Texas lawmakers on Monday advanced a bill that would extend legal cover to state-licensed professionals who deny services based on their faith, according to the Dallas News.
Senate Bill 17 was furthered by one 19-12 vote. It is now in need of approval from the majority of the state Senate before it can proceed to the Texas House for further debate.
The bill would bar state occupational licensing bodies from enacting rules that burden an applicant's or license-holder's "free exercise of religion," free speech regarding a "sincerely held religious belief" or membership in a religious organization, according to the Dallas News.
The legislation would also extend legal protection to any professional licensed by the state if their license is threatened because of actions they took based on their religious beliefs.
Read the legislation in full here.