Bill > SB238

This bill modifies the standards for admitting expert testimony in Missouri courts, creating different rules for specific types of legal proceedings and other actions. In cases involving family law, juvenile courts, probate, or proceedings without a jury trial, experts can testify if their specialized knowledge helps understand evidence, and their opinions can address ultimate issues. For other actions, the bill introduces a more rigorous standard requiring the proponent to demonstrate that the expert testimony is "more likely than not" to help the trier of fact, based on reliable principles and methods. The bill clarifies that experts can base opinions on facts or data typically relied upon in their field, even if those facts might not be independently admissible. Importantly, in criminal cases, experts are prohibited from offering opinions about a defendant's mental state or condition that constitute elements of the crime or a defense, preserving those determinations for the jury. The legislation maintains existing provisions allowing property owners to testify about their land's market value and provides flexibility for courts to determine the most appropriate method of presenting expert testimony.

Justice

https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=199