State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) is celebrating a new law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott relating to religious displays on homeowner properties.
"Religious Freedoms bill signing w/ @GregAbbott_TX, + Senators, & many Reps. #SB581 protects homeowners who wish to exercise religion or place certain religious displays in their front yard! HOAs don't own your yard, u do! Thanks to LG @DanPatrick, @RepSchofield et al," Bettencourt said in a Twitter post.
The law provides protection for homeowners who wish to place certain religious displays on their front door, according to a press release from the Texas Senate.
Many homeowners' associations (HOAs) had adopted restrictive rules that would order the removal of religious displays on homeowners’ property, the release said. SB 1609 was co-authored by Sens. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels), Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston), Don Huffines (R-Dallas), Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-Brownsville) and Van Taylor (R-Plano).
The measure relates "to regulation by a property owners' association of certain religious displays," LegiScan stated.
The bill received huge support in both chambers of the Texas Legislature during the regular session, according to a Houston Daily article.
"Everyone is entitled to their religious liberty, and HOAs should not be allowed to infringe upon that right," Rep. Mike Schofield said.
Displays that are considered offensive for any reason other than religious content could still be prohibited by an HOA under the legislation, the Houston Daily reported.
"The bottom line is that if someone wants to put up a manger scene, as one senator said it, they should be allowed to do so," Bettencourt said in a release.