Bill > HB1003

This bill establishes a new criminal offense of malicious prosecution of a journalist in Missouri, which applies specifically to elected public officials, assistant prosecuting attorneys, or assistant attorneys general. The offense occurs when such an official initiates or continues a criminal prosecution against a journalist without probable cause, acts with malice, knows no offense was committed, and causes damages to the journalist. The bill defines a journalist broadly as any person or organization protected under the "doctrine of freedom of the press," which includes traditional media, online bloggers, influencers, podcasters, and digital content creators. If found guilty, the offender would be charged with a class E felony and would be liable for damages, including reputational harm. Importantly, the bill also waives sovereign immunity, allowing civil actions to be brought against government officials who violate this provision. This legislation appears aimed at protecting press freedom by creating legal consequences for government officials who might abuse their prosecutorial powers to harass or intimidate journalists.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1003&year=2025&code=R