# Missouri HB737: Modifies provisions relating to the protection of children Missouri HB737, Modifies provisions relating to the protection of children, is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Melissa Schmidt (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-07-09 (Delivered to Secretary of State (G)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MO-HB737-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Missouri HB737 - State: Missouri - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Modifies provisions relating to the protection of children - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-07 - Last action: 2025-07-09, Delivered to Secretary of State (G) - Sponsor: Melissa Schmidt (Republican) - Cosponsors: 12 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 11 (547 yes, 34 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 13 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New care for high-needs youth: benefit, high. Social Services must establish services, education, and residential care for youth with severe behavioral challenges. Youth must be under 21 and in Children's Division custody. A department team must find that existing state programs cannot meet their needs. The department can contract with qualifi… - Bigger tax credit for youth donations: benefit, high. Missouri raises the tax credit for money donations to approved youth programs from 50% to 70%. Property donations still earn a 30% credit. The annual cap is $200,000 per taxpayer. Credits offset taxes due for the donation year, and unused amounts carry forward for five succeeding tax periods. Progr… - Clearer rights during child abuse checks: benefit, medium. Children's Division responders must first check a child's safety through direct observation and communication. When a parent or alleged offender is present, workers must identify themselves and provide written visit rights. These include the right to contact an attorney and up to five minutes to re… - Parents gain protection for kids' independence: benefit, medium. Parents and caregivers do not commit abuse or neglect solely by allowing suitable activities without adult supervision. Examples include walking or biking nearby, playing outside, or staying home for a reasonable time. Activities must fit the child's age, maturity, and physical and mental abilities… - Stronger civil rights for abuse survivors: benefit, medium. For actions arising on or after August 28, 2025, qualifying childhood sexual abuse includes specified trafficking offenses. The conduct must have occurred before age 18 and caused the injury or illness claimed. Survivors can sue within 10 years after turning 21 or three years after actual or reason… - Teenagers gain their own court lawyers: benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2028, judges must appoint separate lawyers for children ages 14–17 in covered proceedings, subject to appropriations. Counsel serves through appeals, receives relevant records, and can receive reasonable fees from appropriated judicial funds. In ongoing cases, the guardian ad l… - Benefit checks for children entering custody: benefit, medium. Within 60 days of custody entry, the Children's Division must check for Railroad Retirement, Social Security, and veterans' benefits. It must apply when a child qualifies or may qualify. The Division must consult the child and guardian ad litem about who manages benefits, serving itself only withou… - Stronger money protections for foster youth: benefit, medium. The Children's Division cannot spend a child's account money on care or services, including foster-care maintenance. Railroad Retirement, Social Security, and veterans' benefits can cover only unmet needs beyond what the Division must or agrees to pay. Accounts must respect benefit asset limits and… - Amber Alerts reach more missing youth: benefit, low. Missouri expands Amber Alerts to cover abducted children and abducted or missing African American youth whose whereabouts are unknown. Alerts also cover children or youth reasonably believed to be victims of the listed trafficking offenses whose whereabouts are unknown. Public Safety cannot discrim… - Child endangerment law covers older teens: benefit, low. The law expands first-degree child endangerment to cover knowing sexual conduct with a child under 18, rather than under 17. The child must be the person's own child or otherwise under their care or custody as a responsible adult. - New support for family court lawyers: benefit, low. A nine-member judicial commission coordinates attorney standards, training, pilot reviews, funding studies, and recommendations for child and family representation. Members include at least three Missouri attorneys with five years of child-representation experience, one former Missouri foster youth… - Marriage access changes; minors cannot marry: mixed, medium. For the specified marriage-license process, at least one applicant must live in the county or independent city where they apply. This changes the residency condition for access to that process. Missouri recorders cannot issue marriage licenses to anyone under 18. Parent or guardian consent no longe… - Youth providers gain lawsuit protections: mixed, low. Qualified providers in the severe-behavioral-challenges program, their employees, and contractors gain protection from damages claims for good-faith contracted work without gross negligence. This limits claims by people harmed, but does not protect child abuse or neglect. Immunity ends if the state… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Melissa Schmidt (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Ann Kelley (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Bill Allen (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Bill Irwin (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Brian Seitz (Republican), House - Cosponsor: David Dolan (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Deanna Self (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Donna Barnes (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Ed Lewis (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Josh Hurlbert (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Matthew Overcast (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Raychel Proudie (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sean Pouche (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-29 | Senate | Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed | pass | 32 | 1 | | | 2025-04-29 | Senate | Senate Adopts Conference Committee Report | pass | 32 | 1 | | | 2025-04-24 | House | Third Read and Passed | pass | 129 | 14 | 1 | | 2025-04-24 | House | House Adopts Conference Committee Report | pass | 130 | 15 | 1 | | 2025-04-24 | House | Reported Do Pass | pass | 6 | 2 | | | 2025-04-16 | House | Reported Do Pass | pass | 7 | 0 | | | 2025-03-13 | Senate | Third Read and Passed with Amendments - SS as amended | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | Reported Do Pass | pass | 5 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | Third Read and Passed | pass | 149 | 1 | | | 2025-02-06 | House | Reported Do Pass | pass | 9 | 0 | | | 2025-01-29 | House | HCS Reported Do Pass | pass | 14 | 0 | | ## Actions (80) - 2025-07-09: Delivered to Secretary of State (G) (House) - 2025-07-09: Approved by Governor (G) (House) - 2025-05-30: Delivered to Governor (House) - 2025-05-30: Signed by President Pro Tem (Senate) - 2025-05-29: Signed by House Speaker (House) - 2025-04-29: Senate Message (Senate) - 2025-04-29: Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 32 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0 (Senate) - 2025-04-29: Senate Adopts Conference Committee Report - AYES: 32 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0 (Senate) - 2025-04-29: Senate Submits Conference Committee Report (Senate) - 2025-04-29: Conferees to Exceed Differences - Section 537.046 (Senate) - 2025-04-28: House Message - CCS SS HCS HBs 737 & 486 (House) - 2025-04-28: House Message - Conferees to Exceed Differences on Section 537.046 (House) - 2025-04-24: Third Read and Passed - AYES: 129 NOES: 14 PRESENT: 1 (House) - 2025-04-24: House Adopts Conference Committee Report - AYES: 130 NOES: 15 PRESENT: 1 (House) - 2025-04-24: Conferees to Exceed Differences - Section 537.046 (House) - 2025-04-24: House Submits Conference Committee Report (House) - 2025-04-24: Reported Do Pass - AYES: 6 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0 (House) - 2025-04-24: Voted Do Pass (House) - 2025-04-24: Executive Session Completed (House) - 2025-04-23: Referred: Fiscal Review (House) - 2025-04-23: House Distributes Conference Committee Report (House) - 2025-04-17: Senate Message (Senate) - 2025-04-17: House Message (House) - 2025-04-17: Senate Conference Committee Appointed - SENATORS BURGER, CARTER, FITZWATER, MAY, MCCREERY (Senate) - 2025-04-17: House Conference Committee Appointed - REPRESENTATIVES SCHMIDT, JONES(88), HAUSMAN, FOGLE, JAMISON (House) - 2025-04-16: Senate Message (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Senate Refuses to Recede, Grants Conference (Senate) - 2025-04-16: House Message (House) - 2025-04-16: House Refuses to Adopt, Requests Senate to Recede or Grant Conference (House) - 2025-04-16: Taken Up (House) - 2025-04-16: Reported Do Pass - AYES: 7 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0 (House) - 2025-04-16: Voted Do Pass (House) - 2025-04-16: Executive Session Completed (House) - 2025-03-27: Action Postponed (House) - 2025-03-13: Referred: Fiscal Review (House) - 2025-03-13: Reported to the House with... - SS as amended (House) - 2025-03-13: Third Read and Passed with Amendments - SS as amended AYES: 34 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0 (Senate) - 2025-03-13: Taken Up (Senate) - 2025-03-13: Reported Do Pass (Senate) - 2025-03-13: Voted Do Pass (Senate) - 2025-03-13: Executive Session Held (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Executive Session Scheduled - Thursday, March 13, 2025, 9:30 a.m., Senate Lounge, 3rd Floor. - 2025-03-11: Referred: Fiscal Oversight (Senate) - 2025-03-11: SS Adopted - SA 1, adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-11: SS Offered (Senate) - 2025-03-11: Taken Up for Third Reading (Senate) - 2025-03-10: Reported Do Pass (Senate) - 2025-03-10: Voted Do Pass (Senate) - 2025-03-10: Executive Session Held (Senate) - 2025-03-06: Executive Session Scheduled - Monday, March 10, 2025, 3:30 p.m., Senate Committee Room 2. - 2025-03-04: Referred: Fiscal Oversight (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Reported Do Pass (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Voted Do Pass (Senate) - 2025-03-04: Executive Session Held (Senate) - 2025-02-25: Public Hearing Held (Senate) - 2025-02-24: Public Hearing Scheduled - Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 8:00 a.m., Senate Lounge (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Second read and referred: General Laws (Senate) - 2025-02-13: Reported to the Senate and First Read (Senate) - 2025-02-13: Third Read and Passed - AYES: 149 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0 (House) - 2025-02-13: Taken Up for Third Reading (House) - 2025-02-13: Reported Do Pass - AYES: 5 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0 (House) - 2025-02-13: Voted Do Pass (House) - 2025-02-13: Executive Session Completed (House) - 2025-02-11: Referred: Fiscal Review (House) - 2025-02-11: Perfected with Amendments - HA 2, adopted. (House) - 2025-02-11: HCS Adopted (House) - 2025-02-11: Title of Bill - Agreed To (House) - 2025-02-11: Taken Up for Perfection (House) - 2025-02-06: Reported Do Pass - AYES: 9 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0 (House) - 2025-02-06: Voted Do Pass (House) - 2025-02-06: Executive Session Completed (House) - 2025-01-30: Referred: Rules - Administrative (House) - 2025-01-29: HCS Reported Do Pass - AYES: 14 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0 (House) - 2025-01-28: HCS Voted Do Pass (House) - 2025-01-28: Executive Session Completed (House) - 2025-01-22: Public Hearing Completed (House) - 2025-01-16: Referred: Children and Families (House) - 2025-01-09: Read Second Time (House) - 2025-01-08: Read First Time (House) - 2025-01-07: Prefiled (House) ## Bill text - Truly Agreed, 2025-04-29: [PDF](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974H.08T.pdf) - Perfected, 2025-02-11: [PDF](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974H.04P.pdf) - Committee Substitute, 2025-01-29: [PDF](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974H.04C.pdf) - Senate Substitute, 2025-01-29: [PDF](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974H.08S.pdf), [PDF](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974S.07F.pdf) - Introduced, 2025-01-08: [PDF](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974H.01I.pdf) ## Related bills - HB3: Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (signed) - HB8: Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Public Safety and the Department of National Guard (signed) - HB11: Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Social Services (signed) - HB10: Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Health and Senior Services, and t… (signed) - SB79: Modifies provisions relating to health care (signed) - SB271: Modifies provisions relating to emergency services (signed) ## Sources - [Truly Agreed (PDF)](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974H.08T.pdf) - [Perfected (PDF)](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974H.04P.pdf) - [Committee Substitute (PDF)](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974H.04C.pdf) - [Senate Substitute (PDF)](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974H.08S.pdf) - [Senate Substitute (PDF)](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974S.07F.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1974H.01I.pdf) ## Related - [HB3: Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MO-HB3-2025) - [HB8: Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MO-HB8-2025) - [HB11: Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MO-HB11-2025) - [HB10: Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MO-HB10-2025) - [SB79: Modifies provisions relating to health care](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MO-SB79-2025) - [SB271: Modifies provisions relating to emergency services](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MO-SB271-2025) - [Missouri bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/missouri/bills) - [Missouri state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/missouri) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MO-HB737-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).