HB 1839 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Establishes provisions relating to civil liability for publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the internet

HB 1839 requires commercial websites distributing more than one-third "sexual material harmful to minors" (defined as content appealing to minors' sexual interests without serious artistic value) to implement age verification for users under 18. It mandates that businesses use reasonable age-verification methods (like government ID checks) and prohibits retaining personal user data during verification. Websites must display specific health warnings about pornography's effects and a national helpline notice in 14-point font. The law excludes bona fide news organizations and internet service providers from compliance, and the Missouri Attorney General can enforce it through lawsuits seeking damages or injunctions.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Signed Jul 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Committee Substitute → Perfected · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was finalized and reclassified from a House Committee Substitute to a Perfected version, indicating it has passed all legislative stages. A key substantive change defines 'news-gathering organization' to explicitly include employees of online and mobile platforms, ensuring digital journalists are protected alongside traditional print and broadcast reporters. Additionally, the bill's page numbering was updated to reflect its final status in the legislative record.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include digital media platforms under the definition of news-gathering organizations, ensuring equal protection for online journalists compared to traditional media.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'news-gathering organization' to explicitly include employees of online or mobile platforms, broadening the protection to cover digital journalism.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill's status label from 'House Committee Substitute' to 'Perfected' and updated the section identifier from H.04C to H.04P to reflect its final legislative stage.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jul 9, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor (G)

lower

May 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 112 NOES: 25 PRESENT: 11

lower

May 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

May 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

May 12, 2026

Committee

Referred: Fiscal Review(H)

lower

May 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Read and Passed with Amendments (S) - SA 1 - AYES: 32 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

upper

May 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Committee

Referred: Fiscal Oversight(S)

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 12:00 p.m., Senate Committee Room 1 - 1st Floor

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Second read and referred: General Laws(S)

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 120 NOES: 19 PRESENT: 9

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Adopted (H)

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 5 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 17 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

Referred: Children and Families(H)

lower

Dec 1, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors