HB 2788 would have modified Missouri's unlawful firearm possession law by creating time-based exceptions for people with prior felony convictions. It would have allowed firearm possession after 10 years for violent felony convictions and 3 years for nonviolent felony convictions, following full sentence completion (including probation). The bill exempted antique firearms from these restrictions and defined "violent felony" as involving force/threat against others. However, the bill was introduced in January 2026 and withdrawn the same month without becoming law.
HB 2735 requires health digital services (like apps tracking reproductive or sexual health) to obtain explicit user consent before sharing, selling, or using sensitive health data - including pregnancy status, birth control usage, or gender transition care details. It prohibits government entities from demanding this data for most investigations, except limited criminal cases unrelated to abortion, pregnancy outcomes, or gender transition care. The bill directly affects health apps, their users, and state/local law enforcement agencies. Key provisions mandate affirmative consent for each data use instance and restrict government access to protect privacy around reproductive and sexual health information.
HB 2985 requires background checks for all private sales or transfers of firearms, affecting individuals selling firearms to others outside of licensed dealer transactions. Sellers must arrange for a background check through a licensed dealer or law enforcement agency before transferring a firearm, and the transfer cannot proceed without the central repository's approval, valid for 30 days. Exceptions include transfers between immediate family members, antique firearms, temporary transfers for hunting or shooting range use, and transfers due to death or legal ownership changes. Violating this requirement would be punishable as a class B misdemeanor.
HB 2808 makes it a crime for a parent to knowingly permit, encourage, aid, or cause a minor (under 18) to commit a violation of state or federal law. If the minor commits a felony, the parent faces a Class A misdemeanor; if the minor commits a misdemeanor, the parent faces a Class C misdemeanor. Each separate act by the parent constitutes a distinct offense, and courts may order the parent to pay restitution to victims harmed by the minor's crime. This law directly affects parents whose actions directly facilitate a minor's criminal behavior, adding new penalties and victim compensation mechanisms.
HB 2790 requires stenographers to transcribe grand jury testimony and evidence under oath, with transcriptions made discoverable after redacting privileged information. It directly affects prosecutors, stenographers, and defendants in criminal cases, particularly when witnesses receive immunity. The bill mandates recording all testimony from immunized witnesses and requires prosecutors to provide transcriptions to defendants if an indictment follows. This standardizes documentation while protecting confidential details through mandatory redaction.
This bill creates a legal presumption that a statement made during a police custodial interview is involuntary if the officer intentionally used false information to obtain it. The presumption can be overturned only if prosecutors provide clear and convincing evidence that the statement was voluntary despite the officer's deception. Officers who deliberately use false information during such interviews face disciplinary action under existing law. The law directly affects law enforcement officers conducting custodial interrogations and individuals in police custody during questioning.
HB 3155 creates a new program for nonviolent offenders with serious substance abuse issues who haven't been convicted of violent crimes. It requires courts to refer eligible offenders to a 12-24 month treatment program in correctional facilities, with suspended incarceration during participation. The bill also mandates detailed information sharing when transferring offenders to correctional facilities, including health records, sentencing details, and victim impact statements. Additionally, it updates parole board guidelines to prioritize releasing lower-risk offenders, use risk assessments, and publish data on parole outcomes and recidivism.
HB 2834 would restore voting rights to Missouri residents on felony probation or parole by removing the current disqualification from voting while under supervision. Currently, individuals convicted of felonies cannot vote while on probation or parole until their supervision ends, but this bill eliminates that restriction. The key change amends state election law (sections 115.133 and 561.026) to delete the provision barring voting during probation or parole. This directly affects thousands of Missourians with felony convictions who are under community supervision but not incarcerated. The bill is pending in the House Corrections and Public Institutions committee after its introduction in January 2026.
HB 2868 requires certain individuals - including those convicted of specific felonies (like burglary or offenses under Chapters 565-566), sex offenders, and sexually violent predators - to provide DNA samples at defined legal milestones, such as jail booking, entry into correctional facilities, or sex offender registration. The law mandates collection without refusal at designated sites, with no additional samples needed if already in the state DNA database. It strictly prohibits unauthorized use of DNA records, requiring confidentiality for all stored data and outlining clear procedures for expungement if convictions are reversed or expunged. The bill applies to all Missouri law enforcement, correctional facilities, and agencies handling DNA collections under state and federal systems.
HB 2956 allows prosecutors to refile a criminal case if it was dismissed by a court before a hearing or by the prosecutor at any time. However, if the case is dismissed a second time by either the court or the prosecutor, the prosecutor may no longer refile it. This bill directly affects prosecutors and defendants in cases where dismissals occur before trial, establishing clear limits on refiling opportunities after two dismissals. The policy change creates a two-strike rule for case dismissals, preventing repeated refiling after a second dismissal.
