Abbott signs Chick-fil-A bill aimed at ‘religious liberty’
On Tuesday Gov. Greg Abbott signed into a law a religious freedom bill meant to “Save Chickfil-A” after the San Antonio City Council refused to let the restaurant chain open an airport location because of the company’s anti-LBGT record.
Senate Bill 1978, authored by state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, bars Texas government agencies from punishing people and companies for affiliating with or donating to a religious organization. While religious freedom advocates say it will stop anti-Christian discrimination, civil rights groups and LGBT supporters say it will essentially allow discrimination against minority groups.
“It sends a message that Texas is not welcome and open to all,” said state Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Carrollton, speaking alongside other members of the House’s first-ever LGBTQ Caucus in an attempt to kill the bill last month. “Nothing new is accomplished by this bill.”
The council’s decision to exclude the restaurant made national headlines in March, drawing heavy criticism from conservatives, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin. Earlier this month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the city of San Antonio over its denial of a public records request related to his office’s investigation into whether the council violated First Amendment religious freedom protections.
“The Constitution’s protection of religious liberty is somehow even better than Chick-fil-A’s chicken,” Paxton wrote in a letter to San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg early in his clash with the city. “Unfortunately, I have serious concerns that both are under assault at the San Antonio airport.”
The bill will go into effect Sept. 1, 2019. Organizations and people who believe they were punished for their affiliations would then be able to sue the government entity — either to overturn a government decision or test whether it breaks the law — and could be entitled to court costs and attorney’s fees.