Could The ‘Save Chick-Fil-A’ Bill Derail This Year’s Harmonious Legislative Session?

So far, lawmakers have mostly avoided culture-war issues, as they work to lower property taxes and fund education.

By Jill AmentMay 14, 2019 11:47 am, ,

The Texas Senate recently revived a piece of legislation – one that some thought had died in the House – that has the potential to become a bona fide culture battle. The so-called Save Chick-fil-A bill would prevent the government from taking “adverse action” against a business acting in accordance with “sincerely held religious beliefs,” according to the bill’s text.

Emma Platoff of The Texas Tribune says the LGBTQ Caucus used parliamentary procedures to kill the bill in the House just before a midnight deadline.

The Senate bill “looks the same” as the House bill, Platoff says. “The question is, will the version that the Senate revived yesterday and passed out of committee and put on the agenda for a full vote as soon as this week: Will it look like the House version?” Platoff says.

Before the bill died in the House, one lawmaker had weakened certain aspects of it, including changing “sweeping religious refusals language,” which Platoff says could have given business owners the right to deny service to LGBTQ people. Now, Platoff says, it’s unclear whether the Senate will take up a version of the original House bill, or its tamer, later version. 

What you’ll hear in this segment:

Why supporters call the measure the “Save Chick-fil-A” bill

– What the more conservative version of the bill stipulates

– Why LGBTQ rights groups oppose the bill

– What happens if the Senate passes the bill

 

Written by Shelly Brisbin.