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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio Bill Prohibits Government Actions That Substantially Burden Religious Exercise Without Compelling Interest
Last action · May 27, 2026: Referred to JudiciarySponsors: Adam Mathews and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio House Bill 952 prohibits state and local government entities from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion, even through neutral rules of general applicability, unless the government proves the burden is the of furthering a .
Residents gain the legal standing to sue state and local agencies in court for religious freedom violations and can recover attorney's fees if they win.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
individuals
Persons gain the legal right to challenge government actions that substantially burden their religious exercise and can sue for relief.
governmental entity
State and local agencies must meet stricter legal thresholds to enact or enforce rules that burden religious practices and waive immunity from liability for these lawsuits.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must the government prove to justify a burden on religious exercise under this bill?
Where can a person file a lawsuit if their religious exercise is burdened?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- May 27, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to Judiciary
- May 26, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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