KY HB170

Amends KRS 446.350 to prohibit government action from substantially burdening a person's freedom of religion, defining "substantially burden" as curtailing or denying the right to act or refuse to act based on sincerely held religious beliefs

Shifts the evidentiary standard from government proving its case to requiring "clear and convincing evidence" that the government has a compelling interest and used the least restrictive means

Allows individuals whose religious exercise has been substantially burdened to assert violations as a claim or defense in judicial or administrative proceedings and recover costs and attorney's fees

Waives sovereign and governmental immunity exclusively for claims brought under this section

Applies retroactively to all government actions adopted before or after the effective date, and future state laws are subject to this section unless explicitly excluded