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MissouriSB9072026 Regular SessionSenate

Establishes the "Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation" which establishes provisions relating to litigation alleging certain disability access violations

Sponsored By: Brad Hudson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Federal standards end some lawsuit protections

The law sets a federal trigger for ending its protections for registered entities and public bodies. The trigger requires U.S. Department of Justice website-access standards under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. When those standards are issued, Missouri's attorney general must notify the Revisor of Statutes. Upon that notice, this law stops applying to entities registered with Missouri's secretary of state and state and local government bodies. This expiration does not cover individual Missouri residents, and the law gives no fixed expiration date.

Missouri defendants gain tools against abusive lawsuits

Beginning August 28, 2026, Missouri residents sued over website accessibility can ask a court to find the lawsuit abusive. This covers claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act or state law, including cases pending on that date. Covered residents include individuals living in Missouri, entities registered with Missouri's secretary of state, and state and local government bodies. The attorney general can bring group cases, intervene for targets, and issue guidance that cannot block legitimate accessibility enforcement. Courts weigh all circumstances to decide whether a lawsuit mainly seeks payment based on the defendant's defense costs. Factors include repeated similar lawsuits without meaningful accessibility efforts, notice and time to fix problems, past bad faith, settlement conduct, and grounds for court sanctions. Defendants who obtain an abuse finding can receive reasonable legal fees and costs for seeking that finding and defending the abusive lawsuit. The party bringing the abusive lawsuit can also face punitive damages or sanctions up to three times the attorney fees awarded. Before final judgment in the underlying case, the court must review the abuse finding and fee award for reasonableness.

Website fixes give defendants added lawsuit protection

Beginning August 28, 2026, defendants who promptly address website access problems gain added protection against later claims. After written notice, they must start substantial fixes in good faith within 90 days to gain a presumption of abuse. The other side can challenge that presumption. It does not apply unless the problem is fixed within 90 days of notice or a sufficiently detailed court complaint. The court determines whether the problem is fixed. An abuse decision must wait until the 90 days end or the court verifies the fix, whichever comes first. Pending cases also qualify when defendants complied before August 28, 2026, or remain within the correction period after that date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Brad Hudson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2026

Reported Do Pass - Not Consent

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2026

HCS Reported Do Pass by Consent

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Delivered to Secretary of State (G)

    5/7/2026

  2. Approved by Governor (G)

    5/7/2026

  3. Delivered to Governor

    4/23/2026

  4. Signed by House Speaker

    4/23/2026House

  5. Signed by House Speaker

    4/23/2026House

  6. Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed

    4/21/2026

  7. Taken Up

    4/21/2026

  8. Reported to the Senate with... - HA 1, HA 2

    4/16/2026House

  9. Third Read and Passed with Amendments - With HA 1, HA 2

    4/16/2026House

  10. HCS Adopted

    4/16/2026House

  11. Title of Bill - Agreed To

    4/16/2026

  12. Taken Up for Third Reading

    4/16/2026House

  13. Reported Do Pass - Not Consent - AYES: 6 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

    4/14/2026House

  14. Voted Do Pass - Not Consent

    4/13/2026House

  15. Executive Session Completed

    4/13/2026House

  16. Referred: Consent and Procedure

    4/8/2026House

  17. HCS Reported Do Pass by Consent - AYES: 9 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

    4/8/2026House

  18. HCS Voted Do Pass - Consent

    4/8/2026House

  19. Executive Session Completed

    4/8/2026House

  20. Public Hearing Completed

    4/1/2026House

  21. Referred: Commerce

    3/26/2026House

  22. Read Second Time

    3/26/2026House

  23. Reported to the House and First Read

    3/25/2026House

Bill Text

  • Truly Agreed

    4/21/2026

    PDF

  • Committee Substitute

    PDF

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