Criminal Justice

signed · Missouri · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 888: Modifies provisions relating to the criminal systems

SB 888 modifies Missouri's juvenile justice system by changing when minors aged 12-18 can be transferred to adult court for serious offenses. It mandates hearings (and allows discretion for other felonies) for youth accused of specific crimes like murder, violent assault, drug trafficking, or two prior felonies, while automatically transferring 18-21-year-olds to adult court. The bill requires courts to consider factors like offense severity, victim impact, rehabilitation potential, and racial disparity before transferring cases, and prohibits using age misrepresentation to avoid legal consequences. Written reports detailing these criteria must accompany transfer decisions, and prosecutors gain access to relevant case records during the process. This affects youth facing serious charges who may lose juvenile court protections for certain offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates hearings for juveniles on serious offenses and requires courts to consider rehabilitation potential, aligning with reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Juvenile Justice

in committee · Missouri · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 2418: Establishes the "Missouri Crime Victims Fund"

HB 2418 creates the "Missouri Crime Victims Fund" to provide dedicated funding for crime victim services. The fund, managed by the state treasurer, accepts state appropriations and donations from public or private sources. It ensures leftover funds at the end of each biennium stay in the fund (not revert to general revenue) and requires all money to be used by local organizations eligible for federal Victims of Crime Act grants, for the same purposes those federal grants cover. This bill directly affects Missouri organizations providing victim assistance services by aligning state funding with existing federal grant requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fund with retained balances, ensuring continuous funding for victim services without reverting to general revenue, aligning with fiscal responsibility.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates dedicated fund for crime victim services, ensuring sustained funding for victim support programs under criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2519: Modifies provisions relating to hate offenses and establishes new programs that provide assistance to victims of such offenses

HB 2519 expands Missouri's hate crime definitions to include offenses motivated by race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It upgrades penalties for hate-motivated crimes to class D or E felonies and requires law enforcement agencies to report such offenses. The bill mandates new training for peace officers, including six hours on hate offense identification and victim assistance for those licensed after 2026, and six hours on racial profiling and bias for those licensed after 2027. These changes directly affect law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and court systems by altering how hate crimes are defined, prosecuted, and handled during officer training.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands hate crime definitions, upgrades penalties, mandates victim assistance training, and enhances law enforcement reporting - aligns with protecting civil rights and strengthening hate crime response in criminal justice.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Law Enforcement

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2602: Exempts entities registered with the department of health and senior services that distribute hypodermic needles or syringes from the crime of unlawful delivery of drug paraphernalia

HB 2602 proposes to exempt registered harm reduction programs from penalties for distributing needles/syringes under state drug laws. It creates a registration process through the Department of Health and Senior Services, requiring programs to partner with mental health/substance use treatment providers and avoid locations within 500 feet of schools (unless the school existed before the program opened). The bill directly affects registered syringe access programs, their staff, and volunteers who distribute or manufacture needles/syringes solely for these programs. This would make such activities legal under the law, removing criminal penalties for these specific actions. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled, first reading).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts harm reduction programs from drug paraphernalia penalties, reducing criminalization of substance use access - aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts harm reduction programs from penalties, requires mental health partnerships, and enables public health access to syringe distribution to prevent disease transmission and connect users to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Missouri · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 1770: Modifies the time limitations for prosecutions for abuse or neglect of a child

HB 1770 extends the time limit for prosecuting criminal cases involving abuse or neglect of a child under 18. It changes the law so that prosecutions must begin within ten years after the victim turns 18, rather than the previous timeframe. This directly affects victims of childhood abuse/neglect, their families, and the criminal justice system handling such cases. The bill modifies the statute (section 556.035) to set this new ten-year window for filing charges.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends prosecution window for child abuse cases, aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting victims' rights and enabling accountability within courts.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2451: Modifies the offense of making a false report

HB 2451 modifies Missouri's law against making false reports to law enforcement or emergency services. It defines the offense as knowingly providing false information to: (1) implicate someone in a crime, (2) report a fake crime or emergency, (3) falsely report an emergency situation, or (4) falsely report someone's immigration status. The law classifies this as a class B misdemeanor (punishable by up to 90 days in jail or fines), and allows a defense if the false report is retracted before authorities take action. This bill directly affects individuals who intentionally mislead police, fire departments, or emergency responders with false information.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of false reports to law enforcement, including immigration status, classifying as misdemeanor under CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2453: Provides that prosecutions for offenses under chapter 566 may be commenced at any time

HB 2453 removes the statute of limitations for prosecuting certain sexual offenses under Missouri's Chapter 566, meaning prosecutors can file charges at any time, regardless of when the crime occurred. This directly affects victims of these specific sexual offenses, as it eliminates time restrictions that previously prevented prosecution after a certain period. The bill repeals prior limits and replaces them with a provision stating prosecutions for these offenses "may be commenced at any time." It does not change time limits for other crimes, which remain subject to standard statutes of limitations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves statute of limitations for sexual offenses, enabling prosecution at any time to support victims' access to justice and aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2524: Modifies existing provisions and creates new provisions regarding cooperation with federal authorities on immigration matters and training for law enforcement agencies

HB 2524 prohibits Missouri local governments and law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement in ways that involve racial profiling or violate constitutional rights. It requires annual training for law enforcement on constitutional rights and allows local entities to share immigration status information with federal authorities (like ICE) only when there is a documented public safety concern. The bill also blocks state funding for local agencies that restrict such cooperation or violate these rules, while exempting agencies administering federal benefit programs. It directly affects local law enforcement, government entities, and public employees handling immigration-related information.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits racial profiling in immigration cooperation, mandates constitutional rights training for law enforcement, protecting civil rights in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits racial profiling in federal cooperation, requires constitutional training, limits ICE info sharing to public safety concerns - protects immigrant rights from overreach.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 1823: Creates the offense of unlawful possession of an ammunition feeding device that holds more than ten rounds

HB 1823 creates a new criminal offense for possessing an ammunition feeding device (like a magazine) that holds more than ten rounds. This law directly affects individuals who own or carry such devices in Missouri, making it illegal to possess them without exception. The bill replaces existing firearm definitions and adds specific penalty provisions for this violation. It focuses solely on restricting high-capacity feeding devices, not on other firearm types or general possession.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offense for high-capacity magazines, expanding criminalization of firearm possession without reform intent.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 1242: Establishes the Missouri Crime Victims Fund

SB 1242 establishes the Missouri Crime Victims Fund within the state treasury to support victim assistance services. The fund accepts state appropriations, private donations, and grants, and must be used solely for programs matching federal Victims of Crime Act (Pub. L. 98-473) grant purposes, such as counseling, legal aid, and emergency shelter. Funds are disbursed to eligible local entities (like counties or nonprofits) that qualify for federal victim assistance grants, and unspent money cannot revert to general revenue at the end of each biennium. The state treasurer manages the fund and its investments, ensuring dedicated use for crime victim support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state fund using appropriations for victim services, aligning with funding essential public programs per topic description.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds victim assistance services (counseling, legal aid) per federal VICA standards, directly supporting crime victims within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Victims' Rights

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