SF 2095 — A bill for an act relating to the exercise of religion, and including effective date and applicability provisions. Effective date: Enactment, 04/02/2024. Applicability date: 04/02/2024.

KimSenate ReynoldsFile O2095 F- FEnrolled ISenate CFile E2095 OAN FACT TRELATING HTO ETHE GEXERCISE OOF VRELIGION, EAND RINCLUDING NEFFECTIVE ODATE RAND AdamAPPLICABILITY GreggPROVISIONS. G O V E R N O R L T G O V E R N O R April2,2024 The Honorable Paul Pate SecretaiyofStateofIowa StateCapitol Des Moines,Iowa 50319 Dear Mr.Secretary, Iherebytransmit:

SenateFile2095,anActrelatingtotheexerciseofreligion,andincludingeffectivedateBE andapplicabilityprovisions.IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

TheaboveSenateFileisherebyapprovedonthisdate.

Sincerely, Kim Reynok Governor ofIowa cc:

SecretaryoftheSenate Clerk ofthe House STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 FAX 515.725.35WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV E P R l z rR RI6HT W l l MAINTAr ;i r:iiinniiiiiiiinnr:":'!:!!:' 1 G E N E R A L A S S E S e n a t e P i l e 2 0 9 5 A N A C T RELATING TO THE EXERCISE OF RELIGION, AND INCLUDING EFFECTIVE D A T E A N D A P P L I C A B I L I T Y P R O V I S I O N S .

B E I T E N A C T E D BY T H E G E N E R A L A S S E M B L Y O F T H E S T A T E O F I O W A :

Section 331.301, subsection 11, , Code 2024, is aamended mto eread nas dfollows: e d t o r e a d a s f o l l o w s :

2 civil relationships, except as incident to an exercise of an independent county power, or to enact private or civil law wwhich hviolates isection v675.4 i o l a t e s s 6 7 5 .

4 .

Section 364.1, Code 2024, is amended to read as ffollows: o l l o w s :

This grant of home rule powers does not include the power to enact private or civil law governing civil relationships, except as incident to an exercise of an independent city power^power, or to enact private or civil law which violates section 675.4.675.4 .

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the '^Religious“Religious Freedom Restoration Act"'.Act”.

SIS,2675.2 Legislative purpose and intent.

The purpose and intent of this chapter is all of the following;following:

55. .

''^Compelling“Compelling governmental interest''interest” means a governmental interest of the highest order that cannot otherwise be achieved without burdening the exercise of religion.

''^Exercise“Exercise of religion"religion” means the practice or observance of religion.

""Exercise“Exercise of religion"religion” includes but is not limited to the ability to act or refuse to act in a manner substantially motivated by one'sone’s sincerely held religious Senate File 2095, p.

^Person''laeains“Person” means any individual, association, partnership, corporation, church, religious institution, estate, trust, foundation, or other legal entity.

^State“State action"action” means the implementation or application of any law, including but not limited to state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and policies, whether statutory or otherwise, or other action by the state or a political subdivision, including a local government, municipality, instrumentality, or public official authorized by law.

^Substantially“Substantially burden"burden” means any action that directly or indirectly constrains, inhibits, curtails, or denies the exercise of religion by any person or compels any action contrary to a person'sperson’s exercise of religion and includes but is not limited to withholding of benefits;

State action shall not substantially burden a person'sperson’s exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless the government demonstrates that applying the burden to that person'sperson’s exercise of religion is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

This Act applies to all state and Senate PileFile 2095, p.

4 local laws and the implementation of state and local laws, whether statutory or otherwise, and whether adopted before, on, or after tthe heffective edate eof fthis fAct. e c t i v e d a t e o f t h i s A c t .

AMY______________________________ SINpCAiR______________________________ PAMY ASINCLAIR TPAT GGRASSLEY RPresident Aof Sthe SSenate L E Y P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S e n a t e Speaker of th^the House I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and is known as Senate File 2095, Ninetieth General Assembly.

W______________________________ .W.

CCHARLES HSMITHSON A R L E S S M I T H S O N Secretary of the Senate Approved 2_______________, 02024 2______________________________ 4KIM KREYNOLDS IGovernor M ^ E Y N O L D S