MO SB 1246
died on adjournmentSB 1246 - This act modifies provisions relating to the use of self-defense. SELF DEFENSE AND PRESUMPTION OF REASONABLENESS (Section 563.031) Under current law, the defendant has the burden to prove he or she reasonably believed physical or deadly force was necessary to protect him or herself or a third person. This act provides that there shall be a presumption of reasonableness that the defendant believed such force was necessary to defend him or herself or a third person. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 1055 (2026), HB 2176 (2026), SB 363 (2025), HB 363 (2025), SB 771 (2024), SB 43 (2023), SB 666 (2022), and SB 1104 (2022) and is similar to a provision in SB 1345 (2026), SB 147 (2025) and in SB 1117 (2024). IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY FOR SELF-DEFENSE (Section 563.085 and the Repeal of Section 563.016) This act provides that a person who uses or threatens to use force in self-defense is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless such force was used against a law enforcement officer who was acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the person reasonably knew or should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer. Additionally, a law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use or threatened use of force, but the agency may not arrest the person for using or threatening to use force unless the agency determines that there is probable cause that the force that was used or threatened was unlawful. This act provides that the defendant can raise a claim of self-defense during a pre-trial hearing in either a criminal or civil case which shall shift the burden on the party seeking to overcome the immunity by proof of clear and convincing evidence. Finally, this act repeals provisions relating to civil remedies that are unaffected by criminal provisions of self-defense law. These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 1055 (2026), SB 1345 (2026), SB 363 (2025), SB 147 (2025), SB 771 (2024), SB 1117 (2024), SB 43 (2023), SB 666 (2022), and SB 1104 (2022), and are similar to provisions in SB 2176 (2026), HB 363 (2025). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.
Missouri · 2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did MO SB 1246 pass?
No. MO SB 1246 died when the 2026 Regular Session adjourned without final action on it. Bills that die this way are sometimes reintroduced in a later session. Latest recorded action (2025-12-01): Prefiled
What is MO SB 1246 about?
MO SB 1246 is a bill in the 2026 Regular Session titled “SB 1246 - This act modifies provisions relating to the use of self-defense. SELF DEFENSE AND PRESUMPTION OF REASONABLENESS (Section 563.031) Under current law, the defendant has the burden to prove he or she reasonably believed physical or deadly force was necessary to protect him or herself or a third person. This act provides that there shall be a presumption of reasonableness that the defendant believed such force was necessary to defend him or herself or a third person. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 1055 (2026), HB 2176 (2026), SB 363 (2025), HB 363 (2025), SB 771 (2024), SB 43 (2023), SB 666 (2022), and SB 1104 (2022) and is similar to a provision in SB 1345 (2026), SB 147 (2025) and in SB 1117 (2024). IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY FOR SELF-DEFENSE (Section 563.085 and the Repeal of Section 563.016) This act provides that a person who uses or threatens to use force in self-defense is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless such force was used against a law enforcement officer who was acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the person reasonably knew or should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer. Additionally, a law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use or threatened use of force, but the agency may not arrest the person for using or threatening to use force unless the agency determines that there is probable cause that the force that was used or threatened was unlawful. This act provides that the defendant can raise a claim of self-defense during a pre-trial hearing in either a criminal or civil case which shall shift the burden on the party seeking to overcome the immunity by proof of clear and convincing evidence. Finally, this act repeals provisions relating to civil remedies that are unaffected by criminal provisions of self-defense law. These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 1055 (2026), SB 1345 (2026), SB 363 (2025), SB 147 (2025), SB 771 (2024), SB 1117 (2024), SB 43 (2023), SB 666 (2022), and SB 1104 (2022), and are similar to provisions in SB 2176 (2026), HB 363 (2025). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.”.
Who sponsors MO SB 1246?
Brown (26), Ben is the primary sponsor of MO SB 1246.
Description
SB 1246 - This act modifies provisions relating to the use of self-defense. SELF DEFENSE AND PRESUMPTION OF REASONABLENESS (Section 563.031) Under current law, the defendant has the burden to prove he or she reasonably believed physical or deadly force was necessary to protect him or herself or a third person. This act provides that there shall be a presumption of reasonableness that the defendant believed such force was necessary to defend him or herself or a third person. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 1055 (2026), HB 2176 (2026), SB 363 (2025), HB 363 (2025), SB 771 (2024), SB 43 (2023), SB 666 (2022), and SB 1104 (2022) and is similar to a provision in SB 1345 (2026), SB 147 (2025) and in SB 1117 (2024). IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY FOR SELF-DEFENSE (Section 563.085 and the Repeal of Section 563.016) This act provides that a person who uses or threatens to use force in self-defense is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless such force was used against a law enforcement officer who was acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the person reasonably knew or should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer. Additionally, a law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use or threatened use of force, but the agency may not arrest the person for using or threatening to use force unless the agency determines that there is probable cause that the force that was used or threatened was unlawful. This act provides that the defendant can raise a claim of self-defense during a pre-trial hearing in either a criminal or civil case which shall shift the burden on the party seeking to overcome the immunity by proof of clear and convincing evidence. Finally, this act repeals provisions relating to civil remedies that are unaffected by criminal provisions of self-defense law. These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 1055 (2026), SB 1345 (2026), SB 363 (2025), SB 147 (2025), SB 771 (2024), SB 1117 (2024), SB 43 (2023), SB 666 (2022), and SB 1104 (2022), and are similar to provisions in SB 2176 (2026), HB 363 (2025). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.
- Introduced
- —
- Latest action
- 2025-12-01 — Prefiled
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Brown (26), Benprimary
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-01-27
Second Read and Referred S Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee
reading-2,referral-committee
2026-01-07
S First Read
reading-1
2025-12-01
Prefiled
Versions
- 4728S.01I - IntroducedCompare
Documents
Votes
Not provided by source.
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-07-31T14:08:13.255192Z
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