Legislators in West Virginia are determined to pass a Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
If the bill succeeds, West Virginia would be the first state to legislate a religious freedom law over the veto of the governor.
"Religious freedom is a basic right that deserves attention under the law," Republican House Majority Whip John O'Neal, R-Raleigh told CBN News.
Speaker Tim Armstead of the West Virginia House of Delegates said, "West Virginians take their religious liberties and their religious rights very seriously, and they want to see us ensure that those are protected."
He said they just want to ensure that "those who feel their rights have been infringed upon that they have a remedy."
Lawmakers said they expect stiff challenge as they move the bill for a vote. They plan to hold a rally in support of the bill on Jan. 28.
"We would surely appreciate the prayers of the people across this country, that we would do what's right and show the courage that's needed to take this across the finish line," Armstead said.
O'Neal lamented that "in our state and in many others right now, unfortunately, a person can go to church on Sunday and worship, and on Monday they can go to work and lose their business because of who they love, if the person they love happens to be the Lord."
West Virginia introduced a bill last year to have its religious freedom law but it failed.
Three bills, two in the House and one in the Senate, on religious protection act were introduced but none made it through the committee, according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
Another bill was introduced but was recommitted to the House Government Organization Committee, essentially killing it with the bill's opponents saying that it was an attack against the people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
