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MissouriHB26372026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Modifies and establishes provisions relating to public safety

Sponsored By: John Black (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

47 provisions identified: 19 benefits, 13 costs, 15 mixed.

More convictions carry longer parole waits

People convicted of dangerous felonies must serve 85% of their sentence before parole eligibility. The expanded list includes specified forced-labor and trafficking crimes, a third failure-to-register offense, and first-degree child endangerment. First-degree statutory rape and statutory sodomy qualify without the former under-12 victim limit. People serving sentences at the same time must serve the minimum required share of the longest sentence before parole eligibility.

Courts can require outpatient mental treatment

Courts can order adults age 18 or older with mental illness into outpatient treatment for up to two years. The person must refuse voluntary community treatment and be unable to make an informed treatment decision. Treatment must prevent decline likely to cause serious harm, or the person must have a qualifying history of treatment noncompliance. That history uses a 36-month window, excluding hospitalization or incarceration immediately before the petition. The court needs clear and convincing evidence, and a suitable program must accept the person. Extensions can be requested before the order expires.

Treatment orders bring oversight and appeal rights

People under outpatient treatment orders get a certified community behavioral health clinic case manager; both report to court at least every 90 days. Providers must immediately report noncompliance, and courts can order evaluation or psychiatric hospitalization for up to 10 days without a hearing. Longer hospitalization requires the local community mental health center's recommendation and cannot exceed 90 days or the remaining order, whichever is shorter. Hospitals must tell people hospitalized without a hearing that they can object and receive a hearing. Discharge is required unless clear and convincing evidence shows hospitalization is needed because the person failed to follow the treatment order.

Overturned offenses allow registry removal petitions

People can petition for registry removal when the offense requiring registration is reversed, vacated, or set aside. The petition must include a certified copy of that action and follow the registry-removal process. This petition is the only removal remedy for that situation; removal is not automatic.

Victims can get lifetime no-contact protection

At sentencing, courts can issue lifetime no-contact orders against people found guilty of dangerous felonies, at a victim's or prosecutor's request. The order starts immediately and is served at sentencing. Defendants can seek termination after the victim's death, a pardon, or dismissal, expungement, or reversal of the conviction; victims can request early expiration. Courts must provide protection-order information for state and national databases and give copies to victims and local law enforcement. Sheriffs must enter received orders within 24 hours; terminations and custody or visitation changes must also be sent for entry.

Privacy protections for first responder disclosures

Information officers and first responders share while receiving program services is generally protected from use as evidence against them. This protection covers criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings. Disclosure is still allowed to prevent harm, with written consent, or when mandatory reporting laws require it.

Breaking no-contact release terms brings penalties

People released on bond or recognizance in a pending criminal case must follow no-contact release conditions. Knowingly contacting a person barred by the condition is a class A misdemeanor. The violation also exposes security pledged for release to forfeiture.

Registrants face travel and temporary-home reporting

Another place counts as a temporary residence after seven days or nights there within 12 months, whether consecutive or not. Registrants must report qualifying temporary stays, their length, and whether the location is in Missouri or elsewhere. Work, volunteering, unpaid internships, school, training, or temporary residence in Missouri require in-person reporting to the relevant local official. Before international travel, registrants must appear and complete required forms at least 21 days before departure. Officials send travel information to the U.S. Marshals Service and the Highway Patrol.

Registry tiers set stricter reporting duties

Registry rules count covered adjudications even without a sentence, including acts treated as convictions under federal registration law. Listed offenses and comparable decisions from other states, territories, the District of Columbia, foreign countries, federal, tribal, and military jurisdictions determine tiers. Repeat offenses and failures to register can place someone in a higher tier; the highest applicable tier controls. Local officials assign the initial tier, and the Highway Patrol reviews determinations received from a new registration official and corrects errors. Notice is due by the next check-in; new duties begin upon notice or a missed check-in, and Tier III registrants must appear every 90 days.

Sex offender registrants cannot change names

People required to remain on the sex offender registry cannot change their legal names during that period. A prior legal name used on or after the conviction date must be reported as an alias.

Protected people can transfer phone accounts

A protection order can transfer wireless numbers and billing rights to the person seeking protection. That person takes responsibility for the numbers, monthly service, and associated device costs; routine account-opening requirements can apply. The court must keep that person's contact information from the other account holder and send the order to the provider. Providers unable to complete the transfer for listed technical or operational reasons must give notice within three business days. Providers and their staff are protected from liability for actions taken in line with the order.

First responders get support and required check-ins

Missouri creates a stress support program for peace officers and first responders affected by critical incidents or emotionally difficult events. Services may include consultation, risk checks, education, and crisis help. Every Missouri peace officer and first responder must complete a mental health check-in every three to five years; qualifying state programs count. Providers must tell the person's commanding officer, director, or supervisor that the check-in is complete. The new 988 Public Safety Fund holds legislative appropriations only for these stress services, keeps unspent balances and investment earnings, and specifies no funding amount.

New sentencing rules for felony defendants

The law repeals the prior 40%, 50%, 80%, and 85% minimum prison-service rules for covered felony offenders. That repeal does not set replacement thresholds. It also removes exclusions for first prison stays before probation under two specified programs when counting prior commitments. Courts classify crimes outside Missouri’s Criminal Code by their authorized penalties for parole, extended sentences, and attempted crimes. State probation officers must provide judge-requested presentence investigations for felonies and specified class A misdemeanors.

Changed laws allow renewed registry petitions

A qualifying registrant can petition again during the otherwise applicable five-year period after a law changes. The earlier denial must have relied on a law later amended, repealed, or invalidated, excluding the specified statutory denial grounds. The new petition must identify the earlier case number, court, and relevant legal change, along with the usual petition information.

Child protections extend to age seventeen

For laws using the amended definition, a child is someone under 18 rather than under 17. Specified first-degree child-endangerment provisions also extend to 17-year-olds. They cover substantial risks to life, body, or health; encouraging specified violations; and listed drug activity in a child’s presence or home.

Courts decide sex-offender registry exemptions

A court petition is the exclusive route to claim the covered registration exemptions, and petitioners must prove eligibility. Covered offenses include certain nonforcible sexual conduct involving victims age 14 or older and certain obscenity offenses. Courts must grant qualifying exemptions and can consider underlying conduct for exemptions not based solely on the offense category. Filing before registration is required pauses those duties; after denial, duties begin three business days after appeal rights are exhausted. An exemption ends registration for that offense, but another nonexempt offense can still require registration.

Defendants receive qualifying custody credit

Courts must record and credit qualifying custody when placing someone on probation for a suspended sentence or ordering imprisonment. The custody must relate to the offense and occur after it but before sentencing to imprisonment. House arrest counts when charges were filed and the person was held on a served arrest warrant. Time not held on that warrant after posting bond, recall of the warrant, or release does not count. The law removes the prior August 28, 2023 applicability limit and the prior express credit cap.

Domestic victims gain protection against isolation

Knowingly isolating or trying to isolate a domestic victim is fourth-degree domestic assault. The conduct must unreasonably and substantially restrict access to people, communication devices, or transportation for the purpose of isolation. With two or more specified prior offenses, it is a class E felony rather than a class A misdemeanor.

Judges gain rape sentencing discretion

The law removes the specific ban on suspended sentences for first-degree rape or attempted first-degree rape. Judges can consider suspending the imposition or execution of a sentence. A suspended sentence is not automatic.

More defendants can seek rehabilitation relief

Courts can reduce sentences or supervision after successful detoxification and rehabilitation for a nonviolent alcohol- or drug-related offense. The law removes exclusions for prior, persistent, and class X offenders under the former minimum-term law. Separate exclusions remain for prior, persistent, dangerous, and persistent misdemeanor offenders under the extended-term law, and persistent sexual offenders. Relief remains the court’s choice.

More registry relief paths and proof

Covered juvenile and out-of-state registrants receive tiers governing reporting frequency and eligibility to seek removal, not whether registration is required. Eligible tier I registrants and tier III juvenile adjudications can use broader proof to seek shorter registration periods. Treatment can be voluntary or court-ordered and certified by a jurisdiction or Missouri’s Attorney General. If treatment records are missing, satisfactory probation-completion records can establish required treatment completion unless rebutted. Applicable clean-record periods and removal requirements remain in place.

New penalties target online harassment and stalking

Cyberharassment covers purposeful or knowing, repeated electronic contact without a legitimate purpose that causes fear or other listed distress. A first offense is a class B misdemeanor; later offenses are class A misdemeanors. Cyberstalking covers purposeful or knowing threatening electronic conduct used to intimidate, track, follow, or cause listed distress. Its first offense is a class A misdemeanor; later offenses are class E felonies. Local prosecutors can request attorney general assistance for listed offenses spanning more than one Missouri jurisdiction.

Online exploitation victims gain felony protections

Sadistic online exploitation is a class E felony. It covers listed forms of internet coercion and manipulation, including pressure to self-harm. It also covers extortion using sexual content and threats using intimate images to demand money.

Out-of-state registrants gain removal petition options

People registered in Missouri solely for an offense adjudicated elsewhere gain another route to seek removal. They qualify to petition if that place did not require registration for the offense when adjudicated. Another route covers people never required to register there who never lived, worked, or attended school there. Petitioners must satisfy Missouri’s removal requirements and prove entitlement under Missouri law when applicable.

Repeat registration offenders gain earlier review

A third failure-to-register conviction no longer requires serving two years before consideration for parole or conditional release. Release is not guaranteed. The offense remains a class A felony carrying 10 to 30 years in prison. Electronic monitoring remains mandatory during supervision after release.

Sex trafficking covers use of substances

Using intoxicating or inhibiting substances is now a listed means of committing trafficking for sexual exploitation. The change applies to people who knowingly engage in conduct covered by that offense.

Stronger protections against stalking and harassment

Full and temporary protection orders can bar committing or threatening cyberstalking. Stalking laws cover knowing repeated conduct or technological abuse that meets a reasonable-person standard for harassment, terror, or intimidation. First-degree stalking also covers specified fears involving death, injury, loved ones, or property. Qualifying repeat first-degree harassment becomes a class D felony; repeat second-degree harassment becomes a class E felony. Specified repeat stalking convictions or targeting officers and their close relatives can also raise offense classifications.

Vehicle occupants gain protection against tracking

Knowingly placing an electronic tracker on a vehicle to monitor an occupant requires every owner's consent unless an exception applies. Unauthorized tracking is a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class E felony for later offenses. Exceptions cover specified police, parental, stolen-property, vulnerable-adult, rental, vehicle-sharing, lienholder, and usage-based insurance tracking. Vehicle manufacturers are excluded from the law's definition of a person.

Mental health detention paperwork needs no notary

Specified workers no longer need notarization for mental health detention applications and supporting papers. This covers peace officers, licensed physicians, designated mental health professionals, registered professional nurses, and hospital employees acting for the hospital. They can instead use a declaration under penalty of perjury.

Seized drones can face forfeiture

Drones and drone systems seized under the covered law can be subject to forfeiture. The same applies when they are seized in connection with a crime. Forfeiture follows Missouri's referenced property-forfeiture process.

Local voters can approve juvenile detention taxes

The law authorizes a local sales tax of up to 1% on taxable retail purchases to fund juvenile detention facilities. A majority of votes cast in each participating county must support the tax before it takes effect there. An approved tax starts on the first day of the second quarter after the election. Revenue goes into a special trust fund and can be used only for the juvenile detention facility. After voters reject a proposal, another proposal cannot go to voters for at least 12 months.

Classified websites face sexual solicitation penalties

Web-based classified service owners or operators commit a class E felony by knowingly leaving a prohibited sexual solicitation ad posted after notice. The violation begins when the ad remains posted more than 72 hours after notice. Penalties include imprisonment, a $5,000 fine for each day beyond that period, or both.

Rape convictions carry higher minimum sentences

First-degree rape or attempted rape carries 10 to 30 years, with separate rules for aggravated offenses and persistent or predatory sexual offenders. Aggravated offenses can carry life without probation or parole. When the victim is under 12, the sentence is life or life without probation or parole; prior age-75 and time-served provisions are removed. For first-degree statutory rape or an attempt, the minimum rises from 5 to 10 years. For aggravated statutory rape or a victim under 12, the minimum rises from 10 to 15 years; life remains an option.

Registrants face deadlines and name restrictions

Registration covers specified tier-qualifying cases dating from July 1, 1979, subject to the statutory exemption process. Covered groups include adult-certified juveniles, people found not guilty because of mental disease or defect, and people committed as criminal sexual psychopaths. Covered adults and juveniles must register within three business days of adjudication, listed release or placement events, or required county registration, subject to the same-offense qualification. Nonresidents register where they have a qualifying temporary home, or for qualifying work, school, volunteering, or internships while their registerable status remains active. Without a qualifying temporary home, only one jurisdiction is required: work takes priority over school, then volunteering or another covered status. Registrants cannot change their names while required to remain on the registry.

Repeat and dangerous offenders face longer sentences

Courts must impose extended prison terms for persistent or dangerous offenders covered by the law's extended-term sentencing rules. Extended terms also apply when the offense law requires a sentence increase based on prior guilt or criminal conduct. For persistent or dangerous offenders covered by these rules, class B, C, D, or E felonies receive the sentence range one class higher.

Serious forced labor offenses bring longer sentences

The minimum prison term for specified serious forced-labor violations rises from 5 to 10 years. This applies when death results or the violation involves kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, or attempted killing. It also covers sexual abuse punishable as a class B felony, or an attempt to commit it. Sentences can be a term of years or life, and the fine remains capped at $250,000.

Tighter sentences for specified sex offenses

For first-degree sodomy or an attempt involving a victim under 12, the law removes two special parole routes. Those routes allowed eligibility after 30 years, or at age 75 after at least 15 years. First-degree sexual trafficking of a child under 14 carries life imprisonment, with no probation or parole eligibility before 30 years. Second-degree child sexual trafficking involving force, abduction, or coercion requires serving 85% of the life sentence, replacing 25 years. The law also removes specified sentencing exemptions for persistent and predatory sexual offenders.

Registrants face changed online reporting rules

Registrants must report covered information changes within three business days, including online identifiers. Temporary lodging and specified email, messaging, internet, and telephone communication details are removed from that change-reporting list. The supplied provisions conflict on online identifier timing: one replaces advance reporting with three business days, while another requires reporting before use. The supplied material does not resolve that conflict.

Registry forms add details and guardian help

Registration forms must include biological sex as listed on the registrant's birth certificate. A court-appointed guardian can sign the form to confirm its accuracy. The registrant must still appear in person, and registry restrictions remain unchanged.

Assault standards change, more workers protected

The law defines bodily harm as pain, injury, illness, or impaired physical condition. Revised bodily, substantial, and great bodily harm standards change how several assault and domestic-assault offenses are classified. Highway workers in work or construction zones gain special-victim status. Utility, cable, and mass-transit workers also gain that status while doing their jobs, bringing higher assault classifications.

Counties share juvenile detention facilities and costs

Counties in the same or adjoining court circuits can jointly establish juvenile detention facilities. Agreements must cover location, construction or financing, tax use, and costs shared by population. Same-circuit projects require participating counties' approval of the local authorizing measure and agreement. Third- and fourth-class counties must establish a facility after the specified written county approvals or a judge's written recommendation following a hearing with 30 days' notice. Presiding judges jointly govern facilities serving adjoining circuits.

Drone restrictions expand around protected facilities

Drone restrictions extend to critical infrastructure and open-air venues holding at least 500 people, down from 5,000. They cover purposeful operations within facility boundaries and crime-related flights on facility property within 400 feet of the ground. Violations generally remain infractions, while specified weapon or drug deliveries are felonies. Exceptions cover facility work by owners, operators, or employees; written consent from the president or chief executive; and lawful, federally authorized commercial flights. Covered facilities must post conspicuous warning signs at least 11 by 14 inches. Federally authorized people can take federally permitted action against credible drone threats to people, facilities, assets, major events, infrastructure, or prisons.

Fingerprinting required in serious juvenile cases

Officers must fingerprint people under 18 who are not certified as adults when taken into custody for listed serious offenses. These include class A or B felonies, sexual-offense felonies under chapter 566, or two separate felony acts within one year. The fingerprints go to the central repository. These juvenile records are closed records.

Juvenile facilities must separate more teens

Adult jails are excluded from the juvenile-facility definition unless the person is at least 18, rather than 17. Facilities sharing buildings or grounds with adult detention must separate spaces, programs, and staff. Specialized support staff can have infrequent contact under the law’s exception. First- and second-class counties and cities outside any county must provide juvenile detention space and juvenile court offices.

Officials face faster registry notice deadlines

Facility officials must complete initial registration notices at least seven days before release and report them within three business days afterward. Courts must explain registration duties; covered probationers must report in the adjudicating county or city within three business days. Courts transmit notices for covered people not placed on probation, and local officials enter notices, completed forms, and updates within three days. The Highway Patrol must make registry data available through state law-enforcement systems and send it to the national crime database. Assigned probation and parole officers must alert officials about expected moves and report new addresses.

Public registry access retains privacy limits

The Highway Patrol must maintain a searchable public registry without the former funding condition, while covered juvenile adjudications stay exempt from internet notices. Local officials can maintain searchable pages and publish specified information about local registrants in newspapers, subject to online exceptions. The Patrol must remove entries after court-ordered removal or exemption, death, or an out-of-state move; movers remain listed until applicable registration compliance elsewhere is confirmed. Specified information about deceased people and out-of-state movers remains publicly available, including movers' names, offenses, registration dates, compliance status, and new states. Registry metadata stays restricted to authorized criminal-justice users; records of removed or exempt people remain governed by public-records law.

Sheriffs control hired attorneys' pay and tenure

Sheriffs set pay for attorneys hired under the covered law. Pay comes from the same funds and revenue used to pay the sheriff. These attorneys serve at the sheriff's pleasure.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John Black

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • David Dolan

    Republican • House

  • John Hewkin

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 633 • No: 114

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

Senate Adopts Conference Committee Report

Yes: 23 • No: 4

House vote • 4/29/2026

House Adopts Conference Committee Report

Yes: 124 • No: 13 • Other: 6

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

Emergency Clause Adopted on Truly Agreed to Bill

Yes: 30 • No: 0

House vote • 4/29/2026

Emergency Clause Adopted

Yes: 125 • No: 15

House vote • 4/29/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed

Yes: 25 • No: 4

House vote • 4/29/2026

Third Read and Passed

Yes: 119 • No: 18 • Other: 7

House vote • 4/27/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Third Read and Passed with Amendments - SS SCS, as amended

Yes: 23 • No: 5

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Emergency Clause Adopted

Yes: 27 • No: 2

House vote • 2/19/2026

Third Read and Passed

Yes: 102 • No: 45 • Other: 2

House vote • 2/19/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 4 • No: 2

House vote • 2/12/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 7 • No: 3

House vote • 2/5/2026

HCS Reported Do Pass

Yes: 8 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Delivered to Secretary of State (G)

    6/12/2026House

  2. Approved by Governor (G)

    6/12/2026House

  3. Delivered to Governor

    5/28/2026House

  4. Signed by President Pro Tem

    5/28/2026Senate

  5. Constitutional Objection Filed

    5/28/2026Senate

  6. Signed by House Speaker

    5/28/2026House

  7. Constitutional Objection Filed

    5/28/2026House

  8. Senate Message

    4/29/2026Senate

  9. Emergency Clause Adopted on Truly Agreed to Bill - AYES: 30 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

    4/29/2026Senate

  10. Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 25 NOES: 4 PRESENT: 0

    4/29/2026Senate

  11. Senate Adopts Conference Committee Report - AYES: 23 NOES: 4 PRESENT: 0

    4/29/2026Senate

  12. Senate Submits Conference Committee Report

    4/29/2026Senate

  13. Conferees to Exceed Differences - in the Title, §558.011, Section 1 and Section C

    4/29/2026Senate

  14. House Message

    4/29/2026House

  15. House Message

    4/29/2026House

  16. Emergency Clause Adopted - AYES: 125 NOES: 15 PRESENT: 0

    4/29/2026House

  17. Third Read and Passed - AYES: 119 NOES: 18 PRESENT: 7

    4/29/2026House

  18. House Adopts Conference Committee Report - AYES: 124 NOES: 13 PRESENT: 6

    4/29/2026House

  19. Conferees to Exceed Differences - in the Title, §558.011, Section 1 and Section C

    4/29/2026House

  20. House Submits Conference Committee Report

    4/29/2026House

  21. Reported Do Pass - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

    4/29/2026House

  22. Voted Do Pass

    4/29/2026House

  23. Executive Session Completed

    4/29/2026House

  24. Referred: Fiscal Review

    4/28/2026House

  25. House Distributes Conference Committee Report

    4/28/2026House

Bill Text

  • Truly Agreed

    4/29/2026

    PDF

  • Perfected

    2/17/2026

    PDF

  • Committee Substitute

    2/5/2026

    PDFPDF

  • Senate Substitute

    2/5/2026

    PDFPDF

  • Introduced

    1/7/2026

    PDF

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