Missouri legislators have passed a bill to restrict police utilization of strangle holds in a move driven by the death of George Floyd. House Bill 455, "relating to the use of chokeholds by law enforcement officers, with penalty provisions" sponsored by Representative Shamed Dogan of St. Louis County.
The Missouri House voted 140-4 on Thursday. The bill would permit police to possibly use chokeholds in self-defense or in the event they are in serious danger. In the terms outlined by the bill "[a chokehold] means the intentional and prolonged application of force to a 16 person's throat or windpipe that prevents or hinders breathing or reduces the intake of air."
The bill's passage addresses an uncommon advance by state lawmakers to make a move in response to police brutality. There has been little to no movement on this issue since the death of Michael Brown in 2014.
The bill now sits on the desk of Republican Governor Mike Parson to potentially be signed into law.
Read the full bill here.