Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
                        HOUSE BILL NO. 1654
                               103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY


                            INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE STEINMEYER.

     5139H.01I                                                                    JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk


                                                AN ACT
     To amend chapter 1, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to religious freedom,
           with penalty provisions.


     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Chapter 1, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
 2   known as section 1.347, to read as follows:
            1.347. 1. The Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Missouri
 2   are the supreme law within the state of Missouri. No law, rule, regulation, or legal code
 3   of any foreign government, international body, or religious system shall be applied or
 4   enforced by any court, agency, or political subdivision of this state to the extent such
 5   application would violate the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of
 6   Missouri, or the public policy of this state.
 7          2. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or restrict the voluntary
 8   expression, practice, or exercise of religion by any individual, group, or organization in
 9   accordance with Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution of Missouri and the First
10   Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
11          3. No person, organization, foreign power, or entity shall, through coercion,
12   threat, or use of force, attempt to impose or enforce any foreign or religious law upon
13   another person or group within the state of Missouri. Any violation of this subsection
14   shall be subject to criminal penalty under Missouri law including, but not limited to,
15   chapters 565 and 574.



     EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
     intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
HB 1654                                         2

16          4. This section shall not impair or supersede obligations arising under the
17   Constitution of the United States, federal statutes, or treaties lawfully entered into by
18   the United States.
19          5. The attorney general of Missouri shall have concurrent authority with local
20   prosecutors to investigate and prosecute any action undertaken in violation of
21   subsection 3 of this section.
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Statutes affected: 
Introduced (5139H.01): 1.347