Bill > HB1780

This bill establishes the "Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation" to address what the state perceives as potentially frivolous lawsuits related to website accessibility for people with disabilities. The bill allows the Missouri Attorney General or state residents to file civil actions against parties initiating website access violation litigation to determine if such litigation is abusive. The bill defines key terms like "public accommodation" (which includes websites operated by Missouri residents) and "access violation" (allegations of insufficient accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act). When determining if litigation is abusive, courts must consider multiple factors including the plaintiff's history of similar lawsuits, the defendant's resources, settlement discussions, and the reasonableness of the legal action. If a defendant attempts to correct an alleged website accessibility violation within 30 days of receiving notice, there is a presumption that continued litigation might be abusive. The bill provides potential consequences for abusive litigation, including the court awarding attorney's fees, costs, and punitive damages against the party initiating the potentially frivolous lawsuit. Notably, the bill's provisions will automatically expire if the federal Department of Justice issues official website accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1780&year=2026&code=R