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. 

 

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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. 

 

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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.

 

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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.