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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri HB 2315 regulates death photo dissemination and mandates domestic violence history reporting in suspicious deaths
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsor: Mark Sharp
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What This Bill Would Do
House Bill 2315 restricts the dissemination of post-mortem photographs and video recordings, requires law enforcement to report a deceased person's history of domestic violence to s or s, and establishes specific investigative procedures and autopsy criteria for suspicious or violent deaths involving domestic abuse.
Changes investigative duties for law enforcement agencies and s handling suspicious deaths while restricting public and civil access to autopsy photos unless specific legal criteria or family authorizations are met.
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.
law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement personnel must report domestic violence history during death notifications, conduct mandatory interviews when specific risk factors are present, maintain current training, and forward incident information to the state highway patrol.
county coroners
Coroners receive mandatory notifications regarding a deceased person's domestic violence history and must restrict the dissemination of post-mortem photographs according to new statutory rules.
legal heirs and family members
Family members gain access to victim services during investigations, the right to request investigation records if a case is closed as a non-homicide, and the ability to authorize access to post-mortem photographs.
Key Facts
- Prohibits the making or dissemination of post-mortem photographs, negatives, prints, or video recordings of a deceased person taken during an autopsy or at a death scene, except for criminal actions, court orders, or specific civil actions initiated by legal heirs with verified identification and death certificates.
- Exempts the production or dissemination of body images for forensic pathology, medical or scientific education, research, or investigative purposes by law enforcement or coroners.
- Requires law enforcement officers or officials notifying a coroner or medical examiner of a death to include information about an identifiable history of domestic violence if the deceased was a victim.
- Mandates that law enforcement investigators interview family members, household members, or close friends regarding a history of domestic violence before making findings on the cause and manner of death if three or more specified risk factors are present.
Show all 7 facts
- Permits law enforcement investigators to request a complete autopsy in cases with a history of domestic violence if specific conditions are met, such as premature death, suicide-appearing scenes, coercive control, strangulation, or an altered scene.
- Requires local law enforcement agencies to determine whether a homicide or suicide is related to domestic violence and forward required information to the Missouri state highway patrol.
- Grants family members access to all victim services and support chapters during investigations, and gives family members or their legal counsel the right to request investigation records under chapter 610 if a local agency closes a case with a finding that a death is not a homicide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is authorized to obtain copies of post-mortem photographs under this bill?
What must law enforcement do when notifying a coroner of a death involving domestic violence?
What rights do family members have if a local law enforcement agency closes a death case as a non-homicide?
What else do you want to know?
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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 10, 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- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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