In great news for Christians, Brian Kemp, the Republican Governor of Georgia, has signed the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” (SB36) into law. This historic decision makes Georgia the thirtieth state in the nation to enact sweeping protections for freedom of worship.
For context, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is based on a federal law from 1993, which prohibits the government from “substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion unless the burden serves a compelling governmental interest.” Kemp’s decision to sign this bill was applauded by religious people across the state, but faced significant opposition from atheists and other far-left groups.
Explaining his decision, Kemp spoke to The Christian Index on April 6, 2025. He said, “I wanted to ensure once again that at the state level, Georgians are protected, including Georgians of faith. I wanted to let everybody know that despite signing that legislation, Georgia still remains a state that has no place for hate, and I can assure all Georgians of that today.”
Building on that point, W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board (GBMB), praised the Republican governor’s move. He said, “It is a mark of true leadership when our governor thinks long term about the impact that a particular legislation will have on our state, rather than focusing on and being obsessed with short-term solutions to current problems.”
Continuing his thought, Hammond said, “The signing of this law is not just for those of us who are here today, but for the generations that will come after us. I consider it the greatest legislative victory in my lifetime. It enshrines and protects religious freedom for all people of faith regardless of their religion.”
Chiming in, Mike Griffin, who also works for the GBMB, said, “I am so thankful for Governor Brian Kemp and the support he gave to get the RFRA across the finish line in the Georgia House! The commitment that he made to pass the Religious Freedom Restoration Act goes back to 2018, along with his support for the Heartbeat Bill that was passed in 2019. I am so excited he has signed this bill into law, and I am thankful for the promises he made to Georgians that he has faithfully kept through his years of service.”
Reacting to the historic bill, Christian leaders across the state congratulated the governor on his farsighted decision. Pastor Wayne Robertson said, “I am delighted about the passing of SB 36. This law will offer stronger protections to people of faith in Georgia. State and local governments will be given the latitude for the expression of religious beliefs, a freedom that was universally understood from our nation’s founding.”
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Another pastor, Jeremy Morton, said that the bill was an answer to prayer. He explained, “I rejoice that RFRA is no longer a prayer request, but has now become a reality in Georgia. Thanks be to God! I pray that believers in our churches will take advantage of the freedom God has given us to boldly share the Gospel in every corner of Georgia.”
Featured image from embedded video