Opening what promises to be one of the most contentious fights of the 2019 legislative session, a Senate committee on Monday approved a bill to give state-licensed professionals — including doctors, lawyers, pharmacists and barbers — broad protection for actions taken according to their religious beliefs.

Opponents said the bill, and more than a dozen similar measures that have not yet been acted upon, would give religious people, particularly conservative Christians, the power to discriminate against gay, lesbian and transgender people as well as anyone they don't want to do business with or serve.

But supporters of Senate Bill 17 — including its Republican author, Sen. Charles Perry — said the protections are needed to ensure that licensing agencies do not discriminate against religious professionals by forcing them to do something that violates their beliefs.

"Living our faith does not stop when we start to work," Perry, R-Lubbock, told the Senate State Affairs Committee during Monday's hearing on SB 17.

A dozen clergy members opposed the bill, including Rabbi Nancy Kasten of Dallas, who said living according to religious beliefs "should never be confused with permission to use faith as a weapon against those who do not share those beliefs."

SB 17, one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's top 30 priorities, would prohibit state licensing agencies from adopting rules or policies that limit a professional's free exercise of religion — including denying or revoking a license for actions taken according to a "sincerely held religious belief."

Medical professionals, however, would be required to provide treatment to prevent death or serious injury no matter the circumstances. The bill also would not apply to licensed law enforcement officers.

Almost 60 people testified at Monday's committee hearing, with the vast majority opposed to SB 17.

Opponents said the bill's notion of religious belief is vague, creating a potentially slippery slope that would excuse a broad range of unprofessional behavior. Others said the bill would undermine a central value of licensing, which is to ensure that professionals treat all they serve fairly and equally.

"Love does not withhold care for those in need because of a difference in belief," said the Rev. William Knight of the Metropolitan Community Church of San Antonio.

Perry said his bill would give professionals a defense if a licensing agency moves to punish them for living according to their religion.

"When we see what we may perceive as immoralities, those people who hold those beliefs should be able to defend their faith ... without fear of losing their livelihood and their license," Perry said.

After the testimony, the committee sent SB 17 to the full Senate on a 7-1 vote, with only Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, voting against the bill. All Republicans present voted in favor, as did Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville.

Monday's hearing was the legislative session's first action on more than a dozen Republican bills that would create faith-based exemptions. They include:

• SB 1107 by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, and House Bill 2892 by Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, would allow medical professionals to refuse nonemergency treatment that violates their religious beliefs.

• HB 4512 by Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, would let individuals decline to participate in gay marriage ceremonies or provide goods or services for use in a same-sex marriage.

• SB 1009 by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and HB 2109 by Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, would allow state and local judges to refuse to perform marriages that are opposed by their religion.

• Named the Free to Believe Act, HB 1035 by Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, would let marriage-related businesses refuse to serve same-sex couples, allow county clerks to opt out of providing same-sex marriage certificates, outlaw local regulations requiring transgender-friendly bathrooms and let religious groups refuse to hire or rent to those whose actions or beliefs conflict with the group's faith.

• SB 1978 by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, and HB 3172 by Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, would bar local governments and state agencies from taking "any adverse action" based on a person's religious belief or moral conviction.

• SB 880, also by Hughes, would let university organizations limit membership to those who comply with the group's religious beliefs or standards of conduct.

• HB 4497 by Rep. Cole Hefner, R-Mount Pleasant, would prohibit state agencies and local governments from punishing people or businesses that decline to provide "marriage-related goods and services.”

• SB 85 by Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, would let therapists decline to provide mental health services based on the counselor’s religious beliefs, if a referral to another professional is made.

• HB 4357 by Rep. Scott Sanford, R-McKinney, would prohibit punishing counselors who provide faith-based treatment. Opponents fear the bill would support "conversion therapy," which treats being gay as a curable condition and puts patients at risk of harm, according to the American Psychiatric Association.