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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 2555
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE MILLER.
5468H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o repeal sections 105.470, 537.130, and 574.040, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof six new
sections relating to restrictions on certain activities, with penalty provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 105.470, 537.130, and 574.040, RSMo, are repealed and six new
2 sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 67.313, 105.470, 105.990, 537.130,
3 565.131, and 574.040, to read as follows:
67.313. 1. Except as pro vided under subsection 2 of this section, during a lawful
2 assembly pr otesters shall yield to motor vehicles on r oadways and yield to pedestrians
3 on walkways.
4 2. The provi sions of this section shall not apply when a political subdivision has
5 granted a special permit for an event, demonstration, or parade that closes a r oadway to
6 motor vehicle traffic.
105.470. As used in section 105.473, unless the context requires otherwise, the
2 following words and terms mean:
3 (1) "Elected local government official lobbyist", any natural person employed
4 specifically for the purpose of attempting to influence any action by a local government
5 of ficial elected in a county , city , town, or village with an annual operating budget of over ten
6 million dollars;
7 (2) "Executive lobbyist", any natural person who acts for the purpose of attempting to
8 influence any action by the executive branch of government or by any elected or appointed
9 of ficial, employee, department, division, agency or board or commission thereof and in
10 connection with such activity , meets the requirements of any one or more of the following:
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
11 (a) Is acting in the ordinary course of employment on behalf of or for the benefit of
12 such person's employer; or
13 (b) Is engaged for pay or for any valuable consideration for the purpose of performing
14 such activity; or
15 (c) Is designated to act as a lobbyist by any person, business entity , governmental
16 entity , religious or ganization, nonprofit corporation, association or other entity; or
17 (d) Makes total expenditures of fifty dollars or more during the twelve-month period
18 beginning January first and ending December thirty-first for the benefit of one or more public
19 of ficials or one or more employees of the executive branch of state government in connection
20 with such activity .
21
22 An "executive lobbyist" shall not include a member of the general assembly , an elected state
23 of ficial, or any other person solely due to such person's participation in any of the following
24 activities:
25 a. Appearing or inquiring in regard to a complaint, citation, summons, adversary
26 proceeding, or contested case before a state board, commission, department, division or
27 agency of the executive branch of government or any elected or appointed of ficer or
28 employee thereof;
29 b. Preparing, filing or inquiring, or responding to any audit, regarding any tax return,
30 any public document, permit or contract, any application for any permit or license or
31 certificate, or any document required or requested to be filed with the state or a political
32 subdivision;
33 c. Selling of goods or services to be paid for by public funds, provided that such
34 person is attempting to influence only the person authorized to authorize or enter into a
35 contract to purchase the goods or services being of fered for sale;
36 d. Participating in public hearings or public proceedings on rules, grants, or other
37 matters;
38 e. Responding to any request for information made by any public official or employee
39 of the executive branch of government;
40 f. Preparing or publication of an editorial, a newsletter , newspaper , magazine, radio or
41 television broadcast, or similar news medium, whether print or electronic;
42 g. Acting within the scope of employment by the general assembly , or acting within
43 the scope of employment by the executive branch of government when acting with respect to
44 the department, division, board, commission, agency or elected state of ficer by which such
45 person is employed, or with respect to any duty or authority imposed by law to perform any
46 action in conjunction with any other public of ficial or state employee; or
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47 h. T estifying as a witness before a state board, commission or agency of the executive
48 branch;
49 (3) "Expenditure", any payment made or char ge, expense, cost, debt or bill incurred;
50 any gift, honorarium or item of value bestowed including any food or beverage; any price,
51 char ge or fee which is waived, forgive n, reduced or indefinitely delayed; any loan or debt
52 which is cancelled, reduced or otherwise forgive n; the transfer of any item with a reasonably
53 discernible cost or fair market value from one person to another or provision of any service or
54 granting of any opportunity for which a char ge is customarily made, without char ge or for a
55 reduced char ge; except that the term "expenditure" shall not include the following:
56 (a) Any item, service or thing of value transferred to any person within the third
57 degree of consanguinity of the transferor which is unrelated to any activity of the transferor as
58 a lobbyist;
59 (b) Informational material such as books, reports, pamphlets, calendars or periodicals
60 informing a public of ficial regarding such person's of ficial duties, or souvenirs or mementos
61 valued at less than ten dollars;
62 (c) Contributions to the public of ficial's campaign committee or candidate committee
63 which are reported pursuant to the provisions of chapter 130;
64 (d) Any loan made or other credit accommodations granted or other payments made
65 by any person or entity which extends credit or makes loan accommodations or such
66 payments in the regular ordinary scope and course of business, provided that such are
67 extended, made or granted in the ordinary course of such person's or entity's business to
68 persons who are not public of ficials;
69 (e) Any item, service or thing of de minimis value of fered to the general public,
70 whether or not the recipient is a public of ficial or a staff member , employee, spouse or
71 dependent child of a public of ficial, and only if the grant of the item, service or thing of de
72 minimis value is not motivated in any way by the recipient's status as a public of ficial or staff
73 member , employee, spouse or dependent child of a public of ficial;
74 (f) The transfer of any item, provision of any service or granting of any opportunity
75 with a reasonably discernible cost or fair market value when such item, service or opportunity
76 is necessary for a public of ficial or employee to perform his or her duty in his or her of ficial
77 capacity , including but not limited to entrance fees to any sporting event, museum, or other
78 venue when the of ficial or employee is participating in a ceremony , public presentation or
79 of ficial meeting therein;
80 (g) Any payment, gift, compensation, fee, expenditure or anything of value which is
81 bestowed upon or given to any public of ficial or a staf f member , employee, spouse or
82 dependent child of a public of ficial when it is compensation for employment or given as an
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83 employment benefit and when such employment is in addition to their employment as a
84 public of ficial;
85 (4) "General lobbyist", any person who receiv es any payment, gift, or thing of
86 monetary value pr ovided as compensation for attending, supporting, promot ing, or
87 organizing a pr otest activity;
88 (5) "General lobbyist principal", any person, corporation, association, labor
89 organization, nonpr ofit, political committee, or other grou p that pr ovides compensation
90 to one or mor e persons for participation in pr otest activity;
91 (6) "Judicial lobbyist", any natural person who acts for the purpose of attempting to
92 influence any purchasing decision by the judicial branch of government or by any elected or
93 appointed of ficial or any employee thereof and in connection with such activity , meets the
94 requirements of any one or more of the following:
95 (a) Is acting in the ordinary course of employment which primary purpose is to
96 influence the judiciary in its purchasing decisions on a regular basis on behalf of or for the
97 benefit of such person's employer , except that this shall not apply to any person who engages
98 in lobbying on an occasional basis only and not as a regular pattern of conduct; or
99 (b) Is engaged for pay or for any valuable consideration for the purpose of performing
100 such activity; or
101 (c) Is designated to act as a lobbyist by any person, business entity , governmental
102 entity , religious or ganization, nonprofit corporation or association; or
103 (d) Makes total expenditures of fifty dollars or more during the twelve-month period
104 beginning January first and ending December thirty-first for the benefit of one or more public
105 of ficials or one or more employees of the judicial branch of state government in connection
106 with attempting to influence such purchasing decisions by the judiciary .
107
108 A "judicial lobbyist" shall not include a member of the general assembly , an elected state
109 of ficial, or any other person solely due to such person's participation in any of the following
110 activities:
111 a. Appearing or inquiring in regard to a complaint, citation, summons, adversary
112 proceeding, or contested case before a state court;
113 b. Participating in public hearings or public proceedings on rules, grants, or other
114 matters;
115 c. Responding to any request for information made by any judge or employee of the
116 judicial branch of government;
117 d. Preparing, distributing or publication of an editorial, a newsletter , newspaper ,
118 magazine, radio or television broadcast, or similar news medium, whether print or electronic;
119 or
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120 e. Acting within the scope of employment by the general assembly , or acting within
121 the scope of employment by the executive branch of government when acting with respect to
122 the department, division, board, commission, agency or elected state of ficer by which such
123 person is employed, or with respect to any duty or authority imposed by law to perform any
124 action in conjunction with any other public of ficial or state employee;
125 [ (5) ] (7) "Legislative lobbyist", any natural person who acts for the purpose of
126 attempting to influence the taking, passage, amendment, delay or defeat of any of ficial action
127 on any bill, resolution, amendment, nomination, appointment, report or any other action or
128 any other matter pending or proposed in a legislative committee in either house of the general
129 assembly , or in any matter which may be the subject of action by the general assembly and in
130 connection with such activity , meets the requirements of any one or more of the following:
131 (a) Is acting in the ordinary course of employment, which primary purpose is to
132 influence legislation on a regular basis, on behalf of or for the benefit of such person's
133 employer , except that this shall not apply to any person who engages in lobbying on an
134 occasional basis only and not as a regular pattern of conduct; or
135 (b) Is engaged for pay or for any valuable consideration for the purpose of performing
136 such activity; or
137 (c) Is designated to act as a lobbyist by any person, business entity , governmental
138 entity , religious or ganization, nonprofit corporation, association or other entity; or
139 (d) Makes total expenditures of fifty dollars or more during the twelve-month period
140 beginning January first and ending December thirty-first for the benefit of one or more public
141 of ficials or one or more employees of the legislative branch of state government in connection
142 with such activity .
143
144 A "legislative lobbyist" shall include an attorney at law engaged in activities on behalf of any
145 person unless excluded by any of the following exceptions. A "legislative lobbyist" shall not
146 include any legislative liaison. For purposes of this subdivision, "legislative liaison" means
147 any state employee hired to communicate with members of the general assembly on behalf of
148 any elected of ficial of the state; the judicial branch of state government; or any department,
149 agency , board, or commission of the state, provided such entity is a part of the executive
150 branch of state government. Any state employee employed as a legislative liaison who
151 performs lobbying services for any other entity shall register as a lobbyist with respect to such
152 lobbying services. A "legislative lobbyist" shall also not include any member of the general
153 assembly , an elected state of ficial, or any other person solely due to such person's
154 participation in any of the following activities:
155 a. Responding to any request for information made by any public official or employee
156 of the legislative branch of government;
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157 b. Preparing or publication of an editorial, a newsletter , newspaper , magazine, radio
158 or television broadcast, or similar news medium, whether print or electronic;
159 c. Acting within the scope of employment of the legislative branch of government
160 when acting with respect to the general assembly or any member thereof;
161 d. T estifying as a witness before the general assembly or any committee thereof;
162 [ (6) ] (8) "Lobbyist", any natural person defined as an executive lobbyist, judicial
163 lobbyist, elected local government of ficial lobbyist, or a legislative lobbyist;
164 [ (7) ] (9) "Lobbyist principal", any person, business entity , governmental entity ,
165 religious or ganization, nonprofit corporation or association who employs, contracts for pay or
166 otherwise compensates a lobbyist;
167 [ (8) ] (10) "Public of ficial", any member or member -elect of the general assembly ,
168 judge or judicial of ficer , or any other person holding an elective of fice of state government or
169 any agency head, department director or division director of state government or any member
170 of any state board or commission and any designated decision-making public servant
171 designated by persons described in this subdivision.
105.990. 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:
2 (1) "Commission", the Missouri ethics commission, as established under section
3 105.955;
4 (2) "Compensated participation", any payment, gift, or thing of monetary value
5 including, transportation, lodging, food, shelter , protes t materials, bail, or clothing
6 pr ovided to a person as compensation for , or prov ided in association with, attending,
7 supporting, pro moting, or organizing a pro test activity;
8 (3) "General lobbyist", any person who receiv es any payment, gift, or thing of
9 monetary value pr ovided as compensation for attending, supporting, promot ing, or
10 organizing a pr otest activity;
11 (4) "General lobbyist principal", any person, corporation, association, labor
12 organization, nonpr ofit, political committee, or other grou p that pr ovides compensation
13 to one or mor e persons for participation in pr otest activity;
14 (5) "Pro test activity", any public demonstration, rally , mar ch, or assembly held
15 in a public space for the purpose of expr essing political, social, or ideological views.
16 2. Any general lobbyist principal that prov ides compensation to one or mor e
17 general lobbyists for participation in pr otest activity within this state shall file a report
18 with the Missouri ethics commission in the same manner and form as a r eport r equir ed
19 of a campaign committee or political action committee under sections 130.041 to
20 130.056. The rep ort shall include:
21 (1) The name and contact information of the general lobbyist principal;
22 (2) The total amount expended for compensated participation;
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23 (3) The sour ce of the general lobbyist principal's reven ue;
24 (4) The appr oximate number of general lobbyists compensated;
25 (5) The date and general location of each protes t activity;
26 (6) The purpose of the pro test activity; and
27 (7) The name of any person or organization reta ined to organize, coordinate, or
28 manage the protes t activity .
29 3. Any general lobbyist that r eceives compensation for participation in protest
30 activity within this state shall file a r eport with the Missouri ethics commission in the
31 same manner and form as a report r equir ed of a campaign committee or political action
32 committee under sections 130.041 to 130.056. The report shall include:
33 (1) The identity of the general lobbyist principal who compensated the general
34 lobbyist for participation in a protes t activity;
35 (2) The amount of compensation recei ved in exchange for participation in a
36 pr otest activity;
37 (3) The date and general location of each protes t activity; and
38 (4) The purpose of the pro test activity .
39 4. Notwithstanding any prov ision of this chapter to the contrary , a second or
40 subsequent violation of subdivision (1) of subsection 3 of this section shall be a class E
41 felony .
42 5. Reports shall be filed within seven days after the compensated protest activity
43 occurs or , if total expenditures exceed five thousand dollars, within forty-eight hours.
44 6. Reports shall be filed electr onically in a form prescrib ed by the commission.
45 7. All repo rts filed under this section shall be tre ated as public re cords and made
46 available for inspection in the same manner as political expenditure rep orts under
47 section 130.050.
48 8. Any person may file a complaint with the commission alleging that a general
49 lobbyist principal has violated this section. The commission shall have authority to
50 investigate such complaints, issue subpoenas, compel the pr oduction of re cords, and
51 conduct hearings as pro vided in section 105.957. If the commission finds pr obable cause
52 that a violation occurr ed, it shall pr oceed under section 105.961 and may assess a civil
53 penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars per day for each day the repo rt rem ains
54 unfiled or inaccurate.
55 9. Knowingly concealing or misrep res enting the source of compensation shall
56 constitute a class A misdemeanor , and the commission may r efer such cases to the
57 attorney general or appr opriate pro secuting attorney .
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58 10. All prov isions of this chapter rela ting to reporting , auditing, enforcem ent,
59 penalties, and appeals applicable to campaign and political action committees shall also
60 apply to sponsoring entities under this section.
61 1 1. The commission may pr omulgate all necessary rules and regul ations for the
62 administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in
63 section 536.010, that is crea ted under the authority delegated in this section shall
64 become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provi sions of chapter
65 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable
66 and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to
67 r eview , to delay the effective date, or to disappr ove and annul a rule are subsequently
68 held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule pr oposed or
69 adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void.
70 12. Any person who pr ovides credi ble evidence leading to a confirmed violation
71 of this section shall be pr otected fr om ret aliation as pr ovided under section 105.965.
72 The identity of such person shall rem ain confidential unless disclosur e is necessary for
73 enfor cement.
74 13. Nothing in this section shall be construed to:
75 (1) Restrict or condition the right of any person to assemble, speak, or protes t
76 under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States or Article I, Section
77 8 of the Constitution of Missouri;
78 (2) Requir e any individual participant to display or communicate any
79 government-mandated message; or
80 (3) Authorize the r egulation of pr otest activity based on content, viewpoint, or
81 the identity of participants.
82 14. The pr ovisions of this section shall not be construed to modify lobbyist
83 r egistration or disclosur e req uirements under section 105.450 to 105.498.
537.130. 1. Any person or persons forming a part of an unlawful or riotous
2 assemblage shall be liable for any damage to person or property caused by the acts of such
3 assemblage, or of any person or persons unlawfully connected therewith.
4 2. Any person attempting to flee fr om an unlawful or riotous assemblage shall
5 not be criminally or civilly liable for any death or injury that may res ult to any
6 individual participating in the unlawful or riotous assemblage if the person fleeing
7 r easonably believes he or she is in danger and the person exer cised due car e at the time
8 of the death or injury .
565.131. 1. A person commits the offense of false imprisonment if he or she
2 knowingly res trains or impedes the movement of another unlawfully and without
3 consent so as to interfere substantially with the individual's liberty .
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4 2. The offense of false imprisonment is a class A misdemeanor unless the
5 individual unlawfully res trained is rem oved fr om this state, in which case it is a class E
6 felony .
7 3. A person who commits the offense of false imprisonment shall also be guilty of
8 the offense of assault in the third degr ee under section 565.054 if physical contact was
9 initiated by such person during the commission of the offense of false imprisonment. If
10 the person moves to block an individual, it shall be assumed that any subsequent
11 physical contact was initiated by the person who is in violation of this section.
12 4. It shall be deemed that an individual has met the individual's burden of proof
13 in a false imprisonment case and assumed that the individual fear ed for his or her life if
14 the individual attempts to ret reat and the person is behaving in an aggr essive or
15 thr eatening manner and the person is not mor e than:
16 (1) Seven feet fr om the individual; or
17 (2) Seventy-five feet fr om the individual and the person is thr owing objects
18 capable of bodily harm to the individual.
19 5. A person shall be guilty of a violation of this section and section 565.054 if the
20 person commits such offense upon a motor vehicle that is occupied so long as the action
21 against the motor vehicle constitutes a felony offense, and it shall be assumed the
22 occupants in the motor vehicle fear for their lives.
23 6. A person shall be guilty of a violation of this section and section 565.054 if the
24 person commits such offense upon a building that is occupied so long as the action
25 against the building constitutes a felony offense, and it shall be assumed the individuals
26 within the building fear for their lives.
27 7. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
28 (1) "Interfer e substantially", includes, but is not limited to, the willful blocking
29 of an individual's right-of-way;
30 (2) "W illful blocking", includes, but is not limited to, establishing a grip or hold,
31 moving to block, or participating as part of a grou p that blocks rights-of-way on
32 sidewalks, road ways, or any other location in which another has a right or obligation to
33 be or to pro ceed. An individual with the right-of-way has no obligation to escape or
34 r etr eat.
574.040. 1. A person commits the of fense of unlawful assembly if he or she
2 knowingly assembles with six or more other persons and agrees with such persons to violate
3 any of the criminal laws of this state or of the United States with force or violence.
4 2. Except as pr ovided under subsection 3 of this section, the of fense of unlawful
5 assembly is a class B misdemeanor .
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6 3. Any person wearing any garment, covering, or object that masks, conceals, or
7 obfuscates any part of a person's face during an unlawful assembly in violation of this
8 section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor . A second or subsequent offense shall be
9 a class E felony .
✔
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