---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 2000cc–1"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "2000cc–1"
heading: "Protection of religious exercise of institutionalized persons"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/2000cc-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 21C — Protection of Religious Exercise in Land Use and by Institutionalized Persons"
---

# §2000cc–1. Protection of religious exercise of institutionalized persons

- (a) **General rule—** No [government](/usc/42/2000cc–5.md?p=4) shall impose a substantial burden on the [religious exercise](/usc/42/2000cc–5.md?p=7-A) of a person residing in or confined to an institution, as defined in [section 1997 of this title](/usc/42/1997.md), even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless the [government](/usc/42/2000cc–5.md?p=4) [demonstrates](/usc/42/2000cc–5.md?p=2) that imposition of the burden on that person—
  - (1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and
  - (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
- (b) **Scope of application—** This section applies in any case in which—
  - (1) the substantial burden is imposed in a [program or activity](/usc/42/2000cc–5.md?p=6) that receives Federal financial assistance; or
  - (2) the substantial burden affects, or removal of that substantial burden would affect, commerce with foreign nations, among the several [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), or with Indian tribes.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–274, § 3, Sept. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 804.)