HB 1940 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Changes the law regarding advertisements and orders of publication in newspapers

HB 1940 updates requirements for newspapers publishing legal notices and real estate advertisements. It would require such newspapers to have been continuously published for at least one year (reducing the prior three-year requirement), maintain a list of paid subscribers, and meet specific circulation standards. The bill also specifies that in cities with over 100,000 residents, legal notices must appear in a daily newspaper that has met these requirements for one year. These changes apply directly to newspapers seeking to be designated as legal publications for court or government notices.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Signed Jul 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate Committee Substitute → Perfected · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from a broad scope covering multiple bond types to a narrow scope focusing solely on newspaper publication requirements. The substantive policy changes include reducing the required newspaper operating history from three years to one year, extending the successor newspaper transition period from thirty to ninety days, and removing all provisions related to bond issuance, bearer bonds, and election notifications.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly narrowed from repealing sections related to general obligation bonds and election notifications to only repealing sections 493.050 and 493.070, which govern newspaper publication of public notices.

REQUIREMENT

Reduced the minimum operating history for newspapers from three years to one year.

ELIGIBILITY

Extended the time allowed for a successor newspaper to take over a defunct publication from thirty days to ninety days.

SCOPE

Removed all provisions regarding the issuance and validation of bearer and registered bonds.

Removed all provisions regarding election notification deadlines and procedures.

Removed the section allowing taxpayers to seek injunctions against illegally issued bonds.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor (G)

lower

May 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 142 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 2

lower

May 12, 2026

Introduced

House Adopts (H) - SCS, as amended

lower

May 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 5 NOES: 3 PRESENT: 0

lower

May 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

May 11, 2026

Committee

Referred: Fiscal Review(H)

lower

May 11, 2026

Introduced

Reported to the House with... (H) - SCS, as amended

lower

May 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Read and Passed with Amendments (S) - SA 1 - AYES: 29 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

upper

May 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

SCS Adopted (S)

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

SCS Reported Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

SCS Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 1:30 p.m., Senate Committee Room 2 - 1st Floor

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

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

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 145 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass - Consent (H)

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred: Consent and Procedure(H)

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass - Consent (H) - AYES: 16 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass - Consent (H)

lower

Jan 8, 2026

Committee

Referred: Local Government(H)

lower

Dec 1, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors