Texans to Senate Committee: Religious Freedom Attacks Continue
Religious freedom bills that became law during last year’s legislative session are expected to once again generate eye-opening testimony on the Senate floor.
The Senate Committee on State Affairs is scheduled to meet 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the Senate Chamber of the Texas Capitol to “monitor the implementation of legislation that protects citizens’ religious freedoms” – including two bills supported by Texas Values. Bills up for discussion include the sermon safeguard law (SB 24) and the religious liberty for county clerks law (HB 555). The committee will “make recommendations for any legislation needed to ensure that citizens’ religious freedoms are not eroded by local ordinances or state or federal law.”
“Although the Texas legislature passed laws to protect pastors sermons and allow clerks to remove their name from marriage licenses, attacks on religious freedom continue and will get worse if our state laws don’t extend protection to all Texans,” said Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values. “We are grateful for Sen. Joan Huffman’s and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s effort to make studying religious freedom a priority for Texas.”
Expected testimony will come from notable figures in the fight to protect religious liberty including:
- Bill Metzger, Dallas Justice of the Peace who declined to issue same-sex marriage licenses
- Pastor Charles Flowers, leader of pro-religious liberty coalitions in San Antonio
- Edie Delorme, Longview baker who refrained from designing a cake for a same-sex marriage
- Chelsey Youman, Chief of Staff for Legal Counsel with First Liberty
- Samuel Green, Legal Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom
- Dr. John Tyler, Houston Baptist University government professor
- Pastor Hernan Castano, “Houston Five” Pastor who received a subpoena from the Mayor of Houston
- Angela Smith, small business owner
About Texas Values
Texas Values is a nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org