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HB 2369MISSOURISession 2026State Billin committee
High Impact

Missouri creates statewide Department of Public Safety licensing for security guards and companies

Original title: LICENSING OF SECURITY GUARDS AND COMPANIES

Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsor: Tara Peters

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
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What This Bill Would Do

Beginning January 1, 2028, security guards and security companies in Missouri must obtain a state license from the Department of Public Safety, replacing local police board licensing and making unlicensed operation a class B misdemeanor. The bill establishes three guard license classes (armed, unarmed, and watchman), specific training and endorsement requirements, and a dedicated financed by license fees.

Why it matters

Security companies and guards face new state training, age minimums, $1 million liability insurance requirements, and mandatory continuing education, while local political subdivisions are barred from creating new occupational licenses.

Background
  • Private security licensing in Missouri has historically been handled at the local level by municipal police boards or commissioners, such as in St. Louis. context
  • The Fresh Start Act of 2020 governs occupational licensing restrictions related to prior criminal convictions across Missouri state agencies. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Security guards

Security guards must obtain state licenses, complete mandatory training, adhere to class-specific operational limits, and complete annual continuing education.

Directly affected

Security companies

Security companies must secure state licenses, maintain $1 million in liability insurance, ensure all employed guards are licensed, and meet managerial experience standards.

Directly affected

Department of Public Safety

The department assumes sole statewide authority for licensing, rulemaking, fee collection, and handling disciplinary complaints through the administrative hearing commission.

Directly affected

Local political subdivisions

Local governments are prohibited from creating new occupational licenses and can only require state license verification and a registration fee for security personnel.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the requirement to hold a state security license take effect?
Beginning January 1, 2028, no person may establish a security company or perform security services as a guard without a license issued by the Department of Public Safety.
What are the different classes of security guard licenses?
There are three classes: Class A for armed security guards, Class B for unarmed security guards carrying a security tool, and Class C for watchmen engaged only in observation and reporting.
Can security guards make arrests under this legislation?
Guards may make arrests only if they hold a limited powers-of-arrest endorsement, act under the same conditions as local police officers for specific offenses, and avoid vehicle pursuits and deadly force for property protection alone.
Are police officers exempt from these new licensing rules?
Certified peace officers working under contract in official law enforcement uniform and qualified retired peace officers are exempt from training requirements when licensed as guards.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. May 15, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
  2. Jan 8, 2026HouseFloor
    Read Second Time (H)
  3. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Read First Time (H)
  4. Dec 11, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Prefiled (H)

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Tara PetersHouse · District 122RepublicanSponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift98% confidence

Centralization of Security Licensing

The legislation shifts private security licensing authority away from municipal police boards and commissioners to the state Department of Public Safety.

Department of Public Safety

Connected Entities

Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, Department of Public Safety, Tara Peters and 2 more
OrganizationPeace Officer Standards and Training Commission“Commission approving training and continuing education for licensees”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Public Safety“State department granted sole authority to license and regulate security guards ”Map →
PersonTara Peters“Representative, District 122, introducing House Bill No. 2369”Map →
OrganizationAdministrative Hearing Commission“Commission handling disciplinary hearings and appeals for licensing actions unde”Map →
OrganizationSecurity Industry Fund“Dedicated state fund created in the state treasury to hold licensing fees”Map →

Sources

Open source document

house.mo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance80
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy35
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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