HB 1840 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Establishes an alert system to assist in the location of missing persons with developmental disabilities

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.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jul 2026
Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Signed Jul 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate Committee Substitute Senate Substitute (Senate Floor Substitute) · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was completely rewritten to replace a single section on law enforcement communication aids with a comprehensive four-section package. The new version adds a new section for deaf-blind services, establishes a statewide registry for communication access providers, creates a dedicated funding fund, and retains the original provisions for missing persons with developmental disabilities and law enforcement communication designations.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded significantly from a single focus on law enforcement interaction to include a broad program for deaf-blind services, a statewide registry for communication access providers, and a dedicated funding mechanism.
SCOPE

Added a new section (161.412) creating grants for organizations serving deaf-blind children and adults, and training for support service providers.

Changed the bill's primary focus from solely law enforcement interaction to a broader disability services framework including deaf-blind support.

Removed the original standalone section regarding the Purple Alert System for missing persons with developmental disabilities, as it is now incorporated into a larger, restructured bill.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section (209.247) establishing a statewide registry of communication access service providers and setting minimum standards for their training and equipment.

FISCAL

Added a new section creating a dedicated 'Communication Access Services Fund' to finance the new registry, scholarships, and service requests.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'communication access services' and 'communication access service provider' to clarify the new program's requirements.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
56
Key actions
18
Committee
15
Jul 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor (G)
lower
May 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 137 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0
lower
May 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
lower
May 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
May 13, 2026
Committee
Referred: Fiscal Review(H)
lower
May 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Read and Passed (S) - AYES: 29 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0
upper
May 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported Do Pass (S)
upper
May 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Voted Do Pass (S)
upper
May 12, 2026
Committee
Referred: Fiscal Oversight(S)
upper
May 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
SS#2 Adopted (S)
upper
May 12, 2026
Introduced
SS#2 Offered (S)
upper
May 7, 2026
Introduced
SS Offered
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
SCS Reported Do Pass (S)
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
SCS Voted Do Pass (S)
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Committee
Second read and referred: Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety(S)
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Emergency Clause Adopted (H) - AYES: 143 NOES: 8 PRESENT: 0
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 153 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1, adopted
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Adopted (H)
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Committee
Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 12 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Jan 8, 2026
Committee
Referred: Children and Families(H)
lower
Dec 1, 2025
Introduced
Prefiled (H)
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors