Glossary
Religious Freedom Restoration Act
A 1993 federal law, with state counterparts, that requires the government to justify substantial burdens on religious exercise by meeting strict scrutiny.
Also called: RFRA, Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, state RFRA
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is a federal law passed in 1993 with near-unanimous support and signed by President Clinton. It bars the federal government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion unless it shows that the burden furthers a compelling interest and is the least restrictive means, the test of strict scrutiny.
Congress passed it in response to Employment Division v. Smith (1990), in which the Supreme Court had held that neutral, generally applicable laws can burden religion without meeting that test. In City of Boerne v. Flores (1997), the Court held that RFRA could not be applied to the states. About two dozen states have adopted their own versions.
The law has been used in major cases, including Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014), in which the Court held that closely held for-profit companies could object to the contraceptive coverage mandate, and Holt v. Hobbs (2015), in which a Muslim prisoner won the right to grow a short beard. A 2015 Indiana RFRA became a national controversy over fears that it would permit discrimination against LGBTQ people. Supporters see the law as protecting all faiths; critics say it can override civil-rights laws. See Free Exercise Clause and religious liberty.
Last reviewed November 8, 2026