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S 677 109th Congress Senate

Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2005

Official title: A bill to amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to establish provisions with respect to religious accommodation in employment, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 17, 2005 See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues ClothingDiscrimination in employmentEmployee rightsEmployee training
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Employers' liabilityHours of laborLabor and EmploymentLawLeave of absenceRecruiting of employeesReligionReligion in the workplaceReligious libertyTransfer of employees
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 16, 2006
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1407-1409)
Mar 17, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3057-3058)
Mar 17, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3057)
Mar 17, 2005
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action February 16, 2006

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1407-1409)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2005 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to modify the definition of "religion" for purposes of coverage under that Act by requiring employers to make an affirmative and bona fide effort to reasonably accommodate the religious practices of employees. Defines the term "perform the essential functions" to exclude practices having a temporary or tangential impact on an employee's ability to perform job functions, such as practices relating to clothing or taking time off work. Sets forth factors to consider in determining whether an accommodation causes undue hardship. Defines "employee" to require an ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Requires removal of the conflict between employment requirements and the employee's religious practices in order for an accommodation to be considered reasonable.

Considers an employer's refusal to permit an employee's use of general leave to remove a religious conflict solely because the leave will be used to accommodate religious practices to be an unlawful employment practice.

States that the amendments made by this Act do not apply with respect to conduct occurring prior to enactment.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 677: Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-677/
MLA
"S. 677: Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-677/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 677, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-677/.
Markdown link
[S. 677: Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-677/)
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