---
type: "LegalText"
title: "42 U.S.C. § 2000bb–1"
description: "Free exercise of religion protected"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
chapter_number: "21B"
chapter_name: "RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION"
section: "2000bb–1"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 2000bb–1"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s2000bb–1"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml"
source_hash: "53e1dd6ed0ee31c0f89c35b1770761363032f1e363b576f4ce47ddb2022ad61f"
raw_snapshot_hash: "644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e"
text_hash: "9dc1b8d26e8e2fe07d401f35236e6d69a7269353cdbfe29677fb86ac768c66f0"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb–1 - Free exercise of religion protected

## Text

(a) In general Government 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) Exception Government 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 relief A 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.)