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SB1738 • 2026

Creates the offense of tampering with an election official

Creates the offense of tampering with an election official

Elections
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Washington, Barbara; House handler: N/A
Last action
2026-02-25
Official status
S First Read
Effective date
2026-08-28

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-25 S455

    S First Read

Official Summary Text

The following summaries of this bill are available:

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Introduced

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SB 1738- This act creates the offense of tampering with an election official. A person commits the offense of tampering with an election official if, with the purpose to harass or intimidate an election official in the performance of such official's official duties, such person:
• Threatens or causes harm to such election official or members of such election official's family;
• Uses force, threats, or deception against or toward such election official or members of such election official's family;
• Attempts to induce, influence, or pressure an election official or members of an election official's family to violate Missouri election law;
• Engages in conduct reasonably calculated to harass or alarm such election official or such election official's family, including stalking;
• Disseminates through any means, including by posting on the internet, the personal information of an election official or any member of an election official's family.

The offense of tampering with an election official shall be a class one election offense, punished by imprisonment of not more than five years or by fine of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars but not more than ten thousand dollars or by both such imprisonment and fine. If a violation of this provision results in death or bodily injury to an election official or a member of the official's family, the offense shall be a class B felony.

This act is identical to SB 84 (2025), a provision in SCS/SB 182 (2025), and SB 926 (2024), substantially similar to HB 480 (2025) and a provision in SCS/SB 346 (2023), and similar to a provision in HCS/HB 1525 (2024), a provision in HB 2052 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2140 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2895 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 2206 (2024).
SCOTT SVAGERA