Indiana Republican leaders, under growing pressure from inside and outside the state, said Thursday that they had reached agreement to alter Indiana's controversial "Religious freedom" Law to ensure it does not discriminate against gay and lesbian customers of Indiana businesses. The proposal, rolled out at the Statehouse, would grant new protections for LGBT customers, employees and tenants. Ref. USAToday
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has signed a "Fix" For the state's religious freedom law.
Pence faced backlash from businesses and LGBT rights groups for signing the initial law that they said enabled discrimination. The new version mirrors a similar federal law called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Also on Thursday, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law an amended version of the state's religious freedom measure. Hutchinson had rejected the first version the Legislature had sent to his desk, asking for tweaks so there would be no daylight between it and the federal legislation President Bill Clinton signed in 1993. Ref. CNN