MissouriCourts could quickly review lawsuits tied to public speech
People sued over certain public speech may ask for an early court review, while most other steps in the case pause during that review.
What it does
People sued over certain public speech or participation may ask for an early court review. While the court considers the request, most other steps in the case pause.
When a court order seeks money in a bank account, the bank must follow rules for the date it freezes funds and for notifying account holders. Co-owners may ask a court to protect their money.
The text lists amounts of household goods, vehicles, a home, and other property that may be protected from collection of a court judgment. It also calls for periodic inflation adjustments to some limits.
Argument forPeople sued over public speech could get an early court review, which may limit legal costs and time if the claim does not meet the required test.
Argument againstBank account garnishments could temporarily freeze money in a shared account, making co-owners act quickly to ask the court to protect their share.
More detail
Courts must use a special motion process to review certain civil claims tied to public speech or participation. It covers civil claims based on statements in government proceedings or on speech, press, assembly, petition, or association about a public concern. The process does not cover claims against government units or their officials acting in an official role, certain government claims protecting public health or safety, or certain claims tied to selling goods or services. The section applies to civil actions filed, or claims raised in them, on or after August 28, 2026.
Financial institutions must follow specified steps when a court order seeks money in a bank account. The rules cover orders seeking funds held in an account by a federally insured bank, savings institution, or credit union. The rules apply to account funds, not wages or other property. A creditor generally may seek only one garnishment against the same debtor and bank for the same claims in any 30-day period, unless a judge allows an exception. For a jointly owned account, the bank must notify the other account holders, who may ask the court to protect some or all of the money. These rules take effect January 1, 2028.
The text provides dollar limits for property protected from collection of a court judgment and a schedule for adjusting those limits. These provisions concern people whose property could be taken to pay a court judgment. Some protections have exceptions, including for certain family support claims and recent contributions before bankruptcy or collection. The text lists different limits for different kinds of property. The dollar adjustments begin April 1, 2029, and recur every three years. They do not apply to cases started before each adjustment.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 13Signed by Governor Mike KehoeBecame Law
- May 28Reported Duly Enrolled Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics CommitteeTo Governor
- May 28Signed by Senate President Pro Tem
- May 28Signed by House Speaker
- May 28Delivered to Governor
- May 15CCR S offered & adopted (5285S11.1SR)
- May 15CCS S Third Read and Passed (5285S.11S)Major
- May 15H adopts CCR --(5285S11.1SR)
- May 15CCS H Third Read and PassedMajor
- May 15Truly Agreed To and Finally PassedMajor
- May 14S distributes CCR (5285S11.1SR)
- May 14S distributes CCS (5285S.11S)
- May 14H distributes CCR/CCS
- May 13House conferees appointed: Perkins, Parker, Roberts, Butz, Johnson
- May 12H refuses to recede and grants conference
- May 12Senate conferees appointed: Crawford, Henderson, Gregory (15), May, Washington
- May 11S refuses to concur in HCS, as amended and requests H recede or grant conference
- May 7HA 1 to HCS H offered & adopted (Roberts)--(5285H07.03H)
- May 7HA 2 to HCS H offered (Roberts)--(5285H07.04H)
- May 7HA 1 to HA 2 to HCS H offered & adopted (Smith (46))--(5285H07.11H)
- May 7HA 2 to HCS, as amended, H adopted (5285H07.04H)
- May 7HA 3 to HCS H offered & defeated (Bosley)--(5285H07.08H)
- May 7HCS, as amended, H adopted --(5285H.07C)
- May 7H Third Read and PassedMajor
- Apr 15Voted Do Pass H Rules - AdministrativeMinor
- Apr 15Reported Do Pass H Rules - AdministrativeMinor
- Apr 8HCS Referred H Rules - AdministrativeMinor
- Apr 1HCS Voted Do Pass H Financial InstitutionsMinor
- Apr 1HCS Reported Do Pass H Financial InstitutionsMinor
- Mar 25Hearing Conducted H Financial Institutions
- Mar 12Referred H Financial InstitutionsMinor
- Feb 23H Second ReadMinor
- Feb 19S Third Read and PassedPassed House
- Feb 19H First ReadMinor
- Feb 18SS for SCS S offered (Crawford)--(5285S.05F)
- Feb 18SA 1 to SS for SCS S offered & adopted (Webber)--(5285S05.03S)
- Feb 18SS for SCS, as amended, S adoptedPassed Senate
- Feb 18Perfected
- Feb 18Reported Truly Perfected S Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee
- Feb 12Reported from S Insurance and Banking Committee w/SCS
- Feb 10SCS Voted Do Pass (w/SCS SBs 835 & 1111) Insurance and Banking Committee (5285S.04C)Minor
- Feb 3Hearing Conducted S Insurance and Banking Committee
- Jan 27Hearing Cancelled S Insurance and Banking Committee
- Jan 8Second Read and Referred S Insurance and Banking CommitteeMinor
- Jan 7S First ReadMinor
- 2025
- Dec 1PrefiledIntroduced
Criminal JusticeCivil Rights & VotingConsumer Protection