bill would require the child-placing agency’s sincerely held religious beliefs to be contained in a publicly available written policy, statement of faith, or other document adhered to by the agency.

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If passed, the law would allow child adoption and foster placement agencies the right to discriminate in, or refuse, the services they offer to LGBTQ families and children.

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Related Legislation

Companion bill to HB 1152.

Similar to HB 836/SB 1304.

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Latest Action

2/6/19 – Introduced.

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People