HB 2109 proposes creating "family justice centers" that bring together multiple service providers - like law enforcement, medical staff, victim advocates, and social workers - into one location to support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking. These centers must maintain strict confidentiality for all victim information, cannot require victims to cooperate with law enforcement to access services, and protect staff from liability when acting in good faith. The bill also adds criminal penalties (up to a class D felony) for tampering with victims or witnesses, including threats, deception, or offering benefits to prevent reporting or prosecution. It affects victims of specified crimes and the organizations providing their services.
HB 2102 allows cities and counties in Missouri to form "neighborhood improvement districts" to fund street lighting in residential areas. These districts can cover installation, maintenance, and electricity costs for LED or equivalent efficient street lights through special assessments on properties within the district or by having electric suppliers bill residents directly. The state creates a dedicated fund to provide matching grants (with the state covering two-thirds of costs up to $2,000 per light) to help local governments implement these projects. Districts are limited to 20 years with possible 20-year extensions, and all funds must be used solely for street lighting improvements as defined in the bill.
HB 2134 requires state Department of Corrections and county sheriff's offices to apply for participation in the federal Warrant Service Officer Program, which allows law enforcement to serve immigration-related administrative warrants under federal law. The bill directly affects correctional facilities and local law enforcement agencies by mandating their participation in this program or offering an alternative "Jail Enforcement Model" for handling immigration status inquiries. Key provisions include requiring agencies to seek federal approval, address denial reasons, and apply for state waivers if repeatedly denied, while outlining processes for rulemaking and program renewal. The law focuses on enabling state/local officers to execute specific immigration warrants without altering federal immigration enforcement authority.
HB 2129 modifies Missouri's requirements for charter school applications and operations. It mandates that new charter schools submit detailed applications covering 17 specific areas, including mission statements, financial plans, academic standards, student discipline policies, and closure procedures. The bill also requires charter sponsors to prioritize applications for schools serving high-risk students (like dropouts) and ensures at least one-third of new charters must focus on these students. This directly affects charter school applicants, sponsors (such as school boards), and the state board of education, which oversees approvals.
HB 2136 makes it unlawful to possess a firearm if someone has a felony conviction (state or federal), is a fugitive, mentally incompetent, habitually intoxicated, or not a U.S. citizen. It classifies unlawful possession as a class C felony, but upgrades it to a class B felony if the person has a prior conviction for the same offense or a dangerous felony. The bill excludes antique firearms from these restrictions. This law directly affects individuals meeting the specified criteria, altering penalties for firearm possession under these conditions.
HB 2132 would establish state-level exclusivity for cigarette and tobacco product taxation, preventing counties, cities, towns, or other local governments from imposing higher taxes than the state sets. It would void any existing local taxes exceeding the level in effect on September 30, 1993, and prohibit new local tax increases without state approval. Local governments could still propose tax hikes via voter referendum, but only if they exceed the 1993 baseline and receive majority approval. This directly affects all local jurisdictions in the state by centralizing tobacco tax authority at the state level.
SB 1064 prevents Missouri cities and counties from creating stricter regulations than the state for tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products. It blocks local bans on products, ingredient rules, or sales licensing but allows existing local age-21 sales laws to remain in effect. Local governments can maintain current rules until January 1, 2026, but any new regulations after that date must follow state law. This directly affects how local jurisdictions can regulate the sale of these products.
SB 984 regulates how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurers audit Missouri pharmacies. It requires 14 days' notice before audits, limits audits to 25 randomly selected prescriptions per year, and mandates pharmacist consultation for clinical audits. The bill prohibits recouping payments for clerical errors (like typos) and bans PBM compensation based on recovered funds. Pharmacies must be given 30 days to address discrepancies, and audits cannot occur during high-volume month periods without consent. These changes directly affect pharmacies and PBMs operating in Missouri, aiming to standardize audit practices and prevent unfair financial penalties.
HB 2121 requires Missouri public schools to post a clear statement about First Amendment religious rights in prominent locations. The statement informs students and employees that they may express religious beliefs, pray, read religious materials during free time, form religious clubs (if secular clubs are allowed), and discuss religion in relevant classes without disrupting school operations. It also affirms employees' rights to discuss faith, address religion's role in history/culture, receive religious accommodations, and sponsor religious clubs under existing legal protections. The bill does not create new rights but mandates schools to visibly communicate existing constitutional protections.
This Missouri bill clarifies property tax classifications by defining key terms for residential, agricultural, and commercial property. It explicitly includes short-term rentals (under 30 days) as residential property for tax purposes, excluding them from "transient housing" like hotels. The bill also expands agricultural property to cover urban community gardens and specifies how properties used for multiple purposes (e.g., farming with a home) should be classified. These changes help ensure consistent tax assessments and provide local governments with rules to adjust levies if property classification changes affect revenue.
HB 2131 reinstates a permit requirement for carrying concealed firearms in Missouri, affecting most residents who wish to carry concealed weapons. The bill prohibits concealed carry in specific locations like schools, churches, government buildings, and election precincts without a valid permit, while maintaining exemptions for law enforcement, firefighters, and other designated officials performing their duties. It clarifies that permits are required for concealed carry in restricted areas, though certain exceptions apply for authorized personnel and specific situations (e.g., transporting firearms in vehicles). This bill modifies existing firearm laws to restore permit mandates that were previously removed, focusing on defined prohibited locations and exemptions.
HB 2135 modifies Missouri's concealed carry permit system by establishing new eligibility rules and validity periods. It requires applicants to be at least 18 years old (or a member of the U.S. Armed Forces), meet residency or military status requirements, and have no disqualifying criminal history (including certain violent misdemeanors or drug offenses within five years). Permits would be valid for five years from issuance, and failure to renew within that period could trigger federal background check restrictions under 27 CFR 478.102(d). This bill directly affects Missouri residents and military members seeking concealed carry permits, replacing previous rules with updated criteria for permit issuance and renewal.
