Bill > HB3224

This bill proposes to change how the Sheriff of the City of St. Louis is selected, moving from an elected position to an appointed one. Specifically, it states that the Sheriff will be appointed by a majority vote of the circuit judges and associate circuit judges of the 22nd Judicial Circuit, acting together as a full court (known as "en banc"). This change would take effect after August 28, 2026, though the current Sheriff would finish their term. The bill also clarifies that if a vacancy occurs in the Sheriff's office before the end of the current term, the judges will appoint someone to fill it. The appointed Sheriff would need to meet the same qualifications as elected sheriffs, and while most general laws applying to county sheriffs would also apply to the St. Louis Sheriff, they would not enforce general state criminal laws unless it's part of their usual duties. The bill also allows the Sheriff's office and deputies to be trained and licensed as law enforcement officers, making them eligible for training by the peace officer standards and training commission.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3224&year=2026&code=R