HB 2240 requires that autonomous vehicles operating on public roads must have a licensed human operator physically present who can actively control the vehicle at all times. It defines "autonomous technology" as systems enabling full driverless operation (excluding basic safety features like adaptive cruise control), and mandates that autonomous vehicles meet all state and federal safety standards before registration. The bill prohibits autonomous vehicles from transporting goods or passengers commercially (e.g., for delivery or ridesharing) unless a human operator is present and licensed to intervene. This directly affects autonomous vehicle owners, manufacturers, and operators by imposing operational safety requirements and restricting commercial use until human oversight is guaranteed.
HB 1992 makes it illegal to install, conceal, or place an electronic tracking device on a motor vehicle without the consent of all owners, specifically to monitor occupants. This law directly affects individuals who track vehicles without permission, such as partners, stalkers, or unauthorized third parties. Key exceptions include law enforcement during investigations, parents monitoring minor children in their vehicle, tracking stolen vehicles, and certain insurance or rental company uses. Violations are punishable as a class A misdemeanor for a first offense or a class E felony for repeat offenses, excluding manufacturer-installed tracking systems.
HB 1970 establishes Missouri's "Biometric Information Privacy Act," requiring businesses (private entities) that collect biometric data - such as fingerprints or facial scans - to create public policies for how long they retain and permanently destroy this information. The law mandates specific written consent from individuals for collecting biometric data, limited to purposes like secure access control or tracking work hours without location monitoring. It excludes government agencies, courts, and health-related data (e.g., medical scans under HIPAA) from its scope.
HB 2268 establishes the Missouri GIS Advisory Council within the Office of Administration to advise the state on geospatial data infrastructure. The council, composed of state agency directors and 14 public members representing government, business, public safety, and academia, must meet quarterly to support statewide access to location-based data systems. It specifically aims to improve access for life-safety entities like Next Generation 911 while ensuring no personally identifiable information is collected. The bill directly affects state agencies managing spatial data (e.g., transportation, conservation, health) and public safety operations. The council serves two-year terms without pay but may receive expense reimbursement.
HB 2633 establishes the Missouri Geospatial Advisory Council to advise the state on developing and managing location-based data systems (geospatial infrastructure). The council, composed of 19 appointed members from state agencies, local governments, academia, and the private sector, will coordinate data sharing among state and local entities, recommend policies for efficient geospatial data use, and support workforce development. It directly affects state agencies, local governments, and life-safety services (like emergency response) by promoting shared access to statewide geographic data. The council will meet monthly, provide budget recommendations to the Office of Administration, and oversee the Missouri Spatial Data Information Service (MSDIS). This procedural bill focuses on creating a formal structure for collaborative geospatial data management, not on specific policy changes.
SB 1359 creates legal protection for private companies (like businesses or apps) that collect biometric data (such as fingerprints or facial scans) if they follow specific rules. To avoid liability for accidental or careless data leaks, companies must post clear notices, explain why they collect the data, create a plan to destroy it after use or within three years, and protect it as securely as other sensitive information. The bill explicitly excludes medical data under HIPAA, genetic testing results, and financial data covered by federal laws from its scope. It does not change existing legal processes for court cases involving biometric data or override other privacy laws.
HB 1689 updates child pornography laws to explicitly include "artificially generated visual depictions" that are obscene, indistinguishable from real minors, morphed from real minor images, or created without actual minor involvement. It defines such images as illegal child pornography under the same legal framework as real images, covering digital or computer-generated content that appears to show minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This bill directly affects individuals creating, distributing, or possessing these AI-generated images, treating them as equivalent to traditional child sexual abuse material. The key provision expands the legal definition of "child pornography" to address emerging technologies without requiring proof of the minor's actual identity. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled, first reading).
HB 2368 prohibits AI developers and deployers in Missouri from advertising or representing artificial intelligence as a mental health professional or capable of providing therapy services. The bill directly affects companies or individuals creating or using AI systems in the state, requiring them to avoid misleading claims about AI's clinical capabilities. Violations would be enforced by the Missouri Attorney General under the state's consumer protection laws, with civil penalties of $10,000 for first offenses and $20,000 for subsequent violations. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and first reading) and does not regulate AI use in mental health treatment itself, only advertising practices.
HB 1676 prohibits the state from implementing or enforcing any laws requiring digital identification, such as digital ID systems or mandates for using digital IDs to access government services, benefits, or private facilities. It directly affects individuals who might otherwise be required to provide digital ID for transactions, including accessing public services or private entities that rely on state-verified identification. Key provisions ban state-sponsored digital ID systems, requirements for digital ID use, the use of biometrics for identification, and sharing digital ID data without explicit consent. This bill prevents the state from enforcing any requirement for digital identification in any context, focusing on individual privacy protections.
HB 1755 creates a process for Missouri businesses to challenge lawsuits claiming their websites don’t meet accessibility standards as "abusive litigation." It requires defendants to fix accessibility issues within 30 days before lawsuits can be contested, and directs courts to consider factors like whether multiple similar lawsuits were filed or if the defendant could reasonably address the issue. If a court rules litigation abusive, it can order the filing party to pay the defendant’s legal fees and up to three times those costs. The law specifically targets lawsuits alleging violations of federal or state disability access laws related to websites operated by Missouri residents.
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