Missouri Student Association Religious Freedom Bill (HB 837)

HB 837 would allow college and university student groups to limit membership based on religious belief.

The bill would prohibit public colleges and universities from taking any action or enforcing any policy that denies a religious student association any benefit available to any other student association.

The bill would prohibit public colleges and universities from discriminating against a religious student association based on that association’s requirement that its leaders or members do the following:

• adhere to the association’s sincerely held religious beliefs;
• comply with the association’s sincere religious practice requirements;
• comply with the association’s sincere religious standards of conduct;
• or be committed to furthering the association’s religious missions, as described in the act.

Any student or religious student association that has been aggrieved as a result of a violation of this law may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding against the institution and obtain appropriate relief.

This would allow for the discrimination against LGBTQ students looking to join student groups.

Related Legislation

Companion bill to SB 314.

Similar to HB 927.

Identical to HB 2074 (2018) and HB 642 (2017), both of which failed to pass.

Similar to SB 248/HB 104, which failed to pass during the 2015-2016 legislative session.

Latest Action

2/5/19 – Introduced.

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