The Republican National Committee is expected to pass a resolution on Friday backing states’ efforts to enact religious freedom laws, but the resolution notably tells states to model their legislation off of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
According to Time Magazine, RNC’s resolutions committee passed the measure on Wednesday, and the full RNC will vote on the resolution Friday at the committee’s Spring Meeting.
“The Republican National Committee stands firm in upholding natural, human, constitutional, and, under the RFRA, statutory rights of religious freedom,” the resolution reads.
The RNC resolution follows controversy surrounding anti-gay religious freedom bills in Indiana and Arkansas. Both bills initially differed from the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Following backlash from businesses in Indiana and concern that the bill would allow businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) signed a fix into law making it clear that the bill does not allow discrimination against gay people.
And before signing Arkansas’ religious freedom bill into law, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) sent the bill back to the legislature and asked lawmakers to amend the bill so that it would reflect the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Legislators in Louisiana are also considering a religious freedom bill that is broader than the original bill passed in Indiana.
The RNC resolution specifically tells states to pass laws similar to the bill passed by the federal government.
“The Republican National Committee supports and encourages States’ actions to enact laws that mirror the federal RFRA to protect citizens’ rights to lead all aspects of their lives according to their deeply held religious beliefs,” the resolution reads.
Read the entire RNC resolution below:
