Sen. Marty Harbin (R-Tryone) is seeking to amend HB 257 to include a narrow, modest protection of our religious liberty. The amendment is a local Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). This RFRA applies to all Georgia municipalities, and would merely require municipal governments to give Georgia citizens the same Constitutional protections they enjoy when dealing with the federal government.
The Harbin amendment directly references the federal RFRA, which Gov. Deal voted for in Congress. And though the amendment is narrower than a statewide RFRA, it is a step in the right direction. It does not guarantee a win in court for a claimant or defendant, but requires the municipal government to honor your exercise of religious freedom unless it has a compelling interest to the contrary, and uses the least restrictive means necessary to accomplish that interest.
Tomorrow (Thursday, March 30) is the last day of the Georgia legislative session so it is critical that calls be made today to the following four legislators. Your message: “Support the Harbin amendment to HB 257.” If are reading this alert after 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, please call and leave a message. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Georgia.
Your calls and emails will make a difference. Your prayers can change the heart of the legislators.
- Lt. Governor Casey Cagle – (404) 656-5030 |Contact form
- Senate Pro Tempore David Shafer (R-Duluth) – (404) 656-0048 |E-mail
- Senate Majority Leader Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) – (404) 463-1366 | E-mail
- Contact your state senator. Click here to locate your state senator.