Oklahoma Senate Bill SB678

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/21
• Refer: 2/2/21

Caption

Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act; prohibiting certain actions by government entities against religious institutions. Effective date.

Impact

The most significant impact of SB678 is its reinforcement of protections for religious institutions during instances where government entities categorize them as nonessential. The bill states that any closure of religious institutions or actions limiting access to such facilities due to government mandates would constitute a substantial burden on religious practice. Thus, the bill seeks to ensure that religious gatherings and access to religious facilities remain unrestricted as long as the activities within them are legal, aiming to safeguard against potential discrimination against religious practices.

Summary

Senate Bill 678, known as the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, aims to amend existing statutes concerning the burden placed on individuals exercising their religious beliefs. The bill explicitly prohibits governmental entities from imposing a substantial burden on a person’s free exercise of religion, unless it can be demonstrated that doing so serves a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of achieving that interest. This legislative move is presented as a measure to protect the rights of religious institutions and individuals against governmental overreach.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SB678 include concerns about the balance between protecting religious freedoms and preventing the misuse of such protections to justify harmful practices or discrimination. Critics argue that the broad language of the bill could enable individuals or institutions to skirt public health measures or other regulations under the guise of religious freedom. This has led to debates about where to draw the line between free exercise of religion and ensuring compliance with general public safety and civil rights laws.