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Understanding Religious Liberty & Your Rights

What is religious liberty?

Religious liberty is the freedom to believe, practice, and express your religion—or not follow any religion—without unfair interference from the government. Religious liberty includes two basic principles including the Freedom of Belief and Freedom to Practice. 


Under freedom of belief, you can believe whatever you want about religion - the government cannot force you to adopt a religion and it also cannot punish you for your beliefs. There are no limits to this freedom.


Under freedom of practice, you can live out your faith through actions—like prayer, worship, or religious customs. However, this freedom may have limits, necessary for such things as public safety, health, and protecting other's rights as examples.

What are my rights or legal protections?

This right to religious liberty comes from the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and includes two key sections - the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause.


The Establishment Clause  prohibits government from establishing an official religion, such as a national church. The Free Exercise Clause prohibits government from restricting the right of individuals to practice their religion. If you would like to learn about specific legal protections, please click the link below.


Specific Protections >

What should I do if I feel my rights are violated?

If you feel your rights have been violated, click the link below for clear, practical steps you can take.


Protect Your Rights > 

Texas Committee on Religious Liberty

March 23, 2026
AUSTIN — The Office of the Texas Lieutenant Governor announced that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick created the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty, to be chaired by Sen. Phil King (R-Weatherford). In a formal statement, Lt. Gov. Patrick said:

“For the past year, I have had the honor of serving as Chairman of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission in Washington, D.C. Through the Commission’s important work, I have learned that many Americans, and Texans alike, do not fully understand their God-given religious liberty rights secured under the First Amendment. Today, I am appointing the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty to find ways to educate Texans on their religious liberty rights and to make sure Texans do not have those rights infringed upon.”
 
Source: Office of the Texas Lieutenant Governor, Press Release, March 23, 2026.

Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty

Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, Chair

Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Vice Chair

Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Vice Chair

Phone (Capitol): (512) 463-0110

Phone (District): (817) 596-4796

Email Sen. King

Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Vice Chair

Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Vice Chair

Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Vice Chair

Phone (Capitol): (512) 463-0108

Phone (District): (972) 908-3424

Email Sen. Paxton

Sen. César Blanco, D-El Paso

Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Vice Chair

Sen. Brent Hagenbuch, R-Denton

Phone (Capitol): (512) 463-0129

Phone (District): (915) 577-0029

Email Sen. Blanco

Sen. Brent Hagenbuch, R-Denton

Sen. Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi

Sen. Brent Hagenbuch, R-Denton

Phone (Capitol): (512) 463-0130

Phone (District): (940) 323-9338

Email Sen. Hagenbuch

Sen. Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi

Sen. Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi

Sen. Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi

Phone (Capitol): (512) 463-0127

Phone (District): (361) 643-0026

Email Sen. Hinojosa

Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Tyler

Sen. Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi

Sen. Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi

Phone (Capitol): (512) 463-0101

Phone (District): (903) 581-1776

Email Sen. Hughes

Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock

Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock

Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock

Phone (Capitol): (512) 463-0128

Phone (District): (806) 783-9934

Email Sen. Perry

How To Protect Your Religious Freedom

Step 1

Step 1

Step 1

Identify & Document


A. Identify Which Right May Be Affected

  • Was I prevented from practicing my religion? 
  • Was I treated differently because of my religion? 
  • Did the government or employer fail to accommodate my beliefs?
  • This helps determine your legal path.

 

B. Document What Happened

Write down and save:

  • Dates, times, and locations 
  • Names of peopl

Identify & Document


A. Identify Which Right May Be Affected

  • Was I prevented from practicing my religion? 
  • Was I treated differently because of my religion? 
  • Did the government or employer fail to accommodate my beliefs?
  • This helps determine your legal path.

 

B. Document What Happened

Write down and save:

  • Dates, times, and locations 
  • Names of people involved 
  • Emails, texts, policies, or photos
  • This evidence is critical if you file a complaint or seek legal help.

Step 2

Step 1

Step 1

Raise the Issue Internally


If this happened at:

  • Work: report to HR or a supervisor 
  • School: contact administration
  • Many laws (like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) expect you to request a reasonable accommodation first



Step 3

Step 3

Step 3

File a Complaint

 

  • Workplace Discrimination: File with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity 
  • Government or Constitutional Violations: File with the US Department of Justice
  • Education Related Issues: File with the US Department of Education
  • Typically must file within 180–300 days

Step 4

Step 3

Step 3

Seek Free Legal Help 


  • Reach out to organizations that handle religious liberty or civil rights cases


Find Legal Help

Free Legal Assistance

Law Firms


  • First Liberty Institute | Plano, TX & Nationwide | 972.941.4444


  • Becket Fund for Religious Liberty | Washington, D.C. & Nationwide | 202.955.0095


  • Alliance Defending Freedom | Scottsdale, AZ & Nationwide | 800.835.5233



University Law Clinics


North Texas


  • Southern Methodist University First Amendment Clinic | Dallas, TX | 214.768.2000


  • The University of North Texas Community Lawyering Center | Dallas, TX | 214.855.7892


  • Texas A&M University Civil Rights Clinic | Fort Worth, TX | 817.212.4123


Central Texas


  • The University of Texas Law and Religion Clinic | Austin, TX | Contact: Professor Steven Collis & Professor John Greil | Email: LRC@law.utexas.edu | 512.232.1442


  • Baylor University Pro Bono Program | Waco, TX | 254.710.1911


West Texas


  • Texas Tech University Public-Service Program | Lubbock, TX | 806.834.8793


South Texas


  • St. Mary's University Pro Bono Program | San Antonio, TX | 210.431.2596


  • Thurgood Marshall School of Law Legal Clinic | Houston, TX | 713.313.7275


  • University of Houston Civil Justice Clinic | Houston, TX | 713.743.2094


  • South Texas College of Law Civil Practice Clinic | Houston, TX | 713.646.1831

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