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HB 1953

Contains provisions relating to law enforcement officer accountability

2026 Regular Session Introduced by LaKeySha Bosley

Missouri HB 1953 establishes a statewide body-worn camera program, mandatory officer intervention to stop excessive force, and license revocation for unlawful use of force.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
#criminalprocedure #lawenforcementofficersandagencies
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Bill Summary · HB 1953

Overview

Missouri House Bill 1953 (HB 1953), introduced for the 2026 session, establishes new standards for law enforcement accountability. The bill repeals a current provision and replaces it with five new sections that address use-of-force standards, a duty to intervene, internal investigations and prosecutions related to excessive force, and a comprehensive statewide body-worn camera (BWC) regime. It is labeled the “Law Enforcement Accountability Act.”

Main purpose and intent

  • Strengthen accountability for law enforcement by clarifying when force is justified, mandating intervention to stop excessive force, requiring reporting and potential penalties for failing to intervene, and instituting a statewide mandatory video recording program with public access.
  • Create a framework for discipline and license revocation for officers who engage in or fail to prevent unlawful use of force, particularly in serious injury or death scenarios.
  • Increase transparency by enabling public disclosure of prosecutorial decisions related to officer-involved excessive force.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Use of force (repeals and replaces 563.046; five new sections: 563.046, 590.1065, 590.1250, 590.1252, 590.1256)

    • Officers may use physical force, including deadly force, only when objectively reasonable and when arrests are lawful or reasonably believed to be lawful.
    • Deadly force justification is narrowed to cases where it is authorized by law or reasonably necessary to arrest or prevent escape, with specific conditions about felonies involving serious injury or threats, escaping with a weapon, or imminent danger to life.
    • Prohibits respiratory choke-holds except as explicitly authorized; improper use triggers immediate dismissal and license revocation.

  2. Intervention to stop excessive force (590.1065)

    • Officers must intervene to stop another officer from using force beyond what is permitted.
    • The intervening officer must report the intervention to their supervisor (written within 10 days, with basic details).
    • No retaliation or discipline against officers who intervene, report unconstitutional conduct, or refuse to follow unconstitutional directives.
    • If an internal investigation finds failure to intervene in cases resulting in serious injury or death, findings go to the prosecuting attorney to determine charges; the employer must discipline the officer (up to termination) and the director must revoke the officer’s license.
    • If prosecutors charge an officer for excessive force and do not charge others at the scene, the prosecutor must explain non-charge rationale publicly (with potential delay for ongoing investigations, up to 45 days).

  3. Law Enforcement Accountability Act (590.1250)

    • Establishes the act’s name and framework.

  4. Body-worn camera program (590.1252)

    • All peace officers must wear a uniform-attached video camera with audio and video recording during on-duty interactions (with certain exceptions).
    • Recordings must be preserved for at least 60 days and publicly accessible within 14 days of an incident via a statewide database.
    • Exempts undercover operations and situations where recording would endanger safety.
    • Agencies must develop policies prior to January 1, 2027.
    • The Department of Public Safety may issue related rules; rulemaking is subject to Chapter 536, with nonseverability provisions affecting later rules if constitutional issues arise.

  5. License revocation for unlawful use of force (590.1256)

    • Officers convicted of or pled guilty to crimes involving unlawful use or threatened use of physical force, or found civilly liable for such force, must have their license revoked and may not be reinstated unless exonerated by a court.

Who is affected

  • All sworn peace officers in Missouri (with limited exceptions for undercover work and safety concerns).
  • Law enforcement agencies in Missouri, which must implement policies, preserve video records, and comply with reporting and oversight requirements.
  • Prosecuting attorneys, who may need to assess and publicly report on cases where other officers at the scene were not charged.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective implementation timeline includes:
    • Agencies must develop and implement BWCs policies before January 1, 2027.
    • Rules and regulations may be promulgated by the Director of the Department of Public Safety to administer the BWC provisions.
  • Administrative processes:
    • Interventions must be reported in writing within 10 days.
    • Public disclosures related to prosecutorial decisions may be delayed up to 45 days if necessary for ongoing investigations.
  • Disciplinary and licensing consequences:
    • Immediate dismissal and license revocation for improper use of respiratory choke-holds.
    • Disciplinary actions and license revocation for failures to intervene in cases of unlawful force (where serious injury or death occurs), subject to legal and constitutional constraints.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Increased transparency through mandatory video recordings and public access to incident-related materials.
  • Stronger deterrence against unlawful use of force via mandatory intervention obligations and license-revocation provisions.
  • Potential implementation costs and operational adjustments for agencies to deploy BWCs, store recordings, and produce public reports.
  • Enhanced public accountability mechanisms, including prosecutorial transparency, which could influence investigations and charges in officer-involved incidents.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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