Browse Legislation

Modifies provisions relating to professional surety bail bond agents

Modifies provisions relating to the establishment of certain entertainment districts

HCS/SS/SCS/SB 1087 - This act modifies provisions relating to driver's licenses. LIMITED DRIVING PRIVILEGES (Section 302.309) All circuit courts, the Director of Revenue, or a commissioner operating pursuant to current law shall have jurisdiction to hear applications and make eligibility determinations granting limited driving privileges, with exceptions described in this act. Any application for limited driving privileges may be made to the Director with specific and necessary reasons for the limited driving privilege. The burden shall be on the operator to demonstrate to the court or the department that the limited driving privilege is essential. In addition, this act adds attending a place of worship, and traveling to and from essential businesses listed in the act. (Section 302.309) These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/SB 1408 (2026), SB 533 (2025), HB 206 (2025), HB 1794 (2024), and HB 252 (2023), and substantially similar to provisions in HB 1988 (2026), and HB 1996 (2026), SB 517 (2025). LICENSE SUSPENSIONS FOR TRAFFIC OFFENSES (Section 302.341) The act repeals an obsolete reference to a former bureau within the Department of Revenue. Minor traffic violations shall not include nonmoving violations such as, but not limited to, parking, standing, or stopping violations, including meter violations. If a Missouri resident fails to appear on two return dates, or fails to pay any fine or court costs assessed, any court having jurisdiction over the charges shall, within ten days of the failure to comply, inform the defendant by mail that the court may order the director of revenue to suspend the defendant's driving privileges if the charges are not disposed of and fully paid within thirty days from the date of mailing. Thereafter, if the defendant continues to fail to timely act to dispose of the charges and fully pay the costs assessed, the court may notify the Director of such failure. Upon receipt of this notification, the director shall mail notice to the defendant. Thirty-three days after mailing such notice, the director shall suspend the driving privileges of the defendant. The suspension shall remain in effect until the court furnishes requests setting aside the noncompliance suspension pending final disposition, or satisfactory evidence of disposition of pending charges and payment of fine and court costs, if applicable. These provisions are similar to provisions in HCS/SB 1408 (2026), HB 1988 (2026), HB 1996 (2026), SB 533 (2025), SB 517 (2025), HB 206 (2025), HB 1794 (2024), and HB 252 (2023). This act has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. TAYLOR MIDDLETON

Modifies provisions relating to mail sent by state agencies

SB 1619 - Under current law, a public employee that is also a member of the National Guard or any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States is entitled to a leave of absence from their duties as a public employee, while engaged in the performance of their duty to the service of the United States. This act extends those same provisions to volunteer firefighters other than provisions relating to monetary compensation. Under current law, a public employee who is serving in the Missouri National Guard or an Armed forces reserve component shall be entitled to a leave of absence from their employment duties for a period not to exceed 120 hours in any fiscal year. This act changes that time period to 38 working days in any federal fiscal year. This act is identical to HB 2940 (2026). KATIE O'BRIEN

SB 1503 - Currently, the first $2 million of fees collected for watercraft certification shall be deposited into the state general revenue fund. All fees in excess of $2 million are deposited into the Water Patrol Division Fund. Under this act, all fees collected on or after August 28, 2026, shall be deposited in the Water Patrol Division Fund and shall be used exclusively for the Water Patrol Division. This act is similar to provisions contained in the truly agreed to and finally passed HB 2885 (2026). TAYLOR MIDDLETON

SB 848 - This act repeals a provision of current law prohibiting the establishment of a state-based health benefit exchange under certain circumstances. This act is identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HCS/HB 2372 (2026), HB 3136 (2026), HCS/SS/SB 889 (2026), and HCS/SS/SCS/SB 890 (2026). TAYLOR MIDDLETON

SB 1441 - This act provides that the Department of Revenue shall retain vehicle odometer information for certain vehicles that are "model year 2013 or newer" rather than "ten years of age or less" with regard to the requirement of such vehicles to have motor vehicle safety inspections. This act is identical to HB 2743 (2026) and HB 2036 (2026), and substantially similar to provisions in HB 2655 (2026), SCS/HCS/HB 247 (2025), SCS/HCS/HBs 799, 334, 424 & 1069 (2025), HB 969 (2025), HCS/HB 378 (2025), and HB 424 (2025). TAYLOR MIDDLETON

SB 1439 - This act creates the "Missouri Entrepreneurial Freedom Restoration Act". The act provides that the right to earn a living in the businesses, professions, occupations, and trades of life is a fundamental right. State and local governments shall not burden a person's exercise of their right to earn a living. Governmental restrictions that burden the right to earn a living shall make the governmental body liable for legal and equitable relief. Government restrictions that burden the right to earn a living do not violate this act if the governmental body can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the burden is necessary to protect public health, safety, or welfare; the burden is the least restrictive means to achieve the law's stated purpose; and alternative mechanisms could not achieve the stated government interest without unnecessarily restricting entry into the occupation. A person whose right to earn a living has been burdened may seek declaratory, injunctive, or other equitable relief, as well as nominal damages. A person intending to engage in a profession, but hindered by a governmental burden shall have standing to bring a claim without having to first apply for, obtain, or be denied the relevant occupational license or registration. A prevailing plaintiff shall be awarded attorneys fees and costs. The state of Missouri waives sovereign immunity as to nominal damages up to one dollar for each claim for any act by a government official that violates this act. JIM ERTLE

SB 1099 - This act provides that all federal acts, laws, executive orders, administrative orders, rules, and regulations that restrict the people's right to keep and bear certain types of arms shall not be recognized or enforced by this state. It shall be the duty of the courts and law enforcement agencies of this state to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms within the borders of this state and to protect these rights from the infringements by the federal government. TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

SB 1304 - This act provides that a person commits the offense of making a malicious false report of animal abuse if the person purposely makes a report that is known to be false with the purpose of and causing a disruption, harassment, monetary loss, or disturbance of the peace of the owner of the animal. This offense is a class C misdemeanor. There shall be an absolute defense for a prosecution of the offense if the reporting party reported an incident of animal abuse out of a good faith, reasonable belief that an animal was being abused. Additionally, this act modifies the offense of animal abuse to provide that it shall be a class E felony if the suffering of an animal is the result of starvation or dehydration, in addition to torture or mutilation, and which has been knowingly, instead of consciously, inflicted while the animal was alive. This act is substantially similar to SB 541 (2025) and HCS/HB 910 (2025). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

SB 1447 - This act creates the "Patients First Act", which directs the Department of Commerce and Insurance to implement and enforce certain provisions of the federal Public Health Service Act. Insurers shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification under state law. Health benefit plans shall not discriminate against health care providers based on the providers' licensure with respect to reimbursement or participation in any plan or insurance program. All health care providers shall be reimbursed at the same rate for the same service as long as the service is within the provider's scope of practice. The act shall not be construed as preventing a group health plan or a health insurance issuer from establishing varying reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures. Nothing in this act shall apply to licensed physicians. This act is identical to HB 1894 (2026), substantially similar to SB 499 (2025), and similar to HCS/HB 530 (2025), HB 309 (2025), HB 2733 (2024), SB 558 (2023), and HB 935 (2023). TAYLOR MIDDLETON

SB 949 - This act creates the offense of judicial malfeasance. A person commits the offense if the person, while performing the duties of a judge, releases an individual who is a prior or persistent offender during the pendency of a criminal trial and such individual commits a felony during such release. The offense of judicial malfeasance shall be a class E felony. Any person charged or convicted with the offense of judicial malfeasance shall be referred to the Commission on Retirement, Removal, and Discipline for disqualification, removal, and suspension. TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

SB 1407 - This act provides that the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (Section 311.661) and the Missouri Gaming Commission (Sections 313.912 and 313.1000), respectively, may require applicants for certain licenses to submit fingerprints to the Missouri State Highway Patrol as part of such application process. Such licenses include, as defined in the act: • Alcohol carrier or transportation license • Manufacturer-solicitor, domestic winery, or microbrewery license • Primary retail liquor license • Solicitor license • Wholesalers license • Wine direct shipper license • Fantasy sports contest operator license • Sports wagering retail license • Sports wagering mobile license. TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

SCS/SB 1607 - This act modifies the professional sports teams for which a person can receive a special license plate to include the National Women's Soccer League and the Women's National Basketball Association. The Kansas City Current shall forward all emblem-use fees received, less an amount not in excess of five percent of the costs of administration to the Kansas City Current Foundation or a team designated nonprofit that benefits youth in the Kansas City area. This act is identical to provisions in the perfected SB 1477 (2026), and similar to HB 2446 (2026), HB 3273 (2026), and HB 3325 (2026). TAYLOR MIDDLETON

SB 1717 - Currently, the state is reimbursed for the salaries of family court commissioners appointed after August 28, 1993. There is an exception for the 11th (St. Charles County), 13th (Callaway and Boone Counties), and 31st (Greene County) Judicial Circuits, which allows one family court commissioner to be compensated by the state without requiring reimbursement. This act applies the exception to the 7th Judicial Circuit, consisting of Clay County. This act is identical to a provision in HCS/SB 945 (2026), in HCS/SB 1067 (2026), in HCS/HBs 2968, 2427 & 3086 (2026), HB 3387 (2026), and HB 3449 (2026). KATIE O'BRIEN

SB 897 - This act provides that health care providers shall not be required to obtain prior authorization for a health care service unless the health carrier or utilization review entity determines that in the most recent evaluation period, as defined in the act, less than 90% of the prior authorization requests submitted by that provider for that health care service were approved or would have been approved. Additionally, health care providers shall not be required to obtain prior authorization for any health care services unless the health carrier or utilization review entity has approved or would have approved less than 90% of all prior authorization requests submitted by that provider for health care services. Health carriers and utilization review entities shall notify providers within 25 days after a determination is made under the act, shall include in the notification certain information used in making the determination, shall establish an appeals process for the providers, and shall maintain an online prior authorization portal as described in the act. No health carrier or utilization review entity shall deny or reduce payment to a health care provider for a health care service for which the provider has prior authorization, except as described in the act. This act shall not apply to MO HealthNet services not provided through a managed care organization, or to providers who have not participated in a health benefit plan offered by the health carrier for at least one full evaluation period. This act is identical to HB 1675 (2026), substantially similar to HB 618 (2025) and to provisions in HCS/SB 94 (2025), and is similar to SB 846 (2026), SB 841 (2026), HCS/HB 3010 (2026), SB 230 (2025), SB 983 (2024), HB 1976 (2024), SB 576 (2023), and HB 1045 (2023). TAYLOR MIDDLETON

SB 930 - Under this act, no health carrier or health benefit plan shall establish, implement, or enforce any policy that imposes a time limit for the payment of anesthesia services provided during a medical or surgical procedure, as described in the act. This provision is identical to provisions in HCS/SB 94 (2025), HCS/HBs 1126 & 932 (2025), and SCS/HCS/HB 94 (2025), and similar to provisions contained in SCS/SB 841 (2026), HB 2570 (2026), the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HCS/HB 2372 (2026), HCS/HBs 1945 & 2570, and HB 1944 (2026). TAYLOR MIDDLETON

Creates the "Clear Skies Act" prohibiting geoengineering, cloud seeding and other atmospheric interventions, authorizing DNR to investigate violations, and includes penalty provisions

SB 1067 - This act establishes the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act". Currently, any action against a person for conduct or speech undertaken or made in connection with a public hearing or meeting in a quasi-judicial proceeding before a tribunal or decision-making body of the state or a political subdivision thereof is subject to a special motion to dismiss, a motion for judgment on the pleadings, or motion for summary judgment and any such motion shall be considered by the court on a priority or expedited basis. This act repeals this provision and creates procedures for dismissal of causes of action asserted in a civil action based on a person's: (1) Communication in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; (2) Communication on an issue under consideration or review in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; or (3) Exercise of the right of freedom of speech or of the press, the right to assemble or petition, or the right of association, guaranteed by the United States Constitution or the Missouri Constitution, on a matter of public concern. However, this act shall not apply to a cause of action asserted: (1) Against a governmental unit, as described in the act, or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting in an official capacity; (2) By a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting in an official capacity to enforce a law to protect against an imminent threat to public health or safety; or (3) Against a person primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing goods or services if the cause of action arises out of a communication related to the sale or lease of such goods or services. No later than 60 days after a party is served with a complaint, cross-claim, counterclaim, third-party claim, or other pleading that asserts a cause of action covered by this act, or at a later time upon a showing of good cause, a party may file a special motion to dismiss. The court shall hear and rule on such motion no later than 60 days after the filing of the motion, unless the court orders a later hearing to allow for limited discovery or upon good cause. However, this act provides that the court shall hear and rule on the motion for dismissal no later than 60 days after the order allowing for discovery. This act provides that all other proceedings between the moving party and the responding party in the action, including discovery and any pending hearings or motions, shall be stayed upon the filing of the special motion to dismiss. Additionally, this act provides that the court may stay, upon motion by the moving party, a hearing or motion involving another party or discovery by another party if a ruling on such hearing or motion or discovery relates to a legal or factual issue. Any stay pursuant to this act shall remain in effect until the entry of an order ruling on the special motion to dismiss and the expiration of the time to appeal the order. A moving party may appeal an order denying the special motion to dismiss in whole or in part within 21 days of such order. If a party appeals an order ruling on a special motion to dismiss, this act provides that all proceedings between all parties shall be stayed until the conclusion of the appeal. The court may allow discovery if a party shows that specific information is necessary to establish whether a party has satisfied or failed to satisfy the requirements of this act and such information is not reasonably available without discovery. Additionally, a motion for costs and expenses, voluntary dismissal, or a motion to sever shall not be stayed. During a stay, the court upon good cause may hear and rule on any motions unrelated to the special motion to dismiss and any motions seeking a special or preliminary injunction to protect against an imminent threat to public health or safety. In ruling on a special motion to dismiss, this act provides that the court shall consider the parties' pleadings, the motion, any replies and responses to the motion, and any evidence that could be considered in a ruling on a motion for summary judgment. The court shall dismiss the cause of action with prejudice if: (1) The moving party has established that the cause of action is covered by this act; (2) The responding party has failed to establish that this act does not apply to the cause of action; and (3) Either the responding party failed to establish a prima facie case as to each essential element of the cause of action, or the moving party has established that the responding party failed to state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted or that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. A voluntary dismissal without prejudice of a cause of action that is subject to a special motion to dismiss pursuant to this act shall not affect the moving party's right to obtain a ruling on the motion and seek costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, and reasonable litigation expenses. Additionally, if the moving party prevails on the motion, this act provides that such costs, fees, and expenses shall be awarded to the moving party. A voluntary dismissal with prejudice of a cause of action that is subject to a special motion to dismiss establishes that the moving party prevailed on the motion. The responding party shall be entitled to such costs, fees, and expenses if the responding party prevails on the motion and the court finds that the motion was frivolous or filed solely with the intent to delay the proceeding. Finally, this act applies to causes of action filed or asserted on or after August 28, 2026. This act is identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 835 & 1111 (2026), in SCS/SB 1468 (2026), SB 503 (2025), in SCS/HCS/HB 615 (2025), in SCS/HCS/HB 1259 (2025), and SB 1293 (2024) and is substantially similar to HB 2666 (2026), provisions in HCS/HB 83 (2025), in SCS/HCS/HB 176 (2025), in SB 352 (2025), HB 1092 (2025), in SCS/SB 897 (2024), HB 1785 (2024), in SCS/HCS/HB 2064 & HCS#2/HB 1886 (2024), in CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 72 (2023), SB 432 (2023), HB 750 (2023), SB 1219 (2022), in HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 968 (2022), HB 2624 (2022), and HB 1151 (2021). KATIE O'BRIEN