HB 1868 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Establishes the offense of impeding, threatening, or harassing a first responder

HB 1868 creates a new class D misdemeanor offense for intentionally approaching within 25 feet of a first responder after being verbally warned not to, when the person intends to impede their duties, threaten them with physical harm, or harass them. It directly affects individuals who engage in such behavior toward police officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel (including hospital staff in emergency settings) while they are lawfully performing their duties. The bill defines "harass" as causing serious emotional distress with no legitimate purpose. Violators face misdemeanor penalties under Missouri law.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Last action Apr 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → House Committee Substitute · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to combine HB 1868 with HB 3257, updating the bill number and clerk reference. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new definition for 'emergency medical care provider,' which now explicitly includes hospital employees, agents, volunteers, or contractors authorized to perform duties in the hospital's emergency department or provide security there.

Scope change

The bill now applies to a broader range of individuals by formally including hospital staff and security personnel authorized for emergency department duties under the definition of 'emergency medical care provider.'

TECHNICAL

The bill title and clerk reference were updated to reflect that this is a combined substitute for House Bills 1868 and 3257.

DEFINITION

A new provision was added to define 'emergency medical care provider' to include hospital employees, agents, volunteers, or contractors authorized to perform duties directly associated with the care and treatment in the emergency department or the security thereof.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Committee

Referred: Crime and Public Safety(H)

lower

Dec 1, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor