The watchtower for Faith, Family, and Freedom Legislation

Federal HB3850: District of Columbia Non-Discrimination Home Rule Act of 2025

☆ Watch
  1. Introduced
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. To President
  5. Became Law

Overview

This bill would eliminate the applicability of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to Washington D.C., removing federal religious liberty protections that currently allow individuals and organizations (including religious schools, churches, and faith-based nonprofits) to seek exemptions from generally applicable laws that burden their religious exercise.

Law Today

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) is a federal law that currently applies to the District of Columbia, requiring the government to meet a high legal standard (strict scrutiny) when it substantially burdens a person's exercise of religion.

If Passed

If enacted, this bill would remove RFRA protections from the District of Columbia, meaning D.C. residents could no longer use the federal RFRA as a legal defense when government action burdens their religious exercise. Christian families in D.C. would lose a key legal tool to challenge policies that conflict with their faith.

AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.

Should I support this?

  1. Strongly Oppose
  2. This billLikely Oppose
  3. Neutral
  4. Likely Support
  5. Strongly Support

Likely Oppose

This bill directly restricts a key federal protection for religious exercise in the District of Columbia. Christian families would lose their ability to invoke RFRA's strict-scrutiny standard to defend their religious freedom against government burdens, making it easier for D.C. law to override faith-based conscience and practice without meeting a high legal bar.

AI assessment using F3’s editorial criteria — faith, family, and freedom. This is F3’s policy judgment; verify the provisions in the official bill text.

Likely supporters & opponents

Likely support

  • LGBTQ+ rights and civil-liberties advocacy organizations — Removing RFRA protections will make it easier to enforce non-discrimination laws in public accommodations and employment without religious exemption claims blocking enforcement.

Likely opposition

  • Religious-liberty advocacy organizations — Eliminating RFRA protections strips away essential legal safeguards for conscience and faith, leaving religious believers vulnerable to government coercion on matters of core belief.
  • Christian organizations and churches — This change would expose believers and faith communities to government punishment for living according to their sincere religious convictions.

AI-inferred typical positions based on the bill’s substance — general stakeholder categories, not confirmed endorsements.

💬 Chat about this bill ↗Official bill text ↗View on LegiScan ↗

Official summary

To amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to eliminate the applicability of such Act to the District of Columbia.

Sponsors

  • Eleanor Norton (D)

Status timeline

  1. 2025-06-09Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.H
  2. 2025-06-09Introduced in HouseH
  3. 2025-06-09Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E542)H
  4. 2025-06-09Introduced in HouseH

H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly