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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 1954

Rep. Scott Introduces Do No Harm Act to Limit Religious Exemptions in Civil Rights and Healthcare Cases

Do No Harm Act

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993 to prevent religious exemptions from being used to override federal civil rights protections, labor laws, healthcare access, and child welfare laws.

    From policy text

    To amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to protect civil rights and otherwise prevent meaningful harm to third parties, and for other purposes.
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  • The bill specifically bars using RFRA to dodge anti-discrimination laws including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Violence Against Women Act.

    From policy text

    a protection against discrimination or the promotion of equal opportunity, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.), and the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925 et seq.)
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  • Employers would no longer be able to use religious beliefs to avoid providing wages, benefits, leave, or other worker protections required by federal law.

    From policy text

    an employer to provide a wage, other compensation, or a benefit, including leave, or a standard protecting collective activity in the workplace
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  • The bill prevents religious exemptions from blocking access to healthcare services, information, referrals, or coverage — a provision particularly relevant to reproductive healthcare and LGBTQ+ care disputes.

    From policy text

    access to, information about, a referral for, provision of, or coverage for, any health care item or service
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  • Organizations receiving government funding through contracts or grants could not use RFRA to refuse serving program beneficiaries, ensuring equal access to taxpayer-funded services.

    From policy text

    any term of a government contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other award, that provides funds directly or indirectly, and that requires a good, service, function, or activity to be performed for or provided to a beneficiary of or a participant in a program or activity funded, directly or indirectly, by a government contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other award
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  • The bill also clarifies that RFRA claims can only be raised in lawsuits where the government is a party, preventing private businesses and individuals from using religious freedom as a defense in lawsuits between private parties.

    From policy text

    judicial proceeding to which a government is a party and obtain appropriate relief against that government
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Civil RightsHealthcareLabor Employment

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Mar 6, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced in House

Related Bills

1 bill

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Do No Harm Act

Bill NumberHR 1954
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(118)
D: 118

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.