Free exercise of religion law
Provides relative to the free exercise of religion. CODR is reviewing how this law affects religious liberty in Louisiana.
Religious freedom
Watch the community immunity bill
The Senate bill promoting community immunity was reported out of the Health Care Financing committee with a new draft in May 2026. The bill title and description do not spell out its provisions. CODR is watching this bill closely for any effect on vaccine exemptions for Massachusetts families.
Stop local bans on public gatherings
Removes the authority of county or joint boards of health and local health officers to prohibit public gatherings to control infectious disease. Health officials should not be able to shut down worship, meetings and family gatherings by order.
Restore religious liberty protections
Defines terms and outlines relief when government substantially burdens a sincerely held religious belief. It applies to laws adopted before or after the effective date and waives sovereign immunity. People of faith should be able to live by their convictions without undue government burden.
Limit emergency powers over churches
Modifies powers and duties during disaster emergencies and public health disasters, including a prohibition on regulating religious institutions and practices. Houses of worship should stay open and free from state control, even during emergencies.
Protect people who decline COVID-19 vaccines
Creates the COVID-19 Religious Exemption Act, making it unlawful to discriminate against anyone for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine contrary to their belief, and requires health care facilities to adopt protocols for belief-based objections. No one should lose a job, care, or opportunity for declining a vaccine on the basis of conscience or faith.
Protect houses of worship during emergencies
Amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act so that emergency, health, or safety orders closing or limiting places of worship count as a substantial burden on religion. Government should not be able to close churches in an emergency without meeting the highest legal standard.
Keep non-medical vaccine exemptions
Prohibits new non-medical immunization exemptions for school-aged children; a related Senate bill repeals the non-medical exemption entirely. Neither passed in 2026. Families should not lose their religious exemption or be forced to choose between faith and school.
Expand religious vaccine exemptions
Expands the religious exemption from medical examinations, immunizations, and vaccinations to protect parents and others with bona fide religious tenets and practices. Sincere religious belief deserves strong protection in health decisions.
Protect conscience and speech of medical practitioners
Provides protections for medical practitioners and health care institutions, including for the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, with penalties. Signed by the Governor in May 2026. Doctors and nurses should be free to follow their conscience and speak openly without fear of reprisal.