Religious Freedom Restoration Act

The act protects the free exercise of religion, generally barring government from substantially burdening a person's religious practice unless doing so serves a compelling governmental interest by the least restrictive means. It sets out legislative findings and purposes, defines the terms used to determine when a burden on religious exercise is covered, and creates a judicial remedy allowing a person whose religious exercise is burdened to raise the violation as a claim or defense and obtain relief in court. It also addresses how it applies alongside other governmental authority, including limits on its reach as to certain public projects and local powers.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.