Bill > HB1389

This bill establishes the "Restoring Artistic Protection Act of 2025", which creates new legal protections for defendants' creative and artistic expressions in criminal cases. The bill defines creative or artistic expression broadly, including music, dance, poetry, literature, film, and other creative media. Generally, the bill prohibits using a defendant's artistic or creative works as evidence against them in a criminal proceeding. However, a court may admit such evidence in a closed hearing (in camera) if the prosecution can prove four specific criteria: (1) the defendant intended a literal meaning rather than a figurative or fictional meaning, (2) the expression directly references the specific facts of the alleged crime, (3) the expression is relevant to a disputed factual issue, and (4) the expression provides unique probative value not available through other evidence. If such evidence is admitted, the court must carefully redact the expression to limit what the jury sees and provide clear instructions about how to interpret the evidence. The bill aims to protect artistic freedom and prevent creative works from being misconstrued or unfairly used as evidence of criminal intent.

Government Affairs

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1389&year=2025&code=R