ATLANTA — A divisive religious freedom bill remains stalled in a Georgia House committee as lawmakers enter the final two days of the legislative session surrounded by pressure from supporters and critics who say the bill can be used as a defense for discrimination against gay or transgender people.
The House Judiciary Committee was expected to meet Monday morning and take up the bill, but the session was canceled. Members tabled the bill last week after Republican Rep. Mike Jacobs of Brookhaven attached anti-discrimination language.
No meetings of the committee have been announced for the remainder of the week, but it still could convene at any time and vote to again consider Republican state Sen. Josh McKoon’s proposal.
That uncertainty has all parties ramping up their efforts.
Mike Griffin, spokesman for the Georgia Baptist Convention, said a group of pastors and others in favor of the bill unsuccessfully tried to get meetings Monday with Gov. Nathan Deal and House Speaker David Ralston at the Capitol.