H.R. 3850 would remove the District of Columbia from coverage under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993, a federal law that generally allows individuals to seek exemptions from laws that substantially burden their religious practices. Currently, RFRA applies to federal, state, and local governments, including D.C. By eliminating D.C.'s applicability under RFRA, the bill would allow the District to enforce its own non-discrimination laws without individuals being able to claim religious exemptions under the federal statute. The legislation was introduced by Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton on June 9, 2025, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. This change would primarily affect D.C. residents and businesses by giving the District's government greater authority to enforce its civil rights protections, though federal RFRA protections would still apply to the federal government's actions within D.C.
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