Missouri HB2677 establishes rules for the admissibility of a defendant's creative or artistic expression in criminal cases.

Missouri HB2677, known as the Restoring Artistic Protection Act of 2026, generally prohibits the use of a defendant's creative or artistic expression as evidence in criminal cases. This includes music, dance, performance art, visual art, poetry, literature, film, and other similar forms. However, a court may admit such evidence in a closed hearing if the state can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the expression refers to the specific facts of the crime, is relevant to a disputed issue, and the defendant intended a literal meaning.

Missouri HB2677 establishes rules for the admissibility of a defendant's creative or artistic expression in criminal cases.

Missouri HB2677, known as the Restoring Artistic Protection Act of 2026, generally prohibits the use of a defendant's creative or artistic expression as evidence in criminal cases. This includes music, dance, performance art, visual art, poetry, literature, film, and other similar forms. However, a court may admit such evidence in a closed hearing if the state can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the expression refers to the specific facts of the crime, is relevant to a disputed issue, and the defendant intended a literal meaning.