Missouri Senate puts House Bill 75, the proposed Missouri Religious Freedom Protection Act, on informal calendar after hour-long debate

The Missouri Senate placed House Bill 75 — a proposal to create the Missouri Religious Freedom Protection Act — on the informal calendar after about one hour of debate on the Senate floor, postponing further action for future consideration.

Senator Adam Schnelting of Saint Charles said the proposal would establish the Missouri Religious Freedom Protection Act. The measure, as described during floor discussion, would “protect houses of worship by prohibiting elected officials from issuing orders that essentially prevent those religious places of worship from practicing their faith.”

Senator Maggie Nirenberg of Kansas City opposed the bill on the floor, saying, “Just glancing through it, I think a lot of us, it causes us pause. Another piece of unconstitutional legislation that's a waste of our time and of tax dollars, quite frankly.”

After the debate, the bill was placed on the Senate’s informal calendar for future revisiting; no final vote on passage was recorded in the transcript. Reporter Dean Morgan noted that the first conference committees were scheduled to work on differences in the fiscal year 2026 state operating budget and that Missouri senators have until 6 p.m. Friday to pass the budget.

The Senate’s action postponed further consideration of House Bill 75 but did not adopt or reject the measure. The transcript does not include further amendments, recorded votes, or a timeline for when the bill will return to the floor.