Arizona GOP looks to expand religious freedom law - WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC

Arizona GOP looks to expand religious freedom law

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PHOENIX (AP) -

Republican Arizona lawmakers want to pass legislation creating one of the nation's strongest religious freedom laws.

A House of Representatives committee advanced the legislation Thursday that would limit government burdens on the exercise of religion.

It would increase the standard needed for government to place a burden on a person's exercise of religion.

It would also allow a person claiming a religious burden to seek relief against the government in court. The government would not need to be a party in the court case for the person to seek relief.

Republican Sen. Steve Yarbrough said his bill is necessary to protect the First Amendment.

The bill is backed by the conservative Center for Arizona Policy. They say the law is needed to protect churches.

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