Missouri HB2521: Abolishes the death penalty and specifies that any person sentenced to death must be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole

What the bill says

From the introduced text:

SECOND REGULAR SESSION HOUSE BILL NO. 2521 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE REED. 4944H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk To repeal sections 546.680, 546.690, 546.700, 546.710, 546.720, 546.730, 546.740, 546.750, 546.800, 546.810, 546.820, 557.021, 565.004, 565.005, 565.006, 565.020, 565.030, 565.032, 565.035, and 565.040, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof five new sections relating to repealing the death penalty, with a penalty provision. Section A. Sections 546.680, 546.690, 546.700, 546.710, 546.720, 546.730, 546.740, 546.750, 546.800, 546.810, 546.820, 557.021, 565.004, 565.005, 565.006, 565.020, 565.030, 565.032, 565.035, and 565.040, RSMo, are repealed and five new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 557.021, 565.004, 565.006, 565.020, and 565.040, to read as follows: 557.021. 1. Any offense defined outside this code [which] that is declared to be a misdemeanor without specification of the penalty therefor is a class A misdemeanor. 2. Any offense defined outside this code [which] that is declared to be a felony without specification of the penalty therefor is a class E felony. 3. For the purpose of applying the extended term provisions of section 558.016 and the minimum prison term provisions of section 558.019 and for determining the penalty for attempts, offenses defined outside of this code shall be classified as follows: (1) If the offense is a imprisonment for life without eligibility for probation, parole, …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Raymond Reed (D, 083) · primary sponsor
• Jeremy Dean (D, 132)
• Mark Boyko (D, 090)

Latest actions

1. May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
2. January 8, 2026: Read Second Time (H)
3. January 7, 2026: Read First Time (H)
4. December 18, 2025: Prefiled (H)

Common questions

What is HB2521?

HB2521 is a bill in the Missouri Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Abolishes the death penalty and specifies that any person sentenced to death must be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

What is the status of HB2521?

In committee as of May 15, 2026. Latest action: Referred: Emerging Issues(H) (May 15, 2026).

Who sponsored HB2521?

Raymond Reed (D, 083), with 2 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB2521?

On the Missouri Legislature website: https://house.mo.gov/BillContent.aspx?bill=HB2521&year=2026&code=R