HCS/SS/SB 66 - This act modifies several provisions relating to children, vulnerable persons, and animals, including: (1) references to certain sexual offenses; (2) the diaper bank tax credit; (3) child and companion animal abuse reporting; (4) newborn safety incubators; (5) the statewide council against trafficking; (6) age of marriage; (7) dissolution of marriage while pregnant; (8) orders of protection; (9) admissibility of evidence in criminal cases; (10) a pretrial witness protection program; (11) actions for childhood sexual offenses; (12) statute of limitations for certain sexual offenses; (13) Attorney General assistance with child trafficking cases; (14) sexual offenses; (15) restitution for sexual trafficking offenses; (16) the closure of certain records relating to minors; and (17) expungement. REFERENCES TO CERTAIN SEXUAL OFFENSES (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, 566.151, 566.155, 573.010, 573.023, 573.025, 573.035, 573.037, 573.038, 573.050, 573.052, 573.215, 589.042, 589.400, 589.414, 650.120, and 660.520) This act repeals references to child pornography and offenses relating to child pornography and adds references to child sexual abuse material and offenses relating to child sexual abuse material. Additionally, this act provides that "child sexual abuse material" shall include any anatomically correct doll with features that resemble those of a minor intended to be used for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of any person or to cause emotional distress to a person. This act also repeals references to sexual contact with a prisoner or offender and adds references to sexual conduct in the course of public duty. These provisions are identical to provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 60 (2025), HCS/HB 219 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025), SB 148 (2025), and SB 1245 (2024). DIAPER BANK TAX CREDIT (Section 135.621) Current law authorizes a tax credit for contributions made to diaper banks. This act adds the definition of "national diaper bank" to require such entities to be a member of a national network organization serving all fifty states through which certification demonstrates nonprofit best practices, data-driven program design, and equitable distribution. The tax credit sunsets on December 31, 2024. This act extends the sunset until December 31, 2031. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HB 121 (2025), the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SB 43 (2025), SCS/SB 95 (2025), HCS/SB 94 (2025), HCS/HB 326 (2025) and is substantially similar to provisions in HB 647 (2025), HB 1522 (2025), SB 671 (2025), HCS/HB 798 (2025), and HCS/HB 1176 (2025). CHILD AND COMPANION ANIMAL ABUSE REPORTING (Sections 192.2405, 192.2510, 210.115, 210.191, 273.410, and 273.415) This act requires animal control officers and animal humane investigators to be mandated reporters in cases of abuse and neglect of children, the elderly, and other vulnerable persons. Additionally, animal control officers and animal humane investigators shall be required to receive one hour of training within the first 60 days of employment to recognize the signs of abuse or neglect in children, the elderly, and vulnerable persons. This act creates a mandated reporting requirement for certain mental health, educational, protective services, and law enforcement personnel to report cases of animal abuse or neglect to a hotline established by the Missouri Animal Control Association (MACA). MACA shall provide the report of abuse or neglect to any duly-authorized law enforcement official, county or municipal animal control officer, or animal cruelty investigator. If the mandated reporter is an employee of an agency or political subdivision of the state and fails to make a report as required under this provision, the employer shall send a written notice to the employee noting the failure and providing a reminder of the requirements of reporting animal abuse or neglect. Additionally, a mandated reporter who fails to make a report shall be subject to discipline by his or her professional licensing board, as well as a fine, as described in the act. Finally, protective services employees with direct contact with children, the elderly, and vulnerable persons shall be required to receive one hour of training within the first 60 days of employment to recognize the signs of abuse or neglect in animals. These provisions are identical to HB 1298 (2025), SB 65 (2025), SB 655 (2025), and provisions in the perfected HB 325 (2025) and substantially similar to SB 995 (2024), SB 1259 (2024), SB 91 (2023), and SB 1182 (2022). NEWBORN SAFETY INCUBATORS (Section 210.950) This act modifies the "Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002". Under current law, a parent shall not be prosecuted for child abandonment or endangering the welfare of a child if the parent voluntarily delivers a child no more than 45 days old to a newborn safety incubator. This act permits the delivery of a child no more than 90 days old. Additionally, this act creates the "Safe Place for Newborns Fund" to be used for the installation of newborn safety incubators through a matching program, as described in the act. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HB 121 (2025), the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SB 43 (2025), and HCS/SB 189 (2025). STATEWIDE COUNCIL AGAINST TRAFFICKING (Section 210.1505) This act repeals provisions relating to the "Statewide Council on Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children" within the Department of Social Services and creates the "Statewide Council Against Adult Trafficking and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children" within the office of the Attorney General. The Council shall coordinate a statewide effort against the trafficking of adults and children within the state. The Attorney General shall service as chairperson of the Council and shall hold an initial meeting before October 27, 2025. Finally, this act creates the "Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Education and Awareness Fund" to provide funds for the position of the Executive Director of the Council, for education regarding human trafficking, and for anti-trafficking efforts. This provision is identical to a provision in CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 60 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025) and similar to a provision in SB 148 (2025), SB 143 (2025), SB 284 (2025), SB 755 (2025), the perfected HCS/HBs 1706 & 1539 (2024), and SB 1245 (2024). AGE OF MARRIAGE (Sections 451.040, 451.080, and 451.090) Currently, no marriage license shall 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. Additionally, no marriage license shall be issued if any party to the marriage is under 18 years of age without parental consent. This act repeals those provisions and no marriage license shall be issued in Missouri for individuals under 18 years of age. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/HCS/HBs 737 & 486 (2025) and the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SB 43 (2025) and substantially similar to SB 631 (2025) and SCS/SBs 767 & 1342 (2024). DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE WHILE PREGNANT (Sections 452.305 and 452.310) Under this act, pregnancy status shall not prevent a court from entering a judgement of dissolution of marriage or legal separation. This provision is identical to HCS/HBs 243 & 280 (2025), SB 93 (2025), SB 660 (2025), and HB 2402 (2024). ORDERS OF PROTECTION (Sections 455.010, 455.035, and 455.513) This act modifies the definitions of "adult" and "child" in provisions relating to orders of protection. An "adult" is any person eighteen, instead of seventeen, years of age or older and a "child" is any person under eighteen, instead of seventeen, years of age unless he or she is otherwise emancipated. These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 176 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025), HCS/HB 736 (2025), SB 284 (2025), SB 143 (2025), HCS/SB 189 (2025), SB 352 (2025), SB 755 (2025), SCS/HCS/HBs 1706 & 1539 (2024), SB 897 (2024), CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 72 (2023), HCS/HB 355 (2023), in HB 981 (2023), in SCS/HCS/HBs 994, 52 & 984 (2023), and in HCS/HB 1559 (2022). ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL CASES (Sections 491.075 and 492.304) Under current law, a statement made by a child under 14 years of age may be admissible in criminal proceedings under certain circumstances. This act changes the age to a child under the age of 18 years of age. Additionally, this act provides that visual or audio recordings of a child under 18 years of age or a vulnerable person relating to certain criminal offenses shall be admissible in criminal proceedings under certain circumstances. These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025) and substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SB 43 (2025), SB 277 (2025), SB 352 (2025), SB 148 (2025), SB 755 (2025), SCS/HCS/HBS 971, 293, & 978 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 615 (2025), the perfected HCS/HBs 1706 & 1539 (2024), SB 1245 (2024), SCS/HCS/HB 2700 (2024), SCS/SB 897 (2024), SB 906 (2024), the perfected HCS/HB 454 (2023) and to provisions in the perfected HS/HCS/HBs 1108 & 1181 (2023). PRETRIAL WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM (Section 491.641) Under current law, any law enforcement agency may use funds from the "Pretrial Witness Protection Services Fund" to provide for the security of witnesses and immediate family members during criminal proceedings. This act adds that prosecuting and circuit attorney offices may also use such funds. This act also repeals certain application requirements for reimbursement of costs for witness protection and provides that law enforcement agencies and prosecuting and circuit attorney offices shall submit an application to the Department of Public Safety. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 87 (2025), HCS/SS/SCS/SB 60 (2025), SB 755 (2025), HCS/HB 224 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025), SB 143 (2025), SB 284 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HBs 1706 & 1539 (2024) and substantially similar to SCS/SB 1266 (2024). ACTIONS FOR CHILDHOOD SEXUAL OFFENSES (Sections 537.046, 537.047, and 537.054) Currently, a civil action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse shall be brought within ten years after the victim reaches the age of twenty-one or within three years of the victim discovering that the injury or illness was caused by childhood sexual abuse, whichever is later. This provision applies to any cause of action commenced on or after August 28, 2004, including any action barred by the statute of limitation applicable prior to that date. This act applies this cause of action to any action commenced on or before August 28, 2025, and does not include any action barred by the statute of limitations prior to that date. Additionally, a nondisclosure agreement by any party to any child sexual abuse claim shall not be judicially enforceable in a dispute involving child sexual abuse. This provision is identical to HCS/HB 1464 (2025) and substantially similar to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/SS/HCS/HBs 737 & 486 (2025), the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SB 43 (2025), SB 148 (2025), SB 1245 (2024) and similar to SB 831 (2024), SB 416 (2023), and HCS/HB 367 (2023). Additionally, this act modifies the cause of action for persons who were victims of child pornography when they were a child. Current law permits actions to be commenced within ten years of the plaintiff attaining the age of twenty-one, or within three years of the date the plaintiff discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, that the injury or illness was cause by child pornography, and only if the violation that causes the injury occurs on or after August 28, 2007. This act permits actions to be commenced within twenty years of the plaintiff attaining the age of twenty-one, or within three years of the date the plaintiff discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, that the injury or illness was cause by child pornography, and only if the violation that causes the injury occurs on or after August 28, 2025. Finally, this act creates a new cause of action to recover damages from injury or illness cause by child sex trafficking. Such cause of action shall be commenced within twenty years of the plaintiff attaining the age of twenty-one or within three years of the date the plaintiff discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, that the injury or illness was cause by child sex trafficking. This provision shall apply to any action commenced on or after August 28, 2025. These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025). STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR CERTAIN SEXUAL OFFENSES (Section 556.039) This act provides that sexual trafficking offenses involving a person 19 years or older shall be commenced no later than 20 years after the commission of the offense. This act also provides that the offenses of abusing an individual through forced labor, trafficking for the purpose of slavery, and the offense of patronizing a victim of sexual servitude of any person 18 years or younger shall be commenced no later than 20 years after the commission of the offense. This provision is substantially similar to a provision in SB 755 (2025), HCS/SB 189 (2025), SB 284 (2025), and SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025). ATTORNEY GENERAL ASSISTANCE WITH CHILD TRAFFICKING CASES (Section 566.201) This act provides that a prosecuting or circuit attorney may request assistance from the Attorney General to assist in the prosecution of child sex trafficking cases and may utilize any resource of the Attorney General to prosecute such cases. This provision is identical to a provision in CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 60 (2025), SB 148 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025), HCS/SB 189 (2025), and SB 1245 (2024). SEXUAL OFFENSES (Sections 566.151, 566.210, 566.211, and 567.030) Under current law, a person over 21 years old commits the offense of enticement of a child if he or she persuades any person less than 15 years old to engage in sexual conduct. This act changes the age to less than 17 years old. Additionally, this act modifies the offense of patronizing prostitution if the person patronized for prostitution is ages 15 to 17 it shall be a class E felony and if the person is less than 15 years old it shall be a class B felony. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SB 43 (2025), HCS/SS/SCS/SB 60 (2025), SB 148 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 615 (2025), HCS/HB 1464 (2025), SB 143 (2025), HCS/SB 189 (2025), and SB 352 (2025) and substantially similar to provisions in SB 284 (2025) and SB 755 (2025). Currently, a person commits the offense of sex trafficking of a child in the first degree if he or she knowingly recruits, entices, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains a person under the age of twelve to participate in a commercial sex act, performance, or production of explicit materials; causes a person under the age of twelve to engage in commercial sex acts, performances, or production of explicit materials; or advertises the availability of a person under the age of twelve for such acts. This act changes the act to a person under the age of fourteen. Additionally, the sentence for this offense in current law is life imprisonment without parole until the offender has served at least twenty-five years of the sentence. This act changes the sentence to life imprisonment without parole until the offender has served at least thirty years of the sentence. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SCS/HCS#2/HB 495 (2025) and HCS/HB 1464 (2025). Currently, the offense of sex trafficking of a child in the second degree carries a sentence of at least ten years or life. This act changes that sentence to at least fifteen years or life. Additionally, the defendant is not eligible for parole if the offense was effected by force, abduction, or coercion until the defendant has served at least twenty-five years of the sentence. This act changes that to at least thirty years of the sentence. This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HB 1464 (2025) and substantially similar to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SCS/HCS#2/HB 495 (2025). Under this act, the offense of sex trafficking of a child in the second degree by a parent, legal guardian, or other person having custody or control of a child is a felony for which the sentence is life imprisonment. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025), SB 148 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 66 (2025), HCS/SB 189 (2025), and SB 1245 (2024). RESTITUTION FOR SEXUAL TRAFFICKING OFFENSES (Section 566.218) This act provides that any real or personal property used in the commission of a sexual trafficking offense may be seized and forfeited subject to the Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act. Any remaining proceeds from the sale of the property after satisfying any liens shall go to the victims of sexual trafficking. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025) and CCS/hCS/SS/SCS/SB 60 (2025) and substantially similar to a provision in SB 148 (2025), SB 1245 (2024), and SB 906 (2024). CLOSURE OF CERTAIN RECORDS RELATING TO MINORS (SECTION 610.021) Under this act, a public body is authorized to close any portion of a record that contains individually identifiable information of a minor held by a public governmental body if that body is a city, town, village, or park board except when the records are requested by the Division of Labor Standards within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the purpose of enforcing state laws relating to child labor. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HCS/HBs 145 & 59 (2025), HCS/SS/SCS/SB 60 (2025), and SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025). EXPUNGEMENT (SECTION 610.131) Under current law, a person who was under the age of 18 who was coerced into prostitution may petition to have his or her record expunged for the offense of prostitution. This provision repeals the "under the age of 18" provision. This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 60 (2025), HCS/HB 224 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 1464 (2025), SB 755 (2025), SB 284 (2025), HCS/SB 189 (2025), and HCS/HB 2688 (2024). SARAH HASKINS