Criminal Justice (Courts) in Missouri

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2954: Creates provisions relating to expungement

HB 2954 creates an "automated expungement" process in Missouri, meaning eligible criminal records will be closed by the state without requiring individuals to file court petitions. It directly affects people convicted of certain infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies (excluding traffic violations, juvenile cases, or offenses with pending charges) who have completed their sentences and met specific waiting periods (1 year for misdemeanors, 3 years for felonies) without new offenses. Key provisions include automatic closure of records after these waiting periods, a lifetime limit of two felony expungements or four misdemeanor/ordinance expungements, and special eligibility for those aged 65+ with clean records. The law takes effect on August 28, 2029, and does not apply to cases with unresolved charges or certain offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 3124: Requires children under the age of seventeen to be prosecuted for most criminal offenses in juvenile courts unless the child is certified as an adult

HB 3124 requires most criminal cases involving children under 17 to be handled in juvenile court instead of adult court. The bill only allows transferring a case to adult court if a judge certifies the child as an adult, typically for serious offenses. This directly affects minors accused of crimes in Missouri, keeping them in the juvenile system unless certification occurs. The bill modifies existing juvenile justice procedures to strengthen this default jurisdiction, without specifying certification criteria.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2835: Allows offenders to access supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits

HB 2835 allows individuals convicted of drug-related felonies to access food assistance benefits (SNAP) if they meet specific conditions. To qualify, they must be in or completing approved substance abuse treatment, comply with court and probation requirements, avoid new drug offenses for one year, and pass voluntary sobriety tests. The bill directly affects people with past drug felony convictions who are actively working toward recovery through state-approved programs. It creates an exemption from a federal SNAP ineligibility rule for these individuals, using a state option permitted under federal law. The policy change applies only to those meeting all four criteria, not to individuals with additional drug convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 3132: Establishes safeguards concerning discriminatory practices against persons who have been convicted of certain offenses

HB 3132 creates a court-issued "certificate of exemplary conduct" for eligible individuals with certain past convictions (excluding sex offenses requiring registry). This certificate prevents employers, housing providers, and licensing boards from considering their conviction history when making decisions about jobs, housing, or professional licenses. The court must grant the certificate if an applicant demonstrates consistent good moral character and that granting it serves the public interest, with annual reports required on how often the certificate is used. The bill directly affects people with non-sex-offense convictions who meet these standards, removing barriers to employment and licensing without changing existing criminal penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2696: Requires expenditures accruing in the circuit courts to be paid out of the treasury of the state

HB 2696 shifts responsibility for most circuit court expenses from local counties to the state treasury, requiring that all such expenditures (except salaries, clerk hire, and municipal court divisions) be paid from the state. The bill repeals prior laws and establishes new budget procedures: circuit courts must submit spending estimates to county officials, and disputes over these estimates must be reviewed by the judicial finance commission. This directly affects all 40 Missouri circuit courts and their counties, moving financial accountability for court operations from local governments to the state. The law aims to standardize funding and reduce budget conflicts between counties and courts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2952: Establishes provisions relating to mental health evaluations upon arrest

This bill requires that individuals arrested for criminal offenses who need a mental health evaluation to determine if they can proceed with trial, conviction, or sentencing must receive that evaluation within 45 days of arrest. It also mandates that if an evaluation shows a person needs treatment, they must be transferred to a mental health facility within 45 days of the evaluation. Exceptions allow delays for medical emergencies, lack of evaluators (with documented efforts), or court-approved delays up to 15 days. The Department of Mental Health must submit annual reports to the legislature starting in 2027, detailing compliance with these timelines.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Mental Health

in committee · Missouri · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 2751: Modifies provisions relating to public safety

HB 2751 replaces two Missouri laws related to public safety. It creates a new exemption from disqualification for the food stamp program for individuals convicted of a drug felony who actively participate in or complete substance abuse treatment, comply with court and treatment requirements, avoid new drug offenses for one year, and pass sobriety tests. The bill also modifies how inmates earn time off their sentences by requiring specific conditions for good time credit, which applies only to the current sentence and can be revoked by correctional authorities. These changes directly affect people seeking food assistance and inmates in Missouri's correctional system.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Tags Public Safety

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HJR 161: Proposes a constitutional amendment that removes the restriction on persons judged incapacitated being able to vote

HJR 161 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove a current Missouri voting restriction. It would eliminate the exclusion of individuals "judged incapacitated" (those with a court-appointed guardian for mental incapacity or involuntarily confined in a mental institution) from voting. The amendment specifically targets the existing constitutional language in Article VIII that bars these voters. If approved by voters in 2026, this change would directly affect Missouri residents currently barred from voting due to court-ordered guardianships related to mental capacity. The bill does not change other voting eligibility rules, such as felony convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2790: Modifies provisions relating to grand jury proceedings

HB 2790 requires stenographers to transcribe grand jury testimony and evidence under oath, with transcriptions made discoverable after redacting privileged information. It directly affects prosecutors, stenographers, and defendants in criminal cases, particularly when witnesses receive immunity. The bill mandates recording all testimony from immunized witnesses and requires prosecutors to provide transcriptions to defendants if an indictment follows. This standardizes documentation while protecting confidential details through mandatory redaction.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2956: Establishes provisions relating to the refiling of dismissed cases

HB 2956 allows prosecutors to refile a criminal case if it was dismissed by a court before a hearing or by the prosecutor at any time. However, if the case is dismissed a second time by either the court or the prosecutor, the prosecutor may no longer refile it. This bill directly affects prosecutors and defendants in cases where dismissals occur before trial, establishing clear limits on refiling opportunities after two dismissals. The policy change creates a two-strike rule for case dismissals, preventing repeated refiling after a second dismissal.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts

All criminal justice bills