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MissouriSB11352026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Creates "Bentley and Mason's Law" relating to child maintenance orders for certain persons convicted of the offense of driving while intoxicated

Sponsored By: Mike Henderson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Support for children after fatal drunk driving

Missouri's Bentley and Mason's Law creates child support when a qualifying drunk-driving offense kills a child's parent or parents. A court must order support when the surviving parent or guardian files a petition. The driver must have been convicted, pleaded guilty, or pleaded no contest. The court uses state child-support guidelines and considers the child's needs, caregiver resources, expected living standard, education, custody, and work-related childcare. Support generally ends when the child dies, marries, enters active military service, or turns 18. It can continue for an unmarried child who cannot support themselves because of physical or mental incapacity and lacks financial resources. High school support continues while the child attends and makes progress, ending at completion or age 21, whichever comes first. College or vocational support requires enrollment by October 1 after high school graduation or a GED; courts can waive that deadline. Students must complete at least 12 credits each semester, excluding summer, and earn grades that allow them to reenroll. Students working at least 15 hours weekly can qualify with nine credits; disability accommodations also apply. This education support ends at completion or age 21, whichever comes first. Each semester, students must provide school records showing enrollment, credits, and upcoming courses; courts can require grade records within 30 days. Missing required records ends support without creating past-due debt, and support cannot restart. Taking 12 credits and failing at least half the courses can also end support permanently.

Families may wait for prison-release payments

A person who is incarcerated and cannot pay support has up to one year after release to begin paying. Payments must include past-due support. Families may therefore wait longer for money, but the debt does not disappear. If support otherwise ends while the person is incarcerated, unpaid amounts remain due until paid in full.

Other recoveries can limit family support

A surviving parent or guardian's favorable civil judgment before a support order bars support under this law. A judgment obtained afterward offsets the support order. Motor vehicle liability insurance payments tied to the parent's death also reduce the support owed. Funds received under Missouri section 595.045 are protected from reducing support.

Collection rules help families receive support

Circuit clerks receive support payments and must deposit them by the next working day. They must send payments to the surviving parent or guardian within three working days of receipt. Courts can instead use the Family Support Payment Center when it can receive these payments. After a support order, the Family Support Division must direct an employer or other payer to withhold money owed. Withholding stays within federal wage-garnishment limits. Courts can change support orders only when substantial, lasting changes in circumstances make the current terms unreasonable.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mike Henderson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 5/15/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 8 • No: 0

House vote • 5/11/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 10 • No: 0

House vote • 5/5/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 16 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Delivered to Secretary of State (G)

    7/13/2026

  2. Approved by Governor (G)

    7/13/2026

  3. Delivered to Governor

    5/28/2026

  4. Signed by House Speaker

    5/28/2026House

  5. House Message

    5/15/2026House

  6. Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed

    5/15/2026

  7. Title of Bill - Agreed To

    5/15/2026

  8. Taken Up for Third Reading

    5/15/2026House

  9. Reported Do Pass - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

    5/15/2026House

  10. Voted Do Pass

    5/15/2026House

  11. Executive Session Completed

    5/15/2026House

  12. Placed on the Informal Third Reading Calendar

    5/14/2026House

  13. Referred: Fiscal Review

    5/12/2026House

  14. Reported Do Pass - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

    5/11/2026House

  15. Voted Do Pass

    5/11/2026House

  16. Executive Session Completed

    5/11/2026House

  17. Referred: Rules - Legislative

    5/7/2026House

  18. Reported Do Pass - AYES: 16 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

    5/5/2026House

  19. Voted Do Pass

    5/4/2026House

  20. Executive Session Completed

    5/4/2026House

  21. Public Hearing Completed

    4/28/2026House

  22. Referred: Children and Families

    4/22/2026House

  23. Read Second Time

    4/21/2026House

  24. Reported to the House and First Read

    4/20/2026House

Bill Text

  • Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed

    5/15/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Perfected

    PDF

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