Bill > HB142

This bill modifies the definition of "purchase" in the context of political subdivisions acquiring liability insurance for tort claims. Specifically, the bill clarifies that "purchase" only refers to the direct acquisition of insurance coverage by a governing body from an insurance company, and does not include indirect actions such as requiring additional coverage or insured status under another entity's insurance policy. The bill maintains existing provisions that limit liability insurance coverage to a maximum of two million dollars for all claims arising from a single occurrence and three hundred thousand dollars for any one person in a single accident. The legislation preserves other existing provisions about liability limits, such as the prohibition on punitive damages, the process for apportioning claims if the total exceeds the two million dollar limit, and the annual adjustment of liability limits based on the Implicit Price Deflator for Personal Consumption Expenditures. The primary purpose of the bill appears to be providing a precise legal definition of "purchase" to prevent broad interpretations that might expand insurance coverage beyond the intended scope.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB142&year=2025&code=R