HB 3131 requires that for all emergency calls classified as mental-health related, law enforcement must respond with a behavioral health specialist (such as a psychologist, social worker, or counselor) alongside the officer. This applies unless dispatch or on-scene assessment indicates an immediate threat of violence, in which case officers may initially secure the scene without the specialist but must bring them in once the scene is safe. The bill mandates standardized dispatch protocols to identify mental-health calls and assign co-response teams, directly affecting Missouri law enforcement agencies and emergency dispatch centers. It aims to improve crisis response by ensuring trained behavioral health professionals are part of the initial emergency team for mental health calls.
HB 2997 creates a public registry of persistent domestic violence offenders within Missouri's Department of Public Safety. It defines "persistent offenders" as individuals convicted of multiple domestic violence offenses against the same victim (including at least one prior conviction), requiring courts to mandate registration upon sentencing. The registry will include names, dates of birth, offense details, conviction dates, and photos - excluding sensitive data like addresses or Social Security numbers - and will be accessible online. Offenders must pay a $150 registration fee, with $100 directed to a domestic violence prevention fund, while the department maintains the system using data from courts, corrections, and law enforcement.
HB 3130 is a Missouri legislative declaration asserting state authority over federal laws regarding firearms and law enforcement transparency. It states that Missouri rejects federal restrictions on gun ownership within the state and declares that federal laws requiring facial coverings for police or limiting gun rights exceed constitutional limits. The bill mandates that all peace officers in Missouri must publicly identify themselves during interactions, prohibiting face coverings except in immediate safety emergencies. This is a declaratory statement of policy, not a new law, and does not change existing legal obligations. It directly affects Missouri law enforcement practices and residents' gun rights within state borders.
HB 2805 modifies Missouri's correctional records policies to protect offender privacy while enabling necessary access. It designates medical records and certain security documents as protected (not public), requires the department to provide offenders with free electronic copies of their medical records within 30 days of request, and establishes rules for sharing records with treatment agencies, law enforcement, or researchers under confidentiality agreements. The bill also creates a new hospice care training program within state prisons, allowing inmates to earn certification through joint programs with health and licensing departments. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals, correctional staff, healthcare providers, and agencies handling offender records.
HB 2892 requires high-risk domestic abuse offenders (those with two prior convictions or a high recidivism risk assessment) to register with Missouri’s Department of Public Safety within 72 hours of conviction or release. Offenders must provide personal details like addresses, employment, and vehicle information, updating within 10 days of changes, with registration lasting five years after sentence completion. The confidential registry is accessible only to law enforcement for safety planning, not the public, and includes penalties for non-compliance (fines for first violations, misdemeanor charges for repeat offenses). The program expires after six years unless reauthorized by the legislature, with biennial reports required to assess effectiveness and recidivism rates.
HB 3148 repeals Missouri's previous requirement that law enforcement officers must be U.S. citizens, replacing it with a provision allowing certain permanent residents to serve. The bill specifically permits individuals who are lawful permanent residents of the U.S. and have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces to work as police officers, turnkeys, or police officers in Missouri. This change directly affects military veterans with permanent residency status who were previously barred from these roles due to citizenship requirements. The key mechanism is the updated eligibility criterion in section 84.120(2), which expands the qualifying group beyond U.S. citizens alone.
HB 2804 requires all peace officers in the state to complete one hour of annual autism sensitivity training as part of their existing continuing education requirements. The training must cover identifying signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and effective communication strategies for interacting with individuals who have ASD. This annual training, which can be completed virtually, is integrated into current law enforcement education mandates and does not add extra hours beyond existing requirements. The bill directly affects all active law enforcement officers employed by county or municipal agencies. It focuses on practical skills to improve officer interactions with people on the autism spectrum during routine encounters.
HB 2735 requires health digital services (like apps tracking reproductive or sexual health) to obtain explicit user consent before sharing, selling, or using sensitive health data - including pregnancy status, birth control usage, or gender transition care details. It prohibits government entities from demanding this data for most investigations, except limited criminal cases unrelated to abortion, pregnancy outcomes, or gender transition care. The bill directly affects health apps, their users, and state/local law enforcement agencies. Key provisions mandate affirmative consent for each data use instance and restrict government access to protect privacy around reproductive and sexual health information.
HB 2985 requires background checks for all private sales or transfers of firearms, affecting individuals selling firearms to others outside of licensed dealer transactions. Sellers must arrange for a background check through a licensed dealer or law enforcement agency before transferring a firearm, and the transfer cannot proceed without the central repository's approval, valid for 30 days. Exceptions include transfers between immediate family members, antique firearms, temporary transfers for hunting or shooting range use, and transfers due to death or legal ownership changes. Violating this requirement would be punishable as a class B misdemeanor.
This bill creates a legal presumption that a statement made during a police custodial interview is involuntary if the officer intentionally used false information to obtain it. The presumption can be overturned only if prosecutors provide clear and convincing evidence that the statement was voluntary despite the officer's deception. Officers who deliberately use false information during such interviews face disciplinary action under existing law. The law directly affects law enforcement officers conducting custodial interrogations and individuals in police custody during questioning.
