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HB 3435

Establishes provisions relating to the liability of a social host

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

Grace’s Law makes social hosts liable when they serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated adults (21+), and injuries from an intoxicated driver occur, as the exclusive remedy.

Public Hearing Completed (H)
#alcohol #civilprocedure #liability
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Bill Summary · HB 3435

Summary of HB 3435 (2026) – Missouri: Social Host Liability (“Grace's Law”)

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a framework to hold social hosts civilly liable for injuries or property damage arising from negligent provision of alcohol to adults aged 21 and over.
  • The measure is codified as a new section in Chapter 537 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (537.057) and is intended as the exclusive civil remedy for the described injuries or damages.

Key provisions and changes

  • Title and scope:

    • Known as “Grace’s Law.”
    • Creates a rights-based avenue for recovery from a social host in certain circumstances involving alcohol provision.

  • Conditions for liability (to recover damages):

    1. The social host willfully and knowingly provided alcoholic beverages:
      • To a person who was visibly intoxicated in the host’s presence; or
      • To a person who was visibly intoxicated under circumstances manifesting reckless disregard of the consequences affecting life or property.
    2. The social host provided alcohol to the visibly intoxicated person under circumstances creating an unreasonable risk of foreseeable harm, and the host failed to exercise reasonable care to avoid that harm.
    3. The injury or property damage arose from a motor vehicle accident caused by the visibly intoxicated person who was served by the social host.

  • Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) presumptions:

    • If BAC < 0.10%:
    • Irrebuttable presumption the person was not visibly intoxicated in the host’s presence and the host did not serve alcohol under reckless disregard.
    • If BAC ≥ 0.10% but < 0.15%:
    • Rebuttable presumption the person was not visibly intoxicated in the host’s presence and the host did not serve alcohol under reckless disregard.
    • Note: These presumptions are about visibility/intoxication in the social host’s presence and the host’s negligence context.

  • Exclusive remedy:

    • Section 537.057 states that this provision is 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 or older.

Who is affected

  • Social hosts (individuals who provide alcoholic beverages at private events or gatherings) can be held liable under the specified conditions.
  • Adults aged 21 and over who are visibly intoxicated and subsequently involved in an accident or injury may pursue damages.
  • Potentially affects individuals and entities hosting social gatherings where alcohol is served.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective through the new statute section 537.057 (no explicit effective date provided in the excerpt; assumed to take effect upon passage and signature as with other statutes).
  • The fiscal note indicates:
    • No anticipated net effect on General Revenue, other state funds, federal funds, or state/federal FTE.
    • Potential negative impact on small businesses that are classified as social hosts.
    • Agencies involved in the fiscal note (state law enforcement and courts) expect no direct fiscal impact; notes that local agencies were asked for input but not all responded.
  • The bill has a standard legislative process path:
    • Referred to Crime and Public Safety (H) for consideration.
    • Has sponsor/co-sponsors and an action history showing introduction and committee referral.

Summary in plain terms

  • Grace’s Law creates a narrow civil liability regime for social hosts who serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals (21+) under circumstances showing reckless disregard or creating an unreasonable risk of harm, and where an injury or property damage occurs as a result of a subsequent intoxicated-driver incident.
  • It also provides specific BAC-based presumptions to guide determinations of intoxication in the host’s presence.
  • The measure makes this the sole civil remedy for such scenarios, potentially limiting other avenues for recovery beyond this statute.

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

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