Texas Bill Relating to Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination (HB 4497)

This law was last updated on Sep 19, 2019

State

Texas

Number

HB 4497

Status

Failed to Pass

Proposed

Mar 8, 2019

Topics

Conscience and Refusal Clauses, LGBTQ, Religious Freedom

Full Bill Text

capitol.texas.gov

HB 4497 would prohibit a governmental entity from taking any discriminatory action against a person based wholly or partly on a person’s belief or action in accordance with their sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman.

The bill would allow any person to refuse to solemnize any marriage or provide services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose related to the solemnization, formation, or celebration of any marriage if doing so would go against that belief.

The bill would allow a person to decline to provide the following for a purpose related to the solemnization or celebration of a marriage:

photography, poetry, videography, disc jockey services, wedding planning, printing, publishing, or similar marriage-related goods or services; or
floral arrangements, dressmaking, cake or pastry artistry, assembly hall or other wedding venue rentals, or similar marriage-related services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges.

The bill would allow a person to file a claim against a governmental entity in a judicial or administrative proceeding or as a defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding without regard to whether the proceeding is brought by or in the name of the governmental entity, a private person, or another party.

Related Legislation

Similar to HB 3172/SB 1978 and HB 4512.

Latest Action

3/8/19 – Introduced.