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Missouri committee hears sponsor and AG praise bill to streamline out-of-state depositions
Summary
Sponsors and a representative from the Attorney General's office told the House Judiciary Committee HB 1711 (Uniform Interstate Deposition Discovery Act) would speed up out-of-state depositions and reduce legal costs by allowing local clerks to issue process instead of duplicate litigation; no opposition witnesses were recorded.
Representative (sponsor) introduced House Bill 17-11, the Uniform Interstate Deposition Discovery Act, telling the committee the measure would "speed up the process and cut out legal fees" by allowing parties to file in Missouri and have the clerk issue the necessary summons or subpoena for an out-of-state deposition rather than opening separate litigation in another state.
Greg Goodwin of the Missouri Attorney General's Office testified in support, citing practical examples of the bill's value. "It really does decrease the time," Goodwin said, describing instances in which his office had difficulty obtaining treatment or personnel records from other states because of the extra procedural steps currently required. He also noted that more than 40 other states have adopted the uniform act.
Sponsor and committee members discussed the bill's fiscal summary; the sponsor flagged what he said was a mistake in the fiscal note that flagged a highway-patrol impact, and he said the bill itself does not create additional subpoenas or require service beyond normal notice procedures. Goodwin and the sponsor emphasized that the bill preserves due-process protections: contested subpoenas can be litigated in the local court where the recipient is located.
No witnesses in opposition appeared on the record, and the committee closed the public hearing on HB 17-11.
Ending
The committee collected supportive testimony and clarified procedural and fiscal questions; the transcript does not record a committee vote on HB 17-11 during the public-hearing portion.
