NY A00152

Prohibits state and local governments from imposing land use regulations that substantially burden religious exercise unless the government demonstrates a compelling interest and uses the least restrictive means

Bars discrimination in land use regulations against religious assemblies, including treating them less favorably than nonreligious assemblies or totally excluding them from a jurisdiction

Protects the religious exercise of institutionalized persons (such as those in prisons or mental health facilities) from substantial government burdens, even from generally applicable rules

Allows individuals to bring lawsuits asserting violations of these protections and permits courts to award actual damages and reasonable attorney's fees to prevailing claimants

Requires broad construction of the law in favor of protecting religious exercise, complementing existing federal protections under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)