LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Lawmakers in Arkansas and Indiana are scrambling to revise controversial religious objection measures as Republican governors in both states try to quell a growing backlash from businesses and other critics who have called the proposals anti-gay.
Arkansas House leaders hope to give final approval Thursday to a bill the Senate passed a day earlier to address Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s concerns.
Hutchinson had initially said he would sign the bill, which prohibits the state and local governments from infringing on a person’s religious beliefs without a “compelling” interest. But the governor instead called on lawmakers Wednesday to change the measure to more closely mirror a 1993 federal law.
Legislative leaders in Indiana are also working to change that state’s similar recently enacted law at Gov. Mike Pence’s request.