SB 1215 - This act authorizes the sentencing court to reduce a sentence of life without eligibility for probation or parole or reduce a sentence of 30 years or greater to a sentence of life with eligibility for probation or parole if the convicted person has served at least 30 years, was under 20 years of age at the time of the offense, made reasonable efforts towards rehabilitation, and has exhibited model citizen behavior. Any offender receiving such reduction shall be granted a hearing before the Parole Board. Furthermore, an offender receiving a reduction shall provide the Parole Board the following in order to be eligible for supervised release: (1) At least 5 statements from current or former Department of Corrections employees attesting to the offender demonstration of institutional adaptability and conduct in the correctional center; (2) At least 20 signed statements from residents of the community where the offender will reside upon release that commit to providing assistance with the offender's reentry; and (3) A safe and secure home plan. This act is identical to HB 2663 (2026), SB 582 (2025), HB 1151 (2025) and is similar to HB 2127 (2024), HB 907 (2023), and contains a provision similar to HB 1799 (2022), HB 2232 (2022), HB 2254 (2020), HB 195 (2019), and HB 2072 (2018). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.
SB 1657 modifies how city police departments set salaries and funding. It gives boards of police commissioners authority to set officer salaries without legislative approval (minimum current pay), requires cities to fund police at 22% of general revenue in 2025 rising to 25% by 2028, and details overtime pay rules (1.5x for hours over 40). The bill directly affects city police departments, their boards, and officers through changes to compensation structures, funding obligations, and benefit provisions like health insurance and shift differentials. Key mechanisms include mandatory minimum funding percentages, standardized overtime rates, and new allowances for academic achievement or training roles.
HB 3370 requires courts to offer treatment court programs for first-time felony offenders with substance use disorders before they enter a plea. Upon completing the program, pending charges are dismissed (after paying associated costs), and the bill explicitly prohibits treatment courts from barring participants from medication-assisted treatment for opioid or substance misuse. It also establishes procedures for transferring participants between jurisdictions and ensures participation in medication-assisted treatment cannot violate program terms. The bill directly affects eligible offenders in criminal cases seeking substance use disorder treatment instead of traditional sentencing.
HB 2784 requires the Missouri State Highway Patrol to conduct an independent investigation whenever a person under 55 dies in a state Department of Corrections facility. This applies directly to deaths occurring in correctional facilities, ensuring an external review of such incidents. The bill mandates that the Highway Patrol must have full access to all autopsy records and findings from investigations conducted under existing law. It does not alter sentencing or facility operations but establishes a specific procedural requirement for death investigations in prisons. The bill is currently in its early legislative stages, having been introduced in January 2026.
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 2747 modifies Missouri's criminal trial procedures for first-degree murder cases involving the death penalty. It establishes a two-stage trial process: the first stage determines guilt, and the second stage (only if the death penalty wasn't waived) decides sentencing based on aggravating/mitigating factors. The bill specifies that life imprisonment without parole must be imposed if the defendant is intellectually disabled, no aggravating circumstances are proven, or the jury cannot unanimously agree on the death penalty. It also defines "intellectual disability" and applies only to offenses committed on or after August 28, 2001. The bill does not address expungement procedures, despite references to related sections in the text.
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 2637 revises Missouri's criminal justice system by requiring detailed documentation for offender transfers to correctional facilities, including sentencing specifics, health records, and victim information. It establishes a new 12-24 month treatment program for nonviolent offenders with substance abuse issues (excluding those convicted of dangerous felonies), allowing courts to suspend incarceration pending program completion. The bill also mandates parole board guidelines prioritizing serious offenders, using risk assessments, and publishing transparency data on release and recidivism rates. These changes directly affect nonviolent offenders, correctional departments, courts, and parole boards by altering transfer procedures, treatment eligibility, and parole decision-making processes.
HB 2676 ensures inmates receive credit for all time spent in custody after an offense occurred but before their sentence began, including retroactive credit for those held before August 28, 2023. It requires sheriffs and custodial officers to certify pre-sentence custody time, which must be applied toward the sentence regardless of when the offense happened. The bill also clarifies that time served under a vacated sentence counts toward a new sentence and that escapes interrupt both the sentence and credit calculation. This directly affects all individuals sentenced to imprisonment in the state, ensuring they receive full credit for pre-sentence detention. The law mandates that credit cannot exceed the actual time spent in custody prior to sentencing.
HB 2876 modifies Missouri's trial process for first-degree murder cases where the death penalty is sought but not waived. It requires a two-stage trial: first, the jury determines guilt only; second, if convicted, the jury decides sentencing based on specific aggravating circumstances and mitigating evidence. The bill mandates that juries must find aggravating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt to impose the death penalty, or sentence to life without parole if they find intellectual disability, insufficient mitigating evidence, or choose not to impose death. This directly affects defendants charged with first-degree murder in Missouri and changes how capital sentencing is conducted. The law applies to offenses committed on or after August 28, 2001.
