Kansas enacted a law last year to prevent government agencies from infringing on residents’ religious liberties.

That policy is an issue in the Legislature’s debate this year over responding to the possibility that the federal courts could strike down the state’s ban on gay marriage.

In the Senate, President Susan Wagle said the 2013 law is a reason for her and other majority Republicans to avoid taking up a House-passed anti-gay marriage bill.

But backers of the House bill are skeptical that last year’s law provides adequate legal protections for churches, bakers, florists and photographers who don’t want anything to do with gay weddings.

Gay rights advocates argue however the debate ends, gays and lesbians won’t have any recourse for being refused goods, services, housing, employment or other benefits.