[BillyB]

Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, (see below) introduced Senate Bill 158. It's called the "Religious Freedom Act." It amends Sec 5 of the Ky Constitution to add the following language:

. . . nor shall any human authority burden a person's or religious organization's right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief except in support of a compelling governmental interest using the least restrictive means to further that interest. As used in this section, "burden" includes but is not limited to withholding of benefits, assessment of penalties, exclusion from programs, restriction of access to facilities, or other indirect methods of limiting or restricting the activities of a person or group.

The bill was passed by the Ky Senate last week.