HB 2147 prohibits using false caller ID information (call spoofing) to deceive recipients during telemarketing calls, specifically banning tactics that misrepresent the caller's identity to defraud, harass, or obtain value. It establishes a state "no-call database" managed by the Attorney General, allowing Missouri business and residential subscribers to register to block unwanted telemarketing calls at no cost. The law requires callers to clearly identify themselves at the start of each solicitation and prohibits blocking caller ID services. This applies to telemarketing calls (e.g., sales pitches) but includes exceptions for calls with prior permission, recent business contacts, or non-profit fundraising.
HB 1944 regulates how Missouri health insurers pay for anesthesia services and handle claim adjustments. It prohibits insurers from setting time limits on anesthesia payments or excluding all anesthesia time from calculations. The bill bans automated systems (including AI) for reducing payments on claims, requiring human physician reviews instead, and mandates clear documentation of downcoding decisions with 180-day appeal timelines. This directly affects anesthesia providers, insurers, and state health programs like MO HealthNet.
HB 2606 strengthens patient control over health records by requiring healthcare providers to obtain explicit, written patient consent before sharing health information, except during medical emergencies. It prohibits providers from conditioning treatment on consent, banning blanket consent forms for research, and mandating specific patient authorization for any use of health data. The bill also establishes civil penalties, allowing patients to recover $1,000-$10,000 per violation for unauthorized disclosures or lack of proper consent. This directly affects patients (who gain ownership rights) and healthcare providers (who must follow strict disclosure rules).
HB 1878 requires commercial websites where 33% or more of content is defined as "material harmful to minors" to use reasonable age-verification methods before minors can access it. If a website fails this, it could be sued for damages if a minor accesses the content. The law specifically exempts news organizations and internet service providers (like search engines or cloud services) from liability, as they aren't responsible for the content they transmit. It defines "material harmful to minors" as content appealing to prurient interest, depicting sexual acts, or lacking serious value for minors, per Missouri law. The bill includes an emergency clause citing child safety as the justification for immediate implementation.
HB 1887 creates civil penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of "intimate digital depictions," which are defined as digitally altered images showing genitals, pubic areas, sexual conduct, or bodily fluids. It directly affects individuals whose intimate digital images are shared without their valid consent, including minors and those with diminished capacity. Key provisions require written consent in plain language for disclosure, allow civil lawsuits for damages (including up to $150,000 in liquidated damages), and permit court-ordered injunctions to stop further disclosure. The law excludes disclosures made in good faith to law enforcement or in legal proceedings.
HB 1746 declares AI systems non-sentient entities under state law and assigns legal responsibility for their actions to humans. It prohibits AI from holding legal personhood, marriage rights, corporate roles, or owning property - requiring all assets and liability to remain with owners, developers, or users. The bill mandates owners to maintain oversight for AI systems impacting safety, holds developers liable only for design defects (not misuse), and prevents companies from evading accountability through shell entities. It applies to all AI developed after August 28, 2026, and requires prompt reporting of severe incidents involving AI.
HB 1742 restricts minors' access to companion chatbots - AI systems designed to mimic human relationships and provide emotional support - by requiring age verification before access and banning their use on devices regularly used by minors. It prohibits covered platforms from deceiving users about the chatbot's non-human nature, implementing systems to prevent emotional dependence, or using human-like avatars. The bill specifically excludes customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants from these requirements. It directly affects minors under 18 and platforms offering companion chatbots for recreational or relational purposes. The law takes effect upon passage, with no provisions for enforcement details in the current text.
HB 2305 requires Missouri local governments (like counties and cities) to allow contractors to submit bids electronically for publicly funded construction projects (e.g., roads, bridges, public buildings). It mandates that political subdivisions use secure online platforms for bid submissions, publish notices on public websites or e-procurement systems, and implement security measures like digital signatures and encryption to protect bid confidentiality. The bill also requires electronic receipts for bidders showing submission time and ensures public access to bids at opening. These changes apply to all local governments handling qualifying construction projects, effective after the Office of Administration issues implementation guidelines within one year.
HB 2350 updates child pornography laws to explicitly include "artificially generated visual depictions" of minors. The bill defines these as images that are obscene, indistinguishable from real minors, morphed from real minor images, or created without any actual minor involvement. This change makes it illegal to create, distribute, or possess such AI-generated images that depict minors in sexually explicit conduct. The law directly affects anyone producing or sharing synthetic media that mimics real minors, aligning definitions with emerging technology risks.
HB 2220 authorizes Missouri's Department of Transportation (DOT) to form public-private partnerships with broadband providers to expand the state's fiber network. It requires the DOT to prioritize unserved and underserved areas (defined in state law) and use a competitive bidding process with specific public notice requirements in local newspapers and tech publications. Private partners can use excess fiber capacity to offer internet services meeting state broadband standards, while the DOT must follow state rulemaking procedures. The bill creates a structured framework for expanding rural and low-access broadband infrastructure through DOT-led partnerships.
