TITLE: Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the prohibition of government interference with certain speech by religious leaders and students.

SUMMARY: Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the prohibition of government interference with certain speech by religious leaders and students.

FULL TEXT:
84(R) HJR 65-Introduced version-Bill Text 84R3777 SCL-D By: Riddle H.J.R. No. 65 A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the prohibition of government interference with certain speech by religious leaders and students. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 6, Article I, Texas Constitution, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 6. (a) All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship. (b) The government of this state or a political subdivision of this state may not control or interfere with: (1) any political speech expressed by a religious leader in a house of worship; or (2) a student's voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint at a school event or graduation ceremony. (c) But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as may be necessary to protect equally every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship. SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment relating to the prohibition of government interference with certain political speech by religious leaders and certain religious expression by students."