A bill that supporters say enshrines religious freedom in state statutes has won first-round approval in the Kansas House.

The 89-27 vote Wednesday sent the measure to final action, set for Thursday.

Conservative Republicans drafted the bill to protect Kansas residents from laws that they say infringe upon their rights to religious freedom.

The bill declares that state and local government policies shall not “substantially burden” people’s right to exercise their religious beliefs without showing a compelling interest and imposing the burden in the least restrictive way possible.

It also declares that people have the right to sue state and local government agencies if they feel their religious freedoms have been abridged.

Critics argue the bill would allow discrimination under the guise of protecting religious beliefs.