MO SB475

Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate jointly gain standing to intervene in any judicial, administrative, or other proceeding challenging the constitutionality of Missouri Constitution provisions, statutes, rules, regulations, programs, or policies.

General Assembly may defend challenged laws alongside or in place of the Attorney General if the Attorney General declines to defend, appeals inadequately, or provides a defense deemed inadequate by the legislature.

House and Senate administration committees must jointly approve hiring of legal counsel when the General Assembly intervenes, with attorneys' fees, court costs, and legal expenses paid from the state legal expense fund.

Individual legislators or legislative chambers named as parties in civil actions in their official capacity may retain private legal counsel with approval from their respective chamber's leadership and administration committee.

Includes an emergency clause for immediate effect upon passage, citing the need for vigorous defense of Missouri law validity.