May 4, 2015 6:52 PM

Senate State Affairs approves so-called Pastor Protection Act

Progressive groups were potentially going to drop their objections, but a compromise was not worked out

After it at first appeared that groups like the ACLU and Equality Texas were going to drop their opposition to a “religious liberty” bill, bill author Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, backed away from compromise language.

The bill, up in Senate State Affairs Committee Monday morning, appeared to be headed for early agreement as long as the language mirrored the companion bill in the House. Chair Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, appeared eager to see agreement around the bill, especially if the clarifying language was still true to Estes’ intent to protect clergy that do not want to be sued for refusing to perform a marriage that “violates a sincerely held religious belief.”

“It would probably be inaccurate to say we thought we had a deal,” said Bee Moorhead of Texas Impact, representing one faction of clergy. “I do think they thought it was possible to get to a deal.”

Once a quorum was reached in committee, the bill was sent to the full Senate on a vote of 5 to 1.

By Kimberly Reeves