Pennsylvania Religious Freedom Protection Act

The Pennsylvania Religious Freedom Protection Act prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person’s free exercise of religion, including any burden which results from a rule of general applicability, unless it is in furtherance of a compelling interest of the agency and the least restrictive means of furthering the compelling interest.

A “person” is defined as an individual, or a church, association of churches or other religious order, or a nonprofit religious organization.

A person whose free exercise of religion has been burdened or likely will be burdened may assert that violation against an agency as a claim or defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding.

The law does not allow religious freedom to be raised as a defense in lawsuits between private citizens and therefore tracks the federal RFRA.

People