U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson has a message for Georgia lawmakers considering "religious freedom" legislation: leave it to Congress.

The Republican, who is seeking a third term this year, said after an Atlanta Press Club event Wednesday that an overarching national policy is better than a patchwork of state plans.

“We ought to have a single, federal standard,” he said. “That ought to be dealt with at the federal level, not the state level.”

State Sen. Josh McKoon, the sponsor of the state version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, often argues that the patchwork of local standards compelled him to propose the legislation.

Isakson said that it doesn't mean he opposes state-level legislation, but that he favors uniformity.

"If you had 50 different state standards, it would make it difficult for anyone to do anything," he said. "You have conflicting standards. I think it's best dealt with at the federal level."

He is among the sponsors of the First Amendment Defense Act, which supporters say is intended to protect those who do not want to issue marriage licenses based on their religious beliefs. A parallel version of that legislation is set to be proposed in Georgia by state Sen. Greg Kirk.

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Laurence Walker, a volunteer with the Cajun Navy Relief, left, takes two volunteers out on his boat on Lake Oconee to search for Gary Jones, Tuesday, February, 18, 2025, in Eatonton, Ga. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and an Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over a week ago, Saturday Feb. 8th. The body of Wilson was found Sunday, Feb. 9th and Jones has not been found. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com