HB 1958 Summary

• Expands definition of "domestic violence" and "family or household member" across multiple statutes to include persons in continuing social relationships of a romantic or intimate nature, not just spouses, former spouses, and blood/marriage relatives.

• Requires state highway patrol to include all reported domestic violence incidents (with or without arrest) in the Missouri Crime Index and to compile annual reports on domestic violence-related homicides and suicides by February 1st.

• Establishes mandatory minimum sentences of six months imprisonment for prior domestic violence offenders (one prior conviction within 5 years) and persistent domestic violence offenders (two or more convictions within 10 years), prohibiting suspended sentences, fines in lieu of imprisonment, probation, or parole until minimum served.

• Authorizes law enforcement officers responding to domestic assault scenes to remove firearms from the scene and requires safe storage with information provided to owners on reclaiming the firearm within 14 days of case conclusion.

• Creates felony offense (class D) for possession of a firearm by persons subject to domestic violence protective orders that include credible threat findings or explicit prohibitions on physical force, or those convicted of misdemeanor domestic assault.