PARKER-BERMAN-LINK-CRONIN-HAWKINSON, KARPIEL, DUDYCZ, BOWLES, JACOBS, WALSH,L, MYERS,J, GEO-KARIS, CLAYBORNE, LUECHTEFELD, DONAHUE, BUTLER AND SIEBEN. (MULLIGAN-BIGGERT-SCHAKOWSKY) New Act Creates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Provides that State or local government may not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person (i) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and (ii) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest. Provides that if a person's exercise of religion has been burdened in violation of this Act, that person may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and may obtain appropriate relief against a government; authorizes an award of attorney's fees and costs to a prevailing party. Restricts concurrent exercise of home rule powers. 98-02-19 S FIRST READING 98-02-19 S REFERRED TO SENATE RULES COMMITTEE RULES 98-03-03 S ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE 98-03-04 S ADDED AS A CHIEF CO-SPONSOR HAWKINSON 98-03-05 S ADDED AS A CHIEF CO-SPONSOR PETKA 98-03-05 S ADDED AS A CHIEF CO-SPONSOR BERMAN 98-03-05 S ADDED AS A CHIEF CO-SPONSOR KARPIEL 98-03-10 S SPONSOR REMOVED KARPIEL 98-03-10 S ADDED AS A CHIEF CO-SPONSOR LINK 98-03-10 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR KARPIEL 98-03-10 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR FITZGERALD 98-03-11 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR DUDYCZ 98-03-11 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR BOWLES 98-03-11 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR JACOBS 98-03-11 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR WALSH,L 98-03-11 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR OBAMA 98-03-11 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR O'MALLEY 98-03-11 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR MYERS,J 98-03-12 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR GEO-KARIS 98-03-12 S DO PASS 010-000-001 SEXC 98-03-12 S PLACED ON CALENDAR ORDER OF 2ND READING 98-03-24 98-03-12 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR CLAYBORNE 98-03-12 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR LUECHTEFELD 98-03-12 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR PETERSON 98-03-12 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR DONAHUE 98-03-12 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR BUTLER 98-03-25 S SECOND READING 98-03-25 S PLACED ON CALENDAR ORDER OF 3RD READING 98-03-26 98-03-31 S SPONSOR REMOVED HAWKINSON 98-03-31 S SPONSOR REMOVED O'MALLEY 98-03-31 S SPONSOR REMOVED PETKA 98-04-01 S ADDED AS A CHIEF CO-SPONSOR CRONIN 98-04-01 S ADDED AS A CHIEF CO-SPONSOR HAWKINSON 98-04-01 S ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR SIEBEN 98-04-01 S THIRD READING - PASSED 055-000-004 98-04-01 H ARRIVE IN HOUSE 98-04-01 H HOUSE SPONSOR MULLIGAN 98-04-01 H ADDED AS A JOINT SPONSOR BIGGERT 98-04-01 H FIRST READING 98-04-01 H REFERRED TO HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE RULES 98-04-14 H ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE JUD-CIVIL LAW 98-04-28 H ADDED AS A JOINT SPONSOR SCHAKOWSKY 98-05-01 H RE-REFERRED TO RULES COMM/RULE 19(A) RULES HRUL 99-01-12 S SESSION SINE DIE END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Summary