HB 615 Missouri House · 2025 Regular Session

Modifies and establishes provisions relating to judicial proceedings

This bill modifies evidence rules in criminal cases involving children or vulnerable people (defined as those with developmental delays, mental health conditions, or under age 17). It allows certain prior statements made by these individuals to be admitted as evidence without live testimony, provided courts find the statements reliable and the witness is unavailable due to trauma or other reasons. The bill also establishes new rules for admitting visual/aural recordings of statements made at child assessment centers, requiring specific safeguards like accurate recording and witness identification. Additionally, it mandates $10,000 restitution per victim for certain human trafficking offenses (e.g., sections 566.203-566.211) to fund a dedicated state exploitation prevention fund.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 18, 2024 Last action Apr 16, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Committee Substitute Perfected · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was significantly simplified by removing provisions related to court reporter licensing and replacing them with new rules about admitting child and vulnerable person statements as evidence in criminal cases. The scope shifted from regulating court reporting professionals to establishing evidentiary standards for child testimony.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from regulating court reporting services and licensing to establishing rules for admitting child and vulnerable person statements as evidence in criminal proceedings.
SCOPE

Removed all provisions related to court reporter licensing, certification requirements, and penalties for unlicensed court reporting activities.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new rules allowing statements from children under 18 and vulnerable persons to be admitted as evidence in criminal cases without corroboration requirements.

DEFINITION

Changed the age threshold for children from 14 to 18 years old for certain evidentiary provisions.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for prosecutors to notify defense counsel in advance when intending to use child or vulnerable person statements as evidence.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
10
Committee
11
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
SCS Voted Do Pass (S)
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Committee
Second read and referred: Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence(S)
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 148 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 7 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Committee
Referred: Fiscal Review(H)
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1, adopted
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
HCS Adopted (H)
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 18 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
HCS Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
Referred: Crime and Public Safety(H)
lower
Dec 18, 2024
Introduced
Prefiled (H)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors