Bill > HB1727

This bill modifies Missouri's anti-discrimination laws by expanding and clarifying provisions related to unlawful discriminatory practices across various domains including employment, housing, financial services, and public contracting. The bill specifically adds "color" as a distinct protected characteristic, separating it from race, and broadens the definition of discrimination to include treatment based on presumed or assumed characteristics. Key changes include defining discrimination as occurring when a protected characteristic is a "motivating factor" in an adverse decision, expanding protections in housing and financial lending, and introducing new provisions for public and private contracting that prohibit discrimination in bidding and procurement processes. The bill maintains existing protections based on religion, national origin, sex, ancestry, age, and disability while providing some nuanced exceptions, such as allowing rejection of bids or contracts based on legitimate factors unrelated to protected characteristics. The legislation also reinforces the Missouri Commission on Human Rights' role in investigating and addressing discriminatory practices, and establishes that this law, along with specific other statutes, provides the exclusive remedy for employment-related claims of discrimination.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1727&year=2026&code=R