Texas Bill Regarding the Protection of Religious Beliefs and Moral Convictions (SB 893)

SB 893 would prohibit a government entity from taking any adverse action against any person based wholly or partly on a person’s belief or action in accordance with the person’s sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman or that sexual relationships are properly reserved to such a marriage.

The bill would allow a person to assert an actual or threatened violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding against the government and obtain:

• compensatory damages;
• injunctive relief;
• declaratory relief; and
• any other appropriate relief.

The bill would allow the attorney general to bring an action for injunctive or declaratory relief against a governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity to enforce compliance.

If passed, the bill would allow private businesses to legally refuse services to LGBTQ people based on the owner’s religious belief.

Related Legislation

Companion bill to HB 1923.

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