House Bill 2153/Senate Bill 1062, otherwise known as the "Faith Protections Bill," was passed on Thursday in the state House by a 33-27 vote, and would allow the defense of religious freedom to be claimed by individuals, churches and businesses if faced with lawsuits claiming discrimination because of bias against same-sex relationships.

According to an AZCentral.com report, the legislation proposes to:

• Expand the state's definition of the exercise of religion to include both the practice and observance of religion.

• Allow someone to assert a legal claim of free exercise of religion regardless of whether the government is a party to the proceedings.

• Expand those protected under the state's free-exercise-of-religion law to "any individual, association, partnership, corporation, church, religious assembly or institution or other business organization."

• Establish wording that says that in order to assert a free-exercise-of-religion defense, the individual, business or church must establish that its action is motivated by a religious belief, that the belief is sincerely held and that the belief is substantially burdened.

Opponents say the bill could keep members of the gay community from obtaining jobs that might be desired or from gaining access to "nearly any business or service," said the report.

But speaking for the measure, Rep. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park noted, "We are trying to protect people's religious liberties. We don't want the government coming in and forcing somebody to act against their religious sacred faith beliefs or having to sell out if you are a small-business owner."

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'This Is a Historic First': Conservative Influencer Benny Johnson Says Trump Changed Charlie Kirk's Award to Include a Cross

White House Ballroom Construction: Presidents Have Made Changes for Decades

Judge Rules against Trump Admin Effort to Purge 'Woke' Books from Military Schools

Wow! Deadly Illegal Alien Truck Driver Failed CDL Test 10 Times

Trump: Tech Leaders, Mayor Persuaded Me to Hold Off Federal Force in San Francisco

FBI Director Kash Patel: We're 'On the Verge' of Exposing Antifa's Funding Network

Inflation Eases in September, Below Analysts' Expectations; But Shutdown Needs to End

Cultural Transformation Is Happening in America among the Youth

Stunning Archaeological Discovery That Offered Powerful Biblical Proof: Inside the Dead Sea Scrolls

Biblical Tax Notice: 1st-ever Assyrian Inscription Found Near Jerusalem's Temple Mount

'A Genocide Is Happening': 35 Christian Leaders Urge Trump to Declare Nigeria a CPC

Vice President Vance Meets Hostage Families, Tours the City of David

Planned Parenthood Closes 7 California Centers Due to Federal Defunding

[Watch] Sen. John Fetterman Courageously Speaks Truth during Interview, Calling Out His Own Party; What He Said...

Another Illegal Alien, Released Under Biden, Causes Deadly Crash with a Semi

US Imposes Massive Sanctions on Russia: 'Calls on Moscow to Immediately Agree to Ceasefire'

HUGE! FBI Raids NBA Gambling Ring Tied to Italian Mafia; over 30 People Arrested, Including Trail Blazers Head Coach and Miami Heat's Player

FDA Recalls More Than 6 Million Eggs Potentially Contaminated With Salmonella

[Watch] Conor McGregor Blows the Lid Off Ireland's Immigration Nightmare

Chaos Erupts in Dublin after 10-Year-Old Girl in State Care Allegedly Raped by African Migrant