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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri House Bill 1859 establishes an infraction for possessing an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsor: Steve Butz
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What This Bill Would Do
HB 1859 creates the offense of possessing an open alcoholic beverage container in the of a motor vehicle on public roads. Violations are classified as s and are not recorded on Department of Revenue records. The measure exempts passengers in vehicles used for transporting persons for compensation and residents in the living quarters of motor homes or house trailers.
Drivers and passengers caught with open containers face penalties, while operators alone in a vehicle are legally deemed responsible for any open container present.
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.
drivers
Drivers face potential infraction charges if open alcohol containers are present in the passenger area of their motor vehicle.
passengers
Passengers can be charged with an infraction if they possess an open alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area.
Department of Revenue
The department is barred from recording infractions related to this offense on its maintained records.
Key Facts
- A person commits the offense of possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle if they possess an open container with alcohol in the passenger area while on a public thoroughfare, state road, county road, public street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, alley, or public highway.
- The offense is classified as an infraction and will not be recorded on Department of Revenue records.
- An open alcoholic beverage container is defined as any bottle, can, or receptacle containing alcohol that is open, has a broken seal, or has had its contents partially removed.
- The passenger area includes seating areas and any space readily accessible to the driver or passengers, but excludes locked glove compartments, trunks, or areas behind the rearmost upright seat in vehicles without a trunk.
Show all 6 facts
- The restriction does not apply to passengers in vehicles designed, maintained, or used primarily to transport persons for compensation, or in the living quarters of a motor home or house trailer.
- Only the individual who possesses the open container can be charged, except that a sole operator of a motor vehicle is deemed to possess any open container present in the passenger area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What constitutes an open alcoholic beverage container under this bill?
Will an infraction for this offense appear on my Department of Revenue records?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- May 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Emerging Issues(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 1, 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
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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