Maine Preservation of Religious Freedom Act (LD 1340)

LD 1340 would prohibit the government from substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless applying the burden to that person’s exercise of religion is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest, and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

The bill would allow a person whose exercise of religion has been substantially burdened in violation of this provision to assert the violation as a claim or defense in a court action.

The law does not specify that a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding must be against the government, which would potentially allow for private citizens to file suit against other private citizens. Therefore, this RFRA does not track the federal RFRA.

People