Missouri Senate committee hears bill to align state rule on class actions with federal standard

Senate Bill 47, which would align a Missouri rule on class-action lawsuits with the federal class-action standard, drew testimony Tuesday before the Missouri Senate General Laws Committee.

The measure, sponsored by Committee Chair Senator Curtis Trant of Battlefield, would mirror a state rule to the substance of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 governing class actions. Committee members heard lengthy testimony but took no formal action on the bill during the hearing.

The change would make Missouri’s procedure for certifying and managing class actions more similar to the federal rule adopted in 2018, according to committee material reviewed at the hearing. Senator Steven Weber of Columbia asked witnesses how the rule-change would affect specific sectors. “I'd certainly appreciate the consequence it has for agriculture. Can you talk about maybe other other industries or other types of cases besides agricultural cases that could be impacted by this decision?” Weber said during testimony.

Committee materials and witnesses discussed potential impacts across a range of industries, but committee members did not vote on SB 47 and directed no specific next steps on the record. The committee’s staff will carry forward any scheduling or follow-up as determined by the chair.

The bill remains pending before the General Laws Committee; no committee vote or amendment was recorded at the hearing.