---
title: O.C.G.A. § 50-15A-1. Governmental burden on religion; relief for violations.
collection: code
id: 50-15A-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 50-15A-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/50-15A-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/50-15A-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/50-15A-1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t50-ch13-40-(v38a)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=e98b81c_0#page=32
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/50-15A.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/50-15-4.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: STATE GOVERNMENT / GEORGIA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 50-15A-1. Governmental burden on religion; relief for violations.

(a) Government shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section.

(b) Government may substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is:

(1) In furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and

(2) The least restrictive means of furthering such compelling governmental interest.

(c) A person whose religious exercise has been burdened in violation of this chapter may assert the violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief against government.

## History

Code 1981, § 50-15A-1, enacted by Ga. L. 2025, p. 13, § 3/SB 36, effective April 4, 2025.