LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

VALENTINE’S LAW

Named in honor of St. Louis County Police Detective Antonio Valentine, who was killed on December 1, 2021, when a stolen vehicle fleeing from police crossed into oncoming traffic and struck his patrol car head-on.

The law creates the offense of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention, making it a felony to flee from a law enforcement vehicle while creating a substantial risk of injury. Penalties increase to a Class B felony if the fleeing causes injury and a Class A felony if the fleeing results in death.

The Police Chiefs Legislative Coalition supported this legislation as an important step toward holding offenders accountable when their actions endanger law enforcement officers and the public.

Status: SB 90l passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Mike Parson. Valentine’s Law took effect August 28, 2024.

JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM

Across Missouri, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors have raised concerns that juveniles charged with serious offenses, including violent crimes and weapons violations, are sometimes released from custody before their cases are resolved. The Police Chiefs Legislative Coalition has worked with the Office of State Courts Administrator and juvenile justice authorities to support reforms aimed at strengthening accountability within Missouri’s juvenile justice system.

In March 2026, the Missouri General Assembly passed comprehensive juvenile justice reform legislation in the form of SB 888 and sent the bill to Governor Mike Kehoe for consideration.

The Police Chiefs Legislative Coalition supports these reforms as an effort to strengthen accountability within Missouri’s juvenile justice system while improving the ability of law enforcement and courts to respond to repeat and serious juvenile offenses.

LAW ENFORCEMENT MUTUAL AID

House Bill 1577 proposes changes to RSMo 44.095 to expand Missouri’s law enforcement mutual aid framework statewide and allow broader cooperation with out-of-state agencies.

Under current Missouri law, mutual aid requests across state lines are limited to specific counties in the Kansas City region. Law enforcement leaders in Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass, and Ray counties may request assistance from agencies in neighboring Kansas counties — including Johnson, Wyandotte, and Leavenworth counties — during critical incidents that present a risk of injury or death.

Officers responding from outside Missouri are granted law enforcement authority within the state during those incidents and receive the same legal protections and immunities recognized under their home state’s interpretation of the law.

Status

As of March 2026, HB 1577 has been introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives and remains under consideration. A related bill, HB 1707, was introduced with similar provisions but was later amended to address unrelated sales tax matters.