The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri House Bill 2498 modifies juvenile certification for adult trial and alters fingerprinting and record-keeping rules
Last action · March 12, 2026: Second read and referred: Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence(S)Sponsors: Brad Christ and 1 other
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
Missouri HB 2498 requires law enforcement and juvenile officers to submit specific juvenile arrest, detention, and referral records to the and broadens criteria for certifying juveniles as adults. The measure also establishes new criminal penalties for parents and adults who fail to control repeat juvenile offenders or encourage unlawful conduct.
Law enforcement agencies, juvenile courts, prosecutors, and certain adults face new reporting mandates, data-sharing duties, and criminal misdemeanor liabilities related to juvenile offenses and supervision.
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.
Juvenile offenders
Individuals under 18 taken into custody are subject to mandatory fingerprinting and central repository record-keeping, and face transfer criteria for adult trial.
Law enforcement agencies
Police departments, sheriffs, and law enforcement officials must submit detailed arrest, referral, and fingerprint records to the central repository or risk losing state and federal funding.
Parents and guardians
Legal custodians face criminal charges for endangering the welfare of a child in the second degree if they recklessly fail to exercise reasonable diligence to prevent repeat offenses.
Key Facts
- Law enforcement agencies must submit fingerprints, photographs, and charges for individuals under 18 taken into custody for reportable offenses to the central repository.
- On or before January 1, 2028, all police officers, sheriffs, and chief law enforcement officials must submit referrals for traffic, ordinance, misdemeanor, or felony offenses to prosecuting attorneys.
- Law enforcement agencies that violate the referral reporting rule become ineligible to receive state or federal funds for law enforcement, safety, or criminal justice purposes.
- Parents or guardians who recklessly fail or refuse to exercise reasonable diligence in the care or control of a child under 18 to prevent repeat offenses shall be charged with endangering the welfare of a child in the second degree.
Show all 7 facts
- Any person 18 or older who knowingly encourages, aids, or causes a child under 18 to engage in conduct violating chapter 571, 579, or section 211.031 shall be charged with endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree.
- The juvenile court must consider specific criteria when determining whether to transfer a juvenile to a court of general jurisdiction, including racial disparity in certification.
- Records of a child who has been fingerprinted and photographed shall be closed if a petition is not filed within 30 days, and may be expunged if no petition is filed within one year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a law enforcement agency fails to submit required offense referrals?
When are juvenile fingerprint and photograph records eligible to be closed or expunged?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
24 actions- Mar 12, 2026SenateCommitteeSecond read and referred: Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence(S)
- Feb 23, 2026SenateReported to the Senate and First Read (S)
- Feb 19, 2026HouseFloorThird Read and Passed (H)
- Feb 19, 2026HouseTaken Up for Third Reading (H)
- Feb 19, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Do Pass (H)
- Feb 19, 2026HouseCommitteeVoted Do Pass (H)
Show 18 earlier actions
- Feb 19, 2026HouseExecutive Session Completed (H)
- Feb 18, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Fiscal Review(H)
- Feb 17, 2026HousePerfected with Amendments (H)
- Feb 17, 2026HouseTitle of Bill - Agreed To
- Feb 17, 2026HouseTaken Up for Perfection (H)
- Feb 16, 2026HousePlaced on the Informal Perfection Calendar (H)
- Feb 10, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Do Pass (H)
- Feb 10, 2026HouseCommitteeVoted Do Pass (H)
- Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session Completed (H)
- Jan 29, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Rules - Administrative(H)
- Jan 27, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Do Pass (H)
- Jan 27, 2026HouseCommitteeVoted Do Pass (H)
- Jan 27, 2026HouseExecutive Session Completed (H)
- Jan 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing Completed (H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Children and Families(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 17, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory Electronic and Physical Reporting Deadlines
The bill implements strict data-sharing timelines linked directly to the receipt of state and federal justice funds.
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools