Miss. governor gets bill allowing denial of services to gays

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, right, walks past reporters on his way to a meeting of a youth jobs program board, at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 1, 2016. Reporters asked him if he would sign a bill that would let government employees and private businesses cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples who want to marry. Bryant would not say whether he will sign House Bill 1523, noting he had not received it yet and would need to study it first. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (The Associated Press)

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, center, walks behind his spokesman, Clay Chandler, left, as reporters ask him if he will sign a bill that would let government employees and private businesses cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples who want to marry, following a news conference on a youth jobs program at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Friday, April 1, 2016. Bryant would not say whether he will sign House Bill 1523, noting he had not received it yet and would need to study it first. Chandler tried to block reporters from asking questions by saying repeatedly: "Not today. Not today." (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (The Associated Press)

The Mississippi House is sending Republican Gov. Phil Bryant a bill that would let government employees and private businesses cite religious beliefs to deny services to same-sex couples who want to marry.

Bryant has not said whether he will sign House Bill 1523 . However, he signed a 2014 bill promoted by gay marriage opponents, saying government cannot put a substantial burden on religious practices.

This year's bill is similar to one Georgia's Republican governor vetoed Monday amid objections from businesses that said it would permit discrimination.

Some corporations in Mississippi, including Nissan North America, oppose the bill, which passed the House on Friday.

Mississippi is one of 10 states considering bills in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last summer that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.