Congress reaffirms constitutional supremacy over foreign law in courts

What it does

This bill prohibits U.S. courts from enforcing judgments, contracts, or arbitration decisions based on Shari'a law or other foreign legal systems if doing so would violate constitutional rights. It affirms that U.S. law alone governs American courts and directs the Attorney General to issue regulations ensuring uniform application. The bill does not ban religious practice or personal observance of religious codes, only their judicial enforcement when they conflict with constitutional protections.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward prohibition on judicial enforcement of foreign law when it conflicts with constitutional rights. It is a reaffirmation of existing constitutional supremacy doctrine, not a new restriction on religious practice or a hidden carve-out.

What the text implies

• The definition of 'foreign law' includes 'religious law when invoked as a substitute for State or Federal law,' which could create litigation over whether a religious arbitration clause constitutes prohibited foreign-law application, potentially chilling voluntary religious arbitration even when parties consent.
• The bill's application to 'arbitration tribunals when decisions are subject to judicial enforcement' may affect private arbitration agreements that reference religious law, even if parties voluntarily chose that forum—enforcement could be challenged post-hoc.
• Attorney General rulemaking authority (Section 6) is broad and unspecified; regulations could define 'violation of constitutional rights' expansively or narrowly, creating uncertainty about which religious-law provisions are enforceable.
• The bill does not explicitly address conflicts between state law and federal constitutional law, leaving open questions about whether state courts can apply state law that itself incorporates foreign-law principles.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill protects citizens' constitutional rights by preventing courts from applying foreign legal systems that would undermine due process, equal protection, or fundamental liberties—particularly in family law and civil rights matters. It does not restrict religious practice itself, only judicial enforcement of foreign law that conflicts with the Constitution.

Named in the bill

U.S. Constitution, Shari'a law, Attorney General, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Federal courts, State courts, Arbitration tribunals

Where it stands

33 cosponsors: 33 Republicans.

• Sep 19, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Sep 19, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.