Faith leaders urge Georgia House to pass Religious Freedom Restoration Act as legislative session nears end

By HENRY DURAND, The Christian Index

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director Thomas Hammond, and State Senator Ed Setzler joined religious leaders and advocates Tuesday at the Georgia State Capitol, urging the House of Representatives to take action on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

Speaking on behalf of the 1.4 million Georgians who attend 3,500 Baptist churches statewide, Hammond called on lawmakers to bring RFRA to the floor for a vote.

“We want our House of Representatives to vote for our freedom,” Hammond stated. “This is one of the most basic rights we have as Georgians. We want it equally enforced by law.”

Hammond underscored Georgia’s distinction as the only Southern state without a state-level RFRA, noting its absence places it in alignment with states such as California, New York, and Oregon. “It's time to move now,” he urged.

The renewed push for RFRA comes as the legislative session nears its end. Senate Bill 36, modeled after the federal RFRA enacted in 1993, seeks to protect religious individuals from government overreach. A 1997 Supreme Court ruling determined that state and local governments were not bound by the federal law, leaving religious liberty protections to the discretion of state legislatures.

Setzler emphasized the bill’s broad appeal, noting that its protections extend beyond any single religious tradition. “People from all faith backgrounds—Christians, Jews, and many others—should be free to exercise their faith without unfair federal, state, or local government intrusion,” he said.

Legal precedent has further highlighted the need for state-level action. Setzler pointed to a 2017 opinion by Georgia’s then-Republican Attorney General, which found that Georgia law does not provide sufficient protections for religious expression. “Under the current state of the law, Georgians have the lowest possible level of legal protection for religious liberty in the nation,” he said.

Since 2021, eight states have passed RFRA laws, many with bipartisan support. Setzler clarified that RFRA does not provide automatic exemptions from laws but ensures a fair judicial balancing test when religious rights and government interests intersect. “It simply puts the First Amendment right to free exercise on the same level as freedom of speech, press, and assembly,” he explained.

As faith leaders and religious freedom advocates voiced their support, Hammond reinforced the urgency of passing RFRA before the session concludes. “We strongly encourage our representatives to bring this to a vote tomorrow,” he said. “The time to act is now.”

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Caption: Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director Thomas Hammond addresses a press conference at the Georgia State Capitol on Tuesday, April 1. (Photo/Georgia State Senate YouTube channel)