Bill > SB1665

This bill, proposing a new section 542.273 to Missouri law, prohibits state employees, referred to as "government agents," from entering private residences without a warrant, with specific exceptions. These exceptions include obtaining permission from the property owner or occupant, responding to a life-threatening emergency or immediate threat to public safety, or to prevent the imminent destruction of evidence of a crime when there is probable cause to believe such destruction is about to occur. If a government agent enters private land, they must notify the landowner, lessee, or occupant if reasonably possible, and generally must present the warrant if one is present. The bill also mandates that any body-mounted camera worn by a government agent must be activated and recording during the entire time they are on the property. Furthermore, the bill states that private property cannot be seized from a home or private land without a warrant, unless the agent entered with consent or under exigent circumstances and has individualized probable cause of a criminal offense. Evidence obtained in violation of these provisions is inadmissible in any legal proceeding, and any arrest made under such circumstances is invalid. Individuals subjected to a violation may bring a civil lawsuit against the employing state agency, potentially recovering damages and attorney's fees. A "state agency" is defined as any employee of a state agency as defined in section 36.020.

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=4514472