Small business owners across Missouri are dealing with a new kind of legal problem and it's not something most of them know they need to worry about: their websites. Lawsuits have been popping up saying their websites aren't accessible enough to people with disabilities.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law meant to ensure people with disabilities can access services and information. But lately, several lawsuits have been filed that are not genuinely trying to improve accessibility, but are more like money grabs by predatory lawyers.
Last week, I presented a bill to the General Laws Committee to protect Missouri businesses from this "sue & settle" tactic.
What's Really Happening
You may have heard or seen in the news that small businesses are receiving demand letters telling them their websites aren't ADA-compliant - and a lawsuit will follow if they don't pay or fix it quickly.
National reporting shows:
- These lawsuits are growing. In the first half of 2025, more than 2,000 were filed.
- Many of the lawsuits come from the same handful of plaintiffs and law firms filing identical claims against several businesses.
- Some Missouri small business owners have shared how they received letters demanding a change with a short deadline and threats of tens of thousands of dollars in legal costs.
What My Bill Would Do
In a nutshell, my bill will protect honest business owners from attorneys who want to rush to court without giving them an opportunity to fix the problem.
1. Require Notice & Time to Make Changes
Before being sued, business owners would receive a notice stating their website isn't compliant. Then that business would have 90 days to take steps toward making the necessary change.
2. Discourage Abusive Lawsuits
The bill requires the courts to look at whether the lawsuit was filed mainly to get a quick settlement. If a judge finds it was abusive, the business could recover costs - including attorney fees - from the plaintiff.
3. Protect Legitimate Accessibility Claims
The goal isn't to block people with real accessibility needs - it's to stop predatory schemes that don't give businesses a reasonable opportunity to comply.
Why This Matters
Many small business owners are not aware that they are breaking a law if their website is not ADA compliant.
They should not be targeted and forced out of thousands of dollars simply because of technical issues they were not aware of. These types of unexpected expenses could be devastating for Missouri's small businesses.
We need to protect them from predatory attorneys and give them time to fix the problem when it comes to light.
A Team Effort
Fortunately, I'm not alone in my concern for this issue. Senator Brad Hudson has filed a similar bill, SB 907. Senator Hudson and I will be combining our bills before they are voted out of committee, which I hope to see happen very soon.
Representative Mazzie Christensen has also filed an identical bill along with a handful of other representatives. That bill has now passed the House and has been sent to the Senate. I've been working with Rep. Christensen and will be handling that bill here in the senate.
We have seen full support from both sides of the aisle on both our bills and I'm hopeful that at least one of them will make it across the finish line and into our statutes this year. You can track them using the links below.
Helpful Resources
Accessible websites are good for business and our community. If you have a website and want to make sure it's compliant, these resources are a good place to start:
- ADA Guidance - Website Accessibility Guidance
- WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools
It was a full, busy week in the senate! I presented three of my bills in committee and heard several in committees I sit on. It's great to have several pieces of legislation moving this early in session.
We also took our first votes this week. You can always find my votes here on the website by clicking "My Votes" in the menu at the top of the page.
On the floor, we started to hear bills for debate, but the democrats filibustered everything this week. They stopped momentarily to let the Governor's appointments pass after striking a deal.
In exchange for allowing the Governor's appointments to pass, the Republicans agreed to increase the number of signatures required to make a PQ (Previous Question) motion during a filibuster. The PQ motion is the first step to stopping a filibuster. Previously, 10 signatures were required. The Republicans agreed to increase that requirement to 18 signatures, making it more difficult to stop a filibuster.
By the end of the week, the appointments had passed as well as a bill that gave the Governor authority to convey certain pieces of state property. Every other bill that came up on the floor was laid over.
Next week will certainly bring more bills being heard in committee and we'll see what happens on the floor.
Remember to reach out to our office if you have any questions or concerns. We're here to serve you.
Week 5 Photos
The Families, Seniors and Health Committee
Several people gathered in the hallway waiting for
the General Laws Committee hearing.
Working in the office
The Senate Lounge prior to the General Laws hearing,
where I presented my bill on ADA website compliance.
As session moves forward we are shifting from conversations to more action. Although we got off to a slow start due to the winter storm, the momentum is growing. Committees met, hearings were conducted and votes were taken, moving legislation from committee to the formal calendar. Next week, floor debates should begin.
This Week in Pictures
Reviewing legislation in preparation for committee.
Waiting to present my bill in the Transportation committee
Hearing testimony in Families, Seniors & Health Committee.
Speaking on the senate floor
Week 3 at the Capitol was productive and focused. My priorities remain clear: real property tax relief for everyone, defending and preserving the Constitution, and protecting families. Watch the video to hear about our progress this week.
This Week in Photos
The photos below highlight a busy week both inside and outside the Capitol. We welcomed several visitors and made it a priority to meet people in the district, listening to their concerns and sharing updates on the work done on their behalf.
Nurse anesthetist students stopped by to discuss licensing concerns.
Advocates from Starling Missouri
Interviewing Kamal Saleem
Requesting committee hearings
Visiting with workers concerned about Artificial Intelligence
Sponsoring Dr. Lee Harris, an appointee to the State Committee of Professional Counselors
Advocates from Freedom Principle
In the district, I visited Oak Grove School District and met
the new FFA teacher & President of their club. This is the first
year Oak Grove has had FFA and they are doing a wonderful job!
While I was at Oak Grove High School, I was honored to
speak to the AP Government class.
At my desk on the chamber floor
Chairing the Families, Seniors & Health committee
Today, an important bill I sponsored took a great step forward. SB 1011 which protects Missouri's Constitution and rule of law was combined with Senator Nick Schroer's SB 977 and voted out of the Judiciary Committee with a vote of 4-2. I'm grateful to the committee members who saw the importance of this issue and helped to move it forward.
The next step is for the Senate Pro Tem to call it out of committee and on to the formal calendar so it can be debated on the senate floor.
What SCS 977 & 1011 Does
This bill is straightforward and necessary. It:
- Prohibits Sharia Law from being adjudicated in Missouri courts
- Prevents international and foreign policies from being implemented in Missouri
- Clearly affirms the US Constitution and Missouri Constitution are the supreme law of the land
Missouri should be governed by Missouri law and United States law - nothing else.
Why This Law Matters Now: Kamal Saleem's Story
I often hear people people say, "This can't happen here."
But across the country we are already seeing situations that raise serious concerns about foreign legal systems and ideologies being normalized in public life. Sharia is not just a religion - it is a legal system.
I interviewed Kamal Saleem, a former Muslim terrorist, who was sent to the United State for civilization jihad. He shares part of his story and explains what Sharia is as well as why it's important to protect our legal system.
If you remember one thing about this issue - remember that Sharia is more than a religion. It's a legal system.
In countries or areas where it is enforced, Sharia governs:
- Family law
- Criminal punishment
- Women's rights
- Religious freedom
Sharia provisions are in direct conflict with the Constitution, including equal protection, due process, and freedom of religion.
This bill ensures those those conflicts never enter Missouri courtrooms.
This is About Protecting Liberty & Freedom
This bill does not ban Islam.
It does not prevent private religious practice.
It does not single out individuals.
SCS 977 & 1011 protects one rule of law for everyone - the Constitution.
