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House Bill 1239 |
House Author: Sanford et al. |
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Effective: 6-16-21 |
Senate Sponsor: Paxton et al. |
House Bill 1239 amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to prohibit an applicable government agency or public official from issuing an order that closes or has the effect of closing places of worship in Texas or in a geographic area of Texas. The bill authorizes a person whose free exercise of religion has been substantially burdened in violation of that prohibition to assert that violation as a defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding without regard to whether the proceeding is brought in the name of the state or by any other person. The bill provides that, for purposes of a state of disaster declared under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, provisions regarding governmental liability with respect to religious freedom are not considered regulatory statutes and may not be suspended.