Bill > SB559

This bill modifies Missouri state law regarding sovereign immunity by adding a new provision that extends governmental tort immunity to private contractors working under government contracts. Specifically, the bill adds a fourth subsection to section 537.600 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, which states that when private contractors are acting within the scope of a government contract, they will be granted the same sovereign immunity protections as public entities. This means these contractors would be shielded from liability in the same manner as government agencies, with limitations on potential damage awards as outlined in section 537.610. The bill excludes private contractors covered under section 210.114 from this protection. Sovereign immunity is a legal doctrine that prevents government entities from being sued without their consent, and this bill effectively expands that protection to include certain private contractors working on government projects, potentially limiting their legal liability for actions taken as part of their contracted work.