NC Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

HB 776, the North Carolina Religious Freedom Restoration Act, requires state and local governments to apply strict scrutiny before restricting religious practices. It protects religious gatherings in places of worship, homes, and neighborhoods from neutral laws or regulations that incidentally burden faith, such as housing rules or emergency orders. The law defines a "burden" as any government action limiting religious exercise (including withholding benefits or imposing penalties) and mandates that such restrictions must serve a compelling government interest through the least restrictive means. It explicitly does not affect constitutional protections against government establishment of religion or alter existing housing nondiscrimination laws.