Cathy Jo Loy Capitol Report

This week, the Missouri House acted on several major pieces of legislation while committees continued work on a broad range of policy proposals affecting elections, public safety, education, technology, taxes, and early childhood services.

House Passes Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

The House approved HBs 1667 and 2294, known as the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires that any child born alive during or after an abortion be provided the same medical care and legal protections as any other newborn at the same stage of development. The legislation establishes reporting requirements, criminal penalties for violations, and civil liability for unlawful conduct, while clarifying that natural pregnancy loss before fetal viability is not considered an abortion. The bills passed by a vote of 103–40 and now move to the Missouri Senate.

Legislation Approved to Curb Abusive Website Lawsuits

The House also unanimously passed legislation creating the Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation, aimed at stopping predatory ADA lawsuits that target small businesses through “sue-and-settle” tactics. The bill establishes a 90-day cure period for businesses to address accessibility concerns, allows courts to penalize abusive litigation practices, and authorizes the Attorney General to intervene when necessary. The measure passed 149–0 and heads to the Senate.

Bills Advancing Through Committees

House committees continued work on legislation across multiple issue areas, including:

• Elections and Voting – Proposals to expand voting eligibility for individuals on probation or parole, reinstate Missouri’s presidential preference primary, and adjust absentee voting timelines.
• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Safety – Bills clarifying that AI systems are not legal persons, establishing accountability for AI-related harm, and criminalizing artificially generated sexually explicit images of minors.
• Taxation and Property Taxes – Proposals addressing property tax assessments, levy rollbacks, and a constitutional amendment to limit taxation and government spending.
  Education – Legislation strengthening school bullying response policies and limiting daily technology use in elementary classrooms.
• Early Childhood Services – A proposal to dedicate certain local sales tax revenues to early childhood education and childcare programs in St. Louis County and participating cities.

As these bills continue moving through the legislative process, I will keep working to ensure Missouri laws reflect accountability, fairness, and the priorities of our communities. I will continue to share updates as legislation advances.

It’s a pleasure to serve,

Cathy Jo Loy