Modifies provisions relating to workers' compensation

SB 1718 modifies Missouri's workers' compensation law by revising the definition of "employer" and strengthening fraud penalties. It expands the definition to include political subdivisions (like cities and school districts) and clarifies that construction employers need five or more employees (not one) to be covered, counting family members toward that threshold. The bill also adds strict penalties for fraud, making false claims a class E felony (up to 4 years in prison) and multiple claims for the same injury a class A misdemeanor, with fines up to double the fraud amount or $10,000. These changes directly affect employers, insurers, and workers filing claims by tightening eligibility rules and increasing consequences for deceptive practices.