Do No Harm Act

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.
• 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.
• Employers would no longer be able to use religious beliefs to avoid providing wages, benefits, leave, or other worker protections required by federal law.
• 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.
• Organizations receiving government funding through contracts or grants could not use RFRA to refuse serving program beneficiaries, ensuring equal access to taxpayer-funded services.
• 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.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.