HJ159: Constitutional amendment; prohibits General Assembly from incorporating churches.

Chief Patron

Michele McQuigg (R-51)
Served: 1998–

Progress

	Introduced
	Passed Committee
	Passed House
	Passed Senate

Status

04/11/2006: Passed the House

View Entire History

Summary

Constitutional amendment (second resolution); powers of the General Assembly; limitations on powers including incorporation of churches. Deletes language that prohibits the General Assembly from granting charters of incorporation to churches. This prohibition was held to be unconstitutional in 2002 by the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Falwell v. Miller (203 F.Supp. 2d 624). The Court held that the prohibition against incorporation of churches violated the plaintiff church's First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. Since that case, the State Corporation Commission has granted charters to churches. This amendment deletes the now obsolete language and makes no change in current law. View Full Text »

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Bill Text

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