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HB 1654

Establishes sovereignty of Missouri law and protects religious freedoms

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Myers and 1 co-sponsor

Missouri would bar enforcing any foreign or religious law that conflicts with the U.S. or Missouri constitutions or state public policy, and punish coercion to impose such laws.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
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Bill Summary · HB 1654

Bill Overview

  • Bill: HB 1654
  • Session: Missouri 2026 (Second Regular Session)
  • Sponsor: Rep. Steinmeyer; Co-sponsors: Jeff Myers, Mike Steinmeyer
  • Purpose: Establish Missouri’s view of sovereignty over law and protect religious freedom by reaffirming the supremacy of the U.S. and Missouri constitutions and restricting the enforcement of foreign or religious laws within Missouri.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Affirm the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and Missouri Constitution as the controlling legal framework within Missouri.
  • Bar the application or enforcement of any law, rule, regulation, or legal code from foreign governments, international bodies, or religious systems if such application would violate the U.S. or Missouri constitutions or Missouri public policy.
  • Protect voluntary religious expression and practice, so long as it aligns with the Missouri and U.S. constitutions.
  • Prohibit coercive efforts to impose foreign or religious laws on Missouri residents, including threats or use of force.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Section 1.347 (new section in Chapter 1, RSMo):

    1. Declares that the Constitution of the United States and the Missouri Constitution are the supreme law within Missouri. No foreign government, international body, or religious system may be applied or enforced if it would violate those constitutions or Missouri public policy.
    2. Affirms that voluntary religious expression, practice, or exercise by individuals, groups, or organizations is not prohibited or restricted, provided it complies with Article I, Section 5 of the Missouri Constitution and the First Amendment.
    3. Prohibits coercion, threats, or force to impose or enforce any foreign or religious law within Missouri. Violations are subject to criminal penalties under Missouri law, including, but not limited to, chapters 565 (Crimes) and 574 (Crimes against the person, depending on the exact state code structure).
    4. States that nothing in the section impairs or supersedes obligations under the U.S. Constitution, federal statutes, or treaties lawfully entered into by the United States.
    5. Grants the Missouri Attorney General concurrent authority with local prosecutors to investigate and prosecute violations of subsection 3.

  • Penalty framework: Violations of the coercion/attempt to impose foreign or religious law are criminal offenses; the bill references potential penalties under existing Missouri criminal statutes (chapters 565 and 574), indicating criminal enforcement.

Who or What Would Be Affected

  • Individuals and organizations engaging in religious expression or practice in Missouri, with protections for voluntary religious activity.
  • Authorities in Missouri (courts, agencies, and political subdivisions) would be constrained from enforcing foreign or religious laws that conflict with the U.S. or Missouri constitutions or state public policy.
  • Those attempting to impose foreign or religious laws through coercion, threats, or force within Missouri would face criminal penalties.
  • The Office of the Missouri Attorney General, working with local prosecutors, would have concurrent authority to investigate and prosecute violations.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to Emerging Issues (H) on May 15, 2026.
  • Earlier actions: Readings on January 7–8, 2026; Prefiled December 1, 2025.
  • If enacted, the section would become part of Chapter 1, RSMo, establishing its own substantive framework within Missouri law.

Potential Implications and Considerations

  • The bill reinforces a nationalist/state sovereignty stance by prioritizing U.S. and Missouri constitutional supremacy over any foreign or religious legal frameworks in Missouri.
  • It could affect cases involving foreign law in Missouri courts, such as certain international family law, contract, or civil cases where foreign law might otherwise be invoked.
  • The phrase “public policy of this state” provides a broad threshold to resist external legal systems, potentially affecting interactions with international human rights norms or foreign-state legal traditions.
  • The concurrent AG-prosecutor enforcement mechanism centralizes and formalizes enforcement, potentially increasing prosecutions related to coercive attempts to impose foreign or religious laws.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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