HB 2696 shifts responsibility for most circuit court expenses from local counties to the state treasury, requiring that all such expenditures (except salaries, clerk hire, and municipal court divisions) be paid from the state. The bill repeals prior laws and establishes new budget procedures: circuit courts must submit spending estimates to county officials, and disputes over these estimates must be reviewed by the judicial finance commission. This directly affects all 40 Missouri circuit courts and their counties, moving financial accountability for court operations from local governments to the state. The law aims to standardize funding and reduce budget conflicts between counties and courts.
This bill requires that individuals arrested for criminal offenses who need a mental health evaluation to determine if they can proceed with trial, conviction, or sentencing must receive that evaluation within 45 days of arrest. It also mandates that if an evaluation shows a person needs treatment, they must be transferred to a mental health facility within 45 days of the evaluation. Exceptions allow delays for medical emergencies, lack of evaluators (with documented efforts), or court-approved delays up to 15 days. The Department of Mental Health must submit annual reports to the legislature starting in 2027, detailing compliance with these timelines.
HB 2751 replaces two Missouri laws related to public safety. It creates a new exemption from disqualification for the food stamp program for individuals convicted of a drug felony who actively participate in or complete substance abuse treatment, comply with court and treatment requirements, avoid new drug offenses for one year, and pass sobriety tests. The bill also modifies how inmates earn time off their sentences by requiring specific conditions for good time credit, which applies only to the current sentence and can be revoked by correctional authorities. These changes directly affect people seeking food assistance and inmates in Missouri's correctional system.
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HJR 161 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove a current Missouri voting restriction. It would eliminate the exclusion of individuals "judged incapacitated" (those with a court-appointed guardian for mental incapacity or involuntarily confined in a mental institution) from voting. The amendment specifically targets the existing constitutional language in Article VIII that bars these voters. If approved by voters in 2026, this change would directly affect Missouri residents currently barred from voting due to court-ordered guardianships related to mental capacity. The bill does not change other voting eligibility rules, such as felony convictions.
SJR 110 proposes amending Missouri's Constitution to allow criminal defendants to waive jury trials with the government's and court's consent, making the judge's ruling legally equivalent to a jury verdict. It repeals the current constitutional provision on jury trials and replaces it with new language governing jury sizes in civil cases and waiver procedures. This constitutional amendment will be submitted to Missouri voters in the 2026 election for approval or rejection. The bill directly affects criminal defendants who choose to forgo a jury trial.
HB 2790 requires stenographers to transcribe grand jury testimony and evidence under oath, with transcriptions made discoverable after redacting privileged information. It directly affects prosecutors, stenographers, and defendants in criminal cases, particularly when witnesses receive immunity. The bill mandates recording all testimony from immunized witnesses and requires prosecutors to provide transcriptions to defendants if an indictment follows. This standardizes documentation while protecting confidential details through mandatory redaction.
HB 2956 allows prosecutors to refile a criminal case if it was dismissed by a court before a hearing or by the prosecutor at any time. However, if the case is dismissed a second time by either the court or the prosecutor, the prosecutor may no longer refile it. This bill directly affects prosecutors and defendants in cases where dismissals occur before trial, establishing clear limits on refiling opportunities after two dismissals. The policy change creates a two-strike rule for case dismissals, preventing repeated refiling after a second dismissal.
HB 2915 allows the Department of Corrections to file a claim of actual innocence in postconviction cases challenging a conviction or sentence. It requires courts to review such claims only if clear and convincing evidence shows innocence and undermines confidence in the original verdict, considering all evidence - including new evidence not presented at trial. If proven, the court must vacate the conviction and provide written findings explaining the evidence used. This directly affects individuals serving prison sentences who can now present new evidence of innocence through this specific legal pathway.
HB 2458 updates definitions and procedures for orders of protection in domestic violence cases. It explicitly defines "abuse" to include intentionally harming a pet (e.g., for control or intimidation), clarifies that "child" means under 18, and specifies that "pet" means a companion animal not used commercially. The bill requires courts to appoint a guardian ad litem for minors involved in protection orders and transfers cases involving minor respondents to juvenile court for a full hearing. These changes directly affect domestic violence victims, pet owners, and children in protection order cases.
HB 1836 requires guardians ad litem (court-appointed advocates for children) to have a private, 15-minute conversation with the child in every court proceeding involving specific child-related cases. This applies to cases under Missouri laws covering child abuse/neglect (chapters 210, 211), custody/visitation/support (chapter 452), and juvenile proceedings (chapter 453). The bill mandates these conversations occur before each court hearing, ensuring the child’s voice is directly heard by their appointed advocate. It does not change legal standards but adds a procedural requirement for guardians ad litem to engage with the child directly.
