Requires that a behavioral health specialist be dispatched with law enforcement when responding to calls classified by dispatch as mental-health related
HB 3131 requires that for all emergency calls classified as mental-health related, law enforcement must respond with a behavioral health specialist (such as a psychologist, social worker, or counselor) alongside the officer. This applies unless dispatch or on-scene assessment indicates an immediate threat of violence, in which case officers may initially secure the scene without the specialist but must bring them in once the scene is safe. The bill mandates standardized dispatch protocols to identify mental-health calls and assign co-response teams, directly affecting Missouri law enforcement agencies and emergency dispatch centers. It aims to improve crisis response by ensuring trained behavioral health professionals are part of the initial emergency team for mental health calls.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 28, 2026
Last action May 15, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 15, 2026
Committee
Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and Read First Time (H)
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Kem Smith
DDemocratic
Co
Gregg Bush
DDemocratic
Co
LaDonna Appelbaum
DDemocratic
Co
Tonya Rush
DDemocratic
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