ATLANTA (AP) — Lawmakers in Georgia's House passed a controversial bill Wednesday that aims to protect people's rights to express their religion, but that critics say could lead to discrimination.
Modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the bill would prevent governments from impeding on someone's religious rights in most cases and stop the enforcement of laws that conflict with someone’s religious expression. The Republican-led state House approved the bill 96-70.
But Democrats — including those who spoke about their Christian faith — said that without added protections, the bill will let people discriminate against LGBTQ+ people and religious minorities. Two Republicans voted against it, while one Democrat supported it.
The bill passed Wednesday is similar to a highly contested one that former Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed in 2016 amid widespread protests and concerns from Georgia's business community that it would hurt their ability to attract employees and tourists. The Metro Atlanta Chamber opposed this year's bill.
Bill sponsor Sen. Ed Setzler, a Republican from Acworth, called Deal a “hero” for vetoing the earlier proposal. He said the new bill, designed in part by current Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s staff, is less extreme.
“Every Georgian should be free to exercise their faith without unfair federal, state and local government intrusion,” Setzler said at a news conference Tuesday. He said the bill "protects ordinary people from unfair state and local government intrusion.”
Kemp commended the bill’s passage in a statement and promised to sign it. The Senate passed the bill on March 4.
At least 29 states have similar laws.
Opponents are concerned that the bill could lead to discrimination in a state that doesn't have a comprehensive civil rights law many states do. Opponents also say more religious protections aren’t necessary. When pressed during a House Judiciary committee meeting, Setzler could not name a case where someone’s religious liberties were violated in a way that would require the bill’s protections.
“We are swatting at imaginary flies, and I’m sick of it,” Atlanta Democratic Rep. Stacey Evans said Wednesday.
Supporters say the bill would not override local civil rights protections imposed by a handful of Georgia municipalities.
“This is not a license of private citizens to discriminate against private citizens,” said Republican Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, who presented the bill in the House. “This prohibits the government from burning religious exercise in our state.”
Two Republicans, Rep. Deborah Silcox of Sandy Springs Rep. Stan Gunter of Blairsville, joined Democrats in voting against the measure in an earlier House Judiciary committee meeting. Silcox tried to add an anti-discrimination measure to the bill but that didn’t pass. She voted against the bill on the House floor, but Gunter voted for it.
Charlotte Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon.
FILE - Rep. Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, speaks during a rally against abortion inside the Georgia State Capitol Friday, May 6, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
President Donald Trump remained defiant Monday as global markets continued plunging after his tariff announcement last week.
Trump has insisted his tariffs are necessary to rebalance global trade and rebuild domestic manufacturing. He's singled out China as “the biggest abuser of them all” and criticized Beijing for increasing its own tariffs in retaliation.
Here's the latest:
The dispute over tariffs has caused some fracturing within Trump’s political coalition.
Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman said the president was “launching a global economic war against the whole world at once” and urged him to “call a time out.”
“We are heading for a self-induced, economic nuclear winter,” he wrote on X on Sunday.
Top White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told Fox News on Monday morning that Ackman should “ease off the rhetoric a little bit.”
Hassett said critics were exaggerating the impact of trade disputes and talk of an “economic nuclear winter” was “completely irresponsible rhetoric.”
The president showed no interest in changing course despite turmoil in global markets.
He said other countries had been “taking advantage of the Good OL’ USA” on international trade.
“Our past ‘leaders’ are to blame for allowing this, and so much else, to happen to our Country,” he wrote on Truth Social. “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump criticized China for increasing its own tariffs and “not acknowledging my warning for abusing countries not to retaliate.”
On a day when stock markets around the world dropped precipitously, Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl led a celebration of the president whose global tariffs sparked the sell-off.
With no mention of the Wall Street roller coaster and global economic uncertainty, Wahl declared his state GOP’s “Trump Victory Dinner” — and the broader national moment — a triumph. And for anyone who rejects Trump, his agenda and the “America First” army that backs it all, Wahl had an offer: “The Alabama Republican Party will buy them a plane ticket to any country in the world they want to go to.”
Wahl’s audience — an assembly of lobbyists and donors, state lawmakers, local party officials and grassroots activists — laughed, applauded and sometimes roared throughout last week’s gala in downtown Birmingham.
Yet beyond the cheerleading, there were signs of a more cautious optimism and some worried whispers over Trump’s sweeping tariffs, the particulars of his deportation policy and the aggressive slashing by his Department of Government Efficiency.
▶ Read more about Trump’s support in Alabama
This morning, at 11 a.m., World Series Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, will visit the White House and meet the president. Later, at 1 p.m., Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House and meet with Trump. At 2 p.m., Netanyahu and Trump will participate in a Bilateral Meeting in the Oval Office. At 2:30 p.m., they will hold a joint news conference.
Trump said Sunday that he won’t back down on his sweeping tariffs on imports from most of the world unless countries even out their trade with the U.S.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he didn’t want global markets to fall, but also that he wasn’t concerned about the massive sell-off either, adding, “sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.”
His comments came as global financial markets appeared on track to continue sharp declines once trading resumes Monday, and after Trump’s aides sought to soothe market concerns by saying more than 50 nations had reached out about launching negotiations to lift the tariffs.
The higher rates are set to be collected beginning Wednesday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said unfair trade practices are not “the kind of thing you can negotiate away in days or weeks.” The United States, he said, must see “what the countries offer and whether it’s believable.”
▶ Read more about the global impact of Trump’s tariffs
Pedestrian are reflected on a brokerage house's window as an electronic board displays shares trading index, in Beijing, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Shipping containers are stored at Bensenville intermodal terminal in Franklin Park, Ill., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
President Donald Trump arrives at the White House on Marine One, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
