Senate Enrolled Act No. 101 Summary

• Creates Chapter 9 (Religious Freedom Restoration) in Indiana Code governing civil procedure, effective July 1, 2015, applying to all governmental entity statutes, ordinances, regulations, and administrative actions regardless of enactment date.

• Prohibits governmental entities from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion unless the entity demonstrates the burden is necessary to further a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means available.

• Expands "person" to include individuals, religious organizations, and for-profit and nonprofit business entities whose practices are compelled or limited by the religious beliefs of owners with control and substantial ownership.

• Allows persons whose religious exercise has been substantially burdened to assert a claim or defense in judicial or administrative proceedings and permits intervening governmental entities to respond; does not create private causes of action against private employers.

• Authorizes courts to grant appropriate relief including declaratory relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and litigation costs including attorney fees upon finding a governmental entity violated the religious freedom protections.