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Missouri · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

SB 1186: Modifies provisions relating to jury instructions for the offense of murder in the first degree

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 1186 is a bill introduced in the Missouri Senate on December 1, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Modifies provisions relating to jury instructions for the offense of murder in the first degree. Primary sponsor: Mary Elizabeth Coleman (Republican). Most recent recorded action (January 27, 2026): Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

SB 1186 - Under current law, if a jury is unable to agree upon the punishment for the offense of murder in the first degree, the court is to instruct the jury that the judge may decide upon a punishment of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole or a sentence of death. This act repeals the provision that a judge may decide upon a punishment of death if the jury is unable to agree. This act is identical to HB 2141 (2026), HB 2186 (2026), HB 2348 (2026), SB 225 (2025), HB 452 (2025), SB 1169 (2024), SB 687 (2023), SB 825 (2022), HB 1746 (2022), HB 2700 (2022), SB 341 (2021), SB 920 (2020), SB 288 (2019), and SB 996 (2018). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Mary Elizabeth ColemanPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate22

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee
  2. S First Read
  3. Prefiled

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source