Missouri Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SB 12)

The Missouri RFRA prohibits the government from restricting a person’s free exercise of religion, unless:

• the restriction is in the form of a rule of general applicability, and does not discriminate against religion, or among religions; and
• the governmental authority demonstrates that application of the restriction to the person is essential to further a compelling governmental interest, and is not unduly restrictive considering the relevant circumstances.

“Exercise of religion” is defined to mean an act or refusal to act that is substantially motivated by religious belief, whether or not the religious exercise is compulsory or central to a larger system of religious belief.

Civil Rights Protections

The law also provides provisions to ensure that the RFRA can’t be misused to disregard civil rights protections against discrimination.

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