All Roll Calls
Yes: 496 • No: 6
MissouriHB22732026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Modifies and establishes provisions relating to the protection of children and vulnerable persons
Sponsored By: Patty Lewis (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
33 provisions identified: 14 benefits, 6 costs, 13 mixed.
Higher pay and bonuses for prosecutors
The law sets county prosecutor pay. Full-time prosecutors are paid the same as an associate circuit judge. Part-time prosecutors get a fixed yearly salary tied to county value (about $37,000 to $55,000). Each year, you can add $5,000 for approved data collection, $3,000 for providing discovery, and, from Jan 1, 2027 through Dec 31, 2031, $2,000 for completing 20 hours of training plus one hour on sex and human-trafficking. Full-time prosecutors paid at judge level are exempt from section 56.066.
Real estate licenses revoked for serious crimes
The state revokes or denies a real estate broker or salesperson license if the person pleaded guilty, pled no contest, or was found guilty of listed dangerous felonies, sexual or family offenses, child‑sexual‑material crimes, or mortgage fraud. This applies to convictions in Missouri, other states, federal court, or other countries. You may appeal, but the Administrative Hearing Commission must receive your appeal within 90 days after the revocation notice was mailed by certified mail, or you lose the right to appeal.
Teacher certificates revoked for listed crimes
The state denies or revokes a teaching certificate if the person has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or found guilty of listed crimes. These include dangerous felonies, sexual offenses, offenses against the family, and child sexual-abuse material crimes. This stops those individuals from holding or getting a teaching certificate.
More relief in protection orders
Courts can add money and custody help when granting a full order of protection. Judges can award child support, set visitation, and give temporary spousal support for up to 180 days. Courts can also order the respondent to pay rent or mortgage, alternate housing, shelter fees, and medical costs, and award funds for pet care. In these cases, courts favor placing children with the nonabusive parent, and may appoint a guardian ad litem or CASA if needed. Courts must not issue mutual orders unless both people file and are properly served. Visitation is generally allowed unless the court finds it would harm the child or cannot protect the custodial parent from more abuse.
Restitution and seizures in trafficking cases
Courts must order people convicted of grooming or trafficking offenses to pay restitution. Payments must cover mental and physical rehab, lost income or education, relocation or housing help, and the value of the victim’s labor. The law also allows seizure and forfeiture of property used to commit the crimes. Judges set the specific amounts in each case.
Child care jobs: new checks and costs
Child care providers must request background-check results before a new staffer works or is present. A new worker can start after a qualifying FBI or Missouri fingerprint result, but must be supervised at all times until the full check finishes. Checks include FBI prints, the national sex-offender registry, and state criminal records where the person has lived in the last five years. Workers pay the background-check fee unless the provider reimburses them; fees cannot be more than the actual processing cost. A worker is disqualified if they refuse the check, lie, are on a sex-offender registry, are listed as a child-abuse perpetrator, or have listed serious convictions; they then cannot work in child care or receive child-care funds.
Expungement for coerced prostitution survivors
A person convicted or who pleaded guilty to prostitution can ask the sentencing court to expunge the case if the offense happened under the coercion of an agent. Expungement seals the records, restores your status, and lets you deny the case in most settings. This can help with jobs and housing.
Harsher penalties for child sex trafficking
Recruiting, moving, or advertising a child for sex is a second-degree trafficking crime. The penalty is at least 20 years or life, with up to a $250,000 fine. If force, abduction, or coercion is used, parole is not possible until at least 25 years are served. A parent, guardian, or custodian who trafficks a child can get life. Local prosecutors can ask the Attorney General for help on these cases.
More offenses require sex-offender registry
More past and current offenses now require sex‑offender registration, including grooming, child‑sex‑abuse material crimes, and nonconsensual image offenses, going back to July 1, 1979. Some juveniles treated as adults and certain not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑mental‑disease cases are also covered, with listed exemptions. The law also broadens what counts as child sexual abuse material, including digital images made to look like a minor and anatomically correct dolls or robots meant for sexual arousal.
Tougher laws on child sex material online
The law makes it a felony to create, promote, or possess child sexual abuse material, with higher penalties for larger amounts and for victims under 14. If the Attorney General notifies a site operator, and the operator removes illegal content within five days, the operator is immune from civil suits; courts can order removal if they do not act. Certain workers must quickly report child sexual abuse material they see on the job to police. Using the internet to coerce self-harm, harm to others, or sexual content for extortion is a felony. In criminal cases, this material stays in state or court custody for inspection only, and courts set clear rules for proving a person’s age.
Stronger protections from private image abuse
Sharing a private sexual image to harass, threaten, or coerce is a crime. Victims can sue and get at least $10,000 or their proven losses, plus attorney’s fees. Courts must order restitution to cover rehab, lost income or school, moving or housing help, and costs to delete the images. Threatening to share images is also a felony, with tougher penalties for repeat offenses and for images of minors or vulnerable people. The Attorney General can help local prosecutors when cases cross county lines.
Tighter sex-offender reporting and check-ins
Registered offenders must appear in person within three business days after big changes, like name, address, work or volunteer job, or school status. They must also report changes to vehicles, temporary lodging, online identifiers, and phone numbers within three business days, and report new online identifiers before using them. Tier I checks in yearly in the birth month; Tier II checks in twice a year; Tier III checks in every 90 days. Anyone who works, studies, or stays part‑time (more than 7 days in 12 months) in another Missouri area must register there in person. Local chiefs must send updates to the State Highway Patrol within three business days, and movers must notify both old and new jurisdictions within three business days.
Job licenses: tougher crimes rules, second chances
Starting Jan 1, 2021, licensing boards cannot deny you a job license just for an old conviction, unless the crime is violent, sexual, or directly tied to the job. As of Aug 28, 2020, certain crimes—like murder, listed sexual offenses, and child sexual-abuse material—are treated as directly related and can disqualify applicants. The cosmetology board may also deny an exam or license for those listed convictions.
Stronger discipline and fines for real estate
The real estate commission can deny or discipline a license for crimes related to the job or involving fraud, dishonesty, or violence, including child sexual-abuse material offenses. If prohibited acts are proven, the commission can suspend or revoke a license or fine up to $2,500 per offense, with each day counting as a separate offense. The commission may also mail digests of key decisions and rule changes to keep all licensees informed.
Stronger child care checks, fewer repeats
Homes that provide child care cannot have certain disqualified household members present during care hours. The state must decide background checks within 45 days and tell providers only if a person is eligible. If found ineligible, the person gets a report and can appeal in writing within 10 days. Providers do not need a new check if a staffer had a qualifying check within five years, got a prior qualifying result from the state, or had a job gap of 180 days or less.
Felony grooming of minors and guidance
Grooming or enticing a minor into sexual conduct is a felony if the person is more than four years older. Prison terms range from 5 to 30 years, or at least 10 years if the child was made to engage in sexual conduct. Parole, probation, or conditional release is barred for 5 or 10 years, and sentences run after other related crimes. A state committee must give the public guidance and train professionals on how to spot, investigate, and prosecute grooming.
Grants to fight online child exploitation
The state creates a Cyber Crime Investigation Fund and a panel to award grants. Grants support multijurisdictional task forces and agencies that investigate internet sex crimes against children. Money can pay investigators’ salaries, training and travel, and needed equipment and services. Local matching money or in-kind help is required. The panel favors newly hired investigators and sets minimum training standards. The department may use up to 3% for administration.
Harsher penalties for patronizing minors
Patronizing prostitution is a felony. It is class D if the person patronized is under 18 but older than 15, and class B if 15 or younger. Saying you believed the person was 18 is not a defense.
Monthly 50/50 split for victim funds
Each month, the state splits the available balance after set deposits 50/50. Half goes to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund and half to the Services to Victims Fund. The director of revenue makes this deposit on the first of each month, after the annual $250,000 forensic‑lab deposit and other required uses.
New state team aids child-abuse cases
A State Technical Assistance Team helps investigate child abuse, neglect, sexual exploitation, child sexual abuse material, and child deaths. Licensed team investigators are peace officers during child‑related investigations, with arrest power limited to child‑abuse crimes or imminent danger. The team can bring in help from the Attorney General, prosecutors, highway patrol, and health and mental‑health agencies. Records from criminal investigations are handled like law‑enforcement records; other records follow child‑welfare rules.
Sex offenders barred near kids spaces
People convicted of the listed sex crimes cannot be in or loiter within 500 feet of child care sites or schools when kids are present. Some parents or guardians may enter schools with written permission. They are also banned near children’s parks, pools, athletic fields, children’s museums, and conservation education centers, with limited manager permission for programs with their child. A first violation can be a misdemeanor or felony depending on the place; later violations bring higher felony charges. People with these convictions also cannot coach, manage, or train youth teams, or supervise or employ children.
State anti-trafficking council and fund
The state creates an anti-trafficking council in the Attorney General’s office. It must be formed within 30 days of August 28, 2026 and meet at least every three months. A new fund pays for an executive director, council support, education, and awareness. The fund holds appropriations and donations, earns interest, and does not revert.
Police training on trafficking and profiling
A committee sets yearly guidelines for sex and human-trafficking training. Starting January 1, 2027, every peace officer must complete two hours of trafficking training each year through December 31, 2031. Officers who make traffic stops must also complete three hours on the ban on racial profiling every three-year cycle.
Computer checks allowed for sex offenders
Courts or the parole board can require a registered sex offender on probation or parole to let their officer check the home computer. The officer may review internet history, hardware, and software to prevent child-sex offenses.
EMTs face checks and trafficking training
Initial EMT applicants must complete state and FBI background checks through the department process. Applicants pay any background‑check fees. For relicensure effective after March 31, 2027, EMTs, AEMTs, and paramedics must complete a one‑time four‑hour sex and human‑trafficking course. This training requirement ends December 31, 2032 and may be offered online at no cost.
Licenses for police training providers
Businesses that offer law-enforcement continuing education must get a state license. The director can grant, suspend, or revoke the license with written reasons. You can appeal under chapter 536.
Protective orders: keep your phone number
In a protection-order case, a court can order your wireless company to move your phone number to you, even if you are not the account holder. The order must protect your contact information and include account details. If the company cannot make the change, it must tell you within three business days. After transfer, you take over the bill and must meet normal account rules. Providers that follow the order are protected from civil lawsuits for doing so.
Stronger protection orders and petition rules
Courts can issue full or emergency protection orders for cyberstalking, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault. Orders can bar contact, threats, and entry into the home when needed to keep the victim safe. To get money, custody, visitation, rent, shelter fees, or property orders, you must file a verified petition that clearly asks for and explains those items.
More trafficking training for some licensees
Licensees covered by sections 337.600–337.689 must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. Added requirement: two hours on sex and human-trafficking at the first renewal and one hour at later renewals, from Jan 1, 2027 through Dec 31, 2031. Also, boards may use licensing fees for continuing-education classes only if the division director approves the program and it is open to all licensees of that board.
Trafficking training for juvenile and police staff
Juvenile court staff must take one hour of sex and human‑trafficking training each year from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2031. The POST fund may partly reimburse continuing education when money is available. POST money cannot pay for training for people who are not actively commissioned or employed by a county or municipal agency.
New rules for adult-oriented businesses
The law widens the crimes that count as “specified criminal activity” for regulating sexually oriented businesses. It adds offenses like prostitution and child sexual-abuse material and sets look-back windows (under two years for misdemeanors and under five years for felonies). A business that gets 30% or less of its revenue from sexually oriented materials is presumed not to be a sexually oriented business.
Cybercrime task forces share info, limits
Agencies funded to fight internet child sex crimes must share information and work with the State Highway Patrol and existing child‑internet‑crime task forces. Task‑force officers have arrest power only while acting as active members on a task‑force case and must notify the local chief or sheriff before arrest when possible. The grant panel can recommend more resources to lawmakers, but these are advisory.
Small court fee funds victim support
Courts add a $7.50 surcharge to each criminal case and some juvenile cases, unless the case or defendant is dismissed or government pays costs. The money supports state crime-victim funds and services. Each year, $250,000 goes to a forensic-lab account to help crime labs. The state also runs a Missouri Crime Victims Fund that holds appropriations and donations and pays groups eligible under the federal Victims of Crime Act for victim services.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Patty Lewis
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Ann Kelley
Republican • House
Bill Irwin
Republican • House
Brian Seitz
Republican • House
Burt Whaley
Republican • House
Cathy Jo Loy
Republican • House
Christopher Warwick
Republican • House
David Dolan
Republican • House
George Hruza
Republican • House
John Hewkin
Republican • House
Marla Smith
Democratic • House
Michael Johnson
Democratic • House
Phil Amato
Republican • House
Terri Violet
Republican • House
Wendy L. Hausman
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/12/2026
Reported Do Pass
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 3/12/2026
House Adopts - SS SCS, as amended
Yes: 137 • No: 2
House vote • 3/12/2026
Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed
Yes: 134 • No: 2
Senate vote • 3/11/2026
Third Read and Passed with Amendments - SA 1, adopted
Yes: 32 • No: 0
House vote • 2/9/2026
Third Read and Passed
Yes: 148 • No: 2
House vote • 2/9/2026
Reported Do Pass
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 2/2/2026
Reported Do Pass
Yes: 12 • No: 0
House vote • 1/27/2026
HCS Reported Do Pass
Yes: 17 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Delivered to Secretary of State (G)
4/7/2026Approved by Governor (G)
4/7/2026Delivered to Governor
3/24/2026Signed by President Pro Tem
3/24/2026SenateSigned by House Speaker
3/24/2026HouseConstitutional Objection Filed
3/24/2026HouseHouse Message
3/19/2026HouseTruly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 134 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0
3/12/2026House Adopts - SS SCS, as amended AYES: 137 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0
3/12/2026HouseTaken Up
3/12/2026Reported Do Pass - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
3/12/2026HouseVoted Do Pass
3/12/2026HouseExecutive Session Completed
3/12/2026HouseReferred: Fiscal Review
3/12/2026HouseReported to the House with... - SS SCS, as amended
3/12/2026HouseThird Read and Passed with Amendments - SA 1, adopted AYES: 32 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
3/11/2026SenateSS Adopted
3/11/2026SenateSS Offered
3/11/2026Taken Up for Third Reading
3/11/2026SenateReported Do Pass
3/11/2026SenateVoted Do Pass
3/11/2026SenateExecutive Session Held
3/11/2026SenateExecutive Session Scheduled - Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 12:00 p.m., Senate Lounge-3rd Floor
3/10/2026Referred: Fiscal Oversight
3/9/2026SenateSCS Reported Do Pass
3/9/2026Senate
Bill Text
Truly Agreed
3/12/2026
Perfected
2/4/2026
Committee Substitute
1/27/2026
Senate Substitute
1/27/2026
Introduced
1/7/2026
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