HB 2344 protects tenants, landlords, and residents who contact law enforcement or emergency services to address abuse, crime, or emergencies. It prohibits local governments from penalizing these individuals through eviction, license revocation, fines, or other penalties for making such requests when done with a reasonable belief that intervention was necessary. The bill allows affected individuals to sue local governments for violations and seek remedies like court orders halting penalties, compensation for damages, and reinstatement of rental licenses. This directly affects people in housing situations who report safety concerns, ensuring they cannot be punished for seeking help.
HB 2176, titled the "Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act," prohibits Missouri state agencies, law enforcement, and political subdivisions from enforcing any "red flag law" (including federal or state orders requiring temporary firearm seizure or confiscation). It bans the use of state or federal funds to enforce such laws and imposes a $50,000 civil penalty for violations. The bill specifically exempts firearm seizures as evidence during criminal investigations. It directly affects Missouri citizens' firearm rights and law enforcement practices by blocking enforcement of red flag laws across state and local agencies.
HB 1633 restricts public access to arrest warrant records for certain serious offenses, including Class A/B felonies, dangerous felonies, and crimes against minors under 18. It requires that such records not be available online until the warrant is executed (person arrested) or a prosecutor files a motion showing public safety needs. Exceptions allow immediate access for law enforcement, attorneys, victims, and court personnel. The law also protects officials from liability for following these rules and directs courts to implement technical controls to enforce the changes.
SB 1360 - This act establishes the "Civil Liability for Employers Hiring Ex-Offenders Act" which provides that a cause of action shall not be brought against an employer, general contractor, premises owner, or other third party for hiring an employee or independent contractor who has been convicted of an offense, excluding certain violent and sexual offenses listed in the act. In an action for negligent hiring against an employer, general contractor, premises owner, or other third party for acts of an employee or independent contractor that is based on a theory of liability not covered by this act, the fact that the employee or independent contractor was convicted of a nonviolent, nonsexual offense before the employee or independent contractor's employment or contractual obligation with the employer, general contractor, premises owner, or other third party shall be inadmissible as evidence. This act shall not preclude any existing cause of action for failure of an employer to provide adequate supervision of an employee or independent contractor, except that the conviction of a nonviolent, nonsexual offense may be admissible as evidence in such action if the employer: (1) Knew of the conviction or was grossly negligent in the failure to know of the conviction; and (2) The conviction was directly related to the nature of the employee's or independent contractor's work and the conduct that gave rise to the alleged injury that is basis of the action. The protections of this act provided to an employer, general contractor, premises owner, or third party do not apply in an action concerning: (1) The misuse of funds or property of a person other than the employer, general contractor, premises owner, or third party by an employee or independent contractor, if, on the date the employee or independent contractor was hired, the employee or independent contractor had been convicted of an offense that includes fraud or the misuse of funds or property as an element, and it was foreseeable that the position for which the employee or independent contractor was hired would involve the discharge of a fiduciary responsibility in the management of the funds or property; (2) The misappropriation of funds by an employee or independent contractor if the employee or independent contractor was hired as an attorney and, if on the date of hiring, the employee or independent contractor had been convicted of a crime that includes fraud or the misuse of funds or property as an element; or (3) A violent offense or an improper use of excessive force by an employee or independent contractor hired to serve as a law enforcement officer or security guard. The provisions of this act shall not be interpreted as implying a cause of action exists for negligent hiring of an individual convicted of an offense in situations not covered by this section. This act is identical to SB 443 (2025), SB 1110 (2024), and SB 352 (2023) and is similar to HB 1087 (2025), HB 1969 (2024), HCS/HB 2064 (2024), and HB 720 (2023). KATIE O'BRIEN
HB 1843 removes littering offenses (under section 577.070) from the list of criminal violations that must be reported to Missouri's central criminal history repository. This change directly affects law enforcement agencies, courts, and prosecutors who previously reported littering cases as part of standard criminal record reporting. The bill modifies Section 43.506 to explicitly exclude littering from reportable offenses, aligning with existing exclusions for general traffic violations. The key mechanism is a simple amendment to the list of offenses requiring criminal history reporting, streamlining the process for non-serious violations.
HB 2273 establishes a new "Committee on Sex and Human Trafficking Training" to standardize and improve training for professionals who interact with trafficking victims. The committee, composed of representatives from law enforcement, child advocacy, victim services, and medical centers, will create annual training guidelines and produce digital training materials for professions required to complete such training under existing laws. This bill directly affects state agencies, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and child advocacy organizations that must provide or receive trafficking training. The committee's work will replace outdated training requirements with updated standards, effective January 1, 2027, and expire December 31, 2031. The bill does not create new criminal penalties but focuses on coordinating and modernizing existing training obligations.
HB 2201 strengthens penalties for filing false documents with government entities in Missouri. It defines specific documents (like property records, liens, court filings, or financial forms) as "false" if they contain materially false information, are fraudulent, or lack proper consent. The bill makes this a Class C felony for first offenses, but elevates it to a Class B felony if the victim is a judge, law enforcement officer, elected official, or other protected public servant. It also requires government agencies (like county recorders) to log suspicious filings and notify law enforcement within two days, while mandating restitution to victims. This directly affects individuals or entities submitting documents to government offices, particularly those targeting public officials.
HB 1840 creates Missouri's "Purple Alert System" to help locate missing persons with developmental disabilities who face immediate danger. It directly affects individuals with intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, or other non-Alzheimer's cognitive conditions who go missing. The bill requires law enforcement to immediately notify officers, contact local media, and share details with neighboring agencies when such a case is reported. It also mandates training for officers on crisis intervention and policies to enhance emergency response and public awareness about developmental disability-related elopement risks. The system must be implemented by July 1, 2027.
HB 1937 expands Missouri's legal definition of "special victim" to include sports officials (like referees, umpires, and linesmen) who are assaulted while performing their duties at any level of sporting event. This change directly affects certified sports officials by granting them the same legal protections as other special victims, such as law enforcement or emergency personnel, under Missouri's criminal statutes. The key provision adds a new subsection (14)(l) to the definition, specifying that a "sports official" must be trained and certified by an official sports organization. This bill modifies existing law to ensure these individuals receive enhanced legal consideration if assaulted during their official duties at games or events.
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.
