SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The South Dakota House State Affairs Committee today approved a bill intended to offer special protections to religious beliefs.
Matt Sharp with Alliance Defending Freedom says the legislation ensures government nondiscrimination.
Sharp says the aim of the legislation is to keep government from denying those protected of tax-exempt status, licenses or grants, simply because they want to continue to live according to their religious and moral beliefs.
Libby Skarin with the A-C-L-U says the legislation allows taxpayer funded discrimination. Skarin says the bill purports to provide protections to a certain set of beliefs and to afford special privileges to those beliefs and those beliefs only.
The measure was sent to the House floor on a ten to three vote