SPONSOR: Cook
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions by a vote of 13 to 1. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Administrative by a vote of 9 to 2.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 3535.
The bill authorizes the State Fire Marshal, within the Department of Public Safety, and the Marshal's paid investigators to make arrests for offenses incident to the investigation of the cause, origin, or circumstances of fireworks, as defined in Section 320.106, RSMo, or when exigent circumstances that present an immediate threat of bodily harm to any person exist.
This bill is similar to HB 2378 (2026).
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that these individuals are already trained peace officers, and the bill allows them to act in emergency situations to either protect the public themselves or to assist law enforcement. This simply adds a tool to their toolbox and lets them do what they already have the training to do.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Cook; Tim Bean, Division of Fire Safety; and Arnie Dienoff.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that the phrase "exigent circumstances" is too subjective of a term. It is exaggerated, and it is used against people's Fourth Amendment rights. The credence the system gives to law enforcement makes the inclusion of that term very dangerous.
Testifying in person against the bill was Jon Stambaugh. Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: