Texas Republicans wanting religious objection laws are getting guidance from the state attorney general, who is under an ethics investigation for telling government officials they could refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
Powerful members of the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature signaled Wednesday they are continuing to pursue new efforts that critics say are discriminatory in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage.
Republicans are also being urged to crackdown on city nondiscrimination ordinances, such as the one conservative activists toppled in Houston last year.
A deputy to Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton signaled support for new religious objection laws.
The State Bar of Texas is investigating a complaint by more than 200 attorneys who say Paxton's stance on same-sex marriage encouraged public officials to violate the U.S. Constitution.
