Senate File 2278 - Introduced SENATE FILE 2278 BY KREIMAN A BILL FOR An Act exempting specified entities from being required to 1 solemnize, celebrate, promote, or perpetuate a marriage, or 2 treat a marriage as valid. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5690XS (2) 83 pf/rj
S.F. 2278 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 595.21 Exemptions —— marriage —— 1 solemnization, celebration, treating as valid. 2 1. A religious corporation, association, educational 3 institution, society, charity, or fraternal organization, or an 4 individual employed by such an entity while acting in the scope 5 of employment shall not be required to do any of the following 6 if doing so would cause such entity to violate the sincerely 7 held religious beliefs to which the entity subscribes or such 8 individual to violate the individual’s sincerely held religious 9 beliefs: 10 a. Solemnize a marriage. 11 b. Treat a marriage as valid. 12 c. Provide services, accommodations, advantages, 13 facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose related to the 14 solemnization or celebration of a marriage. 15 2. Refusal to provide services, accommodations, advantages, 16 facilities, goods, or privileges if in accordance with this 17 section, shall not result in either of the following: 18 a. Creation of any civil claim or cause of action. 19 b. An action by the state or a political subdivision, under 20 any law of the state or a political subdivision, to penalize 21 or withhold benefits from any individual or entity acting in 22 accordance with this section including but not limited to 23 laws regarding employment discrimination, housing, public 24 accommodations, educational institutions, licensing, government 25 contracts or grants, or tax-exempt status. 26 EXPLANATION 27 This bill provides exemptions for religious corporations, 28 associations, educational institutions, societies, charities, 29 and fraternal organizations, and individuals employed by such 30 entities while acting in the scope of employment, from any 31 requirement to solemnize a marriage, treat a marriage as valid, 32 or provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, 33 goods, or privileges for purposes related to the solemnization 34 or celebration of a marriage, if by doing so would cause such 35 -1- LSB 5690XS (2) 83 pf/rj 1/ 2
S.F. 2278 entity to violate the sincerely held religious beliefs to 1 which the entity subscribes or the individual to violate the 2 individual’s sincerely held religious beliefs. 3 The bill provides that refusal to provide services, 4 accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges 5 in accordance with the bill shall not result in creation of a 6 civil claim or cause of action, or any action by the state or a 7 political subdivision to penalize or withhold benefits from any 8 individual or entity exempted under the bill, including but not 9 limited to laws regarding employment discrimination, housing, 10 public accommodations, educational institutions, licensing, 11 government contracts or grants, or tax-exempt status. 12 -2- LSB 5690XS (2) 83 pf/rj 2/ 2