HCSHB83--CIVILJURISPRUDENCE
SPONSOR: Veit
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonJudiciarybyavoteof8to0.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
83.
BIRTH,DEATH,ANDMARRIAGERECORDS(Section193.265,RSMo)
Thebillwaivesanyrequiredfeesfortheissuanceorcopyofa
birthcertificateiftherequestismadebyaprosecutingor
circuitattorneyortheAttorneyGeneral.
MISSOURIUNIFORMFIDUCIARYINCOMEANDPRINCIPALACT(Sections
214.330and469.399to469.487)
ThisbillspecifiesthattheincomeandprincipaloftheEndowed
CareTrustFundisdeterminedunderthelawsapplicabletotrusts
withanexceptionthatthetrusteehasnopower:ofadjustment;of
conversion;todetermineormodifytheunitrustrateorto
determineapplicablevaluetocomputetheunitrustamountbeyond
thatgrantedbylaw.Aunitrustdefinitionofincomemustbe
determinedbythecemeteryoperatorinthetermsoftheEndowed
CareTrustFundAgreementandnotbythetrustee. Further,no
principalfromtheTrustFundwillbedistributedexceptifa
unitrustamountisrequiredundertheAgreement. Thecemetery
operatormayinstructbyrecordforthetrusteetodistributeless
thanalltheincomedistributablefortheyearifthecemetery
operatordeterminesthatthemoneyisnotneeded.
Thebillestablishesthe"MissouriUniformFiduciaryIncomeand
PrincipalAct"(MUFIPA). Certainprovisionsofthecurrent
PrincipalandIncomeAct(PIA)areupdatedtoachievecompliance
withtheMUFIPA.
Thisbillmodifiescertaindefinitionsandaddsdefinitions. It
alsoremovesreferencetocurrentdefinitionsof"income
beneficiary","qualifiedbeneficiary",and"remainderbeneficiary".
ThebillprovidesthattheMUFIPAappliestoatrustorestateand
alifeestateorotherterminterestinwhichtheinterestofone
ormorepersonswillbesucceededbytheinterestofoneormore
otherpersons,exceptasotherwiseprovidedinthetermsofatrust
orinMUFIPA.Inaddition,theMUFIPAapplieswhenMissouriisthe
principalplaceofadministration ofatrustorestateorthesitus ofpropertythatisnotheldinatrustorestateandissubjectto
alifeestateorotherterminterest.
Thisbilldetailsthefiduciary'sdutiesincludingthepowerto
adjustorconvertanincometrusttoaunitrustandviceversa.In
addition,thebillspecifiesthebusinessorotheractivity
conductedbythefiduciarythatthefiduciarymayaccount
separately,asspecifiedinthebill.Thisbillcallsforthe
applicationofMUFIPAtoatrustorestateexistingorcreatedon
orafterAugust28,2025,withexceptions.
Thebilldefines"unitrust"tomeanatrustforwhichnetincomeis
anamountcomputedbymultiplyingadeterminedvalueofatrustby
adeterminedpercentage,includingatrustforwhichunderthe
termstheincomeornetincomemustorcanbecalculatedinsuch
way.
Theprovisionsthatapplytounitrustsdonotcreateadutytotake
orconsideractionortoinformabeneficiaryaboutthe
applicabilityoftheprovisions. Afiduciarythatingoodfaith
takesorfailstotakeanactionundertheunitrustprovisionsis
notliabletoapersonaffectedbytheactionorinaction.
Thebilldetailstheactionsthatthefiduciarycantakewithout
courtapproval.
Thebillspecifiesdeterminations, considerations, andprocedures
requiredofafiduciaryintakingactions. Therequirements
includesendinganoticeinarecord,describingandproposingto
taketheaction,tocertainpersonsallasdetailedinthebill.
TheMUFIPAincludesprovisionsallowingthesepersonstoobjectto
aproposedaction,wherethefiduciaryorabeneficiarymayrequest
thecourttohavetheproposedactiontakenasproposed,takenwith
modifications, orprevented. Thebillcontainsrequirements
relatingtotheunitrustpolicyandunitrustrate.
Thisbillprovidesforuniformityintheinterpretation and
applicationoftheMUFIPA;containsaseverabilityclause;and
explainsMUFIPA'sinteractionwiththeElectronicSignaturesin
GlobalandNationalCommerceAct,15U.S.C.Section7001etSeq.
CHANGESOFATTORNEYSINWORKERS'COMPENSATIONCASES(Sections
287.200and287.470)
ThebillpermitstheLaborandIndustrialRelationsCommissionto
changethename,information,orfeearrangementoftheattorneyor
lawfirmrepresentingaclaimantuponthefilingofawritten
agreement,signedbyboththeclaimantandtheattorney,withthe
Commission. Additionally,alifetimepaymentforpermanenttotal
disabilitywillbesuspendedduringthetimeinwhichanemployee isrestoredtohisorherregularworkoritsequivalentthrough
theuseofglasses,prostheticappliances,orphysical
rehabilitation.
COMPLAINTS,DISCIPLINE,ANDREMOVALOFADMINISTRATIVE LAWJUDGES
(Sections287.610and621.045)
Currentlawrequiresaretentionvotebetakenbythe
Administrative LawJudgeReviewCommitteewithrespecttoeach
workers'compensationAdministrative LawJudge(ALJ).
Additionally,theCommitteeisrequiredtoconductperformance
auditsperiodicallyandmakerecommendations ofconfidenceorno
confidencewithrespecttoeachALJ.Thisbillrepealsthese
requirementsandinsteadcreatesnewprovisionsforfiling
complaintsagainstandremovingALJs.
Priortofilingacomplaint,theDirectormustnotifytheALJin
writingofthereasonsforthecomplaint. Specialprovisionsare
includedifthereasonforthecomplaintiswillfulneglectofduty
orincompetency.
UponafindingbytheAdministrative HearingCommission(AHC)that
thegroundsfordisciplinaryactionaremet,theDirectormay,
singlyorincombination,issuethedisciplinaryactionsagainst
theALJ,asspecifiedinthebill,includingremovalorsuspension
fromoffice.Iftherearenogroundsfordisciplinaryaction,the
ALJwillimmediatelyresumedutiesandreceiveanyattorneys'fees
dueundercurrentlaw.
ThebillrepealsarequirementthattheCommittee'smembersnot
haveanydirectorindirectemploymentorfinancialconnectionwith
aworkers'compensationinsurancecompany,claimsadjustment
company,healthcareprovidernorbeapracticingworkers'
compensationattorney. Thebilladditionallyrepealsarequirement
thatallmembersoftheCommitteehaveaworkingknowledgeof
workers'compensation.
PAYMENTANDRETIREMENTBENEFITSOFADMINISTRATIVE LAWJUDGES
(Sections287.615,287.812,and287.835)
ThebillprovidesthatthecompensationforanALJandchief
administrative lawjudgeswillbedeterminedsolelybytherate
outlinedinlawandwillnotincreasewhenpayraisesforexecutive
employeesareappropriated.
ThebillfurthermorerepealsreferencetothepositionofChief
LegalCounsel. Thebillrepealsaprohibitiononthepaymentofanyretirement
benefitsunderworkers'compensationlawtoanyadministrative law
judgewhohasbeenremovedfromofficebyimpeachmentorfor
misconduct,ortoanypersonwhohasbeendisbarredfromthe
practiceoflaw,ortothebeneficiaryofanysuchpersons.
COURTDISSOLUTIONOFALIMITEDLIABILITYCOMPANY(Section347.143)
Currently,alimitedliabilitycompany(LLC)maybedissolved
involuntarilybyadecreeofthecircuitcourtlocatedinthe
countyoftheregisteredofficeoftheLLCuponapplicationbyor
foramemberoftheLLCwhenitisnotreasonablypracticableto
carryonbusinessinconformitywiththeoperatingagreement.
ThisbillexpandsthecircumstancesunderwhichanLLCmaybe
dissolvedtoincludewhenacourtdeterminesthat:
(1)Dissolutionisreasonablynecessaryfortheprotectionofthe
rightsorinterestsofcomplainingmembers;
(2)ThebusinessoftheLLChasbeenabandoned;
(3)ThemanagementoftheLLCisdeadlockedorsubjecttointernal
dissension,or
(4)ThoseincontroloftheLLChavebeenfoundguiltyof,orhave
knowinglyallowedpersistentandpervasivefraud,mismanagement, or
abuseofauthority.
UNIFORMUNREGULATEDCHILDCUSTODYTRANSFERACT(Sections453.700to
453.742)
Thebillestablishesthe"UniformUnregulatedChildCustody
TransferAct",whichspecifiesthataparentorguardianofachild
oranindividualwithwhomachildhasbeenplacedforadoptionmay
nottransfercustodyofthechildtoanotherpersonwiththe
intent,atthetimeofthetransfer,toabandontherightsand
responsibilities concerningthechild.Thattypeoftransferis
onlyallowedthroughthemethodsspecifiedinthebill.
Apersonmaynotreceivecustodyofachild,oractasan
intermediaryinatransferofcustodyofachild,iftheperson
knowsorreasonablyshouldknowthetransferviolatesanyprovision
inthebill.ThepersonmustnotifyChildren'sDivisionwithinthe
DepartmentofSocialServicesofthetransferviolationassoonas
practicable. AviolationofthismatterisaclassBmisdemeanor.
IftheChildren'sDivisionhasareasonablebasistobelievethata
personhastransferredorwilltransfercustodyofachildin violationoftheprovisionsinthisbill,theChildren'sDivision
mayconductahomevisitasprovidedbylawandtakeappropriate
actiontoprotectthewelfareofthechild.Lawenforcement
agenciesmayalsoinvestigateapossibleviolationofthe
provisionsinthisbill.
IftheChildren'sDivisionconductsahomevisitforachild
adoptedorplacedthroughaninter-countryadoption,theChildren's
Divisionsmust:
(1)Prepareareportonthewelfareandplanforpermanent
placementofthechild;and
(2)ProvideacopytotheUnitedStatesDepartmentofState.
Apersonmaynotsolicitoradvertisetofindapersonorchildin
violationoftheprovisionsinthebillnortoactasan
intermediaryinviolationoftheprovisionsinthisbill.A
violationofthismatterisasclassBmisdemeanor.
Withinareasonabletimebeforeachild-placingagencyplacesa
childforadoptionwithaprospectiveadoptiveparent,theagency
mustprovideorhaveprovidedtotheprospectiveadoptiveparent
generaladoptioninformation,whichshouldaddresstheinformation
asdescribedinthebill,aswellasinformationspecifictothe
childthatisknowntoorreasonablyobtainablebytheagencyand
materialtotheprospectiveadoptiveparent’sinformeddecisionto
adoptthechild,whichmustincludeinformationasspecifiedinthe
bill.Also,achild-placingagencymustprovideorhaveprovided
totheprospectiveadoptiveparentguidanceandinstruction
specifictothechildtohelppreparetheparenttorespond
effectivelytoneedsofthechild,whichmustaddressissuesas
specifiedinthebill.Ifnewinformationisdiscoveredbythe
child-placingagencyatanypointintheadoptionprocess,itmust
providethatinformationtotheprospectiveparent.
Uponrequestfromthechildortheadoptiveparent,thechild-
placingagencyortheChildren'sDivisionwillprovideinformation
abouthowtoobtainfinancialassistanceorsupportservices:
(1)Toassistthechildorparenttorespondeffectivelyto
adjustment,behavioralhealth,andotherchallenges;and
(2)Tohelppreservetheplacementoradoption.
TheChildren'sDivisionandlawenforcementcaninitiate
proceedingstodeterminewhetherachild-placingagencyhasfailed
tocomplywiththeprovisionsinthebill,whichcanresultin
eitherlawenforcementfilingforinjunctiverelieforinitiating anadministrative proceeding,orChildren'sDivisionsuspendingor
revokingtheagency'slicense.
TheprovisionsinthisbilldonotapplytocustodyofanIndian
child,asdefinedinSection4(4)oftheIndianChildWelfareAct
of1978,25U.S.C.Section1903(4),asamended,totheextent
custodyisgovernedbytheIndianChildWelfareActof1978,25
U.S.C.Sections1901through1963,asamended.
CLASSIFICATION OFMINORSFORORDERSOFPROTECTION(Sections
455.010,455.035,and455.513)
Thisbillmodifiesthedefinitionsof"adult"and"child"in
provisionsrelatingtoordersofprotection. An"adult"isany
person18,insteadof17,yearsofageorolderanda"child"is
anypersonunder18,insteadof17,yearsofageunlessheorshe
isotherwiseemancipated.
MISSOURIELECTRONICWILLSANDELECTRONICESTATEPLANNINGDOCUMENTS
ACT(Sections474.540to474.564and474.600)
Thebillestablishesthe"MissouriElectronicWillsandElectronic
EstatePlanningDocumentsAct",whichspecifiesthatanelectronic
willisconsideredawillforallpurposesofthelawofthisState
andthatanywrittenestateplanningdocumentmaybeexecuted
electronically. An"electronicwill"isdefinedinthebillasa
recordthatisreadableastextatthetimeofsigning,issigned
bythetestatororanotherindividualinthetestator'sname,and
issignedinthephysicalorelectronicpresenceofthetestatorby
atleasttwoindividualsafterwitnessingthesigningofthewill
orthetestator'sacknowledgment ofthesigningofthewillor
acknowledgment ofthewillitself.Typesofestateplanning
documentsincludeapowerofattorneyordurablepowerofattorney,
anadvancedirective,anirrevocabletrust,andabeneficiarydeed,
aswellasothertypesofdocuments. Thebillestablishesa
processbywhichanelectronicwillmaybemadeself-provedaswell
ashowallorpartofanelectronicwillmayberevoked.
Ifthereisevidencethatatestatorsignedanelectronicwilland
neitheranelectronicwillnoracertifiedpapercopyofthe
electronicwillcanbefoundafterthetestator'sdeath,therewill
beapresumptionthatthetestatorrevokedtheelectronicwilleven
ifnoinstrumentorlaterwillrevokingtheelectronicwillcanbe
located. Apersonmaycreateacertifiedpapercopyofan
electronicwilloranelectronicestateplanningdocumentby
affirmingunderpenaltyofperjurythatapapercopyofthe
electronicwillisacomplete,true,andaccuratecopyofthe
electronicwillortheestateplanningdocument. Theprovisionsofthisbillapplytothewillofadecedentwho
diesonorafterAugust28,2025,andtoeachotherwrittenestate
planningdocumentsignedorremotelywitnessedonorafterAugust
28,2025.
Thebillalsospecifiesthatcertainestateplanningdocumentsthat
wereexecutedduringtheperiodbetweenApril6,2020,andDecember
31,2021,duringwhichastateofemergencyexistedduetoCOVID-19
andtherewasatemporarysuspensionofphysicalappearance
requirements,willbedeemedtohavesatisfiedthephysical
presencerequirementsifcertainrequirements,specifiedinthe
bill,weremet.
CONFIDENTIALITY OFCERTAINCASESINCOURTCASEMANAGEMENTSYSTEM
(Section476.1025)
Thisbillprovidesthataparent,spouse,child,orpersonal
representative ofapersonwhowasconvictedofamisdemeanor
offensemayfileamotionwithacopyofthedeathcertificatein
thecourtofconvictiontohavetherecordmadeconfidentialonany
automatedcasemanagementsystemifthepersonhasbeendeceased
forsixmonthsormore.Priortomakingtheconviction
confidential,thecourtmustdeterminewhetheranypersonwouldbe
unfairlyprejudicedbytheconfidentiality oftheconviction.
FUNDINGOFBASICCIVILLEGALSERVICESFORCERTAINPERSONS(Section
477.650)
Currently,theprovisionoflawestablishingtheBasicCivilLegal
ServicesFund,whichprovidesfundingtolegalservices
organizationsinthisstatetoprovidecivillegalservicesand
representation toeligiblelow-incomepersons,issettoexpireon
December31,2025.Thisbillrepealstheexpirationdate.
MENTALHEALTHTREATMENTCOURTS(Section478.001)
Thebilladdsmentalhealthcourtstothelistoftreatmentcourt
divisions,definedasacourtfocusedonaddressingthemental
healthdisorderorco-occurringdisorderofdefendantschargedwith
acriminaloffense. Thisbillspecifiesthatamentalhealth
treatmentcourtmaybeestablishedbyanycircuitcourttoprovide
analternativeforthejudicialsystemtodisposeofcasesthat
stemfromamentalhealthdisorderorco-occurringdisorder.
REFERENCESTOTHECHILDCUSTODYJURISDICTIONANDENFORCEMENTACT
(Section487.110)
Thebillmodifiesreferencestothetitleandsectionsoflawof
UniformChildCustodyJurisdictionAct,whichwasrepealedin2009, totheUniformChildCustodyJurisdictionandEnforcementActfor
theprovisionrelatingtochildcustodyproceedingsinfamily
courts.
COMPENSATIONOFJURORS(Sections488.040and494.455)
Thisbillspecifiesthateachgrandandpetitjurorwillreceiveat
least$6perdayforeverydaythejuroractuallyservesanda
mileagereimbursementrateasprovidedbylawforStateemployees.
EachcountyandtheCityofSt.Louismayauthorizeadditional
compensationforitsjurors.Alternatively, thecourtofa
judicialcircuitmay,byamajorityvote,votetorestructurejuror
compensationsothatgrandandpetitjurorsdonotgetpaidforthe
firsttwodaysofservicebutthereafterwillreceive$50perday,
aswellasmileagereimbursementattherateprovidedbylawfor
Stateemployeesfornecessarytravelfromthejuror'sresidenceto
thecourthouseandback,tobepaidbythecounty.
CIVILCASEFILINGSURCHARGE(Section488.426)
Currently,anycircuitcourtmaycollectacivilcasefiling
surchargeofanamountnottoexceed$15forthemaintenanceofa
lawlibrary,thecounty'sorcircuit'sfamilyservicesandjustice
fund,orcourtroomrenovationandtechnologyenhancement. Ifthe
circuitcourtreimbursesthestateforsalariesoffamilycourt
commissionersoristhecircuitcourtinJacksonCounty,the
surchargemaybeupto$20.Thebillprovidesthatthecircuit
courtintheCityofSt.Louismaychargeafilingsurchargeupto
$20.
EXCLUSIONOFPERSONALINFORMATIONINCOURTDOCUMENTS(Section
509.520)
Currently,certaininformationmustbeexcludedfrompleadings,
attachments,exhibits,judgments,orders,orotherrecordsofthe
courtbutmustbeincludedinaconfidentialinformationsheet
filedwiththecourt,whichwillnotbesubjecttopublic
inspectionoravailability. Thisbillmodifiestheprovisionto
includeinformationconcerningawitnessinacriminalcasethatis
confidentialasotherwiseprovidedbylaworruleandanyother
informationredactedforgoodcausebyorderofthecourt.
UNIFORMINTERSTATEDEPOSITIONANDDISCOVERYACT(Sections510.500
to510.521)
Thebillestablishesthe"UniformInterstateDepositionsand
DiscoveryAct".Thisbillprovidesproceduresandprocessesfor
whenasubpoenafordiscoveryoradepositionissubmittedin
Missouribyapartyinaforeignjurisdiction. UNIFORMPUBLICEXPRESSIONPROTECTIONACT(Section537.529)
Thebillestablishesthe"UniformPublicExpressionProtection
Act".
Thisbillrelatestocausesofactionfiledagainstindividualswho
exercisecertainConstitutional rights.Thebillspecifiesthat,
whenaperson,definedinthebillas"anindividual,estate,
trust,partnership,businessornonprofitentity,governmental
unit,orotherlegalentity",hasacauseofactionfiledagainst
thembasedupontheircommunicationinagovernmentalproceedingor
onanissueunderconsiderationinagovernmentalproceeding,or
whentheyexercisetheirrightoffreedomofspeechorofthe
press,therighttoassemble,ortherightofassociation,that
personmayfileaspecialmotiontodismissthecauseofaction.
Thisbillestablishesproceduresforsuchspecialmotionsto
dismiss. Thebillspecifiesunderwhichcircumstancesacourtmay
awardcosts,reasonableattorneys'fees,andreasonablelitigation
expenses. Theprovisionsofthebillapplytocivilactionsfiled
onorafterAugust28,2025.
INFORMATIONRECEIVEDBYPROBATIONANDPAROLEOFFICERS(Section
559.125)
Thisbillmodifiesprovisionsrelatingtoprivilegedinformation
receivedbyprobationorparoleofficerswhichmustnotbe
receivableinanycourtexceptforcriminalproceedings.
CRIMEVICTIMS'COMPENSATIONFUND(Section595.045)
ThisbilladdsthatapersonwhopleadsguiltytoaclassEfelony
mustpayafeeof$46payabletotheCrimeVictims'Compensation
Fund.
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatallthelanguageinthisbill
passedoutofcommitteelastyearbutdiedlateinthesession.
Thesponsorexplainedthevariousprovisionsinthebill.This
billhastakenmanyformsovertheyearsrelatedtoadministrative
lawjudges,buttheultimategoalistoensurecitizenserviceand
toensuredueprocessprovidedinlaw,butthestatusquois
outdated. Theremovalprocesswithnoconfidencevotestakestoo
longsoitmakesitchallengingtoremovejudgeswhoarenotdoing
theirjobs,anditmakesitmoredifficultforDepartmentofLabor casestobehandledefficiently. Thejurorpayalternative
structurehasbeenusedsuccessfullyinGreeneCountyforthe
betterpartof10years.Itisoptionalanditisuptothe
governingbodyofacountytochoosewhethertoimplementthe
alternativepaystructure. BecauseLegalAidhasbeenworking,the
sunsetclauseforthatsectionshouldberepealedtoensurea
continuedfundingmechanism. Multiplewitnesseswereparticularly
supportiveoftheanti-SLAPPlanguagebecauseoftheneedtoensure
citizens’righttofreespeechispreserved. Thereare31states
thatcurrentlyhavesomethingsimilaronthebooks.Current
statutedoesnotprovidehowacourtismeanttodecideaSLAPP
case.Thefixforthecrimevictims’compensationfundtoinclude
Efeloniesisnecessarybecauseitwasinadvertentlyleftoutof
thesectionduringthecriminalcoderevision. Itwasaccidentally
forgotteninthecriminalcoderevisionin2017.Thelanguage
allowingforvideotestimonyforminorvictimsandwitnessesis
alsocrucialtopreservethesafetyofchildrenandtoprotectthem
fromre-traumatization. Rightnowitincludesminorsunder14,but
itshouldincludeminorsupto18,sincetheyareconsideredminors
intheState.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Veit;
MissouriBankersAssociation;EricJennings,JudicialConferenceof
Missouri;ParkeStevens;MissouriNetworkofChildAdvocacyCenters
Inc.;AssociatedIndustriesofMissouri;TheMissouriBar;
InstituteforFreeSpeech;LegalServicesofEasternandSouthern
Missouri;MissouriPressAssociation;DepartmentofLaborand
IndustrialRelations;LockeThompson,MissouriAssociationof
ProsecutingAttorneys;MissouriRetailersAssociation.
OPPONENTS: Therewasnooppositionvoicedtothecommittee.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.