HB 3339 requires Missouri parole board members to visit state prison facilities at least four times annually starting January 1, 2027. This directly affects parole board members, who must conduct these in-person facility inspections as part of their duties. The bill adds this specific requirement to existing rules governing the board’s operations. It does not change parole decision-making processes but mandates regular on-site oversight of correctional facilities. The bill is currently in committee after its introduction on February 18, 2026.
HB 2784 requires the Missouri State Highway Patrol to conduct an independent investigation whenever a person under 55 dies in a state Department of Corrections facility. This applies directly to deaths occurring in correctional facilities, ensuring an external review of such incidents. The bill mandates that the Highway Patrol must have full access to all autopsy records and findings from investigations conducted under existing law. It does not alter sentencing or facility operations but establishes a specific procedural requirement for death investigations in prisons. The bill is currently in its early legislative stages, having been introduced in January 2026.
HB 2669 increases Missouri's daily reimbursement rate for counties and cities holding inmates from $37.50 to $40 per day. It directly affects local governments that house individuals sentenced under specific laws, including probation/parole revocations or pretrial detention. The bill requires counties to submit reimbursement claims within two years of eligibility, with the state paying for eligible custody days. This change applies to cases where the state is legally liable for costs under existing statutes, such as sentences under Chapter 558 or detention under Section 559.026.
SB 1509 - This act establishes the "Office of State Ombudsman for Inmates in the Custody of the Department of Corrections" ("Office") within the Department of Corrections ("Department") for the purpose of ensuring the adequacy of care and improving the quality of life of inmates. The Office shall establish and implement procedures for receiving, processing, responding to, and resolving complaints made by or on behalf of inmates in the custody of the Department as well as establish procedures for the resolution of complaints. The Office shall be directed by an Ombudsman, who shall be appointed by the Governor and serve a 6-year term. The Ombudsman shall not be a current or former Department employee or have a spouse, child, or parent as a current or former Department employee. This act provides that the Office shall have the authority to: • Provide information to inmates, family members and representative of inmates, and others regarding the rights of inmates; • Monitor conditions of confinement and assess whether the Department is in compliance with federal, state, and Department regulations; • Establish a state-wide reporting system to collect data related to complaints received by the Department; and • Monitor all decisions of the parole board. The Office shall have reasonable access to all Department facilities, including all areas which are accessible to inmates, and access to programs for inmates at reasonable times. The Office shall have the authority to interview any inmates, Department employees or contractors, or any other person. The Office shall have the authority to copy documents in the possession or control of the Department that the Office considers necessary in an investigation of a complaint and the Department shall provide such documents no later than 30 days after the Office's written request. If the records relate to an inmate death, threat of death, sexual assault, or the denial of necessary medical treatment, the records shall be provided within 5 days, unless a waiver is provided by the Office to the Department. The Office shall establish confidentiality rules and procedures for all information maintained by the Office to ensure that the identity of a complainant is not known to Department employees or other inmates. The Office shall conduct at least one inspection each year of each Department facility and at least two times each year for each maximum security facility to monitor the status of all covered issues as defined in this act. The Office shall release a public report of each inspection. An inspection of a Department facility shall include an assessment of the following: • All policies and procedures related to the care of inmates; • Conditions of confinement; • Availability of educational and rehabilitative programing, drug and mental health treatment, and inmate job training; • All policies and procedures related to visitation; • All procedures and policies of medical facilities; • Review of lock-downs at the facility in the time since the last inspection; • Review of staffing at the facility; • Review of physical and sexual assaults at the facility; • Review of any inmate or staff deaths; and • Review of staff recruitment for the Department. Upon completion of the inspection, the Office shall produce a public report, with information as provided in the act, on its website, and deliver the report to the Governor, Attorney General, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Department of Corrections. The Department shall then submit a report to the Office within 30 days of the Office's inspection report which shall include a corrective action plan for each recommendation of the Office. This act also provides that the Office may initiate and attempt to resolve an investigation upon its own initiative or upon receipt of a complaint from an inmate, the inmate's family or representative, or a Department employee, regarding violations as provided in the act. The Office may decline to investigate any complaint and shall decline a complaint if the inmate has failed to first utilize Department grievance policies. The Office shall notify the complainant if it does not investigate a complaint. The Office may not investigate any complaints relating to an inmate's underlying criminal conviction and may refer any complaint to another state or federal agency. At the conclusion of an investigation, the Office shall render a public decision within 90 days of the filing of the complaint, except that the documents supporting the decision are subject to the confidentiality procedures established by the Office. The Office shall give a decision in writing to the inmate and to the Department. The Office shall give its recommendations for further action if needed. The Department shall give a report upon request to the Office within thirty days of any action taken on the Office's recommendations or the reasons for not complying with the recommendations. If the Office finds that there has been a significant inmate health or safety issue, the Office shall report such findings to the Governor, the Attorney General, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Department of Corrections. Finally, the Department and its employees shall not discharge, retaliate against, or in any manner discriminate against any person because such person has filed any complaint or instituted any proceeding under this act. A complaint may be filed with the Attorney General, within 30 days after a violation occurs, for any alleged discharge or retaliation against a complainant. There shall be a rebuttable presumption of retaliation if the complainant has suffered abuse or any other violation after he or she filed a complaint under this act. This act is identical to SB 378 (2025), SB 798 (2024), SB 327 (2023), SB 899 (2022), and SB 471 (2021). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.
HB 2009 is Missouri's fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriations bill specifically funding the Department of Corrections. It allocates $7.5 million for the Office of the Director (including Family Support Services), $3.1 million for Professional Standards, $3.8 million for Offender Reentry, and other specific programs like community treatment services ($3 million) and restitution payments ($58,400). The bill allows limited budget flexibility (e.g., 10% between sections, 3% to other sections) but requires strict adherence to fund sources and purpose. It directly affects Corrections operations, staffing, facility maintenance, and specific initiatives like the foster care dog program funded through a trust fund.
HB 2708 updates rules for prohibited items in prisons and jails. It specifically bans controlled substances (except prescribed), intoxicating liquor, weapons, unauthorized electronic devices (like cell phones), and other items banned by facility rules. Violations carry penalties ranging from misdemeanors to class B felonies, depending on the item. The bill also adds a new rule: people convicted of bringing certain drugs (alkaloids) can have their records cleared through a specific expungement process, but only if they haven’t previously violated these rules. Facilities must post clear lists of prohibited items for visitors.
HB 9 appropriates $6.48 million from the General Revenue Fund for the Missouri Department of Corrections' Office of the Director (including $18,060 for salary adjustments) and $8.26 million for reentry programs during fiscal year 2025-2026. Key provisions include $6.3 million for a new offender management system, $2.5 million for a recidivism-reduction pay-for-performance agreement with private programs, and $1.3 million for county re-entry navigators. The bill also allocates $7.12 million for Family Support Services and $3.29 million for Professional Standards, all subject to specific spending flexibilities. These funds directly support corrections operations, offender reentry services, and system improvements across Missouri's correctional facilities.
HB 2805 modifies Missouri's correctional records policies to protect offender privacy while enabling necessary access. It designates medical records and certain security documents as protected (not public), requires the department to provide offenders with free electronic copies of their medical records within 30 days of request, and establishes rules for sharing records with treatment agencies, law enforcement, or researchers under confidentiality agreements. The bill also creates a new hospice care training program within state prisons, allowing inmates to earn certification through joint programs with health and licensing departments. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals, correctional staff, healthcare providers, and agencies handling offender records.
HB 2637 revises Missouri's criminal justice system by requiring detailed documentation for offender transfers to correctional facilities, including sentencing specifics, health records, and victim information. It establishes a new 12-24 month treatment program for nonviolent offenders with substance abuse issues (excluding those convicted of dangerous felonies), allowing courts to suspend incarceration pending program completion. The bill also mandates parole board guidelines prioritizing serious offenders, using risk assessments, and publishing transparency data on release and recidivism rates. These changes directly affect nonviolent offenders, correctional departments, courts, and parole boards by altering transfer procedures, treatment eligibility, and parole decision-making processes.
HB 2779 changes who reimburses counties for housing inmates with mental health issues. It shifts responsibility from the Department of Corrections to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) for cases where a person lacks mental fitness to stand trial (per Section 552.020). Counties will now receive $150 per day (up from $40) for each day an inmate remains in custody due to mental fitness concerns, subject to DMH approval. The bill requires sheriffs to certify days spent in custody and submit claims within two years for DMH to process.
