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HR 2797 102th Congress House

Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1991

Official title: To protect the free exercise of religion.

Introduced: April 8, 1992 See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liabilityLegal feesReligious liberty
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This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 1, 1992
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 1, 1992
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Sep 30, 1992
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 24, 1992
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 24, 1992
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee.
May 14, 1992
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 13, 1992
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 9, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.
Jun 26, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Jun 26, 1991
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 1, 1992

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1991 - Prohibits any agency, department, or official of the United States or any State (the government) from burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except that the government may burden a person's exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person: (1) is essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

Sets forth provisions pertaining to judicial relief, attorney's fees, and applicability.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 15
All 15 Democratic 11 Independent 1
DOOLEY, CAL
· Apr 8, 1992
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Apr 8, 1992
 D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Apr 8, 1992
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Feb 5, 1992
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Feb 5, 1992
 D
Waters, Maxine
California · Feb 5, 1992
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Nov 18, 1991
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Oct 3, 1991
Faleomavaega, Eni
· Sep 11, 1991
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Aug 2, 1991
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Aug 2, 1991
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Jul 18, 1991
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Jul 18, 1991
FROST, MARTIN
· Jun 26, 1991
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Jun 26, 1991
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2797: Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1991. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-2797/
MLA
"H.R. 2797: Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1991." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-2797/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2797, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-2797/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2797: Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1991](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-2797/)
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