HB 507 Missouri House · 2025 Regular Session

Modifies provisions relating to elections

HB 507 modifies election observer rules in Missouri, primarily affecting political parties through their county committee chairs. It requires parties to designate "challengers" (to monitor voter eligibility) and "watchers" (to observe vote counting) at polling places and counting locations, with both needing to be registered voters in the jurisdiction. Designated observers must be verified by election authorities before the election, and they may report suspected election law violations to judges or authorities but cannot disclose voter names or ballot choices. The bill also clarifies that certain elections (like disaster-related bond votes or school tax elections) are exempt from standard election day rules.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2024

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Dec 11, 2024 Last action May 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Perfected → Senate Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from the House Committee Substitute to the Senate Committee Substitute, expanding the number of repealed statutes from 9 to 16 and adding 14 new sections. Key substantive changes include adding new sections to the list of repealed laws, inserting new provisions about challengers collecting party ballot information in presidential primaries, and renumbering several sections in the new law. These changes significantly alter the scope of election law provisions being replaced and add new rules about how challengers can operate during elections.

Scope change

The bill now repeals 16 existing statutes instead of 9, and enacts 24 new sections instead of 10, substantially expanding the scope of election law changes.

SCOPE

Increased the number of repealed statutes from 9 to 16, adding sections 115.123, 115.286, 115.295, 115.300, 115.351, 115.637, 115.776, and 115.904 to the list of repealed laws.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection 4 to Section 115.105 allowing challengers to collect information about party ballots selected by voters in presidential primary elections and disclose party affiliation information after polls close.

Changed the list of new section numbers from 10 to 24, adding sections 115.755, 115.758, 115.761, 115.765, 115.767, 115.770, 115.773, and 115.785 to the new law.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill identification from House Committee Substitute to Senate Committee Substitute and changed the clerk designation from Joseph Engler to Kristina Martin.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

May 5, 2025

Committee

Referred: Fiscal Oversight(S)

upper

May 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

SCS Reported Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

SCS Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Committee

Second read and referred: Local Government, Elections and Pensions(S)

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 101 NOES: 54 PRESENT: 0

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 2, HA 3 adopted

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Adopted (H)

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 3 PRESENT: 2

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Referred: Elections(H)

lower

Dec 11, 2024

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors