Arkansas Legislature Approves Revised Religious Freedom Bill, Sends To Governor

Arkansas Legislature Approves Revised Religious Freedom Bill, Sends To Governor
LITTLE ROCK, AR - APRIL 1: A rainbow flag flies over the crowd during a press conference by the Human Rights Campaign on the steps of the Arkansas State Capital in Little Rock following Gov. Asa Hutchinson's comments on House Bill 1228, a bill passed which prohibits state and local governments from infringing on a person's religious beliefs without a 'compelling' interest, on April 1, 2015 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Hutchinson said he won't sign the bill into law in its current form. Opponents say the bill would provide protections to businesses or individuals who refuse to serve someone based on religious beliefs. (Photo by Andrea Morales/Getty Images)
LITTLE ROCK, AR - APRIL 1: A rainbow flag flies over the crowd during a press conference by the Human Rights Campaign on the steps of the Arkansas State Capital in Little Rock following Gov. Asa Hutchinson's comments on House Bill 1228, a bill passed which prohibits state and local governments from infringing on a person's religious beliefs without a 'compelling' interest, on April 1, 2015 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Hutchinson said he won't sign the bill into law in its current form. Opponents say the bill would provide protections to businesses or individuals who refuse to serve someone based on religious beliefs. (Photo by Andrea Morales/Getty Images)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 2 (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled Arkansas House of Representatives on Thursday approved a revised religion bill, changing sections in the previous measure that critics said targeted gays.

The bill now goes to Governor Asa Hutchinson, who had asked for the changes. He had also received a request from world's biggest retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which is based in the state, to veto the previous measure. (Reporting by Steve Barnes; Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by James Dalgleish)

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