The Missouri General Assembly adjourned the regular session on May 15, 2026. Out of 2,048 House bills and 975 Senate bills introduced this session, 101 bills were Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed.

State Funding for Domestic and Sexual Violence Services

The General Assembly finished its work on the Fiscal Year 2027 state budget prior to the constitutionally mandated deadline of May 8. MOCADSV and Gibbons-Workman staff met with the Governor’s budget director on May 21 to continue advocating for state funding to support domestic and sexual violence services and survivors.

The General Assembly’s budget includes the following funding levels:

Domestic Violence Shelter Services (DVSS) – $10,162,137 (Federal FVPSA, Federal TANF, State General Revenue (GR))
Sexual Violence Shelter Services (SVSS) – $1,750,000 (State GR)
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) – $42,864,755 (Federal CVF and State GR)
Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors (STOP) & Sexual Assault Service Providers (SASP) – $3,294,343 (Federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA))
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) – $2,000,000 (State GR)
Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) – $1,287,134 (Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC))

MOCADSV encourages members and partners to share your gratitude with Rep. Raychel Proudie, Rep. Betsy Fogle, and Rep. Darin Chappell, who spoke in support of DVSS and VOCA funding during the Conference Committee hearing. Additional thanks should also be extended to the Senate Appropriations Committee for including VOCA funding in their budget and the House Budget Committee for restoring DVSS funding to their budget.

Action on MOCADSV’s Priority Bills

MOCADSV staff tracked multiple bills throughout the legislative session that pertain to domestic and sexual violence work. While reviewing these bills, staff created a list of priority bills. MOCADSV, along with its members and lobbyists at Gibbons-Workman, advocated by meeting with legislators throughout the session to provide education about domestic and sexual violence, support services, and the potential impact bills could have on communities.

Below are bills that were Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed this session that pertain to domestic violence and sexual assault work. Several of these bills contain multiple provisions. The governor has 45 days following the adjournment of the legislative session to either sign or veto a bill. All signed bills go into effect August 28, 2026, unless a different date is specified within the bill. Sections that impact domestic and sexual violence laws are highlighted here.

HB 1908 – Allows the court to enter a judgment of dissolution of marriage, or legal separation, if a person is pregnant. Signed by the Governor on April 7, 2026.

HB 2273 – Modifies and establishes provisions relating to the protection of children and vulnerable persons. Addresses cyberstalking, disclosure of intimate digital depictions, nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, sadistic online exploitation, grooming of a minor, and establishes the Missouri Crime Victims Fund. Signed by the Governor on April 7, 2026.

SB 907 – Establishes the “Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation,” which establishes provisions relating to litigation alleging certain disability access violations. Signed by the Governor on May 6, 2026.

HB 2596 – Modifies provisions relating to health benefit plans. Provides for annual supply of contraception. Awaits the Governor’s signature.

HB 2637 – Modifies and establishes provisions relating to public safety. Addresses no-contact orders, definitions for bodily harm, offense of stalking, unlawful tracking of a motor vehicle, cyber harassment, cyberstalking, disclosure of an intimate digital depiction, and sadistic online exploitation. Awaits the Governor’s signature.

SB 982 – Modifies provisions relating to sexual offenses and the sex offender registry. Awaits the Governor’s signature.

SB 999 – Modifies provisions relating to vulnerable persons. Addresses cyberstalking, no contact orders, definitions of physical injury, offense of stalking, cyber harassment, disclosure of intimate digital depictions, and sadistic online exploitation. Awaits the Governor’s signature.

SB 1421 – Modifies provisions relating to the unlawful use of unmanned aircraft in certain areas. Creates the offense of masked intimidation. Awaits the Governor’s signature.

The conclusion of the 2026 Missouri legislative session also means MOCADSV staff will begin working on the New 2026 Missouri Laws publication. The New Missouri Laws publication is a part of a series that highlights bills that passed during the legislative session that may affect survivors or advocacy organizations.

We have reached the midpoint of the 103rd General Assembly’s 2nd regular session. It has been a busy and productive first half of the session, highlighted by Capitol Advocacy Days in February and tremendous engagement from our member agencies through communication with their legislators, Capitol visits, and written and in-person testimony on bills that directly impact survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

State Funding for Domestic & Sexual Violence Services

A top priority for MOCADSV during each legislative session is to advocate for sustained funding for domestic and sexual violence service providers. This includes advocating for general revenue support for three core funding streams: Domestic Violence Support Services (DVSS), Sexual Violence Support Services (SVSS), and Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget recommendation included a $1 million cut in General Revenue under the Department of Social Services’ Domestic Violence line item. Thanks to an amendment by Rep. Raychel Proudie, the $1 million that was removed from the Governor’s budget recommendation has been restored in the House Budget Committee’s Department of Social Services budget bill. While we celebrate clearing this “first hurdle,” our focus now turns to ensuring this is maintained as the budget proceeds through the House and Senate and on to the Governor’s Desk. We express our sincere thanks to all who responded to our Action Alerts on this effort by contacting their legislators, alerting local media, and sharing with their local communities. Watch future editions of our monthly Legislative Update and social media for progress updates and/or action alerts as the appropriations process moves through the General Assembly.

For the past several years, the General Assembly has included a supplemental appropriation to bridge the gap in federal VOCA funding in the amount of $25 million. The Governor did not include this amount in his budget recommendation, and the House Budget Committee did not restore it in their markup of the DSS budget bill. Advocacy continues as we work to secure these funds in the extremely tight budget year that the state is facing.

Progress on MOCADSV Priority Bills

MOCADSV is pleased to share two early successes in the progress of priority bills.

HB 1908, sponsored by Rep. Cecelie Williams (with companion bills sponsored by Rep. Raychel Proudie and Rep. Ashley Aune and a Senate version sponsored by Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern), which allows the court to enter a judgement of dissolution of marriage or legal separation if a person is pregnant, passed both the House (Y-147, N-0) and Senate (Y-29, N-0) and is headed to the Governor’s Desk for signature. The bill passed out of both House and Senate committees and in both chambers with unanimous votes, showing tremendous support for ending the prohibition on finalizing divorce while pregnant in Missouri. This was the first non-appropriations bill passed this session.

HB 2273, an omnibus bill sponsored by Rep. Ed Lewis and handled in the Senate by Sen. Jill Carter, is also headed to the Governor’s Desk after passing the House (Y-148, N-2) and the Senate (Y-32, N-0). This bill includes various provisions for the protection of children and vulnerable persons and includes the language that establishes the Crime Victims Fund. This fund will create a permanent line item within the Department of Social Services budget to allow for future appropriations to bolster the VOCA grant program. MOCADSV expresses our gratitude to Rep. Cathy Jo Loy and Sen. Jill Carter for introducing and supporting bills to establish the Crime Victims Fund.

After several years of advocacy, bills to extend the statute of limitations for personal injury claims and child sexual abuse and to provide that retrospective laws may be enacted for civil childhood sexual abuse claims are making progress in the legislature. HB 1664, sponsored by Rep. Brian Seitz, has passed the House (Y-95, N-12) and will now move to the Senate. HJR 130, also sponsored by Rep. Seitz, has passed the House Judiciary Committee. SB 1140 and SJR 93, both sponsored by Sen. Brad Hudson, have passed the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

HB 1694 and SB 907, sponsored by Rep. Mazzie Christensen and Sen. Brad Hudson, respectively, would protect businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies from harmful litigation regarding website access. The House version of this bill has passed the House (Y-149, N-0) and is now before the Senate General Laws Committee.

Read MOCADSV’s full 2026 Priority Bills document.

2025 Missouri Legislative Session Final Report

Despite tensions between both chambers in the final week, and the Senate adjourning two days early, it was a productive session for MOCADSV’s legislative priorities. A full review of all bills signed into law from this legislative session will be provided this summer.

Appropriations

The budget process was successful with General Revenue appropriations for core domestic and sexual violence services funding and stable Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding. The following budget line items will be included in the FY2025 budget, pending final signature from the Governor.

HB 8: Department of Public Safety

State Services to Victims (SSVF) Program – $2M

Violence Against Women Program (STOP VAWA) (spending authority for federal money) – $3.2M

Crime Victims’ Compensation Program (including reimbursement for SAFE-care providers) – $13.7M

HB 10: Department of Health and Senior Services

Statewide telehealth network for victim forensic exams – $2.2M

Cora Faith Walker Doula Training Program – $500,000

Sexual Violence Victims Services, Awareness, and Education Program (spending authority for federal money) – $1.2M

HB 11: Department of Social Services

Domestic Violence Support Services (DVSS)- $5M

Sexual Violence Support Services (SVSS) – $4.2M

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) – $74M (includes one-time general revenue of $25M and spending authority for $49M federal money)

Legislation

MISSING AND MURDERED AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND GIRLS TASK FORCE (HB 495, Establishes Section 595.325)

This bill establishes the “Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls Task Force”. The Task Force will submit a report regarding policies and measures to address violence against African American women and girls to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31st of each year. The task force shall expire on December 31, 2027, unless extended until December 31, 2029, as determined necessary by the Department of Public Safety.

This bill was signed into law by Governor Mike Kehoe on March 26, 2025. Read the full bill text by clicking here.

AMBER ALERT SYSTEM (CCS/SS/HCS/HBs 737 & 486, amends Section 210.1012 RSMo)

The current law states that a statewide program called the “Amber Alert System” was established in order to aid in the identification and location of an abducted child. This bill will amend the current law to include abducted or missing African American youth in the system, as well as youth who may be victims of sex trafficking.

This provision is similar to SB 61 (2025) and SB 612 (2025).

AGE OF MARRIAGE (CCS/SS/HCS/HBs 737 & 486, amends Sections 451.040, 451.080, and 451.090 RSMo)

This bill will repeal establishes that no marriage license will be issued in Missouri for individuals under 18 years of age. Additionally, no marriage license will be issued if any party to the marriage is under 18 years of age without parental consent.

Current law states that no marriage license will be issued in Missouri for individuals under 16 years of age or issued when one party to the marriage is under 18 years of age and the other party over 21 years of age.

These provisions are identical to the perfected SS/SB 66 (2025) and provisions in the perfected SS/SB 43 (2025) and substantially similar to SB 631 (2025) and SCS/SBs 767 & 1342 (2024).

CIVIL ACTIONS FOR CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE (CCS/SS/HCS/HBs 737 & 486, amends Section 537.046 RSMo)

This bill will modify the offenses included in the definition of “childhood sexual abuse” for civil actions to recover damages from injury or illness caused by childhood sexual abuse. The bill will apply to any action arising on or after August 28, 2025.

This bill also provides that a nondisclosure agreement by any party to a childhood sexual abuse action will not be judicially enforceable in a dispute involving childhood sexual abuse allegations or claims and will be void.

This provision is substantially similar to provisions in the perfected SS/SB 43 (2025) and SB 590 (2025) and similar to a provision in SB 1063 (2024) and SB 1092 (2024).

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (SS#2 SB 79, amends Section 191.648 RSMo)

Currently, a physician can use expedited partner therapy, meaning the practice of treating the sex partners of persons with chlamydia or gonorrhea without an intervening medical evaluation or professional prevention counseling, to prescribe and dispense medications for the treatment of chlamydia or gonorrhea even without an established physician/patient relationship.

Under this bill, physicians and certain health care professionals will be able to use expedited partner therapy, and such therapy can be used for designated sexually transmitted infections. The bill designates that sexually transmitted infections include now includes trichomoniasis in addition to chlamydia and gonorrhea. This will also add the option to add other sexually transmitted diseases as determined by DHSS and/or the CDC to the list of designated sexually transmitted diseases. This bill will repeal the requirement that antibiotic medications prescribed and dispensed through expedited partner therapy for the treatment be in pill form.

These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/SB 178 (2025), and substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 317 (2025), HCS/HB 943 (2025), the perfected HCS/HB 2413 (2024), SB 1445 (2024) and HB 1879 (2024).

FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS OF VICTIMS OF SEXUAL OFFENSES (SS#2 SB 79, establishes Section 192.2521 RSMo)

Under this bill, a specialty hospital, meaning a hospital other than a general acute care hospital, or a hospital that provides short term active treatment, will not be required to comply with certain statutory provisions relating to forensic examinations of victims of sexual assault if such hospital has in place a policy for the transfer of such victims to an appropriate hospital with an emergency department.

These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/SB 178 (2025) and provisions in the perfected HCS/HB 2413 (2024), and substantially similar to SB 1326 (2024).

INSURANCE COVERAGE OF SELF-ADMINISTERED HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES (SS#2 SB 79, establishes Section 376.1240 RSMo)

This bill will require health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, that provide coverage for self-administered hormonal contraceptives, as defined in the bill, to cover a supply of the contraceptives which is intended to last up to 90 days, or up to 180 days, for a generic self-administered hormonal contraceptive.

These provisions are similar to provisions in SCS/SB 178 (2025), provisions in the perfected HCS/HB 2413 (2024), SB 821 (2024), SB 1321 (2024), SB 512 (2023), HB 287 (2023), SB 641 (2022), SB 472 (2021), HB 1373 (2021), and SB 346 (2019).

INTERPRETER SERVICES IN COURT PROCEEDINGS (HCS SS SB 218, amends Section 476.806 RSMo)

Current law states that an interpreter’s or translator’s fees and expenses in a criminal proceeding are payable by the State from funds appropriated for that purpose.

This bill will allow the fees and expenses in any civil, juvenile, or criminal proceeding to be paid by the State from the appropriated funds.

This provision is identical to HB 182 (2025) and a provision in HCS/SS/SB 221 (2025).

BASIC CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FUND (HCS SS SB 218, amends Section 477.650 RSMo)

Under the current law, the Basic Civil Legal Services Fund is set to expire on December 31, 2025. The money in the Fund is used to provide legal representation to eligible low-income persons in civil matters. This bill will repeal that expiration date.

This provision is identical to a provision in SS#2/SCS/SB 10 (2025), in HCS/HB 83 (2025), in SCS/HCS/HB 87 (2025), HB 124 (2025), in SCS/HCS/HB 176 (2025), in HCS/HB 179 (2025), HB 181 (2025), in HCS/SS/SB 221 (2025), SCS/SBs 391 & 355 (2025), in SCS/HCS/HB 615 (2025), in SCS/HCS/HB 1259 (2025), HB 1838 (2024), and in SCS/HCS/HB 2064 & HCS#2/HB 1886 (2024) and is substantially similar to SB 946 (2024) and a provision in SCS/HB 2719 (2024).

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS WEEK (SB348, creates Section 9.389 RSMo)

This bill will establish the designation of the week in which the second Tuesday of April falls each year as “Human Trafficking Awareness Week.” As part of the establishment of the awareness week, Missourians will be encouraged to participate in appropriate events and activities to promote awareness of human trafficking, victim remedies and services, trafficking prevention, and the history of slavery in our state.

The Missouri legislative session began January 8, 2025. MOCADSV spent the majority of December and January reviewing bills proposed by the legislature, narrowing down policy priorities, and meeting with House and Senate leadership.

Governor Mike Kehoe delivers his first State of the State address:

Missouri’s newly elected governor, Governor Mike Kehoe, delivers his first State of the State address to the Missouri General Assembly on January 28, 2025. Read the full press release by clicking here.

Bills we’re following:

A top priority for MOCADSV during every legislative session is to advocate for sustained funding for domestic and sexual violence service providers. This includes advocating for general revenue support for three core funding streams: Domestic Violence Support Services (DVSS), Sexual Violence Support Services (SVSS), and Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).

Some legislative priorities this year include raising the age of marriage to 18 without exceptions and allowing a court to finalize a divorce while a woman is pregnant.

Senate Bill 66, sponsored by Senator Tracy McCreery, would raise the age of marriage from 16 or 17 (with parental consent) to 18 without exception. This bill was voted out of the Senate Y-32, N-1. Its companion bill, House Bill 1200, sponsored by Representative Renee Reuter, has been voted out of committees.

House Bill 243, sponsored by Representative Cecelie Williams, would prohibit pregnancy status from preventing a court from entering a judgment for a dissolution of marriage. This bill was voted out of the House, Y-155, N-0. This bill is being handled in the Senate by Senator Maggie Nurrenbern, who sponsored a companion bill, Senate Bill 93.

Prior to the legislative spring break, which is considered the mid-point in the legislative session, MOCADSV issued an action alert on House Bill 567. This bill would reverse the new paid sick leave law created with Proposition A, a ballot initiative passed by voters in the 2024 November General Election. MOCADSV is opposed to HB 567 on the grounds that sick leave has a greater impact on survivors of domestic and sexual violence because they have a higher need to take time off of work to participate in the criminal justice system, and care for medical needs related to trauma they and/or their children have experienced. MOCADSV issued a similar action alert and published a Whitepaper when the bill was voted out of the House and sent to the Senate for debate.

Governor Mike Parson announced Friday, June 28, 2024, that he had signed and issued vetoes to Fiscal Year 2025 budget bills. Below are the passed and vetoed budget bills for FY2025.

House Bill 8– Public Safety

House Bill 8 created multiple awards for crime victims’ programs for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Multiple items passed, and two items were partially or fully vetoed. The Crime Victims Compensation Fund will receive $13.7 million to reimburse Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE)-Care providers for performing forensic medical exams on children suspected of having been physically abused. The State Services to Victims program received $2 million, and the Violence Again Women Program received $3.3 million. The final item that passed was the Crime Victim Credentialing Program (CVCP), which received $231,085.

This bill included $1.4 million to the Department of Public Safety to procure a commercial, real-time automated victim notification program. Governor Parson vetoed $1 from the program, stating in the veto letter that the language in the bill is overly restrictive and may conflict with subsection 650.310.3 RSMo. The Department of Public Safety will continue to coordinate with Missouri Sheriffs and the Missouri Department of Corrections to provide crime victims notification. The final award amount is $1,399,999.

House Bill 8 also awarded $3.5 million to procure a commercial off-the-shelf automated, modernized crime victim notification software that interfaces with current systems and software used for crime and crime victims’ records. Governor Parson completely vetoed this citing the veto was “an effort to help ensure the financial stability of Missouri beyond [his] Administration and the current General Assembly.”

House Bill 10– DHSS

This bill designates multiple appropriations for women’s health and wellness programs and services. House Bill 10 included 13 women’s health and sexual violence survivor-related appropriations. The Governor passed 12 sections and vetoed one. Approved appropriations with the final award amounts are:

$18.9 million to fund core women’s health and wellness programs and services
$2.2 million for a statewide telehealth network for forensic examinations of victims of sexual offenses
$1 million to develop maternal quality control protocols to standardize practices at all birth facilities across the state
$1.5 million to establish a perinatal health access collaborative to allow general practitioners in underserved areas to consult with medical specialists in the state
$500,000 for the standardization of maternal care provider training, including screening and treating cardiovascular disorders associated with pregnancy, and the treatment of mental health conditions or substance use disorders during and after pregnancy
$1 million for the development and implementation of best practices for postpartum plans of care
$350,00 for the creation of a maternal and child health dashboard
$500,000 for the Cora Faith Walker Doula Training Program for pregnancy and postpartum doulas
$225,000 for a not-for-profit to provide pregnancy and postpartum doula services
$250,000 for free health clinics that can provide prenatal care. The requirements of the bill state the clinics must be in a city with more than 400,000 residents and located in more than one county
$1.2 million for contracts for sexual violence victims’ services, awareness, and education programs
$1 million for family planning and family planning-related services, pregnancy testing, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment

Governor Parson vetoed $100,000 for the implementation of a pregnancy and postpartum doula registration process that included the construction and maintenance of a statewide registry of pregnancy and postpartum doulas approved for health insurance reimbursement. The Governor states in his veto letter that the budget already includes multiple appropriations for funding to support doulas and doula training. Additionally, Governor Parsons cited the fact that the funding was a one-time award for salaries, which could jeopardize the program’s future sustainability.

House Bill 11– Department of Social Services

This bill includes multiple appropriations to domestic violence agencies and crime victims. House Bill 11 awards domestic violence agencies a total of $15.2 million. Within the funding for domestic violence agencies, $562,137 was awarded for emergency shelter services to assist victims of domestic violence. Governor Mike Parson did not veto any domestic and sexual agency appropriations from this bill.

The Department of Social Services Family Support Division will receive $901,379 for the VOCA Unit for the administrative expenses of the program, including training and technical assistance for the VOCA program. The Family Support Division’s Office of Workforce and Community Initiatives will receive $73.8 million for the VOCA Unit for grants to not-for-profit organizations to provide services and to assist victims of crime. Not-for-profit organizations that provide services or assistance to victims of sexual assault will receive $3.8 million, which includes $1.75 million from General Revenue.

House Bill 2020– American Rescue

This bill designates money towards the VOCA Grant Program and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The Department of Social Services will receive $6.4 million for grants to organizations for services and programs to assist victims of crime. The Missouri State Highway Patrol will receive $1 million for forensic equipment at the Highway Patrol’s Crime Labs. Governor Mike Parson did not veto either of these appropriations.

2024 Missouri End-of-Legislative Session Report

The 2024 Missouri legislative session was the least productive session in 30 years, passing only 28 pieces of legislation through the General Assembly. The previous lowest year was 2020, with 31 bills passed, when the legislative session was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the low number of bills passed during this legislative session, many pieces of priority legislation were not passed.

Appropriations

This budget process was successful with multiple General Revenue appropriations and balanced Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding. The following budget line items will be included in the FY2025 budget, pending final signatures from the Governor.

HB 2008- Department of Public Safety

This bill includes multiple awards for crime victims’ programs for victims of sexual and domestic violence. This includes $1.4 million to the Department of Public Safety to procure a commercial, real-time automated victim notification system, and $3.5 million to procure a commercial off-the-shelf automated, modernized crime victim notification software that interfaces with current systems and software used for crime and crime victims’ records. The Crime Victims’ Compensation Program will receive $13.7, which includes reimbursement for Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE)- Care Providers for performing forensic medical exams on children suspected of having been physically abused.

Other awards include $2 million to the State Services to Victims Program, and $3.3 million in authorized spending for the Violence Against Women Program.

HB 2010- Department of Health and Senior Services

This bill designates multiple appropriations to women’s health and wellness programs and services.

$2.2 million from General Revenue for a statewide telehealth network for forensic examinations of victims of sexual offenses
$1 million from General Revenue to develop maternal quality control protocols to standardize practices at all birth facilities across the state
$1.5 million from General Revenue to establish a perinatal health access collaborative to allow general practitioners in underserved areas to consult with medical specialists elsewhere in the state
$500,000 from General Revenue for the standardization of maternal care provider trainings, including screening and treating cardiovascular disorders associated with pregnancy, and the treatment of mental health conditions or substance use disorders during and after pregnancy
$1 million from General Revenue for the development and implementation of best practices for postpartum plans of care
$500,000 for the Cora Faith Walker Doula Training Program for pregnancy and postpartum doulas
$100,000 from the Budget Stabilization Fund for the implementation of a pregnancy and postpartum doula registration process, including the construction and maintenance of a statewide registry of pregnancy and postpartum doulas approved for health insurance reimbursement
$225,000 from General Revenue for a not-for-profit to provide pregnancy and postpartum doula services
$250,000 for free health clinics that can provide prenatal care; the requirements of the bill state the clinics must be in a city with more than 400,000 residents and located in more than one county
$1.2 million from the Department of Health and Senior Services Federal Fund for contracts for sexual violence victims’ services, awareness, and education programs
$1 million from the General Revenue Fund for family planning and family planning-related services, pregnancy testing, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment

HB 2011- Department of Social Services

This bill includes multiple appropriations to domestic and sexual violence agencies and crime victim service providers. This bill awards domestic violence agencies a total of $15.2 million, including $5 million from the General Revenue Fund. Within the funding for domestic violence agencies, $562,137 was awarded for emergency shelter services to assist victims of domestic violence.

Not-for-profit organizations that provide services or assistance to victims of sexual assault will receive $3.8 million, which includes $1.75 million from General Revenue.

The Department of Social Services Family Support Division will receive $73.8 million for the VOCA unit for grants to not-for-profit organizations to provide services and to assist victims of crime.

House Bill 2020- American Rescue

Priority Legislation

Modifies provisions relating to public safety

Senate Bill 754

This bill establishes the “Stop Cyberstalking and Harassment Task Force.” The Task Force members will be comprised of two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House, and two members of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate. The Task Force must elect a chairperson and hold an initial meeting before October 1, 2024.

The Task Force will collect feedback from stakeholders, which may include victims, law enforcement, victim advocates, and digital evidence and forensic experts. The Task Force must make recommendations on what resources and tools are needed to stop cyberstalking and harassment based on the information they collect. The Task Force is required to submit a report with their findings and recommendations to the governor and General Assembly on or before December 31 of each year. The Task Force expires on December 31, 2026, unless the Department of Public Safety determines that the Task Force should be extended until December 31, 2028.

Modifies provisions relating to public funding of abortion facilities and affiliates and provisions relating to MO HealthNet providers

House Bill 2634

This bill specifies that public funds shall not be available to any abortion facility, or affiliate of an abortion facility, including for MO HealthNet reimbursement. The Attorney General, and any taxpayer, has the right to bring a cause of action in any court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction to enforce these provisions, as described in the bill.

House Bill 2634 also modifies existing statute permitting any Missouri participant to obtain MO HealthNet services from any provider of such services in a MO HealthNet provider agreement with the state by requiring the provider to not be disqualified or excluded from serving as a MO HealthNet provider. Additionally, this bill prohibits reimbursements to abortion facilities, or affiliates of abortion facilities, under the “uninsured Women’s Health Program.”

The Department of Social Services is required under this bill to suspend, revoke, or cancel any contract or provider agreement, or refuse to enter into a new contract or provider agreement with any provider when it has been determined that the provider is not qualified to perform the required services because the provider has committed certain offenses specified in the bill, has been found guilty of a pattern of intentional discrimination in the delivery or non-delivery of health care services, or if the provider is an abortion facility, or affiliate thereof.