Arkansas passes religious freedom bill

The Arkansas Legislature on Tuesday approved a religious freedom bill that is similar to the Indiana law that’s facing a backlash from business leaders and civil rights groups.

The state House passed the bill by a 67-21 margin, sending it to the governor’s office.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) is expected to sign the bill, which says that “a state action shall not substantially burden a person’s right to exercise of religion,” unless it is “essential to further a compelling government interest” and is the least restrictive action possible.

{mosads}The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), an LGBT rights organization, has criticized the bill as “Indiana-style,” a reference to the Hoosier State’s controversial religious freedom bill that reignited the debate over these laws.

The HRC, civil rights organizations and business leaders have denounced those laws as sanctioning discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as long as there is a religious justification.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) has defended his state’s law as a necessary way to protect individuals from government overreach, but on Tuesday called for an immediate legislative fix to clarify that the bill doesn’t permit discrimination.  

“This law dos not give anyone a license to deny services to gay and lesbian couples,” Pence said at a press conference.