SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Is “public safety” too vague for a law? The Missouri Supreme Court weighed that question today in a case that could unravel a 2024 law.
The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a case challenging whether a 2024 law’s title, “public safety,” is too vague under the state constitution. The law bundles K-9 protections, penalties for celebratory gunfire, and penalties for fleeing a traffic stop under the single title of public safety. Critics argue the title is too broad for voters to understand what is included in the bill.
Dave Roland, an attorney representing the Article III Institute in its challenge against the law, said the title does not clearly convey the bill’s contents.
“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.”
Roland said the challenge is not aimed at a specific part of the bill.
“They weren’t targeting any specific aspect of this bill,” Roland said. “What they were hoping to do is make sure that 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, argued the title holds up under the Constitution.
“There are vast swaths of legislation that cannot be reasonably described as relating to public safety,” Landsdell said.
Justices questioned Landsdell about whether the title “relates to public safety” creates issues with the state constitution’s single subject requirement.
Missouri Supreme Court Justice Paul C. Wilson asked, “If we allow that title, are we not giving up ground that’s necessary to enforce the single subject requirement?”
Landsdell said “public safety” does have a clear definition to the normal person.
“It does reflect meaningful categories of laws in the eyes of the public and would preserve the single subject requirement,” Landsdell said.
The court can toss the whole law, toss part of it, or leave it in place. The Missouri Supreme Court did not provide a timeline for when it will rule on the case.
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