Browse Legislation

Modifies Supreme Court Rule 33.01 relating to conditions of release from custody in criminal proceedings

SB 1721 - This act modifies provisions relating to initiative petitions and referenda. STANDARDIZATION OF SIGNATURE SHEETS AND SAMPLE SHEETS (Section 116.045, 116.050, 116.130) The act requires all signature sheets for initiative and referendum petitions to be on a form that is prescribed by the Secretary of State (SOS). The form is required to be made available in electronic format. Furthermore, all signatures gathered must be in black or dark ink. The text of each proposed measure as it appears on each sample sheet must be in a font not smaller than 12-point Times New Roman, with a top, bottom, left, and right margin not less than one inch. The full and correct text of all initiative and referendum petition measures must conform to constitutional requirements. PETITION FORMS AND CIRCULATOR REQUIREMENTS (Sections 116.030, 116.040, and 116.080) The act modifies the requirements to be a circulator of initiative or referendum petitions. Specifically, circulators must be: · A citizen of the United States; · 18 years of age or older; · A resident of this state, or in the alternative, physically present in this state for at least 30 consecutive days prior to collecting signatures; and · Registered to circulate signature pages with the SOS. Circulators are not permitted to be paid anything of value that is based on the number of signatures collected. The circulator forms are modified to include a phrase acknowledging that the circulator meets the aforementioned qualifications. CHALLENGES TO BALLOT TITLES AND CERTIFICATES OF SUFFICIENCY (Sections 116.190 and 116.200) Under current law, any citizen may file an action in circuit court challenging a ballot title or a certificate of sufficiency placing a measure on the ballot. This act only permits Missouri registered voters to bring such actions. Furthermore, any party to such an action is permitted to appeal within 10 days after the entry of the judgment of the circuit court. Under current law, any action challenging a ballot title that is not fully and finally adjudicated within 180 days of filing, and more than 56 days prior to the election in which the measure is to appear, including all appeals, shall be extinguished, unless a court extends such period upon a finding of good cause for such extension. This act requires extensions to be made upon an express finding of good cause, provided that no extension shall cause the final adjudication to occur less than 56 days prior to the election. Furthermore, no court shall have the authority to issue any form of relief after time for adjudication has expired under this act. FILING AND APPROVAL OF SAMPLE SHEETS (Sections 116.332 and 116.334) The act provides that sample sheets for initiative or referendum petitions may be filed at any time between the end of one general election and 6 months prior to the next general election. Under current law, prior to the collection of signatures, the SOS and Attorney General (AG) are required to review each petition for sufficiency as to form and approve or reject such petition on that basis. This act requires the SOS and AG to review each petition for compliance with constitutional requirements and approve or reject the petition, stating the reasons for rejection, if any. PUBLIC HEARING REQUIREMENT (Section 116.153) Current law requires the Joint Committee on Legislative Research to hold a public hearing in Jefferson City to take public comments concerning any proposed ballot measure within 30 days of the measure being certified for the ballot. This act repeals such requirement. This provision is identical to SB 113 (2023). This act is substantially similar to HB 2124 (2026), certain provisions in HB 3263 (2026), SB 1270 (2024), SB 490 (2023), and HB 703 (2023), and similar to SB 862 (2022), SB 149 (2021), SB 522 (2020), SCS/SB 5 (2019), HB 290 (2109),SS/SCS/SB 893 (2018), and HCS/HB 1289 (2018). SCOTT SVAGERA

SB 1055 - This act modifies several provisions relating to firearms. ANTI-RED FLAG GUN SEIZURE ACT (Section 1.486) This act establishes the "Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act" which provides that any federal order of protection or other federal judicial or executive order which directs the seizure of a firearm or prohibits the possession of a firearm, except any person who cannot possess a firearm under state law, shall not be enforced in this state. Additionally, no public agency, political subdivision, or law enforcement agency shall receive any federal funding for the purpose of enforcing any federal acts or judicial orders confiscating any firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition. Any political subdivision or law enforcement officer who violates this act shall be subject to a $50,000 penalty per occurrence. Sovereign immunity shall not be an affirmative defense. This provision contains an emergency clause. This provision is identical to SB 142 (2025) and HB 1651 (2024), similar to HB 1683 (2026), HB 1700 (2026), HB 2176 (2026), and is substantially similar to HCS/HBs 434 & 459 (2025) and HB 712 (2023). FIREARM SALES TAX HOLIDAY (Sections 144.049 and 144.526) Current law provides for a sales tax holiday for the sale of certain items. This act adds the retail sale of firearms and ammunition to each such holiday. SALE OF CONFISCATED FIREARMS (Sections 542.301 and 571.095) Current law provides for the sale of any firearm and ammunition that is confiscated in connection with any felony committed with the use of a firearm. This act requires that a notice for any such sale be posted on the website and social media accounts of the police or sheriff's department responsible for the confiscation, as described in the act. USE OF SELF-DEFENSE (Sections 563.031 and 563.085) Under current law, the defendant has the burden to prove he or she reasonably believed physical or deadly force was necessary to protect him or herself or a third person. This act provides that there shall be a presumption of reasonableness that the defendant believed such force was necessary to defend him or herself or a third person. (Section 563.031) This provision is identical to a provision in SB 363 (2025), HB 363 (2025), SB 771 (2024), SB 43 (2023), SB 666 (2022), and SB 1104 (2022) and is similar to a provision in SB 1459 (2026), HB 2176 (2026), SB 147 (2025) and SB 1117 (2024). This act provides that a person who uses or threatens to use force in self-defense is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless such force was used against a law enforcement officer who was acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the person reasonably knew or should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer. Additionally, a law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use or threatened use of force, but the agency may not arrest the person for using or threatening to use force unless the agency determines that there is probable cause that the force that was used or threatened was unlawful. This act provides that the defendant can raise a claim of self-defense during a pre-trial hearing in either a criminal or civil case which shall shift the burden on the party seeking to overcome the immunity by proof of clear and convincing evidence. Finally, this act repeals provisions relating to civil remedies that are unaffected by criminal provisions of self-defense law. (Section 563.085) These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 147 (2025), SB 363 (2025), SB 771 (2024), SB 1117 (2024), SB 43 (2023), SB 666 (2022), and SB 1104 (2022), and are similar to provisions in HB 363 (2025). FIREARM SUPPRESSORS (Sections 571.020 and 571.930 to 571.940) This act repeals prohibitions on the possession and selling of firearm silencers. Additionally, this act provides that after August 28, 2026, the offense of knowingly possessing or selling a firearm silencer shall not be prosecuted. If a criminal action is pending regarding a firearm silencer, such action shall be dismissed. This act also provides that a firearm suppressor that is manufactured in this state and remains in this state shall not be subject to federal law or federal regulation. A firearm suppressor manufactured and sold in this state shall have the words "Made in Missouri" clearly stamped on it. The Attorney General shall also seek a declaratory judgment on the constitutionality of this act from a federal district court on behalf of anyone in this state manufacturing firearm suppressors. Finally, this act shall apply to all agencies, boards, municipalities, and courts of this state. No entity in this state shall adopt any rule or regulation that allows the enforcement of federal laws regarding firearm silencers. Any entity which adopts any such rule or regulation shall not receive state grant funds. Any citizen with evidence of a violation of this act may submit a complaint to the Attorney General. The Attorney General may file a writ of mandamus pursuant to any citizen complaint. These provisions are identical to HB 1730 (2026), SB 273 (2025) and are substantially similar to HCS/HBs 548 & 898 (2025). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

Creates the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor and creates an income tax deduction for compensation as a first responder

SCS/SBs 1150 & 1043 - A person commits the offense of masked intimidation if the person intentionally harasses, intimidates, or threatens any other person while hiding or concealing their face with a mask, hood, or any other article or device for the purpose of concealing their identity and with the intent to place another person in reasonable fear for their physical safety. The offense is a class E felony unless it is a second or subsequent offense, in which case it is a class D felony. This offense shall also be considered a hate offense punishable as a class E felony when the state believes that the offense was knowingly motivated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim. This act shall not apply to any person wearing a mask or otherwise covering one's face in certain cases, including for holidays, the occupation of the person, weather, artistic or theatrical production, emergencies, or religious purposes. Additionally, nothing in this act shall be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment. This act is identical to provisions contained in SB 1421 (2026), and is similar to HB 2848 (2026). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

SB 1226 - This act provides that an offender shall be eligible to receive a parole hearing after serving 30 years or more of his or her sentence if such offender: • Is incarcerated in a correctional facility after being sentenced by a court; • Is serving a sentence of life without parole for the offense of first or second degree murder prior to October 1, 1984; • Is 60 years of age or older; • Has no felony convictions prior to the conviction for which he or she is currently incarcerated; and • Is not a convicted sex offender. During the parole hearing, the Parole Board ("Board") shall determine if there is a reasonable probability the offender will not violate the law upon release. If the Board determines a reasonable probability exists, the offender shall be eligible for release upon a finding that the offender has a record of good conduct while incarcerated, demonstrated self-rehabilitation, developed a workable parole plane, and has a risk factor and mental health score determined appropriate by the Board. Any offender released under this act shall be subject to a minimum of five years of supervision by the Board. This act is identical to SB 1681 (2026), SB 234 (2025), SB 341 (2025), SB 914 (2024), SB 1147 (2024), SB 147 (2023), and SB 714 (2022) and is similar to SB 1335 (2026), SB 438 (2025), SB 1218 (2024), SB 581 (2023), SB 995 (2022), HB 2134 (2022), HB 277 (2021), and HB 1078 (2019). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

Establishes the "Missouri Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act"

Modifies provisions relating to compensation for services rendered in veteran benefits matters

Requires General Assembly and gubernatorial approval of proposed administrative rules with a fiscal note over $250,000

Creates provisions relating to access to fertility treatment

Modifies provisions relating to driving while intoxicated

Modifies provisions relating to the licensure of physicians

SB 1455 - The act establishes the "Guidelines for User Age-Verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2026" or the "GUARD Act". The act provides that it shall be unlawful to design, develop, or make available an artificial intelligence chatbot knowing or with reckless disregard that the chatbot poses certain risks of soliciting minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct or encouraging minors to create or transmit any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. Any person who violates this provision shall be fined not more than $100,000 per offense. It shall be unlawful to design, develop, or make available an artificial intelligence chatbot knowing or with reckless disregard that the chatbot encourages, promotes, or coerces suicide, self-injury, or imminent physical or sexual violence. Any person who violates this provision shall be fined not more than $100,000 per offense. A covered entity, as defined in the act, shall require each individual accessing a chatbot to make a user account in order to use the chatbot. For any chatbot that exists as of August 28, 2026, a covered entity shall freeze the account, require the user to provide age data to restore the account, and using the age data classify each user as a minor or an adult. At the time an individual creates a new user account to interact with a chatbot, a covered entity shall request age data from the individual, verify the individual's age using a reasonable age verification process, and classify each user as a minor or an adult using the age data. A covered entity shall periodically review previously verified user accounts using a reasonable age verification process. A covered entity may contract with a third party to employ reasonable age verification measures as part of the age verification process, as described in the act. A covered entity shall establish reasonable measures to protect personal data as described in the act. Each artificial intelligence chatbot shall at the start of each conversation with a user at 30-minute intervals disclose to the user that the chatbot is artificial intelligence and not a human being and be programmed to ensure that the chatbot does not claim to be a human being. The chatbot shall not represent that the chatbot is a licensed professional, as described in the act, or that the chatbot provides certain professional services, as described in the act. If the age verification process determines that an individual is a minor, a covered entity shall prohibit the minor from accessing any chatbot made available by the covered entity. The Attorney General may bring a civil action for violations of the act. Relief is described in the act. The act is similar to HCS/HB 2032 (2026). JULIA SHEVELEVA

Modifies provisions relating to the enforcement of child custody and visitation orders

Modifies provisions relating to vehicle registration

Authorizes a child tax credit

Establishes the Missouri Homestead Act

Requires all employers to enroll and actively participate in a federal work authorization program

Modifies provisions relating to public safety

To appropriate state funding for Elected Officials, the Office of Public Defender, the Judiciary, and the General Assembly