Bill > HB348

This bill creates a special $45 surcharge for every civil case filed in the twenty-third judicial circuit, which is designed to help fund the construction of a new courthouse. The surcharge will be collected by the circuit clerk at the time a civil lawsuit is filed and will be in addition to existing court costs. The funds will be deposited into a dedicated courthouse construction fund that can earn interest and potentially be used to secure bonds for courthouse construction. Importantly, the surcharge will not apply to cases where court costs are waived or paid by the state, county, or municipality. The surcharge will remain in effect until August 28, 2045, after which the funding mechanism will expire. This targeted funding approach allows the judicial circuit to incrementally raise money specifically for a new courthouse facility through a modest additional fee on civil litigation.

Justice

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB348&year=2025&code=R