Bill > HB1194

This bill establishes the "Protecting Religious Assembly in States of Emergency (PRAISE) Act" in Missouri, which prevents state and local governments from imposing restrictions on religious places of worship during emergency declarations that would make religious services impractical. The bill ensures that if any other entity is exempt from emergency orders, religious institutions must also be exempt, and religious services held on private property cannot be prohibited. The only exception to these protections is during emergency evacuation orders involving imminent dangers like flooding, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, terrorist threats, civil unrest, or hazardous material incidents that apply generally to the affected area. If such restrictions are imposed, religious places of worship can file a civil action in court seeking various forms of relief, including injunctive orders, compensatory and nominal damages, a declaration of violation, and potentially punitive damages if malice or recklessness is demonstrated by the government entity.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1194&year=2025&code=R