Written by Don Byrd
The Virginia House of Delegates yesterday passed a bill 64-34 requiring school districts to grant broad religious free exercise rights for students. Many of these rights – like those allowing students to voluntarily pray on school grounds – are already protected by the First Amendment. Other provisions of the bill – like those allowing students to pray at the microphone when speaking at school sponsored events – may run afoul of the First Amendment’s religious liberty guarantees, or create other legal problems for school officials.
The bill previously passed the Senate 20-18 but the Governor has indicated he intends to veto it.
