SF 240 – Religious Freedom exemption
SF 400 – Political subdivision whistleblower protection
COMMITTEE ACTION:
SF 240 – Religious Freedom exemption
SF 240 requires a court to apply a new standard in reviewing cases where a person claims a burden on their exercise of religion. In other states, such laws (often known by the misleading term “Religious Freedom Restoration Act”) would excuse people from any state or local law, policy or other government action that they claim burdens their exercise of religion. This includes beliefs that don’t stem from any established religion. That means any individual religious belief has the potential to determine which laws a person chooses to follow. Such laws are more accurately described as “a license to discriminate.”
[3/5: party line]
SF 400 – Political subdivision whistleblower protection
SF 400 requires a political subdivision to provide notification of whistleblower protection by the human resources department, along with information about how the state’s Office of Ombudsman offers protection. The legislation also provides for civil damages to the whistleblower.
[3/5: short form]