Dear [Your Elected Official],

<p>SB226/HB470 is up in the Senate Commerce Committee on March 18 and in the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee on March 19. I urge you to vote NO on the bill.</p> <p>While this bill protects the speech and religion of business professionals, it does not protect customers from discrimination and it takes rights away from associations to set standards for their members.</p> <p>This bill does not merely protect individuals in what they do and say outside work. It also protects them when they are on the job. As the bill text says, "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;"  In other words, a person could do a good job, but then say that a customer's religion or lack of religion is wrong without fear of discipline.  Such situations put customers, employers, and professional associations at a disadvantage.</p> <p>There must be a balance of the needs of these parties, but this bill does not strike it.</p> <p>Thank you for considering my views.</p>