Missouri court weighs if public safety law title is too vague

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 01:03 · Archive

Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments over whether a 2024 law's 'public safety' title is too broad for voters to understand.

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday in a case challenging whether a 2024 law's title, 'public safety', is too vague under the state constitution. The law combines K-9 protections, penalties for celebratory gunfire and penalties for fleeing a traffic stop under a single title.

Dave Roland, an attorney representing the Article III Institute, argued that the title is too broad. 'The problem is that a lot of things could be reasonably said to be relating to public safety,' Roland said. 'Just having that as your title doesn't meaningfully tell somebody what's actually in the bill.' He said the challenge was not aimed at any specific part of the law, but rather to ensure 'the general assembly is following the very specific requirements that the people have put on them'.

Madeline Landsdell, an attorney with the Missouri Solicitor General's Office, defended the title as constitutional. She argued that 'there are vast swaths of legislation that cannot be reasonably described as relating to public safety'. Justices questioned whether the title raises issues with the state constitution's single subject requirement.

How it is being reported

• Missouri Supreme Court challenge could overturn public safety lawsIs “public safety” too vague for a law? The Missouri Supreme Court weighed that question today in a case that could unravel a 2024 law.KCTV5 · 15 Oct, 00:23
• Missouri Supreme Court challenge could overturn public safety lawsIs “public safety” too vague for a law? The Missouri Supreme Court weighed that question today in a case that could unravel a 2024 law.KY3 · 15 Oct, 00:21

In this story: Missouri Supreme Court · Article III Institute · Dave Roland · Madeline Landsdell · Missouri Solicitor General's Office · Missouri

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem