Skip to content

First Day of Legislative Session is Jan. 5

First Day of Legislative Session is Jan. 5

January 3, 2022 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

First Day of Legislative Session is Jan. 5

The Missouri legislature will gavel into session on Wednesday, Jan. 5, and there’ll be a lot at stake for small businesses. One of our main priorities this session will be tort reform. We’ll be working closely with the Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition on two pieces of civil justice reform. The first, filed by Sen. Dan Hegeman (12th District), would give individuals two years to file a claim instead of allowing them to wait as long as five years. TAKE ACTION: Click here to ask your legislators to support Senator Hegeman’s bill, Senate Bill 631. The second, sponsored by Sen. Jeanie Riddle (10th District), would set a 15-year liability statute of limitation on all goods sold or manufactured in the state. This bill would provide peace of mind for thousands of small retail businesses as well as the many manufacturers we have in the state. We’re also monitoring several bills dealing with COVID-19 immunization liability, including proposals that would prevent employers from requiring workers to get immunized as a condition of employment. In addition, there are bills in both the House and Senate that would link the number of weeks one can be on unemployment to the unemployment rate. For instance, if the unemployment rate is low like it is now in Missouri, the number of weeks someone could draw unemployment would be less. The theory is if unemployment is low, there should be more open positions available on the market. With over half of our NFIB members telling us they have positions they can not fill, these bills are a good idea and we will be supporting them again this year.  There will also be the usual number of economic development bills and legislation to lower taxes. Most bills this session will address redistricting, education, and spending.   Session will end no later than May 13. 
Get to know NFIB

NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.

Receive our newsletter and email notification
Knowledge is power. Let us help you stay informed with breaking legislative news, regulatory updates, business tips, and more.

Related Articles

March 20, 2026
ICYMI: NFIB President Brad Close Joins the Radio on WSYR/Syracuse, WGY/Albany to Discuss the 20% Small Business Deduction
NFIB led the successful fight to make the federal Small Business Deduction permanent last year.
Read More
March 20, 2026
REPORT: State Agency Warns Missouri’s Litigation Environment is Driving Up Insurance Costs
Report from the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance warns “lawsuit abuse has become a serious problem.”
Read More
March 19, 2026
LISTEN: NFIB Missouri Urges General Assembly to Protect Small Businesses from Predatory Attorneys on The Elijah Haahr Show
NFIB is urging the Senate to swiftly support SB 907 to protect small business owners from predatory trial attorneys.
Read More
Legal series folder
March 19, 2026
READ: Protect Missouri’s Small Businesses From Predatory Trial Attorneys
“The General Assembly needs to protect Main Street from these frivolous lawsuits — now.”
Read More

© 2001 - 2026 National Federation of Independent Business. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Accessibility