HB 3417 defines and establishes specialized treatment courts (including adult, DWI, family, juvenile, mental health, and veterans courts) to address substance use or mental health disorders among defendants. It requires circuit courts to create these divisions by a specific deadline, mandating referrals to state-certified treatment programs unless none exist locally. The bill specifies that successful completion of treatment can lead to dismissed, reduced, or modified charges, with fees paid to treatment providers not classified as court costs. It directly affects defendants with substance use or mental health disorders in criminal cases, as well as courts and treatment providers operating within the system.
SB 1665 prohibits state employees from searching a private residence without a court-issued warrant, directly affecting homeowners and state employees conducting searches. The bill allows warrantless searches only in emergencies (like immediate danger to life) or if the homeowner consents. It requires state employees to obtain a warrant for routine searches, strengthening privacy protections for residents. The bill is currently pending after its first reading on February 12, 2026.
SB 1747 replaces outdated definitions and provisions related to cybercrimes, harassment, and stalking in Missouri law with 30 new sections. It creates clear definitions for "cyberharassment" (repeated digital contact causing fear) and "cyberstalking" (using digital tools to intimidate or track), specifying these involve invasion of privacy and repeated actions over time. The bill directly affects victims of these offenses and their family members, as it expands protections for "qualified individuals" impacted by cyberharassment, cyberstalking, or related violence. Key mechanisms include standardizing legal definitions to improve prosecution and clarify jurisdiction for cases occurring across multiple locations. The changes aim to strengthen legal tools for addressing digital harassment and stalking without adding new penalties.
SB 1681 creates a new pathway for specific inmates to request parole after serving 30 years. It applies to individuals sentenced to life without parole for offenses committed before October 1, 1984, who are 60+ years old, have no prior dangerous felony convictions, are not sex offenders, and have served at least 50 years of their sentence. To qualify, they must demonstrate good conduct, self-rehabilitation, a workable release plan with community support, and meet assessed risk and mental health criteria during a parole hearing. If granted parole, they would face a minimum five years of probation supervision, while existing parole rules and clemency powers remain unaffected. This bill is currently in early legislative stages (first reading filed February 19, 2026).
SB 1680 modifies Missouri's rules for SNAP (food stamp) eligibility for individuals convicted of felony offenses involving controlled substances. It allows these individuals to qualify for SNAP benefits if they meet four specific conditions: (1) participating in or completing an approved substance abuse treatment program, (2) complying with court and treatment obligations, (3) avoiding new substance-related offenses within one year, and (4) providing documented sobriety through voluntary urinalysis testing. The bill requires applicants to provide evidence of compliance to the Department of Social Services, which will work with the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse to establish implementation rules. This change exempts eligible individuals from a federal disqualification that previously barred them from SNAP benefits after such convictions.
SB 1690 prevents individuals who intentionally kill someone from inheriting from that person's estate. It requires killers to forfeit all estate benefits, including will bequests, homestead allowances, elective shares, and any fiduciary appointments. The bill revokes all gifts or roles (like executor) in wills or trusts naming the killer, and converts joint property ownership to tenancy in common. Third parties, such as banks, must halt payments after receiving written notice of the forfeiture but are protected if they acted in good faith before notice.
HB 3423 requires judges and certain state/local officials to recuse themselves from cases where they have close family relationships with a party (including relatives up to cousins) or received anything of value from a party. It specifically applies to judges, court officials, state executive branch leaders (like the governor's chief aides), and many elected or appointed officials in local governments and public entities. The bill establishes clear rules for when recusal is required and allows judges to disqualify themselves or transfer cases without party consent. It also clarifies that financial interest filings for these officials must be submitted to designated state or local filing officers. This bill modifies existing ethics rules to expand the scope of mandatory disqualification for judicial and public officials.
HB 3389 makes it a serious criminal offense to threaten, harass, or intimidate a judicial officer or their family. It specifically prohibits actions like sharing personal information (e.g., home address, Social Security number), threats, stalking, or offering benefits to influence their work. The law covers judges, court staff, probation officers, and their spouses, children, or ancestors, with penalties rising to a more severe felony if injury or death occurs. This expands legal protections for court personnel facing harassment, particularly online targeting.
SB 1650 makes it a class D felony to threaten, harass, or influence a judicial officer (including judges, prosecutors, probation officers, and their families) through specific actions like threats, deception, offering benefits, stalking, or sharing personal information (such as addresses, phone numbers, or Social Security numbers). The bill explicitly prohibits online dissemination of a judicial officer's personal details, expands the definition of "judicial officer" to cover broader court staff, and defines "family" to include spouses, children, and ancestors. If the offense causes death or injury, it becomes a class B felony. This bill directly affects individuals who target judicial personnel and aims to strengthen legal protections for them.
HB 3370 requires courts to offer treatment court programs for first-time felony offenders with substance use disorders before they enter a plea. Upon completing the program, pending charges are dismissed (after paying associated costs), and the bill explicitly prohibits treatment courts from barring participants from medication-assisted treatment for opioid or substance misuse. It also establishes procedures for transferring participants between jurisdictions and ensures participation in medication-assisted treatment cannot violate program terms. The bill directly affects eligible offenders in criminal cases seeking substance use disorder treatment instead of traditional sentencing.
