AUSTIN, Texas -- The so-called “Save Chick-fil-A Bill” might not be dead after all.
- Legislation passed out of committee
- LGBTQ advocates say broad language could breed discrimination
The Texas Senate extended a lifeline to the legislation that was brought down by a freshman lawmaker in the House last week. The Senate’s version had been stalled for weeks, but lawmakers quietly revived it Monday and passed it out of committee.
The measure would prevent government from penalizing an individual or business for membership in or support of religious groups. LGBTQ advocates argue that broad language could breed discrimination and are pushing back against the way senators passed the bill on Monday.
The Senate suspended its rules to allow a public hearing on the measure, but they did so without public notice.
"When this House bill was unexpectedly killed on a point of order, then the decision was made to move the Senate bill," said the bill's Senate author, Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Longview.
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He said his bill is about freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
“They’re uniquely American rights and we revere them, and we want to make sure they’re being protected,” said Hughes.
He said the bill would have helped avoid the situation faced by Chick-fil-A, which was boycotted and booted from San Antonio’s airport citing the company’s legacy of “anti-LGBTQ behavior.”
“Anytime we allow people to discriminate against others under the guise of religion or any other reason, it’s intolerable,” said Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Dallas.
Johnson successfully killed the House version of the bill on a technicality last week, but she’s concerned the victory will be short-lived.
“They’re not giving up any more than we’re not going to give up,” said Johnson.
The bill could go before the full Senate Tuesday. If it passes, the House would still have to approve it with just two weeks to go in the legislative session.