HB 2327, titled the "No Shari'a Act," prohibits Missouri courts, arbitration panels, and agencies from enforcing contracts or decisions based on Shari'a law or any foreign legal system that violates constitutional rights. It voids rulings, contracts choosing foreign law, or provisions granting foreign tribunal jurisdiction if they conflict with U.S. or Missouri constitutional guarantees. The law explicitly excludes religious organizations' internal matters, voluntary corporate agreements with foreign law, and cases where federal law preempts state law. It applies to all state courts and administrative bodies but does not override existing legal precedents.
HB 2343 creates a task force to study and improve educational access for youth in Missouri's juvenile justice system. The task force, composed of legislative members, state officials, and a juvenile court judge, will examine current education practices, gather input from agencies and organizations, and recommend statewide policy changes by December 31, 2026. It directly affects adjudicated youth by focusing on ensuring they receive consistent, appropriate education services. The bill does not enact new laws but establishes a study process to inform future policy.
HB 2348 changes the trial process for first-degree murder cases where the death penalty is not waived. It requires a two-stage trial: first, a jury or judge decides guilt (without considering punishment), and second, if convicted, they determine punishment based on specific legal standards. The bill mandates life imprisonment without parole if the jury finds the defendant intellectually disabled, lacks sufficient aggravating factors, or determines mitigating evidence outweighs aggravating factors. It also clarifies jury instructions for cases where punishment is disputed, including procedures if the jury cannot agree on a sentence. This applies only to offenses committed on or after August 28, 2001.
HB 2338 would allow courts to order fathers to pay child support retroactively for the pregnancy period, starting six weeks after conception (as determined by the mother's doctor), if the mother petitions within two years of the child's birth. It applies only after paternity is established for the biological father or a putative father (alleged father) formally claims paternity. The court would set payment amounts considering the mother and child's best interests, and a putative father who pays support can seek reimbursement from the actual biological father if paternity is later confirmed to belong to someone else. This bill directly affects fathers whose paternity is legally established and mothers seeking support for prenatal care and expenses.
HB 1722 changes Missouri school board election rules, affecting all public school districts. It sets biennial elections for school board members on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years, starting in 2028. The bill limits total service to eight years (counting pre-2028 terms) and requires school board elections to be partisan, with candidates declaring party affiliation or running as independents. These changes replace existing election cycles and term limits for school board members statewide.
HB 2354 modifies protective custody procedures for children in suspected abuse or neglect cases. It allows police, law enforcement, or physicians to take children into temporary custody (up to 24 hours) when immediate danger exists, requiring prompt notification to juvenile officers. The bill also establishes a SAFE-CARE network that mandates referrals to specialists for medical conditions mimicking abuse (like rickets, osteogenesis imperfecta, or vitamin D deficiency) during investigations. Parents or guardians can request alternative medical opinions, and the division must provide access to medical records to support these requests.
HB 2359, nicknamed "Felicity's Law," requires ice cream trucks to install specific safety equipment to protect children. It mandates front passenger mirrors, audible backup alarms, rear visibility systems (like mirrors, sensors, or cameras), and front obstacle detection systems. The bill also requires rear-facing signage at least one square foot in size stating "Caution" or "Watch for Children." This applies to all vehicles selling ready-to-eat frozen desserts, and the bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and read first time).
HB 2344 protects tenants, landlords, and residents who contact law enforcement or emergency services to address abuse, crime, or emergencies. It prohibits local governments from penalizing these individuals through eviction, license revocation, fines, or other penalties for making such requests when done with a reasonable belief that intervention was necessary. The bill allows affected individuals to sue local governments for violations and seek remedies like court orders halting penalties, compensation for damages, and reinstatement of rental licenses. This directly affects people in housing situations who report safety concerns, ensuring they cannot be punished for seeking help.
HB 1726 requires all public K-12 school districts in Missouri to implement enhanced safety standards at every school building they own, operate, or lease. It mandates automatic locking for all exterior doors (except designated emergency areas), visual identification systems at main entrances, and shatter-resistant glass on windows near doors and ground-level windows. The bill specifies that main entrance windows must use bullet-resistant glass while other entry points require riot-resistant glass, and all doors must close automatically when opened. These requirements apply to all public school buildings, excluding private schools, home schools, correctional facilities, and higher education campuses.
HB 1721 requires prosecuting and circuit attorneys to submit standardized, annual reports on case handling to the governor, attorney general, and legislative committees by March 1st each year. The reports must include non-personally identifying data broken down by offense category, covering intake (arrests, referrals, dismissals), dispositions (diversion, pleas, dismissals), and sentencing (incarceration, probation, jail terms). These reports must be made publicly available upon request and help compile uniform data for oversight. The bill directly affects local prosecutors' offices by mandating specific data collection and reporting formats. It aims to increase transparency in how criminal cases are processed across jurisdictions.
HB 2340 removes the legal privilege that normally protects confessions made to ministers or clergy about child abuse or neglect, requiring them to report such cases like other mandated reporters. It applies to religious leaders (including priests, rabbis, and Christian Science practitioners) who hear abuse or neglect confidences while serving in their religious role. Religious organizations must designate an agent to report if staff fail to do so, and the law clarifies that reporting does not violate confidentiality rules. The bill updates existing child protection laws to ensure all suspected abuse is reported to authorities, aligning ministers with other mandated reporters like teachers and doctors.
HB 1729, the "Defend the Guard Act," prohibits Missouri National Guard members from being deployed into active duty combat without a formal U.S. Congressional declaration of war. It directly affects the Missouri National Guard and its members by requiring the governor to block such deployments unless Congress officially declares war under the Constitution. The bill defines "active duty combat" as participation in armed conflict, hazardous foreign service, or duty involving war instruments, and mandates the governor take necessary actions to comply. It explicitly allows the governor to deploy Guard members under Title 32 (state-focused federal duty) but bars deployment into combat without a congressional war declaration.
