Missouri 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 7 R · 4 D cosponsors

HB 1840 — Establishes an alert system to assist in the location of missing persons with developmental disabilities

Last action — Delivered to Secretary of State (G)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 01, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Mike Kehoe (Republican) on May 28, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 11 sponsors

    1 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (7 R · 4 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 7 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

Establishes an alert system to locate missing individuals with developmental disabilities.

This bill creates a system to help find missing persons who have developmental disabilities. It aims to improve response times and coordination during search efforts.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families of individuals with developmental disabilities may have quicker assistance in finding their loved ones if they go missing.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

63 added · 205 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill HB 1840 introduced a new title for the legislation, "RJ's Law," which highlights the purpose of the bill in a more recognizable way. Additionally, while most of the content remained the same, the language was streamlined to enhance clarity. Importantly, the language about crisis intervention training for law enforcement now emphasizes the need for effective responses specifically during emergencies involving individuals with developmental disabilities. These changes aim to make the bill more user-friendly and ensure that law enforcement is better prepared to handle these sensitive situations.

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SECOND REGULAR SESSION [TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED] SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO.
SECOND REGULAR SESSION [PERFECTED] HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
2 FOR SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
1840 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY 4186H.03P JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk AN ACT To amend chapter 650, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the establishment of an alert system for missing persons with developmental disabilities, with an emergency clause.
1840 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY 4186S.07T 2026 AN ACT To repeal section 161.412, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof four new sections relating to communications involving persons with disabilities, with a contingent effective date.
Section 161.412, RSMo, is repealed and four new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 161.412, 209.247, 301.287, and 650.535, to read as follows:
Chapter 650, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 650.535, to read as follows:
161.412.
1.
Subject to appropriations, the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing shall provide grants to:
(1) Organizations that provide services for deaf-blind children and their families.
Such services may include providing family support advocates to assist deaf-blind children in participating in their communities and family education specialists to teach parents and siblings skills to support the deaf-blind children in their family;
(2) Organizations that provide services for deaf-blind adults.
Such grants shall be used to provide assistance to deaf-blind adults who are working towards establishing and maintaining independence;
and (3) Organizations that train support service providers.
Such grants shall be used to provide training that will lead to certification of support service providers in Missouri.
2.
The commission shall use a request-for-proposal process to award the grants in this section.
Organizations that receive grants under this section may expend the grant for any EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law.
Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
SS #2 SCS HCS HB 1840 2 purpose authorized in this section.
[The total amount of grants provided under this section shall not exceed three hundred thousand dollars annually.] 209.247.
1.
As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "Commission", the Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing;
(2) "Communication access services", shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Qualified interpreters, as described in section 209.285;
(b) Communication access realtime translation services;
(c) Notetakers, visual or Braille boards, and visual video services;
(d) Open and closed captioning services;
(e) Environmental access support for the deaf-blind and those with low vision;
and (f) Any other effective method of making aurally delivered and printed information available to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing;
(3) "Communication access service provider", an individual who is trained to offer a communication access service to communicate aurally delivered and printed information to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing.
2.
The commission shall establish a statewide communication access services program to improve compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act for agencies and businesses by coordinating resources, filling service gaps, and assisting with costs related to accommodations.
The commission shall:
(1) Develop and maintain a statewide registry of communication access service providers, organized by region, including rural and urban areas;
(2) Create a process for communication access service providers to apply for placement on the registry;
(3) Establish minimum standards for training, equipment, and technology;
(4) Maintain an informational website accessible by businesses, agencies, and individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing regarding resources and available programming;
(5) Provide consultation, training, and technical assistance to aid state and local agencies to be in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act;
(6) Provide information regarding available resources to assist with compliance costs and to support potential communication access service providers in underserved areas;
(7) Conduct outreach activities for urban or rural residents and communication access service providers to expand awareness and capacity in underserved areas;
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SS #2 SCS HCS HB 1840 3 (8) Subject to appropriation, administer scholarships for professional development, internships, and certification testing;
(9) Subject to appropriation and pursuant to rules promulgated under this section, administer and finance requests for communication access services between agencies and businesses and individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing;
(10) Hire a program manager to serve at the pleasure of the director of the commission.
The program manager shall have a background and experience in communication access services.
The salary for the program manager shall be paid out of the fund established in subsection 3 of this section;
and (11) Submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly that includes information on communication access service utilization, registry effectiveness, funding outcomes, and recommendations for improvement.
3.
(1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Communication Access Services Fund", which shall consist of moneys appropriated to the fund and any gifts, donations, grants, and bequests from individuals, private organizations, foundations, or other sources for the purpose of administering the program established in this section.
The state treasurer shall be the custodian of the fund.
In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer may approve disbursements.
The fund shall be a dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be used by the commission for the salary of the program manager, distribution of financial assistance for communication access services, and distribution of scholarships under this section.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.
(3) The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested.
Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.
4.
The commission shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section, including the process for distributing scholarships under subdivision (8) of subsection 2 of this section and determining eligibility for financial assistance under subdivision (9) of subsection 2 of this section.
Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.
This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are SS #2 SCS HCS HB 1840 4 subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void.
301.287.
1.
This section shall be known and referred to as "Mason's Law".
2.
Beginning January 1, 2027, a resident of this state with a health condition or disability that limits or impairs the ability to effectively communicate with law enforcement may, at any time, apply to the department of revenue for a designation that shall be associated with the person's motor vehicle license plate number and available to law enforcement under the Missouri uniform law enforcement system (MULES) established under chapter 43.
3.
The initial application, which shall be on a form prescribed by the department and made available on the department's website, shall by signed by a physician licensed under chapter 334, or a psychologist licensed under chapter 337, certifying that:
(1) The applicant or the applicant's child, parent, or spouse has a physical or mental health condition that is likely to impair the ability to effectively communicate with law enforcement;
and (2) The physician or psychologist has determined that the applicant or the applicant's child, parent, or spouse will have the communication impairment for at least five years.
4.
Upon submission of an application and approval by the department, the department shall notify the Missouri state highway patrol of the resident's approved application and the highway patrol shall prepare an entry in the Missouri uniform law enforcement system (MULES) that indicates that the applicant or the applicant's child, parent, or spouse has a physical or mental health condition that may impair the ability to effectively communicate with law enforcement.
Such entry shall remain active for a period of five years, unless the applicant requests that such designation be removed from the system.
Upon expiration of the five-year period, the designation in MULES may be reactivated upon the filing of a renewal form with the department signed by a physician licensed under chapter 334, or a psychologist licensed under chapter 337, certifying that:
(1) The applicant or the applicant's child, parent, or spouse has a physical or mental health condition that is likely to impair the ability to effectively communicate with law enforcement;
and (2) The physician or psychologist has determined that the applicant or the applicant's child, parent, or spouse will have the communication impairment for at least five years.
SS #2 SCS HCS HB 1840 5 5.
The department of public safety shall issue guidance and education materials to all law enforcement agencies in this state to promote awareness of the designation established under this section.
6.
The department of revenue may promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section.
Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.
This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void.
There is hereby created within the department of public safety a statewide program called the "Purple Alert System" to aid in the identification and location, through immediate and effective community and emergency response, of missing persons with developmental disabilities whose disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to the missing persons and who are believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance.
There is hereby created within the department of public safety a statewide program called the "Purple Alert System" to aid in the identification and location of missing persons with developmental disabilities whose disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm to themselves through immediate and effective community and emergency response.
4.
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law.
Before July 1, 2027, the department of public safety, in cooperation with the Missouri state highway patrol, department of transportation, department of mental health, local developmental disability resource boards, the state lottery, and local law enforcement agencies shall:
Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
HCS HB 1840 2 4.
Before July 1, 2027, the department of public safety, in cooperation with the Missouri state highway patrol, department of transportation, department of health and senior services, the state lottery, and local law enforcement agencies shall:
The training program shall implement crisis intervention team training to equip law enforcement officers with the skills necessary to understand developmental disabilities, to de-escalate interactions with persons in crisis, to facilitate appropriate interventions, SS #2 SCS HCS HB 1840 6 and to respond effectively to a reported missing person emergency when the person has a developmental disability;
The training program shall implement crisis intervention team training to equip law enforcement officers with the skills necessary to understand developmental disabilities, to de-escalate interactions with persons in crisis, to facilitate appropriate interventions, and to respond effectively to a reported missing person emergency when the person has a developmental disability;
Section B.
HCS HB 1840 3 Section B.
The enactment of section 301.287 of this act shall take effect as soon as technologically possible following the development and maintenance of a modernized, integrated system for the titling of vehicles, issuance and renewal of vehicle registrations, issuance and renewal of driver's licenses and identification cards, and perfection and release of liens and encumbrances on vehicles, to be funded by the motor vehicle administration technology fund as created in section 301.558.
Because immediate action is necessary to protect persons with disabilities, section A of this act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace, and safety, and is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and section A of this act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.
Following the development of the system, the SS #2 SCS HCS HB 1840 7 director of the department of revenue shall notify the governor, the secretary of state, and the revisor of statutes, and shall implement the provisions of section 301.287 of this act.
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Amendments

4 amendments

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Action History

  1. Delivered to Governor

  2. Signed by President Pro Tem (S)

  3. Signed by House Speaker (H)

  4. House Message (H)

  5. Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 137 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0

  6. House Adopts (H) - SS#2

  7. Taken Up

  8. Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

  9. Voted Do Pass (H)

  10. Executive Session Completed (H)

  11. Referred: Fiscal Review(H)

  12. Reported to the House with... (H) - SS#2

  13. Third Read and Passed (S) - AYES: 29 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0

  14. Taken Up

  15. Reported Do Pass (S)

  16. Voted Do Pass (S)

  17. Executive Session Held (S)

  18. Referred: Fiscal Oversight(S)

  19. SS#2 Adopted (S)

  20. SS#2 Offered (S)

  21. SS Withdrawn (S)

  22. Taken Up for Third Reading (S)

  23. Placed on Informal Calendar - SS SCS pending

  24. SS Offered

  25. Taken Up for Third Reading (S)

  26. Placed on Informal Calendar

  27. SCS Reported Do Pass (S)

  28. SCS Voted Do Pass (S)

  29. Executive Session Held (S)

  30. Public Hearing Held (S)

  31. Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - Monday, April 13, 2026, 2:00 p.m., SCR 1 - 1st Floor

  32. Second read and referred: Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety(S)

  33. Reported to the Senate and First Read (S)

  34. Emergency Clause Adopted (H) - AYES: 143 NOES: 8 PRESENT: 0

  35. Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 153 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

  36. Taken Up for Third Reading (H)

  37. Placed on the Informal Third Reading Calendar (H)

  38. Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1, adopted

  39. HCS Adopted (H)

  40. Title of Bill - Agreed To

  41. Taken Up for Perfection (H)

  42. Placed on the Informal Perfection Calendar (H)

  43. Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

  44. Voted Do Pass (H)

  45. Executive Session Completed (H)

  46. Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

  47. HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 12 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

  48. HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

  49. Executive Session Completed (H)

  50. Public Hearing Completed (H)

  51. Referred: Children and Families(H)

  52. Read Second Time (H)

  53. Read First Time (H)

  54. Prefiled (H)

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 188 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (10)

Not signed on (188)

188 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 188 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights healthcare labor
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 1840?
HB 1840 is sponsored by Wendy L. Hausman (Republican), Marlon Anderson (Democratic), David Dolan (Republican), Terri Violet (Republican), Raychel Proudie (Democratic), Donna Barnes (Democratic), Holly Jones (Republican), Ann Kelley (Republican), Tonya Rush (Democratic), Bill Irwin (Republican), and Sherri Gallick (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 1840?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 01, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 1840?
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