The House approves legislation barring the state from penalizing religious leaders and their congregation who gather for in-person services against orders during a declared emergency.
The bill by Oil City Representative Danny McCormick was brought in response to the Governor’s restrictions on all gatherings during the pandemic, which includes religious activities.
“House Bill 9 affirms the right of all citizens to participate in religious assembly even in a declared public emergency,” said McCormick.
Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh spoke in support of the bill and said religious institutions should remain open during emergencies because they provide more than just spiritual support.
“They provide food, clothing, household items, facilitate addiction recovery programs. There are things that churches do and they should not be shut down in an emergency situation,” said Seabaugh.
The bill was partially inspired by the arrest of Central pastor Tony Spell who held services against the gathering ban. Seabaugh says the bill undoes those charges by clarifying that state law was misinterpreted in those cases.
The bill joins a growing list of other instruments limiting the Governor’s public health authority that await hearings in the Senate.
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