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MissouriHB22732026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Modifies and establishes provisions relating to the protection of children and vulnerable persons

Sponsored By: Ed Lewis (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

24 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 11 costs, 4 mixed.

Coerced prostitution convictions can be cleared

People who pleaded guilty to or were convicted of prostitution can apply to clear the conviction, regardless of their age then. The court must grant expungement when it finds the person acted under an agent's coercion as defined by law.

Longer deadlines for child trafficking lawsuits

Survivors who were under 18 during a listed child trafficking offense can sue for related physical or mental harm. The deadline is 20 years after turning 21, or three years after discovering the trafficking caused the harm. The discovery deadline also runs from when the survivor reasonably should have discovered that cause. This rule applies to cases filed on or after August 28, 2026.

Protection orders can cover cyberstalking victims

People seeking protection from cyberstalking can ask for a full or emergency court order of protection. Courts can temporarily bar the other person from committing or threatening cyberstalking.

Required compensation for sexual abuse victims

Victims of covered grooming, trafficking, and private-image offenses are entitled to court-ordered compensation after a guilty finding. For grooming and private-image victims, it covers mental and physical recovery, lost income or disrupted education, and relocation or housing. Private-image victims also receive compensation for image-removal costs. Trafficking compensation covers the victim's labor and/or rehabilitation needs of the victim and the victim's children. Courts set the amounts; trafficking compensation is required with either a prison or probation sentence.

Trafficking defendants can lose offense-related property

A defendant's real estate or personal property can be seized when used in a listed trafficking offense. Property intended or unsuccessfully attempted to be used in the offense is also covered. Seized property must be forfeited through the required legal process.

Abuse material convictions restrict professional licenses

Listed child sexual abuse material convictions count as directly related to professional duties under Missouri's Fresh Start Act. Teachers found guilty of listed offenses may face certificate discipline. The cosmetology board may deny exams or licenses, while real estate licenses must be denied or revoked for listed offenses. Those two licensing rules cover guilty and no-contest pleas, guilty findings, and similar offenses under other states', federal, or foreign laws. These updates also retain the matching child pornography offenses as they existed before August 28, 2026.

Child care screening appeals require speed

People barred from child care work or facility presence based on listed offenses can file a written appeal. The appeal list expressly includes child sexual abuse material offenses and matching child pornography offenses from before August 28, 2026. The appeal must be filed with the department within 10 days after the ineligibility notice is mailed.

More support for child exploitation investigations

Local prosecutors can request attorney general help and resources for child sex trafficking cases. Eligible law enforcement agencies and task forces can use cybercrime grants for staff and other program costs. Covered internet sex crime investigations include grooming or enticement of minors. The law removes the grant program's sunset, allowing it to continue under its rules and available funding. No grant amount is specified.

New state grants support crime victims

The law creates the Missouri Crime Victims Fund using appropriations and donations. When money is appropriated, eligible jurisdictions, local governments, and organizations receive grants for victim assistance. Recipients and uses must qualify under the federal Victims of Crime Act grant rules. Unused money stays in the fund rather than returning to general revenue. The law sets no funding amount.

State broadens its response to grooming

The state committee must publish guidance on recognizing and responding to grooming, including victim treatment and services. It must also guide procedures and training for professionals who investigate or prosecute grooming or enticement of minors. The sexual assault definition used in state prevention and control provisions includes grooming, specified child enticement offenses, and attempts. It preserves coverage of the specified enticement offense as it existed before August 28, 2026.

State coordinates trafficking prevention and awareness

Missouri places its statewide trafficking council in the attorney general's office to recommend a coordinated response. The council must form within 30 days of August 28, 2026, and meet at least quarterly. The attorney general appoints an executive director and provides office support. A new child exploitation education fund accepts appropriations, grants, gifts, donations, and bequests for council administration, education, and anti-trafficking work. Spending requires an appropriation; unused money and investment earnings stay in the fund.

Covered professionals need trafficking training for renewal

Missouri professionals licensed under sections 337.600 through 337.689 must include sex and human trafficking training in renewal education. The first renewal cycle after initial licensing requires two hours; each later renewal requires one hour. The requirement begins January 1, 2027, and expires December 31, 2031.

Juvenile officers must take yearly trafficking training

Beginning January 1, 2027, each Missouri juvenile officer must complete one hour of sex and human trafficking training annually. The training must follow state trafficking training guidelines. The requirement expires December 31, 2031.

Child abuse material rules cover objects

Child sexual abuse material includes certain anatomically correct dolls, mannequins, robots, and similar objects resembling someone under 18. The object must be intended for sexual arousal or gratification, or to terrorize or cause emotional distress. This broader definition also applies to referenced property-forfeiture and offender restrictions.

Felony penalties for buying sexual services

Patronizing prostitution involving an adult is a class E felony. The offense is class D when the person is 16 or 17. It remains class B when the person is 15 or younger. Covered conduct includes offering, agreeing to give, or giving something of value for sexual conduct.

Higher penalties for private image threats

Threatening to share private sexual images to gain something of value or force action is a felony. The image must identify the person, show sexual activity or exposed intimate parts, and have been obtained with an expectation of privacy. The offense is class E, rising to class D for a second offense and class C for later offenses. It is class B when the image depicts a minor or vulnerable person. Class B also applies when the threat directly causes serious physical injury or death.

Life sentences for custodial child trafficking

Second-degree child sex trafficking carries life imprisonment when committed by the child's parent, guardian, or another person with custody or control. Life imprisonment means the person's entire natural life.

More offenses trigger sex offender registration

Grooming, private-image sharing and threats, and specified child sexual abuse material offenses can trigger registration after qualifying convictions or adjudications. Grooming and possession are tier I: generally 15 years of registration with annual in-person check-ins. Promoting the material is tier II: generally 25 years with twice-yearly in-person check-ins. Private-image offenses are tier II when the victim is 17 or younger or the coercion was sexual. Specified sexual conduct during public duty is tier I for victims 18 or older and tier II for victims ages 13–17.

More reporting duties for registered offenders

The law changes tier III coverage, including listed public-duty and student sexual-contact offenses; covered registrants must report in person every 90 days. Registrants must also register in another Missouri area where they work, study, train, or temporarily live. Work includes volunteering and unpaid internships. Part-time work or attendance counts when it exceeds seven days in any 12-month period. Registrants must report new or changed online identifiers before using them, following the residence-change reporting process.

Stronger penalties for sharing private images

Sharing a private sexual image to harass, threaten, or coerce is covered regardless of the depicted person's age. The person must be identifiable, and the image must show sexual activity or exposed intimate parts. The image must have been obtained with an expectation of privacy, with the sharer knowing or having reason to know consent was absent. The offense is a class D felony, or class C when the image depicts a minor or vulnerable person. A guilty plea or finding also requires a $500 to $5,000 payment to the Missouri Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.

Emergency medical workers need free trafficking training

Emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, and paramedics must complete one four-hour sex and human trafficking course. This applies to license renewals effective after March 31, 2027. The course is free, may be online, and may count toward elective training topics. It must follow state trafficking training guidelines. The requirement expires December 31, 2032.

Licensing boards face training spending limits

Professional licensing bodies need division director approval to use licensing fees or outside partners for continuing education classes. Approved classes must be available to all licensees covered by that licensing body. The law does not set a new licensing fee.

New penalties for digital sexual abuse

Sharing realistic, digitally created or altered intimate images of identifiable people is generally a class D felony; threats are class E. The offense requires the specified intent, knowledge, or reckless disregard concerning harm. Repeat violations, or images reasonably expected to affect government proceedings or enable violence, raise either offense to class C. Listed forms of online coercion, forced self-harm, sexual-content extortion, and intimate-image demands for money are class E felonies. Online service providers receive protection from the specified disclosure offense when they voluntarily restrict access in good faith or provide blocking tools.

Officers must complete trafficking training

Beginning January 1, 2027, a state committee must set trafficking training guidelines each year and distribute training online. It can also approve training from other organizations. Peace officers must complete two hours of trafficking training during each one-year continuing education reporting period. State regulatory agencies may provide training when money is appropriated. These committee and officer training provisions expire December 31, 2031.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ed Lewis

    Republican • House

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

All Roll Calls

Yes: 496 • No: 6

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

House vote • 3/12/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 8 • No: 0

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

Bill Text

  • Truly Agreed

    3/12/2026

    PDF

  • Perfected

    2/4/2026

    PDF

  • Committee Substitute

    1/27/2026

    PDFPDF

  • Senate Substitute

    1/27/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/7/2026

    PDF

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