Missouri governor signs first laws of 2026, including anti-grooming measure
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) -For the first time in 2026, Missouri is putting some new laws on the books.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed three new laws today in his first policy signing of the year, including legislation that defines grooming in state law and gives prosecutors new tools to charge offenders. All three laws take effect in late August.
Protecting children from grooming, sex crimes
Evie and Sophie’s Law, named after two Missouri teens, passed in a matter of months. When Madison Royer discovered a man in his 50s was manipulating her younger sisters, she learned Missouri was one of 36 states that do not define grooming by law.
“By creating this anti-grooming law, we are looking to address those gaps and make it so children can be protected from enticement, can be protected from grooming,” Royer said.
Grooming is a pattern of predatory behaviors, like compliments and gift giving, intended to lure a minor into a romantic or sexual relationship. The new law gives prosecutors the ability to charge groomers and defines grooming in state law.
The law also mandates human trafficking training for law enforcement and criminalizes sextortion, which is using private photos to blackmail someone.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said the law will be put to the test when Missouri is on the world stage this summer.
“And to do training, which we are already doing, particularly around the World Cup, because we know it’s going to be a major human trafficking event,” Hanaway said.
If you or a loved one is experiencing thoughts of harm, call or text the mental health hotline 988 for help. You can access resources on grooming online from Enough Help or Evan’s Voice.
Divorce while pregnant
Another law signed Tuesday gets rid of an old law from the 1970s that prevented divorces while a woman was pregnant. This was the first bill passed by both legislative chambers this year.
Despite being introduced for years, the bill did not gain traction until Rep. Cecelie Williams shared the story of how she was trapped in an abusive marriage. Two decades ago, Williams desperately tried to escape her abuser while pregnant and was denied a divorce.
Lawmakers, including Democratic Rep. Ashley Aune of Kansas City, have pushed for this change for over a decade.
The Missouri Dept of Social Services shares resources for domestic abuse on its website. Anyone experiencing domestic abuse can also call the national hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Juvenile crime reform
The third law, signed on Tuesday, makes it easier for prosecutors to charge minors who commit violent crimes as adults and increases the amount of time a person has to serve in prison before they can be released on parole.
“If a juvenile is going to act like an adult, commit a crime as an adult, they need to understand that those unfortunately have consequences,” Kehoe said.
The juvenile crime law, Senate Bill 888, faces opposition from the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, which says it will disproportionately target at-risk Black youths.
State Sen. Steve Roberts said punitive approaches to juvenile justice do not produce safer communities.
“Decades of research and experience have demonstrated that punitive approaches to juvenile justice do not produce safer communities. Instead, they increase recidivism and limit opportunities for young people to successfully reintegrate into society,” Roberts said.
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