Legislative leaders said Friday that a bill House supporters passed with the stated intent of protecting religious freedom will be substantially reworked after the state's business community sided with opponents who argued it promoted discrimination.

The House passed the bill 72-49 with proponents arguing it is a needed buffer for those with a "sincerely held religious belief" against same-sex marriage in advance of courts striking down Kansas' constitutional amendment banning the practice.

But a national outcry ensued after gay-rights groups contended the bill also would allow businesses and government employees to deny a broad range of services to same-sex couples.

Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, said that as soon as the House passed the bill to her chamber, business leaders weighed in with concerns it would weaken state laws that allow them to hire and fire employees at will.

"This bill negatively impacts both small and large businesses," Wagle said, adding that she had sent it to the Senate Judiciary Committee for a thorough review and revisions.

Tom Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas, said his organization was glad Wagle saw potential for discrimination in the bill.

"Equality Kansas proposed amendments in the House that we believe would have made the bill more acceptable, and if the Senate chooses to move forward with hearings, we look forward to working with them to draft language that will protect the religious liberties of all Kansans, while at the same time ensuring the dignity of gay and lesbian couples across the state," Witt said.

House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, said he supports changing the bill and will let the legislative process play out.

"I have talked to the Senate president, and we’re going to work on this together," Merrick said. "It won’t be immediately, but we’ll be working on it."

House Bill 2453 passed the House on Wednesday, and by Friday morning a slew of business interests had weighed in against it. By that afternoon a new lobbying group, the Employers for Liberty Coalition, had been formed.

"While we believe this bill may have been brought with good intentions of protecting religious freedom, the unintended consequences far outweigh the good," said Tom Witsman, president of the Wichita Independent Business Association. "We want Kansas to be open for business. HB 2453 limits recruiting ability for workers and the state’s ability to bring new visitors and businesses to Kansas."

Chuck Caisley, vice president of coalition member Kansas City Power and Light, called the bill "discriminatory and also unworkable."

AT&T Kansas president Steve Hahn agreed, calling it "impossible to implement."

"The bill promotes discriminatory behavior by businesses against their customers, and it interferes with AT&T's management of our employees," Hahn said. "It eliminates the use of fair business practices with customers in Kansas."

The Kansas Chamber, one of the state's most influential lobbying groups, said lawyers from a number of businesses found "potentially costly legal questions" within the bill and thanked Wagle for putting the brakes on it.

Business concerns were raised when the House voted on the bill, but Rep. Lance Kinzer, R-Olathe, assured the body they were "spurious."

Merrick said the bill should only be interpreted as a statement of support for religious freedom, not a license to discriminate. But he acknowledged "it is increasingly apparent that the language of the bill can be interpreted in different ways."

Three House Democrats voted for the legislation, and Equality Kansas criticized House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, despite his "no vote" for what it felt was a lukewarm defense of LGBT Kansans.

But the vast majority of the "yes" votes came from House Republicans, and Merrick said members of his caucus were "getting beat up" online and in phone messages. When asked if the bill would pass the House in its current form again he said "probably not."

"With as much heat as (is) being put on them, it would probably back some people off," Merrick said.

Much of the heat has fallen on Rep. Charles Macheers, R-Shawnee, who carried the bill on the House floor. But Merrick said the author was "probably" Kinzer.

Kinzer and other bill supporters also scuttled an amendment to remove government workers from the bill. Rep. Emily Perry, D-Mission, said during a committee hearing she worried that a portion of the bill was so broad it could allow police officers to refuse to respond to domestic abuse calls involving gay couples.

Wagle said she can’t support it if public employees remain in the bill.

"I believe when you hire a police officer or fireman, they have no choice who they serve," Wagle said. "They serve anyone who's vulnerable."

Merrick said he agreed and government employees should be removed.

Merrick said "the buck stops" with him and took responsibility for bringing the legislation up for a floor vote, saying he thought it was ready. But when asked about HB 2453 and other bills regarding social issues, Merrick said it would be instructive to remind House members of one of "Ray's rules."

"If it's not helping the state economically, why are we doing it?" Merrick said.