HB 2266 replaces Missouri's current law on unlawful use of weapons with specific prohibitions. It bans carrying concealed weapons in restricted areas (like schools, churches, and government buildings), discharging firearms near occupied buildings, and possessing weapons while intoxicated. The bill exempts law enforcement officers, prison staff, and military personnel acting in official duties, even when carrying weapons in restricted locations. This clarifies what constitutes a violation but does not change existing penalty levels for the offense.
HB 2133 expands the legal definition of "special victim" to include certified sports officials (such as referees, umpires, or judges) who are assaulted while performing their duties at any level of sporting event. This change directly affects sports officials by granting them the same legal protections currently available to other defined special victims like law enforcement or emergency personnel. The bill achieves this by explicitly adding section (14)(l) to the definition, clarifying that a sports official must be trained, certified, or registered by a recognized sports organization to qualify under this provision.
HB 1682 defines "person" to include "an unborn child at every stage of development from the moment of fertilization until birth," treating abortion as criminal homicide under existing murder laws. It prohibits abortion except in limited medical emergencies where a licensed physician performs a procedure to save the pregnant person’s life when all alternatives failed. The bill removes defenses like "duress" for abortion-related offenses (except for the mother in specific cases) and allows prosecution in multiple counties based on where the offense occurred or the victim resided. This would directly affect individuals seeking or providing abortions, medical providers, and law enforcement in Missouri.
SB 1321 creates a new Missouri state offense for people entering the state while violating federal immigration law (8 U.S.C. § 1325). It imposes a $10,000 fine for a first offense (classified as a misdemeanor) and escalates to a class E felony for repeat violations. The bill mandates court-ordered removal from Missouri after fines or prison terms, requiring specific details like transportation to a port of entry and law enforcement monitoring. Law enforcement officers may arrest individuals suspected of violating this provision upon probable cause. This bill directly affects immigrants entering Missouri in violation of federal immigration rules, establishing state-level penalties distinct from federal enforcement.
HB 1931 requires arrest warrants issued for crimes in Missouri to remain private in electronic court systems until the arrest is actually made. This affects law enforcement agencies and courts that use digital case management tools, preventing public or unauthorized access to warrant details before an arrest occurs. The bill amends Missouri law (RSMo § 544.076) to ensure warrant information is not visible online until execution, overriding conflicting court rules about case record access. It directly changes how warrant data is handled in Missouri’s electronic systems, focusing on confidentiality during the pre-arrest phase.
HB 1700, titled the "Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act," prohibits Missouri state agencies, law enforcement, and political subdivisions from enforcing any "red flag law" that would temporarily or permanently seize firearms from citizens. The bill defines "red flag law" broadly to include federal or state laws requiring firearm surrender based on safety concerns, excluding only individuals charged with dangerous felonies while on bail. Key provisions ban the use of state funds to enforce such laws, impose $50,000 civil penalties for violations, and allow affected citizens to sue for damages. The law explicitly does not prevent standard firearm seizures as evidence during criminal investigations. This bill directly affects Missouri residents who might face firearm seizures under red flag laws and state officials responsible for law enforcement.
SB 1249 grants the Director of Public Safety the authority to deny an individual a peace officer license or prevent them from entering basic training courses. This directly affects applicants seeking to become peace officers in the state. The bill's key provision is the Director's discretionary power to deny licensing or training access based on specific criteria outlined in the bill (though the abstract does not specify those criteria). The legislation focuses on establishing this administrative review process for licensing eligibility.
HB 2237 establishes detailed procedures for administrative investigations of law enforcement officers that could lead to disciplinary action, economic loss, or other employment consequences. It requires agencies to provide officers with written notice of investigations 24 hours in advance, allow attorney presence during questioning, explain Garrity rights (that answers can't be used criminally), and complete investigations within 90 days (with limited 60-day extensions). The bill directly affects law enforcement officers facing disciplinary reviews by guaranteeing specific procedural rights, including access to complaint details, reasonable interview durations, and a full due process hearing for suspensions or terminations. Key provisions include confidentiality for complaint filers, restrictions on off-duty questioning, and requirements for agencies to maintain complete, confidential records of investigations. The title mentioning "civilian review boards" is inaccurate; the bill focuses solely on internal administrative investigation procedures for officers.
HB 2315 restricts the sharing of photographs or recordings of deceased persons' bodies in cases involving suspicious deaths with a domestic violence history. It prohibits coroners from making or distributing such copies except for criminal cases, court orders, or civil cases with specific authorization from legal heirs or family members (verified via declaration, ID, and death certificate). The bill also requires law enforcement to notify coroners about domestic violence histories when reporting such deaths. Key exceptions include use in forensic pathology, medical education, or law enforcement investigations. This directly affects coroners, law enforcement, and families seeking access to death-related images in domestic violence cases.
SB 1418 would exempt certain criminal offense records from public view on the state's court automation systems. It directly affects individuals convicted of specific offenses whose records would no longer be accessible to the public through these online systems. The bill's key provision is removing these designated records from public search capabilities on the statewide court database, changing how such information is handled. This is a procedural change to court record access, not a new criminal law.
