HF 609 (LSB 2830YH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 609

BY  SHIPLEY

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the use of certain psychoactive substances under the religious freedom restoration Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 675.3, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  “Exercise of religion” means the practice or observance of religion. “Exercise of religion” includes but is not limited to the ability to act or refuse to act in a manner substantially motivated by one’s sincerely held religious belief, whether or not the exercise is compulsory or central to a larger system of religious belief.  “Exercise of religion” includes the use of psychoactive substances, including but not limited to psilocybin and peyote, in religious or spiritual ceremonies.
    Sec. 2.  Section 675.4, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  State action shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, including but not limited to chapter 124 concerning controlled substances, unless the government demonstrates that applying the burden to that person’s exercise of religion is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the use of certain psychoactive substances under the religious freedom restoration Act (Code chapter 675).
   The bill provides that the “exercise of religion” includes the use of psychoactive substances, including but not limited to psilocybin and peyote, in religious or spiritual ceremonies.
   The bill provides that state action shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, including but not limited to Code chapter 124 concerning controlled substances, unless the government demonstrates that applying the burden to that person’s exercise of religion is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.