HB 144 Missouri House · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to protections of real property interests and establishes the "Uniform Easement Relocation Act"

HB 144 establishes rules for relocating easements on real property, primarily affecting property owners (servient estate owners) who want to move an existing easement, and the easement holders (like utility companies or conservation groups) who benefit from it. The bill requires property owners seeking relocation to file a court case proving the change won’t harm the easement’s purpose, safety, or the rights of others (such as lenders or tenants with recorded interests). It specifically prohibits relocating public utility easements, conservation easements, or easements tied to conservation uses. The law aims to balance property owner flexibility with protections for existing easement rights and related financial interests.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2024

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Dec 2, 2024 Last action May 13, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduced → House Committee Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add a new section addressing abandoned telecommunication and cable lines in public rights-of-way, while retaining the original Uniform Easement Relocation Act provisions. The changes introduce specific requirements for removing abandoned lines and establish liability for contractors who encounter unmarked abandoned infrastructure.

Scope change

The bill now covers two separate areas: abandoned telecommunication/cable lines and easement relocation, whereas the original version only addressed easement relocation.

REQUIREMENT

New section 319.065 requires owners to remove abandoned telecommunication or cable lines from public rights-of-way within 180 days of abandonment.

ENFORCEMENT

Owners who fail to remove abandoned lines face a $500 per day fine until removal is completed and must reimburse contractors for costs incurred from contact with abandoned lines.

TIMELINE

By March 1, 2026, owners must provide removal schedules for existing abandoned lines, and starting January 1, 2026, owners may be liable for up to $250 to contractors experiencing delays due to unmarked abandoned lines.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'abandoned lines and facilities', 'owner', and 'public rights-of-way' to clarify the scope of the new requirements.

TECHNICAL

Removed the original introductory language identifying the bill as introduced by Representative Falkner and replaced it with committee substitute formatting.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 13, 2025

Committee

Referred: Rules - Legislative(H)

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 14 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

Referred: Local Government(H)

lower

Dec 2, 2024

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors