Bill > HB75

This bill establishes the "Missouri Religious Freedom Protection Act", which prevents public officials from issuing orders that limit or prohibit religious groups or places of worship from holding religious services or meetings. The bill defines key terms, including "place of worship" (a building or grounds where religious group activities occur) and "public official" (any elected or appointed state or local government officer, employee, or agent). Importantly, the bill includes two key exceptions: public officials can still restrict religious gatherings if they are being used to plan or commit acts of violence, and places of worship must still comply with standard building and fire safety codes. The legislation appears designed to protect religious organizations' rights to assemble, particularly in response to potential government restrictions like those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, by ensuring that religious groups cannot be broadly prohibited from conducting their typical services and meetings through governmental orders.