MT governor signs bill protecting freedoms of licensed professionals
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Greg Chafuen regarding Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s signing Friday of HB 443, a bill that ensures that Montana’s licensed professionals are free to live and work according to their faith:
“Americans should be free to live and work consistent with their religious beliefs without fear of unjust punishment from the government. HB 443 protects Montana’s licensed professionals who exercise their constitutional right to free speech or religious exercise from being targeted by licensing agencies or other licensed professionals. As the Supreme Court wrote in the ADF case Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, to discriminate on the basis of religious identity ‘is odious to our Constitution…and cannot stand.’ We commend the Montana Legislature and Gov. Gianforte for enacting this important legislation, which helps ensure that freedom of religion is protected in Montana. Thanks to their leadership, the state’s hard-working professionals will not lose their livelihood simply because they express messages consistent with their faith.”
- Pronunciation guide: Chafuen (CHAFF’-wen)
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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ABOUT Greg Chafuen
Greg Chafuen serves as senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom’s Center for Public Policy. He crafts legislation and advises government officials on policies that promote religious liberty and other civil rights. Since joining ADF in 2020, Chafuen has authored state and federal legislation defending fundamental civil rights. He regularly provides testimony and legal analysis on how proposed legislation will impact constitutional freedoms and advises lawmakers and policy organizations on the importance of laws and policies that protect First Amendment rights. Prior to joining ADF, Chafuen spent three years as a white-collar defense litigator at a prominent law firm in Washington, D.C. and one year as a law clerk to the Hon. Alice Batchelder on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Chafuen earned his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School, graduating cum laude in 2015. While at Notre Dame, he served as president of the Notre Dame chapter of the Federalist Society. Chafuen is admitted to the bars of Virginia and Washington, D.C.