Religious Freedom Constitutional Amendment Filed
One of the most important bills of the 83rd Legislative Session was filed this week. The Texas Religious Freedom Amendment would provide specific protection in our state constitution for religious freedom. State Senator Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) filed SJR 4, and the companion bill HJR 110 was filed by State Representative Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs).
Religious liberty is one of our most foundational freedoms, but today this God-given right to freely exercise religious faith is under increasing attack by government at all levels. From Obamacare’s abortion and contraception mandate’s attack on religious institutions and private businesses, to attempts to ban God from military funerals, to attacks on the private rights of students to express themselves with religious messages, to direct attacks on local churches through zoning and city ordinances, our religious liberties have never been in greater peril.
This Texas constitutional amendment would place in our state constitution, the substantive core of the Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRAs) that have been enacted at the federal level, to govern federal law, and in numerous states. A state religious freedom constitutional amendment provides the best guarantee of lasting protection for citizens’ religious liberties from an overreaching legislature, government bureaucracy, or the courts.
The amendment is supported by leading constitutional and religious liberty scholars, including Liberty Institute President and CEO Kelly Shackelford.
Texas Values urges all Texans to contact their state representative and state senator and encourage them to stand for religious liberty by supporting SJR 4 and HJR 110.