104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1627

 

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Steve McClure

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
775 ILCS 35/15

    Amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Provides that any order, rule, regulation, or other directive issued by government pursuant to an emergency, health, or safety determination that requires closure or limitation of any place of worship entitled to the religious exemption found in Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code is considered a substantial burden even if the order, rule, regulation, or other directive is one of general applicability.


LRB104 03758 JRC 13782 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1627LRB104 03758 JRC 13782 b

1    AN ACT concerning human rights.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is
5amended by changing Section 15 as follows:
 
6    (775 ILCS 35/15)
7    Sec. 15. Free exercise of religion protected. Government
8may not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion,
9even if the burden results from a rule of general
10applicability, unless it demonstrates that application of the
11burden to the person (i) is in furtherance of a compelling
12governmental interest and (ii) is the least restrictive means
13of furthering that compelling governmental interest. Any
14order, rule, regulation, or other directive issued by
15government pursuant to an emergency, health, or safety
16determination that requires closure or limitation of any place
17of worship entitled to the religious exemption found in
18Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code is
19considered a substantial burden even if the order, rule,
20regulation, or other directive is one of general
21applicability.
22(Source: P.A. 90-806, eff. 12-2-98.)