Sign In
Free Newsletter
Bill shields professionals from losing licenses based on religious objections
The Senate today approved legislation to prohibit the government from suspending or revoking a person’s professional license for declining to provide a service because of a religious objection. The measure, SB1365, divided the Senate along party lines: Republicans backed the bill while Democrats opposed it.
House OKs bill protecting licensed workers who deny services on religious grounds
Arizona workers would not lose their professional licenses for denying services on religious grounds under a new bill, although supporters acknowledged they knew of no cases where such action had occurred.
Senate skips voting on contraception bill
The Senate today skipped voting on legislation to allow employers with a religious objection to deny contraception coverage to their workers, which indicates that proponents have yet to persuade enough lawmakers to back the controversial proposal.
Pierce says contraception bill probably not coming back
Senate President Steve Pierce doesn’t think legislation allowing employers with religious objection to deny contraception coverage to workers will return for a second vote. Pierce previously indicated he was willing to cast the required 16th “yes” vote to pass the bill last week if supporters could get 15 senators to support the bill.
Bill allowing employers to deny contraception coverage advances
Any business with a religious objection to contraception would be allowed to not include it in their insurance coverage under a bill that was approved by a Senate committee Monday. Current law allows only religious employers, which are defined as nonprofit groups that primarily employ and serve persons who share their religious tenets, to provide health plans that don’t cover contraceptives.
