US Lawmakers Introduce 39 Anti-Sharia Bills in 2025-2026 as 6 Measures Pass
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 8
US Lawmakers Introduce 39 Anti-Sharia Bills in 2025-2026 as 6 Measures Pass
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 8
Summary
At least 39 state and federal anti-sharia bills and resolutions were introduced in 2025 and 2026, with six measures in six states passing—nearly matching the 48 proposals filed across 2010-2024.
The surge comes despite sponsors citing no documented cases of Islamic law being imposed on U.S. civil institutions; several lawmakers instead pointed to online speeches, Middle East events and comments by Muslim-American politicians.
Polling shows the backdrop has hardened: 51% of Americans say Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence, and more than 4 in 10 likely Michigan voters say they would not support a Muslim presidential candidate.
Researchers and Muslim advocates say the legislation and rhetoric are reviving an older post-9/11 playbook to mobilize voters ahead of close midterms, while courts have previously struck down some anti-sharia laws as unconstitutional religious targeting.
In Arizona, one of the states with the most such proposals, Muslim leaders linked the climate to rising threats, including a March paintball attack outside a Phoenix mosque and a fresh online threat naming Tucson-area Islamic centers.