HB 1262 Missouri House · 2025 Regular Session

Enacts the "Missouri Religious Liberty in Schools Awareness Act"

HB 1262 requires Missouri public schools to post a notice in prominent locations outlining students' and employees' First Amendment rights regarding religious expression. The notice informs students they may express religious beliefs, pray, read religious texts during free time, or form religious clubs (if secular clubs are allowed), and employees may discuss faith or sponsor religious clubs when relevant to curriculum. It does not create new rights but ensures schools advise about existing constitutional protections. The bill applies to all public schools operating with public funds and emphasizes these rights must not disrupt school activities.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2025 Last action Apr 23, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → House Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to clarify that students are advised and encouraged about constitutional rights that are assured by the First Amendment and free from government coercion. The changes also expanded the list of student religious activities to include reading the Bible or other religious texts and materials, and added the ability for students to participate in or refrain from participating in prayer groups and religious clubs.

Scope change

The bill's scope was slightly broadened to include more specific language about First Amendment protections and expanded the list of permitted student religious activities.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the language regarding constitutional rights from being 'consistent with' the First Amendment to being 'assured by' the First Amendment and 'free from government coercion'.

Added permission for students to read the Bible or other religious texts or materials during free time.

Added the ability for students to participate in or refrain from participating in prayer groups and religious clubs.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 23, 2025

Committee

Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 16 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 1

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Referred: Elementary and Secondary Education(H)

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Read First Time (H)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors