Daniel P. Mehan, President and CEO | Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Daniel P. Mehan, President and CEO | Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Missouri lawmakers are currently deliberating on several bills designed to enhance the state's legal framework, aiming to eliminate barriers that might hinder economic progress.
The Senate General Laws Committee recently reviewed SB 268, a bill introduced by Sen. Curtis Trent (R-Springfield). This legislative proposal seeks to amend the procedures for handling civil lawsuits in Missouri.
SB 268 plans to revise the collateral source rule, restricting court evidence to the actual costs of medical treatment, including any applicable discounts or price reductions. "The hope here is that we will make these cases more accurate," stated Trent. Presently, many states have initiated reforms to their collateral source statutes to prevent awards that surpass real recovery costs.
Another aspect of SB 268 aims to close a loophole concerning time-limited settlement demands. The proposed legislation mandates that settlement demands must be open for a minimum of 90 days, providing insurers with a viable timeframe to settle third-party liability claims within policy limits. Similar language on settlement demands appears in SB 312, also by Trent, and HB 437, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Hardwick. HB 69, introduced by Rep. Matthew Overcast, includes parallel updates to the collateral source rule.
Additionally, the House Economic Development Committee evaluated HB 1068, proposed by Overcast. This bill stipulates that franchisees and their employees should not be classified as employees of the franchisor unless the franchisor explicitly controls hiring, firing, or disciplinary actions. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Hotel and Lodging Association, and Missouri Hotel and Lodging Association support the proposal.
Cade Tremain, Manager of Governmental Affairs at the Missouri Chamber, expressed support for the legislation. “We want to remove any sort of grey area for both businesses and employees to work more confidently and know the appropriate avenues for a lawsuit if one were to arise,” Tremain explained. “Ultimately, we believe the bill provides accountability for both the employer and the employee.”
Sen. Nick Schroer (R-Defiance) sponsors a related measure, SB 320.
For further details, contact Tremain at ctremain@mochamber.com or call (573) 634-3511.
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