HF 2130 (LSB 5142YH (1) 88)

HOUSE FILE 2130

BY  SALMON

A BILL FOR

An Act pertaining to bona fide religious purposes under the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 216.2, Code 2020, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  01.  “Bona fide religious purpose” means any lawful purpose that furthers a sincerely held religious belief, whether or not compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief, and without regard to the correctness, validity, or plausibility of the religious belief. “Bona fide religious purpose” shall be interpreted broadly, with any and all ambiguities resolved in favor of the bona fide religious institution professing the religious belief.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill defines “bona fide religious purpose” under the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965 (“the Act”) as any lawful purpose that furthers a sincerely held religious belief, whether or not compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief, and without regard to the correctness, validity, or plausibility of the religious belief. The term shall be interpreted broadly, with any and all ambiguities resolved in favor of the bona fide religious institution professing the religious belief.
   The term, which pertains to certain exceptions to the Act relating to employment, accommodations or services, education, and housing, was not previously defined.