Arkansas governor says he won't sign religious freedom bill without changes
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced on Wednesday that he won’t sign a religious freedom bill unless lawmakers revise it.
Hutchinson wants the legislature to recall or amend the bill so it more closely tracks federal legislation, report the New York Times and the Washington Post.
The Arkansas bill, like the one signed into law in Indiana, gives larger companies the same religious rights as individuals, if the corporations are substantially owned by members with strong religious convictions, the Times says. The federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not have such a provision. Opponents fear the Arkansas and Indiana laws will be used by businesses to discriminate against gays.
The Arkansas law has another unique provision, according to the Times. It says the state may not substantially burden a person’s right to exercise of religion, unless the state can show it is “essential” to further a compelling government interest. The “essential” requirement makes it more difficult for the government to defend a law or action in a religious freedom challenge.
Hutchinson said his own son, Seth, has signed a petition asking him to veto the bill.
In Indiana, Gov. Mike Pence called for a legislative fix for the bill he signed last week. At a news conference on Tuesday, Pence said he wanted a bill “making it clear the law does not allow businesses the right to deny services to anyone.”
