Lawmakers in Missouri want voters to decide on a bill that will offer protections for religious organisations, businesses and individuals who oppose same-sex marriage.
Just like North Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi, Missouri has its own religious freedom bill that is being targeted by companies.
House sponsor Rep. Paul Curtman said the U.S. Supreme Court decision last June that legalised same-sex marriage "really created a lot more questions than it answered."
"What makes us different is, we're recognising all of that, and the legislature is vetting legislation for our Constitution, but then, ultimately, the idea is to let the people to continue to be the final arbitrator of this issue," he told the Daily Signal.
Senate Joint Resolution 39 offers protection against penalties for different organisations and individuals.
It says that on same-sex marriage, the state will not impose a penalty on religious organisations with sincere religious beliefs on the matter.
The bill will also not penalise clergies or religious leaders who refuse to perform same-sex marriage. Churches, mosques and temples are also exempt if they decline to make their buildings and facilities available for same-sex wedding ceremonies.
Individuals including businesses, florists or photographers will not be penalised if they decline to provide goods and services related to same-sex weddings.
The Missouri Senate approved the bill last March and the House wants the bill to go directly to the people instead of the governor.
"Missouri's SJR39 represents a seminal moment in the battle for religious liberty," said Ryan Johnson, president of the Missouri Alliance for Freedom. "The election will be the first opportunity for the people to vote on this issue since the Supreme Court's decision."
Dan Davis of the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri said the bill "does not provide protections to religious organisations that are not already provided by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution."
"What Senate Joint Resolution 39 does is perpetuate the hatred and misunderstanding that nearly cost me my life, and that is why I cannot rest until we stop letting our rhetoric and our hate drive kids like me off the ledge," he wrote on the ACLU website.
Businesses have formed a coalition called Missouri Competes to oppose the bill, saying it would discriminate against LGBT individuals.
"This misguided bill would damage Missouri's reputation and hamper our state's ability to attract top talent, ultimately leading to tens of millions of dollars of lost revenue. That's why businesses are committed to stopping this harmful legislation and promoting Missouri's reputation as a premier place to do business," they said.
According to the Kansas City Sports Commission, the bill could result in a loss of $50 million yearly.
"Senate Joint Resolution 39 would have severe negative ramifications for the entire state of Missouri, not to mention the additional negative impact from a loss of conventions, other events, and leisure travel that would cause irrevocable economic harm," said Kathy Nelson, commission president and CEO.
Curtman said the claims are "highly disingenuous."
"But when they tell us that they're not going to do business with us if we pass a bill like this or if the people approve this bill, then what they're really saying is they want to reserve the right to do business in states based on how they believe, but they don't want the people of our state to be able to reserve the right to do business based on their deeply-held religious beliefs," he said.
He said there's no price tag for the First Amendment.
"So whether it's $1 or $1 million, I just don't think the First Amendment's for sale, and I think people should have the right to exercise or practice their business in accordance with their own faith," he said.
