EXPLANATION-Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in this bill is not enacted
and is intended to be omitted in the law.
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 418
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CARTER.
0079S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To repeal section 1.302, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to closures of
places of worship.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 1.302, RSMo, is repealed and one new 1
section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 1.302, 2
to read as follows:3
1.302. 1. A governmental authority may not restrict a 1
person's free exercise of religion, unless: 2
(1) The restriction is in the form of a rule of 3
general applicability, and does not discriminate against 4
religion, or among religions; and 5
(2) The governmental authority de monstrates that 6
application of the restriction to the person is essential to 7
further a compelling governmental interest, and is not 8
unduly restrictive considering the relevant circumstances. 9
2. Any law, order, rule, or regulation issued by any 10
governmental authority pursuant to an emergency or a health 11
or safety determination that requires closure or limitation 12
of any place of worship shall be considered unduly 13
restrictive even if the law, order, rule, or regulation is 14
in the form of general a pplicability. 15
3. As used in this section, the following terms mean: 16
(1) "Exercise of religion" [shall be defined as], an 17
act or refusal to act that is substantially motivated by 18 SB 418 2
religious belief, whether or not the religious exercise is 19
compulsory or central to a larger system of religious 20
belief[. 21
3. As used in this section ]; 22
(2) "Demonstrates" [means], meets the burden of going 23
forward with the evidence and of persuasion ; 24
(3) "Place of worship", a building or grounds whe re 25
religious activities are conducted and is operated by an 26
organization that qualifies for the religious exemption 27
under 26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3), as amended . 28