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The '''Religious Freedom Restoration Act''' (RFRA), codified at 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb, is a [[federal]] law requiring [[strict scrutiny]] to be used by [[court]]s in reviewing burdens on the free exercise of religion under the [[First Amendment]].  RFRA was passed in 1993 in response to the ruling by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in ''[[Employment Div. v. Smith]]'' (1990), which made it harder for people to challenge restrictions on their exercise of religion.  RFRA has been described by legal commentators as "the most important congressional action with respect to religion since the First Congress proposed the [[First Amendment]]."<ref>Douglas Laycock & Oliver S. Thomas, Interpreting the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 73 Tex. L. Rev. 209, 243 (1994) ("RFRA is not a mere technical change from Smith. Rather, it restores a fundamentally different vision of human liberty.").</ref>

The '''Religious Freedom Restoration Act''' (RFRA), codified at 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb, is a [[federal]] law requiring [[strict scrutiny]] to be used by [[court]]s in reviewing burdens on the free exercise of religion under the [[First Amendment]].  RFRA was passed in 1993 in response to the ruling by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in ''[[Employment Div. v. Smith]]'' (1990), which made it harder for people to challenge restrictions on their exercise of religion.  RFRA has been described by legal commentators as "the most important congressional action with respect to religion since the First Congress proposed the [[First Amendment]]."<ref>Douglas Laycock & Oliver S. Thomas, Interpreting the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 73 Tex. L. Rev. 209, 243 (1994) ("RFRA is not a mere technical change from Smith. Rather, it restores a fundamentally different vision of human liberty.").</ref> While the bill was originally passed with bipartisan support, Democrats, who have since grown significantly more left-wing, have become opposed to the bill.<ref>Russell, Keisha (December 10, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/25-years-of-the-religious-freedom-restoration-act 25 Years of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved December 10, 2018.</ref>

In the landmark ''Hobby Lobby'' decision (2014), Justice [[Sam Alito]] explained the background for RFRA:

In the landmark ''Hobby Lobby'' decision (2014), Justice [[Sam Alito]] explained the background for RFRA: