KC Reporter

Jefferson City — Governor Mike Kehoe has signed into law House Bills 121 and 737, and Senate Bill 43, reinforcing Missouri's commitment to safeguarding its most vulnerable citizens.

“Today's action on this legislation is about standing up for the most vulnerable Missourians; those who often times cannot advocate for themselves,” stated Governor Kehoe. “Protecting these individuals is not just a priority, it's a responsibility we all share, and we appreciate the General Assembly for sending this legislation to my desk. We must provide safety, support, and dignity to those who need it most.”

House Bill 121, sponsored by Representative Jim Murphy and Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman, establishes the "Safe Place for Newborns Fund" aimed at installing newborn safety incubators. It extends Missouri's Safe Haven law and creates the fund to offer parents in crisis a secure option to surrender their child safely. Additionally, it sets up the Zero-Cost Adoption Fund to assist families with adoption expenses and expands tax credits supporting maternity homes and diaper banks.

House Bill 737, sponsored by Representative Melissa Schmidt and Senator Jamie Burger, modifies provisions related to child protection. It ensures federal benefits are securely allocated to foster care beneficiaries for future financial stability. The bill also establishes the “Child and Family Legal Representation Coordinating Commission” for high-quality legal representation of families and improves child placement processes.

Senate Bill 43, sponsored by Senator Travis Fitzwater and Representative Wendy Hausman, modifies provisions protecting vulnerable persons. It enhances protections in legal proceedings for children and vulnerable persons while strengthening penalties against sexual abuse and trafficking. The bill also expands tax credits encouraging donations to organizations supporting children.

Governor Kehoe also signed Senate Bill 152 by Senator Ben Brown and Representative Jim Murphy banning foreign nationals from contributing donations to campaign committees for ballot measures. Senate Bill 218 by Senator Rusty Black and Representative Cameron Parker modernizes court operations.

For more details on the legislation or additional provisions signed into law, visit house.mo.gov or senate.mo.gov. Photos from the signing will be available on Governor Kehoe's Flickr page. Additional signings will occur over several days as per Governor Kehoe's schedule.