
Culture & Conversation Law and Policy
This law was last updated on Dec 12, 2016
Va. Code §57-2.02
Current
Jan 16, 2007
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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:
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.
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