HB 2436 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Modifies provisions relating to offenses involving animals.

HB 2436 changes Missouri's animal impoundment law by requiring law enforcement to obtain a court warrant with probable cause before entering private property to take neglected or abused animals into custody. It mandates a 30-day disposition hearing after impoundment, prohibits sterilizing animals before that hearing (unless necessary for health), and requires placement in approved care facilities. Owners may prevent euthanasia by posting a bond covering 30 days of boarding costs after the hearing, though authorities may humanely euthanize animals found diseased or disabled beyond recovery. The bill also specifies that owners aren't liable for animal care costs if the court finds no neglect, and facilities must provide proper care meeting state standards.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Dec 16, 2025 Last action Apr 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Perfected · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill significantly expanded its scope by repealing five existing animal-related statutes and replacing them with five new sections. These changes introduce a new crime for making malicious false reports of animal abuse, update the penalties for animal neglect to include felony charges for severe outcomes like death or serious injury, and restructure the legal framework for impounding animals.

Scope change

The bill's scope broadened from addressing only the impoundment of animals to explicitly covering false reporting, animal neglect, and related offenses with a more comprehensive penalty structure.

SCOPE

Added a new offense for making a malicious false report of animal abuse, which is punishable as a class C misdemeanor if the report causes disruption, harassment, monetary loss, or disturbance to the animal owner.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified animal neglect penalties to escalate based on consequences; failures resulting in property damage, physical injury, serious injury, or death are now classified as class B misdemeanors, class A misdemeanors, or class D/E felonies.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the specific provision allowing courts to waive fines for first-time animal neglect offenders if they provide permanent remedies, though the requirement to pay for animal care costs remains.

DEFINITION

Modified the definition of animal neglect to explicitly exclude livestock as defined in section 265.300 from the requirement to provide adequate control.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - Thursday, April 30, 2026, 8:30 a.m., Senate Committee Room 1 - 1st Floor

upper

Apr 21, 2026

Committee

Second read and referred: Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources(S)

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 88 NOES: 54 PRESENT: 1

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 3 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Committee

Referred: Fiscal Review(H)

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1, HA 2, HA 1 to HA 3, HA 2 to HA 3, HA 3, as amended, adopted

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 7 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 1

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 14 NOES: 7 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Jan 8, 2026

Committee

Referred: Agriculture(H)

lower

Dec 16, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors