Criminal Justice (Policing · Civil Liberties)

HB 1955 (Missouri House Bill 1955) changes how civil lawsuits against police officers for violating constitutional rights are handled. It removes qualified immunity as a defense for officers who act under color of law, requires courts to award attorney fees to winning plaintiffs, and mandates that an officer's employer must cover most legal costs (except if the officer acted in bad faith or was convicted of a crime). The law also sets a two-year deadline for filing such lawsuits. This directly affects peace officers, their employers, and individuals seeking legal remedies for alleged police misconduct.