Texas Bill Regarding the Protection of Religious Beliefs and Moral Convictions (SB 1978)

SB 1978 prohibits a governmental entity from taking any adverse action against any person based wholly or partly on the person’s membership in, affiliation with, or contribution, donation, or other support provided to a religious organization.

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Below is the original version of SB 1978

As introduced, SB 1978 would have prohibited a governmental 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, including beliefs or convictions regarding marriage.

The bill would have allowed 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 have allowed 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.

The original bill would have allowed private businesses to legally refuse services to LGBTQ people based on the owner’s religious belief.

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Related Legislation

Companion bill to HB 3172.

Similar to HB 4497 and HB 4512.

Similar to HB 1923/SB 893, which failed to pass in 2017.

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People