ASSISTANCE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sections 27.117 and 566.201)
Under this bill, a prosecuting attorney may request assistance from the Attorney General for the prosecution of the offenses of disclosure of an intimate digital depiction and sadistic online exploitation if the offense occurred in more than one jurisdiction.
This bill also allows a prosecuting or circuit attorney to request assistance from the Attorney General to assist in the prosecution of child sex trafficking cases.
CHILD SEX ABUSE MATERIAL (Sections 43.656, 67.2540, 168.071, 210.1080, 324.012, 329.050, 339.100, 542.301, 566.010, 566.147, 566.148, 566.149, 566.150, 566.155, 573.010, 573.023, 573.025, 573.035, 573.037, 573.038, 573.050, 573.052, 573.215, 589.042, 650.120, and 660.520)
This bill replaces the term "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" throughout statute, but child pornography as it will have existed prior to the effective date of this legislation will still be subject to the provisions of the relevant statutes.
This bill additionally modifies the definition of "child sex abuse material". The current definition classifies such material as certain visual depictions, including digital images, computer images, or computer-generated images that are of, or are indistinguishable from, a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, in that an ordinary person would conclude that the depiction is of an actual minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The bill adds that the visual depiction is such that an ordinary person would conclude the depiction is of an actual minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, regardless of whether the minor was actually engaged in sexually explicit conduct at the time the visual depiction was created.
The term "child sexual abuse material" now includes any anatomically correct doll, mannequin, or robot meant to resemble a minor under 18 years of age and intended to be used for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person or for the purpose of terrorizing or causing emotional distress to any person. SEX AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING (Sections 56.265, 190.142, 211.326, 324.035, 337.618, and 590.050)
The Department of Health and Senior Services will require each emergency medical technician, including each paramedic, to receive a one-time four-hour course of sex and human trafficking training as a condition of relicensure from March 31, 2027 until December 31, 2032.
Each county prosecuting attorney and juvenile officer must complete one hour of sex and human trafficking training annually and each peace officer will be required to receive two hours of sex and human trafficking training within the law enforcement continuing education one-year reporting period. Social workers will be required to complete two hours of sex and human trafficking training for license renewal for the first renewal cycle after initial licensure and one hour thereafter. These provision will be effective from January 1, 2027 until December 31, 2031.
STATEWIDE COUNCIL (Section 210.1505 and 566.151)
The bill also establishes the "Statewide Council Against Adult Trafficking and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children" to replace the "Statewide Council on Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children", which expired on December 31, 2023. The new council must be created within 30 days of August 28, 2026, is required to meet at least quarterly, and is within the Office of the Attorney General. The members of the council are specified and include two members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tem and two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House. The council is also required to have an executive director, who will be appointed by the Attorney General and whose compensation will be set by the Attorney General.
The bill creates the "Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Education and Awareness Fund", of which the State Treasurer is the custodian; the Treasurer is required to approve disbursements as required by the Attorney General. Moneys in the Fund will be used to pay for the position of the executive director and administrative support for the council, education and awareness regarding human trafficking, and anti-trafficking efforts throughout the state.
This bill establishes the "Committee on Sex and Human Trafficking Training", composed of eight members, including, but not limited to, a representative of the Attorney General's Office, a representative of the Department of Public Safety, and a juvenile officer. The committee will annually evaluate and establish guidelines for required sex and human trafficking training, and will dissolve on December 31, 2031.
The committee will issue guidance for the public on identifying and recognizing actions constituting grooming or enticement of a minor, responding to potential instances thereof, and treatment of and services for victims of grooming, as well as procedures and training for professionals on the investigation and prosecution of the offense of grooming or enticement of a minor.
ORDERS OF PROTECTION (Section 455.050)
Under current law, a person that petitions for a full or ex parte protective order is protected from certain offenses if the order is granted. This bill adds cyberstalking to the list of offenses.
CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING (Sections 537.054 and 566.211)
The bill authorizes a person to file a cause of action to recover damages from injury or illness caused by child sex trafficking within 20 years of the plaintiff turning 21 years of age or within three years of the date the plaintiff discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, that the injury or illness was caused by child sex trafficking. This provision applies to any action commenced on or after August 28, 2026.
The bill specifies that the term of imprisonment for the offense of sexual trafficking of a child in the second degree when it is committed by a parent, legal guardian, or other person having custody or control of a child is "life imprisonment", which, in this instance, means for the duration of the person's natural life.
GROOMING OR ENTICEMENT OF A MINOR (Sections 566.151 and 589.015)
This bill modifies the offense of enticement of a child to create the offense of grooming or enticement of a minor, to be know as "Evie and Sophie's Law". A person commits this offense when the person is more than four years older than the minor and knowingly engages in a pattern of conduct that a reasonable person would infer is intended to prepare, condition, or manipulate such minor to engage in sexual conduct, a sexual performance, or a commercial sex act. The offense of grooming or enticement of a minor is a felony. A person convicted of such offense will be sentenced to not less than five years and not more than 30 years unless sexual conduct, sexual performance, or a commercial sex act occurs, in which case the minimum penalty will be not less than 10 years. A person that is convicted and sentenced for the offense of grooming or enticement of a minor will not be eligible for parole or conditional release for a period of five years, unless the enticement results in the minor engaging in sexual conduct, a sexual performance, or a commercial sex act, in which case the person will serve 10 years prior to eligibility for parole, probation, or conditional release. When a person is convicted of grooming or enticement of a minor, the imposed sentence is in addition and consecutive to any punishment provided by law for any offense committed as a result of this offense. In addition to imprisonment, a person convicted of grooming or enticement of a minor will be ordered to pay restitution to the victim.
SEXUAL OFFENSES (Sections 573.110, 573.112, 573.114, 573.570, 573.575, 589.400, 589.414, and 595.045)
The bill changes what constitutes a victim of the offense of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images. Currently, to be considered a victim, a person must be at least 18 years of age, identifiable from the image itself or information displayed in connection with the image, and be engaged in a sexual act or have his or her intimate parts exposed. This bill repeals the condition that the victim be at least 18 years of age.
The offense of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images is a class D felony. This bill adds that the offense becomes a class C felony if the image is of a minor or a vulnerable person.
Additionally, the bill changes what constitutes a victim of the offense of threatening the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images. Currently, to be considered a victim, a person must be at least 18 years of age, identifiable from the image itself or information displayed in connection with the image and be engaged in a sexual act or have his or her intimate parts exposed. This bill repeals the condition that the victim be at least 18 years of age.
The current penalty for the offense of threatening the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images is a class E felony. This bill adds that if it is a second offense, it is a class D felony. A third or subsequent offense is a class C felony. Moreover, if the image was of a minor or vulnerable person, the offense is a class B felony. If the threat of the offense is the proximate cause of a serious physical injury or death of a person, the offense is a class B felony.
A person found guilty of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images or the threatening thereof will be ordered by the sentencing court to pay restitution to the victim, the minimum amount of which must be in the amount determined by the court necessary to appropriately compensate the victim.
This bill creates the offense of disclosure of an intimate digital depiction. A person is guilty of such offense if he or she discloses or threatens to disclose an intimate digital depiction with the intent to harass or threaten another person. A violation of such offense is a class D felony if the person discloses an intimate digital depiction and a class E felony if the person threatens to disclose an intimate digital depiction. Any second or subsequent violation of such offense is a class C felony. Additionally, it is a class C felony if the disclosure interferes with a government proceeding or causes violence.
This bill creates the offense of sadistic online exploitation. A person commits this offense where he or she uses the internet to coerce a victim into committing certain acts. This offense is a class E felony.
The bill adds grooming of a minor, nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, and threatening the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images to offenses for which the convicted person is required to register as a sex offender. The bill adds the grooming of a minor to the Tier I sexual offenses. It also adds the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, or the threatening thereof, if the victim is 17 years of age or younger or if coercion of the victim was sexual in nature to the Tier II sexual offenses.
Additionally, the corrects references to the offense of sexual intercourse with a prisoner or offender with the sexual conduct in the course of public duty.
The bill modifies moneys to be deposited into the crime victims' compensation fund by adding $500, but no more than $5,000, upon a plea of guilty or a finding of guilt for the offense of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, or the offense of threatening the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, to the amounts.
REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY SEIZURE (Section 566.218)
Any real or personal property that was used, attempted to be used, or intended to be used to commit a certain unlawful sexual offense can be seized and will be forfeited as provided by current law.
PROSTITUTION (Section 567.030 and 610.131)
Currently, the offense of patronizing prostitution is a class B felony if the individual the person patronizes is 15 years of age or younger, and a class B misdemeanor unless the individual the person patronizes is under 18 years old but older than age 15. This bill increases the penalty from a misdemeanor to a class E felony, unless the individual the person patronizes is less than 18 years old but older than age 15, at which point it becomes a class D felony.
Currently, a person who was convicted of the offense of prostitution who was under the age of 18 at the time of the offense can apply to the appropriate court to have his or her record expunged. This bill repeals the requirement that the person be under the age of 18 at the time of the offense.
CYBER CRIME INVESTIGATION FUND (Section 650.120)
Current law authorizes a panel within the Department of Public Safety to award grants to multi-jurisdictional internet cyber crime law enforcement task forces, enforcement groups, and other law enforcement agencies. The program expired on December 31, 2024, and terminated on September 1, 2025. This bill repeals that expiration.
MISSOURI CRIME VICTIMS FUND (Section 660.845)
This bill establishes the "Missouri Crime Victims Fund", which must consist of moneys appropriated by the General Assembly. Moneys in the fund will be disbursed to entitlement jurisdictions, eligible entities, or local governmental entities that are eligible for victim assistance grants under the Federal Victims of Crime Act.
Statutes affected: