House File 609 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 609 BY SHIPLEY A BILL FOR An Act relating to the use of certain psychoactive substances 1 under the religious freedom restoration Act. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2830YH (2) 91 as/js
H.F. 609 Section 1. Section 675.3, subsection 2, Code 2025, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 2. Exercise of religion means the practice or observance 3 of religion. Exercise of religion includes but is not 4 limited to the ability to act or refuse to act in a manner 5 substantially motivated by ones sincerely held religious 6 belief, whether or not the exercise is compulsory or central 7 to a larger system of religious belief. Exercise of religion 8 includes the use of psychoactive substances, including but not 9 limited to psilocybin and peyote, in religious or spiritual 10 ceremonies. 11 Sec. 2. Section 675.4, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended 12 to read as follows: 13 1. State action shall not substantially burden a persons 14 exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule 15 of general applicability , including but not limited to chapter 16 124 concerning controlled substances , unless the government 17 demonstrates that applying the burden to that persons exercise 18 of religion is in furtherance of a compelling governmental 19 interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that 20 compelling governmental interest. 21 EXPLANATION 22 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 23 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 24 This bill relates to the use of certain psychoactive 25 substances under the religious freedom restoration Act (Code 26 chapter 675). 27 The bill provides that the exercise of religion includes 28 the use of psychoactive substances, including but not limited 29 to psilocybin and peyote, in religious or spiritual ceremonies. 30 The bill provides that state action shall not substantially 31 burden a persons exercise of religion, even if the burden 32 results from a rule of general applicability, including but not 33 limited to Code chapter 124 concerning controlled substances, 34 unless the government demonstrates that applying the burden 35 -1- LSB 2830YH (2) 91 as/js 1/ 2
H.F. 609 to that persons exercise of religion is in furtherance of a 1 compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive 2 means of furthering that compelling governmental interest. 3 -2- LSB 2830YH (2) 91 as/js 2/ 2