HB 68 Missouri House · 2025 Regular Session

Modifies the statute of limitations for personal injury claims from five years to two years

HB 68 shortens the statute of limitations for personal injury claims from five years to two years, effective for injuries occurring on or after August 28, 2025. This means individuals seeking compensation for injuries like car accidents, medical malpractice, or other physical harm must file lawsuits within two years of the incident. The bill also establishes a two-year limit for related claims such as defamation and wage disputes, but the primary change targets personal injury cases. This directly affects people pursuing legal action for injuries and the defendants (e.g., businesses, healthcare providers) they sue.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2024

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Dec 2, 2024 Last action Apr 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Perfected · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add a new statute of limitations provision for childhood sexual abuse claims, expanding the scope from two to three repealed sections. The original text removed a future date of August 28, 2025, and replaced it with 2025, while also adding a new section defining childhood sexual abuse and establishing a 20-year statute of limitations for such claims.

Scope change

The bill now includes a new section (537.046) specifically addressing childhood sexual abuse claims, which was not present in the original version.

SCOPE

Added a new section 537.046 that creates a specific statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases, allowing claims to be filed within 20 years of the plaintiff turning 21 or within 3 years of discovering the injury, whichever is later.

Updated the bill title and repealed sections to include the new 537.046 section, changing the total from two repealed sections to three.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for new actions from August 28, 2025 to August 28, 2025 in the new section, while removing the bracketed text that previously included 2004 as an alternative date.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'childhood sexual abuse' listing numerous Missouri criminal statutes that would constitute such abuse if committed against a person under 18.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

Referred: Fiscal Oversight(S)

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Second read and referred: General Laws(S)

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 92 NOES: 42 PRESENT: 24

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 4 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred: Fiscal Review(H)

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1 and HA 2, adopted

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 7 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 5 NOES: 4 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Committee

Referred: Commerce(H)

lower

Dec 2, 2024

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor