Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act
This law was last updated on Dec 12, 2016
Number
Va. Code §57-2.02
Status
Current
Proposed
Jan 16, 2007
Sponsors
Primary Sponsors: 1
Total Sponsors: 1
Full Bill Text
The Virginia RFRA provides that no government entity shall substantially burden a person’s free exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability unless it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is:
- essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
- the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
A person whose religious exercise has been burdened by government may assert that violation as a claim or defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding and may obtain declaratory and injunctive relief from a circuit court, but shall not obtain monetary damages.
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
Primary Sponsor
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