Bill > HB1558

This bill modifies Missouri's human rights laws by expanding and clarifying definitions and protections against discrimination. Specifically, it adds "color" as a distinct characteristic separate from race, introduces a more comprehensive definition of discrimination that includes unfair treatment based on presumed characteristics, and expands protections in areas such as housing, employment, and contract procurement. The bill introduces new provisions that prohibit discrimination in the bidding and procurement process for public and private entities, ensuring that contracts cannot be denied or limited based on color, religion, national origin, sex, ancestry, age, or disability. It maintains existing protections for various groups while providing more explicit language about what constitutes discriminatory practices. The bill also clarifies that decisions in contract processes can be made based on legitimate factors unrelated to protected characteristics, and it does not require preferential treatment. Additionally, the legislation updates definitions of terms like "employer," "disability," and "age" to provide more precise legal guidelines, and it reinforces the state's commitment to preventing discriminatory practices across multiple domains of public and private life.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1558&year=2025&code=R