State lawmakers delivered a significant victory for the business community this week when the Senate passed legislation to protect employers from predatory lawsuits. The bill now goes to the governor for his consideration.
SBs 907, 1154 and 1272, were shepherded through the legislative process by Sen. Brad Hudson (R-Cape Fair) and the bill’s House handler, Rep. Brian Seitz (R-Branson). This legislation addresses frivolous lawsuits alleging website accessibility violations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Missouri Chamber is committed to ensuring Missouri businesses offer equal access to their products and services for all people. The predatory lawsuits addressed by the bill target minor technical issues instead of advancing meaningful accessibility improvements.
The legislation would help protect businesses by establishing a legal process to challenge these types of lawsuits. If a lawsuit is found to be abusive, the court could award attorney fees and costs back to the business.
During debate on the Senate floor, Hudson noted that this bill never received a “no” vote as it made its way through the legislative process. Calling it an “all hands-on deck effort,” Hudson thanked several other lawmakers for filing legislation to tackle this problem.
Those who would be protected under this legislation include all entities registered with the Secretary of State’s Office, churches, and non-profit groups.
“The bill covers not only websites, but web content to more fully cover items that might be sued on,” Hudson noted. “By listing web content in addition to the web site, we will more adequately protect the small business owners of Missouri.”
For more information, contact Jared Hankinson, vice president of government affairs, at jhankinson@mochamber.com or (573) 634-3511.
