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Missouri House Bill 1937 adds sports officials to the legal definition of special victims

Original title: SPECIAL VICTIMS

Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsors: Donna Barnes and 1 other

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Missouri House Bill 1937 expands the state's legal definition of a to include sports officials assaulted while performing their duties at any level of competition. The measure applies to referees, umpires, judges, and linesmen who are trained and certified by a recognized registration organization. The bill was introduced for the 2026 Regular Session.

Why it matters

The change broadens legal protections and potential criminal penalties for assaults committed against referees, umpires, and other athletic officials during sporting events at all levels of competition.

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

sports officials

Sports officials who are trained and certified are added to the statutory definition of special victims, altering legal protections during sporting events.

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

Who qualifies as a sports official under House Bill 1937?
A sports official includes a judge, linesman, official, referee, or umpire who is trained and certified or registered by an organization engaged in the education, training, and certifying or registering of sports officials.
What levels of competition are covered by the bill?
The bill covers all levels of competition.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

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 1, 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

Connected Entities

Joseph Engler, General Assembly, Tonya Rush and 1 more
PersonJoseph Engler“Chief Clerk of the House”Map →
OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Legislative body of the State of Missouri”Map →
PersonTonya Rush“Representative, District 067, cosponsor”Map →
PersonDonna Barnes“Representative, District 028”Map →

Sources

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance60
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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