Bill > HB2979

This bill, known as the "Missouri Rural Doctors Act," establishes new rules for agreements where physicians promise not to compete with their employers after leaving a job, referred to as "covenants not to compete." Specifically, for physicians working for nonprofit employers (organizations that employ physicians and are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), these non-compete agreements are only valid if the physician is actively providing healthcare services, the restriction on competition lasts no more than 365 days, and the geographic area of the restriction is within five miles of where the physician practiced. Importantly, these rules do not apply to non-compete agreements between physicians and research university hospitals, which are hospitals owned or operated by research universities.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2979&year=2026&code=R