Criminal Justice

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 1955: Establishes provisions relating to civil actions brought against peace officers

HB 1955 (Missouri House Bill 1955) changes how civil lawsuits against police officers for violating constitutional rights are handled. It removes qualified immunity as a defense for officers who act under color of law, requires courts to award attorney fees to winning plaintiffs, and mandates that an officer's employer must cover most legal costs (except if the officer acted in bad faith or was convicted of a crime). The law also sets a two-year deadline for filing such lawsuits. This directly affects peace officers, their employers, and individuals seeking legal remedies for alleged police misconduct.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves qualified immunity for officers, mandates attorney fees for plaintiffs, and requires employer legal cost coverage - enhancing police accountability in civil suits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Tags Civil Liberties

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 1677: Establishes provisions relating to mental health evaluations upon arrest

HB 1677 requires that individuals arrested for crimes undergo a mental health evaluation within 45 days to determine if they are competent to participate in court proceedings. If evaluation results indicate a need for treatment, the person must be transferred to a mental health facility within 45 days of the evaluation. The bill mandates that agencies explain delays beyond these deadlines to law enforcement or prosecutors and requires annual reports to the legislature by the Department of Mental Health starting in 2027. This bill directly affects arrested individuals who may require mental health assessments, focusing on timely evaluations and treatment access while establishing accountability measures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates mental health evaluations and treatment pathways instead of incarceration, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce unnecessary court involvement and improve rehabilitation outcomes.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health evaluations and treatment transfers for arrested individuals, advancing access to mental health services within legal framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Mental Health

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in committee · Missouri · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 2163: Allows graduates of certain programs to petition the court for limited driving privileges

HB 2163 creates a program for nonviolent offenders with serious substance abuse issues (who haven't been convicted of a dangerous felony) to receive treatment instead of immediate incarceration. Eligible offenders undergo 12-24 months of institutional drug/alcohol treatment, with their sentence suspended until program completion. Upon successful completion, participants may petition their sentencing court for limited driving privileges to access work, school, medical care, or treatment programs. The bill replaces three existing Missouri law sections to establish this treatment pathway and driving privilege process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRedirects nonviolent offenders with substance abuse to treatment instead of incarceration, promoting rehabilitation over punitive measures per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates substance abuse treatment as alternative to incarceration, enabling access to medical care and treatment programs via driving privileges for participants.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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in committee · Missouri · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 2361: Establishes provisions relating to altered sexual depictions

HB 2361 makes it a crime to create, share, or possess nonconsensual digital alterations of a person's sexual images (like deepfakes showing someone in explicit acts they never participated in). It targets platforms hosting user-generated content (e.g., social media, apps) by requiring them to establish a clear removal process for such content by December 2026, allowing victims to request takedowns within 48 hours. Violators face a class C felony charge, and victims can sue for $10,000 or actual damages plus legal fees. The law explicitly states disclaimers about lack of consent do not prevent criminal liability. It directly affects individuals whose images are manipulated without consent and platforms that host such content.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates criminal penalties for nonconsensual deepfakes and enables victim civil remedies, directly protecting individuals from digital exploitation under criminal law.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates tech platforms to prevent nonconsensual deepfakes, protecting user privacy and digital rights through mandatory takedown procedures for harmful content.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection Social Media

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2521: Abolishes the death penalty and specifies that any person sentenced to death must be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole

HB 2521 abolishes the death penalty for murder in the first degree in Missouri, replacing it with a mandatory life imprisonment sentence without parole. The bill specifically requires courts to sentence individuals convicted of murder in the first degree to life in prison without eligibility for parole, probation, or release except by the governor's action. It applies to all new convictions and requires existing death sentences to be automatically converted to life imprisonment without parole. The legislation repeals all Missouri statutes allowing the death penalty for this offense and updates sentencing classifications accordingly. This change directly affects all individuals convicted of murder in the first degree under Missouri law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAbolishes death penalty, replacing it with life without parole, advancing criminal justice reform by eliminating mandatory capital punishment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Missouri · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2266: Modifies provisions relating to unlawful use of weapons

HB 2266 replaces Missouri's current law on unlawful use of weapons with specific prohibitions. It bans carrying concealed weapons in restricted areas (like schools, churches, and government buildings), discharging firearms near occupied buildings, and possessing weapons while intoxicated. The bill exempts law enforcement officers, prison staff, and military personnel acting in official duties, even when carrying weapons in restricted locations. This clarifies what constitutes a violation but does not change existing penalty levels for the offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by banning concealed weapons in schools/churches and discharging near occupied buildings, increasing prohibited conduct under criminal law.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2133: Expands the definition of special victim to include sports officials at a sporting event

HB 2133 expands the legal definition of "special victim" to include certified sports officials (such as referees, umpires, or judges) who are assaulted while performing their duties at any level of sporting event. This change directly affects sports officials by granting them the same legal protections currently available to other defined special victims like law enforcement or emergency personnel. The bill achieves this by explicitly adding section (14)(l) to the definition, clarifying that a sports official must be trained, certified, or registered by a recognized sports organization to qualify under this provision.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim protections to sports officials, strengthening legal safeguards for specific victim groups under criminal justice reform framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 1682: Establishes the "Missouri Prenatal Equal Protection Act"

HB 1682 defines "person" to include "an unborn child at every stage of development from the moment of fertilization until birth," treating abortion as criminal homicide under existing murder laws. It prohibits abortion except in limited medical emergencies where a licensed physician performs a procedure to save the pregnant person’s life when all alternatives failed. The bill removes defenses like "duress" for abortion-related offenses (except for the mother in specific cases) and allows prosecution in multiple counties based on where the offense occurred or the victim resided. This would directly affect individuals seeking or providing abortions, medical providers, and law enforcement in Missouri.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill treats abortion as criminal homicide under murder laws, removes defenses like duress, and expands criminalization - directly aligning with 'oppose' indicator: expands criminalization.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access (a healthcare service) by criminalizing most procedures, limiting patient access to abortion care except in rare emergencies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Violent Crime Women's Health

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 1938: Establishes the offenses of harassment of a school or recreation athletic official and entry or remaining on site of a school or recreation athletic contest after being forbidden

HB 1938, known as the "Respect the Whistle Act," creates two new offenses related to school and recreation athletic events in Missouri. It prohibits harassment of athletic officials (defined as behavior causing reasonable fear of harm during contests) and unauthorized entry or remaining on event sites after being forbidden by officials. Violators face fines up to $500, up to 90 days in jail for harassment, or up to six months for entry violations, plus mandatory 40-hour community service and court-approved counseling. The law directly affects attendees, spectators, or participants at public or private school athletic contests or sanctioned recreation events.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offenses with penalties, expanding criminalization rather than advancing reform or protecting rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 1321: Creates new provisions relating to illegal immigrants

SB 1321 creates a new Missouri state offense for people entering the state while violating federal immigration law (8 U.S.C. § 1325). It imposes a $10,000 fine for a first offense (classified as a misdemeanor) and escalates to a class E felony for repeat violations. The bill mandates court-ordered removal from Missouri after fines or prison terms, requiring specific details like transportation to a port of entry and law enforcement monitoring. Law enforcement officers may arrest individuals suspected of violating this provision upon probable cause. This bill directly affects immigrants entering Missouri in violation of federal immigration rules, establishing state-level penalties distinct from federal enforcement.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offense for immigration violations, imposing fines and felony penalties, expanding criminalization and increasing punitive measures, opposing criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationCreates state offenses for immigration violations, imposes fines, and mandates removal - increases state enforcement against immigrants per bill's offense provisions.95% confidence

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

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