Labor & Employment (Workers' Compensation)

HB 2375 revises Missouri's workers' compensation law by tightening eligibility requirements. It defines "accident" as requiring work to be the "prevailing factor" causing injury - meaning the injury must directly stem from workplace conditions, not just be triggered by work. The bill explicitly excludes ordinary diseases of life, cardiovascular issues (unless work was the primary cause), and most occupational diseases, listing only specific conditions like mesothelioma or asbestosis as compensable. This primarily affects workers seeking compensation for injuries or illnesses, making it harder to qualify by requiring a direct, primary workplace link to the injury. The law also rejects prior court interpretations that expanded coverage.

SB 956 modifies Missouri's workers' compensation law (RSMo §287.120, §287.240, §537.610) to clarify employer liability and adjust benefit amounts based on specific circumstances. It directly affects most Missouri employees and employers covered by workers' comp, requiring employers to pay for work-related injuries but allowing benefits to increase (25-50%) if employers violate safety standards or decrease/forfeit (up to 50% or fully) if employees fail to use safety equipment, use alcohol/drugs at work (with strict testing rules), or participate in recreational activities without employer authorization. The bill also limits mental health claims to "extraordinary and unusual" work stress and specifies that disciplinary actions don't qualify as compensable stress. These changes define concrete policy adjustments to benefit calculations without advocating for or against the law.