INMATE PHONE CALL FEES (Sections 217.451 & 221.108)

This act provides that correctional centers shall provide offenders with reasonable access to phone services, unless such access is restricted as a disciplinary measure.

Additionally, no correctional center shall charge more than 12 cents per minute for a domestic phone call of an inmate.

These provisions are substantially similar to provisions in the perfected SS/SB 900 (2024) and HCS/HBs 1679 & 2169 (2024) and are similar to SB 1098 (2024), SB 592 (2023), and HB 693 (2023).

REGIONAL JAIL DISTRICTS (Section 221.400, 221.402, 221.405, 221.407, & 221.410)

Under current law, any two or more contiguous counties may establish a regional jail district.

This act provides that if an existing regional jail district already levies a sales tax and another county joins the district, such joining with the district will not be effective until the voters of the county have approved the sales tax. If the voters do not approve the sales tax, the county attempting to join the district shall not be permitted to join.

This act also adds that a district may equip and maintain jail facilities, as well as lease its properties. The regional jail commission shall have the power to acquire, construct, repair, alter, improve, and extend a regional jail and it may contract with governmental or private entities. Commissioners shall also serve until their successors have assumed office.

Under current law, any regional jail district may impose a one-eighth, one-fourth, three-eighths, or one-half of one percent sales tax. This act changes the amount to up to one percent. This act also repeals the provision that such sales tax may be used for court facilities in the regional jail district.

This act also provides that expenditures paid for by the regional jail district sales tax trust fund may be made for any of the district's authorized purposes.

These provisions repeals the sunset provision.

These provisions contain an emergency clause.

These provisions are identical to provisions in the perfected SS/SB 900 (2024).

REIMBURSEMENTS TO JAILS (Section 221.105 & 550.320)

This act provides that whenever a person is sentenced to a term of imprisonment in a correctional center, the Department of Corrections shall reimburse the county or St. Louis City for the days the person spent in custody at a per diem cost not to exceed $37.50 a day.

The sheriff of the county or St. Louis City shall certify to the clerk of the county or to the chief executive officer of St. Louis City the total number of days any offender spent in the county or city jail. The county clerk or the chief executive officer shall then submit the total number of days to the Department no later than two years from the date the claim became eligible for reimbursement. The Department shall determine if the expenses are eligible for reimbursement and shall remit any payment to the county or to St. Louis City.

Finally, this act repeals provisions relating to the current process for counties and St. Louis City to request reimbursement for the number of days an offender spent in a county or city jail.

These provisions are substantially similar to provisions in the perfected SS/SB 900 (2024) and SB 1353 (2024).

PREGNANT OFFENDERS (Sections 221.520 & 221.523)

Under this act, pregnant offenders shall be transported in vehicles equipped with seatbelts. In cases where the sheriff or jailer determines that extraordinary circumstances exist and restraints are necessary, the sheriff or jailer shall document in writing within 48 hours of the incident the reasons for the restraints used, as specified in the act, and they shall be the least restrictive available and the most reasonable under the circumstances. Jails shall offer staff training on the provisions of this act and inform offenders of policies and practices developed under this act.

By January 1, 2026, all county and city jails shall develop specific procedures for intake and care of pregnant offenders, including maternal health evaluations, dietary supplements, nutritious meals, substance abuse treatment, HIV treatment, hepatitis C, sleeping arrangements, mental health, sanitary materials, postpartum recovery, and a requirement that a female medical professional be present during examinations.

These provisions are similar to provisions in SB 277 (2025), in SB 905 (2024), SB 1012 (2024), and HCS/SS/SB 900 (2024), substantially similar to provisions in SCS/SB 803 (2018), HB 1002 (2017), and SB 180 (2017), and similar to provisions in HCS/HBs 1777, 2203, 2059, & 2502 (2024).

KATIE O'BRIEN

This provision is substantially similar to a provision in HB 83 (2025), in SB 143 (2025), HB 227 (2025), in SB 352 (2025), in SCS/SB 897 (2024), SB 1370 (2024), in SCS/HCS/HB 2064 & HCS#2/HB 1886 (2024), and in HCS/HB 2700 (2024).

KATIE O'BRIEN

COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions by a vote of 14 to 0.

The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 916.

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (Section 208.247)

Currently, individuals convicted under federal or state law of a felony offense involving possession, distribution, or use of a controlled substance are prohibited from participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This bill repeals that prohibition, allowing those individuals to access SNAP benefits .

PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE PERSONS (Sections 221.520,221.523, and 491.075)

The bill prohibits all county and city jails, except in extraordinary circumstances, from using restraints on a pregnant offender in her third trimester, including during transportation or labor, delivery, and 48 hours post-delivery.

In cases of extraordinary circumstances that require restraints to be used, the sheriff or jailer must document, in writing and within 48 hours of the incident, the reason for the restraints used, as specified in the bill. If restraints are used, they must be the least restrictive available and the most reasonable under the circumstances. No leg, ankle, or waist restraints, or mechanical restraints can be used; any wrist restraints used must be placed in front of the offender's body. If a doctor, nurse, or other health care provider treating the pregnant offender during this time requests that restraints not be used, the sheriff or jailer accompanying the offender must immediately remove all restraints.

Pregnant offenders are required to be transported in vehicles equipped with seatbelts. Jails must offer staff training on the provisions of this bill and inform offenders of the policies and practices for restraints on pregnant offenders.

By January 1, 2026, all county and city jails must develop specific procedures for intake and care of pregnant offenders, including the provision of maternal health evaluations; dietary supplements; meals; substance abuse treatment; HIV treatment; Hepatitis C treatment; sleeping arrangements; mental health care; sanitary materials; and postpartum recovery.

Currently, a statement made by a child under 14 years of age may be admissible in criminal proceedings, under certain circumstances. This bill amends the age to a child under 18 years of age.

Additionally, the bill provides that visual or audio recordings of a child under 18 years of age or a vulnerable person, as defined in the bill, and relating to certain criminal offenses are admissible in criminal proceedings under certain circumstances, as specified in the bill.

GOOD TIME AND EARNED TIME CREDIT (Section 558.041)

Currently, an offender in a Department of Corrections institution may earn good time credit. This bill expands the credit-earning system to include both "good time credit" for displaying exemplary compliance with institutional disciplinary regulations and "earned time credit" for successfully participating in rehabilitative programming or productive activities. Major conduct violations or a total of six minor conduct violations will result in the loss of all good time and earned time credit. Good time credit will be earned at a rate of 54 days per year of the offender's sentence imposed by the courts and earned time credit will be earned at a rate of 10 days for 30 days of successful participation in rehabilitative programming or productive activities.

If the Department of Corrections determines the offender has not satisfactorily complied with institutional regulations, they will not receive good time credit.

Earned time credit will not be awarded for programs completed prior to an offender's sentence. The Department will specify the types of programs or activities for which earned time credit will be awarded, including but not limited to the following: receiving a high school diploma or equivalent, college diploma or professional certificate, or vocational training certificate, and participating in successful employment, parenting, and financial literacy courses, alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs, and restorative justice and faith-based programs.

From January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, eligible offenders may petition for earned time credit for programs completed between January 1, 2010 and August 28, 2025. The incarcerated population will be notified of the petition process.

Offenders sentenced to death or life sentences without probation will not be eligible for good time credits or earned time credits, but the Department will record their participation in the same manner as the eligible population.

The Department will submit an annual report to the General Assembly on good time credit and earned time credit including the number of offenders receiving credit under both programs.

This bill is similar to HB 1777 (2024).



The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.

PROPONENTS: Supporters say that there is a double standard when it comes to SNAP benefit eligibility. Murderers and sex criminals are able to benefit from these programs after they have paid their debt to society, but people convicted on drug charges are not. Beyond being unfair, it is bad public policy to deny people SNAP benefits when they leave incarceration. When people can't support themselves and provide for basic necessities, we see increases in recidivism. These people end up relying on local food banks. Lack of SNAP benefits as a threat does not deter crime. It only serves to deepen the cycle of poverty. Supporters in favor of the provisions relating to shackling of pregnant offenders during the third trimester, say that this bill is good for unborn children. Law enforcement are still able to restrain offenders in extreme circumstances, so this doesn't increase risk. Strapping people down during pregnancy robs them of dignity and causes emotional harm to all involved. Supporters say that this bill also prevents additional trauma for children who are victims of crimes by increasing safeguards to protect those children during the legal proceedings that follow. It is very painful for children to relive events when testifying and when speaking to investigators.

Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Perkins; Missouri Catholic Conference; Campaign Life Missouri; Patrick Plein, American Conservative Union; Kim Buckman, Feeding Missouri; Jeff Smith, Missouri Apple Seed; Missouri Prosecutors Association; Keith Den Hollander, Christian Coalition of America; Action Now Initiative, LLC; National Association of Social Workers MO Chapter; St. Louis County; MO Network Against Child Abuse; and Arnie Dienoff.

OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee. Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.