With six weeks of the legislative session completed, the Missouri House has passed more than a dozen bills and held hearings on hundreds more. Below is a summary of several important bills passed by the House this week, along with updates on legislation I am sponsoring.

House Passes Child Protection and Anti-Trafficking Legislation

The Missouri House passed major legislation strengthening laws related to child exploitation, human trafficking, and sexual crimes involving minors and vulnerable individuals by a vote of 148–2.

The bill updates state law by replacing the term ‘child pornography’ with ‘child sexual abuse material.’ It reestablishes a statewide anti-trafficking council within the Attorney General’s Office and creates a special fund to support education, awareness, and victim services. It also expands training for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, juvenile officers, EMTs, and social workers.

The legislation creates a new felony crime for grooming a minor, increases penalties for prostitution-related offenses involving minors, strengthens laws against sharing private images without consent, expands sex offender registration requirements, restores grant funding for cybercrime task forces, extends the time victims of child sex trafficking have to file civil lawsuits, and requires lodging establishments to provide annual human trafficking awareness training.

House Passes Political Fundraising Transparency and Consumer Protection Bill

The House passed HB 1788 by a vote of 134–16 to increase transparency and protect donors in political fundraising.

The bill requires clear disclosure of which political committee will receive a donation and what percentage of a contribution each committee will receive. It prohibits automatic recurring donations without clear and affirmative consent. Pre-checked boxes or passive actions will not count as approval.

Campaign committees must provide detailed receipts, cancel recurring donations when requested, and stop recurring contributions after an election unless certain exceptions apply. If violations occur, contributions must be returned, and the Missouri Ethics Commission may impose significant penalties.

House Advances Legislation on Medical Treatments for Minors

The House passed legislation making permanent Missouri’s current law prohibiting puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for individuals under 18 for gender transition purposes. The bill passed 102–40 and now heads to the Senate.

Supporters say the bill protects minors from irreversible medical procedures. Opponents argue it limits doctors’ ability to make individualized medical decisions.

House Advances Domestic Relations Reform

The House unanimously passed legislation allowing courts to finalize a divorce even if one spouse is pregnant.

Supporters say pregnancy can be a time when domestic abuse increases, and the bill allows courts to move forward in order to protect the safety and well-being of individuals and children.

House Advances Gifted Education Screening Requirements

The House passed HB 1757 by a vote of 148–2. Beginning in the 2027–28 school year, school districts will be required to screen students at least once before third grade to identify gifted students.

Supporters say this will create a more consistent and fair system across Missouri.

House Passes Higher Education and Workforce Development Cleanup Legislation

The House unanimously passed HB 1628, which updates and modernizes laws related to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.

Supporters describe it as a common-sense housekeeping measure that improves clarity without expanding government.

House Advances Peace Officer Licensure Standards

The House passed HB 1866 by a vote of 101–36.

The bill allows Missouri to deny a peace officer license to individuals whose certification was previously revoked or surrendered in another state. Supporters say this strengthens public safety.

House Advances Speech-Language Pathology Workforce Reforms

The House passed HB 2591 by a vote of 144–0.

The bill allows speech-language pathologists to complete their required clinical fellowship under supervision by a licensed professional in good standing, even if licensed in another state.

House Passes Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Compact

The House passed HB 1847 by a vote of 138–10.

The bill allows licensed dentists and dental hygienists from participating states to practice in Missouri without additional licensure.

House Passes Dietitian Licensure Compact

The House passed HB 1961 by a vote of 137–8.

The bill allows licensed dietitians to practice across state lines in participating states and creates a temporary supervised license for first-time applicants.

HB 1975 – Protecting Patients and Local Pharmacies

HB 1975 was heard this week in the Health and Mental Health Policy Committee, and a vote is expected soon.

This bill focuses on protecting patients and Missouri’s independent pharmacies from unfair practices by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). HB 1975 works to increase transparency, promote fairness in the prescription drug system, and ensure Missourians can continue receiving medications close to home.

HB 2279 – Cost-Sharing Protections for Patients (HBs 1941, 2279 & 1681)

HB 2279 passed out of the Health and Mental Health Policy Committee and now moves to the Rules Committee.

This bill ensures that payments made by patients — or on their behalf — for medications without a generic substitute count toward their out-of-pocket maximum.

HJR 124 – Constitutional Sheriff Protection

HJR 124 would require each county to elect a sheriff for a four-year term in perpetuity, subject to voter approval. It ensures sheriffs remain accountable directly to voters.