Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§2000bb–3 Applicability

Title 42 › Chapter 21B— RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION › § 2000bb–3

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

All federal laws and how they are carried out, before or after November 16, 1993, follow these rules unless a later law specifically says this chapter does not apply; nothing lets government burden religious belief.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §2000bb–3

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)This chapter applies to all Federal law, and the implementation of that law, whether statutory or otherwise, and whether adopted before or after November 16, 1993.

(b)Federal statutory law adopted after November 16, 1993, is subject to this chapter unless such law explicitly excludes such application by reference to this chapter.

(c)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize any government to burden any religious belief.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 103–141, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1488, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2000bb of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–274 struck out “and State” after “Federal”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 2000bb–3

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60