Rep. Warwick Sabin, D-Little Rock, gives House Bill 1228 protesters outside the Arkansas House a thumbs up as he makes his way into the chamber Monday afternoon. ( Gavin Lesnick

An amended bill opponents say would allow businesses to refuse service to gays and transgender people cleared a House committee Monday.

Arkansas House Bill 1228, dubbed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which passed through the Arkansas Senate on Friday, is now headed to the full House.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a written statement Friday that he "will sign this bill as amended."

The legislation, by Rep. Bob Ballinger, R-Hindsville, would not allow the state to "substantially burden" a person's right to follow his religious beliefs unless the government possesses a "compelling" interest in the regulation and if the regulation is the least restrictive option. In the legislation, the definition of "person" includes associations, partnerships, corporations, religious institutions or other legal entities.

The bill's opponents turned out to the state Capitol on Monday to urge lawmakers to stop moving forward with the measure, heading to the House Judiciary Committee meeting, where amendments added in the Senate to HB1228 were taken up.

Several dozen protesters filed into the state Capitol before the meeting, stopping first at Hutchinson's office before entering the hearing. A number made it into the committee room while others stood just outside the doors, holding signs with anti-HB1228 messages.

Activists packed and overflowed a committee meeting room to hear Ballinger present three Senate amendments to the bill.

Ballinger dismissed claims that the law could allow discrimination, and said the law is no different than the one other states have.

“Every one of the amendments clarified that there's already compelling governmental interest to comply with federal civil-rights laws.”

Ballinger said the law is “not nearly of exciting of a law change as I think a lot of people think it is."

"We’re not creating a new experiment here, what we're doing is we're stepping in to be consistent" with other states that have enacted similar law.

Rep. Eddie Armstrong, D-North Little Rock, worried the law could be setting precedent for discrimination, which could prompt lawsuits.

“We could be held liable as lawmakers,” Armstrong said.

Rep. Camille Bennett, D-Lonoke, also said there are parts of the measure she has trouble with.

“I think we’re going well beyond other states,” she said. “I think we think were protecting Christianity, but I think we're going to have a lot of people with odd beliefs suing.”

Ballinger justified the law by saying other states have a “heightened strict scrutiny standard,” and that “Arkansas is in the minority.”

After the 11-5 vote to send the bill to the full House for a final vote, protesters gathered by the entrance to the House. More than 200 protesters lined the marble staircase and rails outside the chamber, waving signs opposing HB1228 and cheering when representatives who voted against it walked by them.

Members of the state's Human Rights Campaign held an emergency meeting Sunday night, drawing former Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, among others.

Read Tuesday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

Photo by Gavin Lesnick

A crowd gathers Monday, March 30, 2015, at the Arkansas House Judiciary Committee meeting where House Bill 1228 would be considered.

Photo by Sara Janak

Rep. Bob Ballinger, R-Hindsville, presents Senate amendments to House Bill 1228 at a House Judiciary Committee meeting on Monday morning.

ROLL CALL Yes votes Rep. Douglas House, R-North Little Rock Rep. Bob Ballinger, R-Hindsville Rep. John Baine, D-El Dorado Rep. Joe Farrer, R-Austin Rep. Rebecca Petty, R-Rogers Rep. R. Trevor Drown, R-Dover Rep. Michelle Gray, R-Melbourne Rep. Donnie Copeland, R-North Little Rock Rep. Dwight Tosh, R-Jonesboro Rep. Rick Beck, R-Cedar Ridge Rep. Laurie Rushing, R-Hot Springs No votes Rep. Camille Bennett, D-Lonoke Rep. Sue Scott, R-Rogers Rep. Eddie L. Armstrong, D-North Little Rock Rep. David Whitaker, D-Fayetteville Rep. Mary Broadaway, D-Paragould

HB1228 protesters chant after panel vote Opponents of House Bill 1228 chanted "shame on you" shortly after the House Judiciary Committee voted to concur in Senate amendments to the bill, sending it on to the House for a final vote. (By Gavin Lesnick)

[View Full-Size]