Missouri legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Missouri SB1785: Adds provisions relating to bonds for violent offenders
Status: In committee, May 7, 2026
SB 1785 - This act requires that a bonding company or an agent executing a bond must collect fifty percent of the bonding fee prior to executing a bond if the defendant is charged with certain felony offenses. The bonding agent is also required to certify to the court that they have received the required percentage from the defendant when they file the bonding paperwork. If a bonding agent fails to provide the certification, they shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. If an agent falsifies documentation it shall be a class E felony. Additionally, if a bonding agent fails to provide the certification, or falsifies documentation, they shall be disqualified from writing bail bonds for a period of five years. TRISTAN BENSON, JR.
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILL NO. 1785 103RD GENERA L ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR HUDSON. 7492S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary To repeal section 544.455, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to bond for violent offenders, with penalty provisions. Section A. Section 544.455, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 544.455, to read as follows: 544.455. 1. Any person charged with a bailable offense, at his or her appearance before an associate circuit judge or judge may be ordered released pending trial, appeal, or other stage of the proceedings against him on his personal recognizance, unless the associate circuit judge or judge determines, in the exercise of his discretion, that such a release will not reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required. When such a determination is made, the associate circuit judge or judge may either in lieu of or in addition to the above methods of release, impose any or any combination of the following conditions of release which will reasonably assure the appearance of the person for trial: (1) Place the person in the custody of a designated person or organization agreeing to supervise him; (2) Place restriction on the travel, association, or place of abode of the person during the period of release; …