Criminal Justice

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2785: Adds provisions relating to an offender attending a funeral of a relative

HB 2785 allows incarcerated individuals to attend funerals of immediate family members under specific conditions. Offenders must be escorted by corrections staff, pay all associated costs (including escort fees) in advance, and the deceased relative must be a close family member (e.g., parent, child, spouse, or sibling). This provision exempts funeral visits from the standard annual 30-day furlough limit and ensures access if the offender does not receive prior approval. The bill adds this as a defined right without altering sentencing or correctional policies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables inmate funeral attendance for family, promoting rehabilitation through family connections, aligning with correctional reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2639: Authorizes tax credits for certain contributions to local law enforcement foundations

HB 2639 creates a state tax credit for individuals and businesses that donate to certified local law enforcement foundations. Taxpayers can claim credits of up to $5,000 (single filers) or $10,000 (married/joint filers) annually for contributions used to fund officer training, salary supplements, equipment, or joint emergency response teams with behavioral health specialists. Foundations must be certified by the state, limit annual contributions to $3 million, and cannot accept more than $3 million per year from this program. The total tax credits available are capped at $75 million annually, with unused credits carried forward for up to five years.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesCreates tax credits reducing state revenue (via deductions), weakening fiscal management by shifting funding to private donations rather than strengthening state budget.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds law enforcement through tax credits for training, equipment, and behavioral health teams, directly strengthening criminal justice infrastructure per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Tax Incentives Law Enforcement

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2648: Establishes the Organized Retail Theft Coordination Center in the Department of Public Safety

HB 2648 establishes the Organized Retail Theft Coordination Center within Missouri's Department of Public Safety to coordinate state and local law enforcement efforts against organized retail theft. The Center will share threat information with law enforcement agencies and affected businesses (like retailers and transportation companies), track theft trends through annual public reports, and support investigations and loss prevention activities. It requires an evaluation of existing anti-theft programs by March 2027 and mandates reports on the Center's activities, with the program set to expire six years after the bill's effective date unless renewed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates law enforcement coordination center to combat retail theft, strengthening enforcement efforts within criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Missouri · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 2832: Establishes the "Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman"

HB 2832 creates a new "Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman" to independently monitor prison conditions and investigate inmate concerns. The office will track issues like sanitation, abuse, medical care access, and facility safety through annual facility inspections, data collection on incidents (e.g., suicides, assaults), and complaint investigations. It directly affects inmates by providing oversight of their living conditions and rights, and family members by improving access to visitation and communication. The ombudsman will issue public reports and recommendations to the corrections oversight committee, which includes formerly incarcerated individuals and family members. This bill establishes a concrete mechanism for accountability without altering prison funding or sentencing policies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates independent oversight for prison conditions, enhancing accountability and inmate rights - directly advancing criminal justice reform through monitoring sanitation, abuse, and medical care access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly monitors medical care access in prisons, ensuring healthcare rights for inmates through oversight of medical services and conditions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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in committee · Missouri · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 3017: Establishes the offense of permitting a public nuisance

HB 3017 creates a new class E felony charge for property owners, renters, or occupants who knowingly permit illegal activities on their property. It directly affects landlords, property managers, and residents who fail to address repeated illegal conduct like noise disturbances, underage drinking, violence, or weapons offenses occurring on their premises. The law requires three documented law enforcement incidents within 12 months - each verified by officers recording the specific illegal activity - to trigger arrest for "permitting a public nuisance." Property owners without a responsible party can also face property restrictions to prevent ongoing safety hazards.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new felony charge for property owners, increasing penalties without reform elements or protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Missouri · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 2667: Establishes the "Eliminate Criminal Profiteering Act"

HB 2667, titled the "Eliminate Criminal Profiteering Act," modifies negligence claims in Missouri. It prohibits individuals engaged in "wrongful conduct" (defined as criminal activity or intentional torts) from suing for negligence related to that conduct, shifting the burden of proof to the defendant (Section 3). Additionally, it bars unauthorized immigrants from recovering general damages or lost wages in negligence claims arising from automobile accidents, requiring plaintiffs to prove lawful status via documentation (Section 4). The law directly affects plaintiffs in security negligence cases involving criminal activity and immigrant plaintiffs in car accident claims. It does not change criminal laws but alters civil liability for specific negligence scenarios.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticePrevents individuals engaged in criminal activity from suing for negligence related to that conduct, restricting defendant rights in civil cases involving criminal behavior.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBars unauthorized immigrants from recovering damages in negligence claims, restricting legal protections for immigrants in Missouri.95% confidence

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2880: Modifies provisions relating to minimum prison terms

HB 2880 increases mandatory minimum prison terms for certain felony offenders in Missouri. It requires non-dangerous felony offenders with prior prison commitments to serve 80% of their sentence (up from 40-50% under current law), while those without prior commitments must serve 75% (up from 70%). Dangerous felons must serve 85% of their sentence. The bill also creates a Sentencing Advisory Commission to study sentencing disparities and alternative programs like probation and work release. It directly affects repeat felony offenders sentenced under the specified statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory prison terms from 40-50% to 80% for non-dangerous offenders, directly expanding sentencing requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Missouri · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 2967: Establishes the "Missouri Expungement Fund"

HB 2967 establishes the "Missouri Expungement Fund" to support clearing criminal records. The fund, managed by the state treasurer, accepts gifts, donations, and grants (not general tax revenue) and earns interest on investments. It directs three state agencies - the Office of State Courts Administrator, Department of Public Safety, and IT Services - to use appropriated funds for technology systems and personnel costs related to expunging or sealing criminal records, including bulk expungement efforts. Funds must remain in the dedicated account and cannot revert to general revenue at the end of each biennium.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes fund for expungement, directly advancing criminal justice reform by clearing records to reduce barriers and aid rehabilitation.95% confidence

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in committee · Missouri · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 3066: Modifies provisions relating to the St. Louis board of police commissioners

HB 3066 modifies St. Louis police compensation and funding rules. It requires the city council to appropriate at least 22-25% of general revenue for police funding (increasing annually), excludes pension costs from this calculation. The bill mandates overtime pay at 1.5x regular rate for patrolmen and sergeants working over 40 hours, allows a $360 annual allowance for non-uniformed officers, and establishes academic/leadership bonuses up to 10% of salary. These provisions directly affect St. Louis police officers (from probationary to sergeant rank) and the Board of Police Commissioners.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 22-25% of general revenue for police funding with annual increases, directly allocating budget resources to strengthen police services and compensation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates increased police funding (22-25% revenue) and improved compensation (overtime, bonuses), directly strengthening law enforcement resources within criminal justice framework.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates overtime pay, bonuses, and increased funding for police officers, directly expanding compensation and benefits for a specific labor group, aligning with supportive labor policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions Revenue Policing Labor Standards

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in committee · Missouri · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 2904: Modifies and establishes provisions relating to animal abuse

HB 2904 modifies Texas law defining animal abuse by clarifying three specific prohibited actions: intentionally killing an animal without legal exemption, causing intentional injury or suffering, or failing to provide adequate care resulting in substantial harm. It maintains animal abuse as a misdemeanor offense but elevates it to a felony (class E) for repeat offenders or cases involving torture/mutilation causing suffering, or starvation causing harm. The bill directly affects individuals who own or care for animals and commit these specific violations. The key change is updating the legal definition and penalty structure to explicitly address severe cases like torture, mutilation, or starvation.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeElevates penalties for repeat animal abuse to felony, increasing severity of punishment per CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT subject.85% confidence

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