Montana governor signs bill providing vital protection for exercise of religious freedom

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Matt Sharp regarding Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s decision Thursday to sign Senate Bill 215, a bill that ensures that Montanans are free to live and work according to their faith without fear of unjust government punishment:

“Citizens should not be left defenseless when their government attempts to burden their ability to live and worship according to their faith. This law provides a sensible balancing test for courts to use when reviewing government policies that infringe upon the religious freedom rights of Montanans. The law doesn’t automatically decide who will win every disagreement, but it does ensure that every Montanan—regardless of belief system or political power—receives a fair hearing when government action forces a person to violate his or her religious beliefs. We commend Sen. Carl Glimm, the Montana Legislature, and Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras for supporting this bill, and we thank Gov. Gianforte for signing it into law, ensuring that freedom of religion is protected for all Montanans.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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