Nebraska governor signs bill protecting religious freedom, donor privacy

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Greg Chafuen regarding Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s signing Wednesday of LB 43, a bill that includes provisions to ensure that Nebraskans are free to live and work according to their faith without fear of unjust government punishment and to protect the private information of individuals who support charities and other nonprofit organizations of their choice:

“Americans should be free to defend their rights when the government stops them from living and worshiping according to their faith. This law provides a sensible balancing test for courts to use when reviewing government policies and actions that infringe the religious freedom rights of Nebraskans. The law doesn’t determine who will win every disagreement, but it does ensure that every citizen—regardless of their religious beliefs—receives a fair hearing when government action forces a person to violate his or her faith. We commend the Nebraska Legislature and Gov. Pillen for enacting this important legislation and setting the stage to ensure that freedom of religion is protected for everyone. Nebraska joins 26 other states in guaranteeing that people of all faith can seek relief from oppressive state action.”

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Zack Pruitt :

“Every American should be free to peacefully support causes they believe in without fear of harassment or intimidation. This provision within the bill is an important step in guaranteeing privacy protections for all Nebraskans in a manner consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Thomas More Law Center v. Bonta, which affirmed that the First Amendment’s promise of ‘free association’ includes the right to privacy in financial giving. We thank the Nebraska Legislature for passing this critical legislation and Gov. Pillen for signing the bill into law in order to safeguard the ability of Nebraskans to give freely and privately without unnecessary government interference.”

• Pronunciation guide: Chafuen (CHAFF’-wen)

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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