Religious Freedom Shouldn’t Mean Freedom to Harm

I stand in firm opposition to HB 75 (Loy) and SB 739 (Schnelting). While the right to religious exercise is among our most fundamental freedoms, it does not entitle religious institutions to special exemptions from laws designed to protect public safety. These bills would dangerously prioritize religious preferences over the well-being of Missourians, violating constitutional principles and undermining our state’s ability to respond to emergencies. The legislation’s broad language exempts places of worship from neutral, generally applicable restrictions during public emergencies—a clear violation of the Establishment Clause. As the Supreme Court affirmed in Lee v. Weisman, the principle that government may accommodate the free exercise of religion does not supersede the fundamental limitations imposed by the Establishment Clause and the right to religious exercise doesn't include the right to burden or harm others. Yet this bill would do exactly that, granting faith groups unchecked privileges while schools, businesses, and secular gatherings remain bound by life-saving rules. Imagine the consequences: A shelter-in-place order during an active shooter scenario ignored by a congregation. A wildfire evacuation order defied by a religious group—all shielded under this bill’s vague language. These risks are not hypothetical. During COVID-19, states that exempted religious services from public health rules saw deadly superspreader events. Missouri cannot afford to repeat these mistakes. The bill’s narrow exemption for “acts of violence” ignores nonviolent threats like disease outbreaks, natural disasters, or mass gatherings that strain first responders. Neutral, nondiscriminatory laws exist to protect everyone—faith-based carve-outs jeopardize that balance. Moreover, this legislation is unnecessary. Missouri law already requires the government to demonstrate extraordinary justification for restricting religious exercise. Our state’s existing safeguards ensure worship is disrupted only in the rarest circumstances. HB 75 and SB 739 solve no real problem—they instead invite chaos, litigation, and harm. Do not sacrifice Missourians’ safety for political symbolism. Reject these bills. Uphold the Constitution’s promise of equality and ensure no institution—religious or secular—is above the law.