Which federal law was central to the Supreme Court’s decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.?

The federal law central to the Supreme Court’s decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. (2014) is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993.12

In this case, the Court held that the RFRA permits closely held for-profit corporations to refuse, on religious grounds, to provide health insurance coverage for certain contraceptive methods mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The Court determined that such corporations qualify as "persons" under the RFRA and that the government's mandate imposed a substantial burden on their exercise of religion without using the least restrictive means to further a compelling governmental interest.12