Professions and Occupations

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or potential impacts on professional standards and public safety.

Professionals' Freedom of Religion Act

This bill makes it unlawful for governmental entities to deny, revoke, suspend or take other adverse actions against an individual's professional license based on their religious beliefs and protects real estate brokers from discrimination in multiple-listing services (MLS) due to their religious or moral beliefs.

What This Bill Does

• Protects licensed professionals from having their license denied, revoked, suspended, or otherwise negatively affected because they refuse to affirm a statement that goes against their sincerely held religious beliefs.
• Allows professionals to express their religious beliefs in any context as long as it does not affect the standard of care for their profession.
• Permits professionals to provide faith-based services if those services meet professional standards.
• Prevents real estate brokers' organizations from discriminating against individuals based on their religious or moral beliefs when accessing multiple-listing services (MLS) or joining broker organizations.

Who It Names or Affects

• Licensed professionals in Tennessee who may face discrimination due to their religious beliefs.
• Real estate brokers' organizations that control access to MLS services.

Terms To Know

Multiple-listing service (MLS)

A database used by real estate brokers to share information about properties for sale.

License

A document issued by the government allowing someone to practice a profession or engage in certain activities legally.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not apply to licenses to practice law unless the Tennessee Supreme Court establishes specific guidelines.
• It is unclear how this act will be enforced and what impact it might have on professional standards and public safety.

Official Summary Text

This bill enacts the "
Professionals' Freedom of Religion Act
,
"
which makes the following conduct unlawful:



F
or a governmental entity to deny, revoke, suspend, or take other adverse action against an individual's license for
(i)

r
efusing to affirm a statement or oath that is contrary to the individual's sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions;

(ii) expressing sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions in any context

as long as the services provided otherwise meet the standard of care or practice for that profession; or

(iii) providing faith-based services that otherwise meet the standard of care or practice for that profession.



For
a governmental entity to take an adverse action against a licensee or applicant for licensure based on such person's beliefs or the lawful expression of those beliefs, to the extent protected under the United States Constitution or the Constitution of Tennessee. Further, this bill clarifies that it is not a prohibited act for a licensee or an applicant for licensure, to engage in the free exercise of religion or the freedom of speech or expression protected under the United States Constitution or the Constitution of Tennessee.



F
or a person to do any of the following based on an individual's religious or moral beliefs, or an individual's lawful expression of those beliefs in a nonprofessional setting that does not involve real estate-related activities or transactions, and where such expression does not otherwise violate the Tennessee Real Estate Broker License Act of 1973:



Deny an individual access to or membership or participation in a multiple-listing service
(MLS)
or real estate brokers' organization
.



Disfavor an individual in the terms or conditions of access, membership, or participation in a
MLS
or real estate brokers' organization
.



Discipline an individual under the rules of a real estate brokers' organization.



F
or a real estate brokers' organization or another organization that controls, governs, owns, manages, or operates a real estate
MLS
to require membership in the organization as a condition for a licensed broker or affiliate broker to enjoy full use of such
MLS
. A non-member must not be charged an MLS participation fee higher than those paid by association members.

REMEDIES

This bi
ll provides that a
person who has been harmed, or is substantially likely to be harmed, by a governmental entity or person violating this
bill
has a cause of action against the entity or person and may assert such violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding.

A governmental entity or person violating this
bill
is subject to
(i) p
ayment to the complainant of damage
for injury, including humiliation and embarrassment, caused by the unlawful practice, and costs, including reasonable attorney's fees; and

(
ii
)
o
ther remedies as are necessary and proper to eliminate all the unlawful practices identified by the evidence su
bmitted.
However, such
remedies are not exclusive and do not preclude other remedies or causes of action under the law.

LICENSE TO PRATICE LAW EXEMPTED

As used in this bill, "license" does not
include a license to practice law unless the supreme court
establishes guidelines making this
bill
applicable to that license
.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 226
By Taylor

HOUSE BILL 470
By Rudd

HB0470
001200
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
relative to the Professionals' Freedom of Religion
Act.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3, is amended by adding the
following as a new part:
4-3-5301. Short title.
This part is known and may be cited as the "'Professionals' Freedom of Religion
Act."
4-3-5302. Part definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Governmental entity" means a state agency, department, board, or
commission that issues licenses;
(2) "License":
(A) Means a license, certification, registration, permit, approval, or
similar document issued to an individual evidencing admission to, or
giving authority to, engage in a profession, trade, occupation, business, or
industry in this state; and
(B) Does not include a license to practice law unless the supreme
court establishes guidelines pursuant to title 23 making this part
applicable to that license; and

- 2 - 001200

(3) "Multiple-listing service" or "MLS" means a database established by
cooperating real estate brokers to provide data about properties for sale in this
state.
4-3-5303. Unlawful practices against professional licenses prohibited.
(a) It is unlawful for a governmental entity to deny, revoke, suspend, or take
other adverse action against an individual's license for the following:
(1) Refusing to affirm a statement or oath that is contrary to the
individual's sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions;
(2) Expressing sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions in any
context, including a professional context, as long as the services provided
otherwise meet the standard of care or practice for that profession; or
(3) Providing faith-based services that otherwise meet the standard of
care or practice for that profession.
(b) It is unlawful for a governmental entity to take any adverse action against a
licensee or applicant for licensure based on such person's beliefs or the lawful
expression of those beliefs, to the extent protected under the United States Constitution
or the Constitution of Tennessee.
(c) Notwithstanding another provision of law, it is not a prohibited act for a
licensee or an applicant for licensure, to engage in the free exercise of religion or the
freedom of speech or expression protected under the United States Constitution or the
Constitution of Tennessee.
4-3-5304. Unlawful practices regarding access to an MLS or real estate brokers
organization prohibited.
(a) It is unlawful for a person to do any of the following based on an individual's
religious or moral beliefs, or an individual's lawful expression of those beliefs in a

- 3 - 001200

nonprofessional setting that does not involve real estate-related activities or
transactions, and where such expression does not otherwise violate the Tennessee Real
Estate Broker License Act of 1973, compiled in title 62, chapter 13:
(1) Deny an individual access to or membership or participation in a
multiple-listing service or real estate brokers' organization;
(2) Disfavor an individual in the terms or conditions of access,
membership, or participation in a multiple-listing service or real estate brokers'
organization; or
(3) Discipline an individual under the rules of a real estate brokers'
organization.
(b) It is unlawful for a real estate brokers' organization or another organization
that controls, governs, owns, manages, or operates a real estate multiple-listing service
to require membership in the organization as a condition for a licensed broker or affiliate
broker, as those terms are defined in § 62-13-102, to enjoy full use of such multiple-
listing service. A non-member must not be charged an MLS participation fee higher than
those paid by association members.
4-3-5305. Remedies.
(a) A person who has been harmed, or is substantially likely to be harmed, by a
governmental entity or person violating this part has a cause of action against the entity
or person and may assert such violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or
administrative proceeding.
(b) A governmental entity or person violating this part is subject to:
(1) Payment to the complainant of damage for injury, including
humiliation and embarrassment, caused by the unlawful practice, and costs,
including reasonable attorney's fees; and

- 4 - 001200

(2) Other remedies as are necessary and proper to eliminate all the
unlawful practices identified by the evidence submitted.
(c) The remedies authorized by this section are not exclusive and do not
preclude other remedies or causes of action under the law.
SECTION 2. The headings in this act are for reference purposes only and do not
constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is
requested to include the headings in a compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.