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HB 1808

Establishes provisions relating to the liability of a social host

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Sharp and 1 co-sponsor

HB 1808 creates a narrow exclusive civil remedy holding social hosts liable only for injuries when they serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated adults, with BAC-based presumptions.

Public Hearing Completed (H)
#alcohol #civilprocedure #liability
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Bill Summary · HB 1808

Summary of HB 1808 (2026) – Missouri

Jurisdiction: Missouri
Session: 2026
Status: Introduced; referred to Crime and Public Safety (H)

Author/Sponsors: Representative Sharp (primary), with Co-sponsors Cecelie Williams and Mark Sharp

Title: Establishes provisions relating to the liability of a social host

1) Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a standards-based framework for civil liability of social hosts who negligently provide alcoholic beverages to adults (21+).
  • Creates a narrow, exclusive remedy for personal injury or property damage arising from such conduct by a social host.
  • Aims to deter serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals and to clarify when a social host can be held liable.

2) Key provisions and changes

Liability standard

  • A social host can be liable for damages if the injured party:
    • Is 21 years of age or older and sustains bodily injury or injury to real/personal property;
    • The social host negligently provided alcohol to a person who was visibly intoxicated in the host’s presence or under circumstances showing reckless disregard for life or property;
    • The social host provided alcohol under circumstances creating an unreasonable risk of foreseeable harm and failed to exercise reasonable care to avoid that harm;
    • The injury arose from an accident caused by the negligent operation of a vehicle by the visibly intoxicated person who was served.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) presumptions

  • If BAC is tested and:
    • Less than 0.10%: irrebuttable presumption that the person was not visibly intoxicated and that the host did not act with reckless disregard.
    • At least 0.10% but less than 0.15%: rebuttable presumption that the person was not visibly intoxicated and that the host did not act with reckless disregard.

Exclusive civil remedy

  • Section 537.057(d) states that this constitutes the exclusive civil remedy for personal injury or property damage resulting from the negligent provision of alcohol by a social host to a person 21+.
  • This means other civil remedies (e.g., general negligence claims) would be superseded for injuries arising from socially hosted alcohol to adults.

3) Persons and entities affected

  • Social hosts who serve alcohol to adults (21+) at social events or gatherings.
  • Individuals who sustain injuries or property damage due to accidents caused by an intoxicated guest who was served by the social host.
  • Potential defendants are limited to social hosts; reaching beyond social hosts to other liable parties would depend on how the exclusive remedy provision is interpreted in practice.

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction/Referral: HB 1808 introduced and referred to the House Committee on Crime and Public Safety on April 15, 2026.
  • Previous actions include standard readings:
    • Read Second Time: January 8, 2026
    • Read First Time: January 7, 2026
    • Prefiled: December 1, 2025
  • The bill would become law if enacted by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor, subject to any future amendments during the legislative process.

5) Practical implications and considerations

  • Raises the evidentiary burden on plaintiffs to show willful or reckless conduct by the social host, particularly in cases involving visible intoxication.
  • Introduces strict BAC-based presumptions that limit recovery in certain BAC ranges (0.00–0.10% irrebuttable; 0.10–0.15% rebuttable).
  • Establishes a shield against other civil claims by declaring this as the exclusive remedy for the described scenario.
  • Potentially affects settlement dynamics by narrowing avenues for suing social hosts outside this framework.

Note: As with any bill, final text and amendments may alter these provisions before potential enactment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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