Nonpartisan civic infrastructure
AllCiv·Legis1
·

42 U.S.C. § 2000bb–1

U.S. CodeFederal
Free exercise of religion protected
About This Law
/us/usc/t42/s2000bb–1
Title
42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Chapter
CH21B
Release
119-84
Release Date
2026-04-17

Section Text

Highlight any text to annotate
(a) In generalGovernment shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except as provided in subsection (b). (b) ExceptionGovernment may substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person—(1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest. (c) Judicial reliefA person whose religious exercise has been burdened in violation of this section may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief against a government. Standing to assert a claim or defense under this section shall be governed by the general rules of standing under article III of the Constitution. (Pub. L. 103–141, § 3, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1488.)

Take Action

Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this section.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.