The bill aims to enhance protections for adoption and foster care providers, particularly those with religious affiliations, by prohibiting discriminatory actions against them based on their sincerely held religious beliefs. It establishes that governmental entities cannot take adverse actions against individuals or organizations involved in adoption or foster care services if such actions are based on their religious beliefs. The bill outlines specific protections, including the right to be considered for contracts and grants related to adoption and foster care, and it allows individuals to assert claims against governmental entities for violations of these protections.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for remedies, allowing individuals to seek declaratory and injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and attorney fees if they successfully assert a claim under this article. It emphasizes that the protections afforded by this bill are supplementary to existing federal and state laws regarding the free exercise of religion. The bill also amends existing laws to clarify the scope of governmental immunity in relation to these new provisions. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 1-39-104