Little Rock, AR—Today, the civil rights watchdog American Atheists denounced passage (32-1) by the Arkansas Senate of SB 289, the most extreme denial of healthcare bill in the country. The bill, having already passed the House, will now go to Governor Asa Hutchinson’s desk....
“Moment of Silence” Bill is Florida Representative’s Controversial Answer to Parkland Shooting
Tallahassee, FL—Today, the church/state watchdog organization American Atheists denounced passage (12-6) of HB 529 in the Early Learning and Elementary Education Subcommittee. This moment of silence bill mandates that public school teachers lead students in daily moments of reflection, a strategy used by school prayer activists to promote unconstitutional teacher-led…...
Arkansas’s Church Superspreader Bill Passes House, Limits Ability to Stop Wave of COVID-19 Infections and Deaths
Little Rock, Arkansas—Today, the public policy watchdog American Atheists expressed grave concern about Arkansas’s church superspreader bill (HB 1211), which passed the Arkansas House 75–10 this afternoon. The bill permits houses of worship to ignore reasonable public health restrictions, increasing the likelihood that they will become COVID-19 superspreader sites....
Ohio Lawmakers Sneak Through Dangerous Ban on Closing Churches, Jeopardizing Public Health
Columbus, OH—Today, the religious equality organization American Atheists denounced Ohio’s ban on closing churches during this or any future pandemic. The bill, HB 272, was signed into law yesterday by Governor DeWine. More specifically, the law stipulates that “no public official shall issue an order to close all places of…...
Another NY Christian Nationalist Bill Bites the Dust
Albany, NY—Today, the religious equality watchdog American Atheists cheered the New York Assembly Education Committee’s 10-4 vote against New York’s “Student Religious Expression” bill (A5387). This controversial bill would have provided special privileges to religious students in public schools, allowing them to engage in religious activities and potentially interfere with…...