HLS 22RS-1661 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 953
BY REPRESENTATIVE SEABAUGH
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS: Provides relative to the free exercise of religion
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 13:5233, relative to the Preservation of Religious Freedom Act;
3 to provide relative to the free exercise of religion; to provide for protection for places
4 of worship; to prohibit certain restrictions against places of worship; and to provide
5 for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 13:5233 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 ยง5233. Free exercise of religion protected
9 A. Government shall not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion,
10 even if the burden results from a facially neutral rule or a rule of general
11 applicability, unless it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is
12 both:
13 (1) In furtherance of a compelling governmental interest.
14 (2) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental
15 interest.
16 B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
17 government shall provide protections of the highest order to every church,
18 synagogue, temple, or other place of worship and shall not discriminate against any
19 church, synagogue, temple, or other place of worship by requiring restrictions that
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 22RS-1661 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 953
1 are greater than the least severe restrictions that are imposed upon or enforced
2 against any secular business, service, or assembly.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 953 Original 2022 Regular Session Seabaugh
Abstract: Requires the government to provide protections to places of worship and
prohibits the government from discriminating against places of worship through the
requirement of certain restrictions.
Present law provides that government shall not substantially burden a person's exercise of
religion.
Present law provides an exception for when the burden on the exercise of religion is both in
furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of
furthering the compelling governmental interest.
Proposed law provides that the government shall provide protections of the highest order to
every church, synagogue, temple, or other place of worship and shall not discriminate
against any church, synagogue, temple, or other place of worship by requiring restrictions
that are greater than the least severe restrictions that are imposed upon or enforced against
any secular business, service, or assembly.
(Amends R.S. 13:5233)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.