SB 1135 Missouri Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Creates "Bentley and Mason's Law" relating to child maintenance orders for certain persons convicted of the offense of driving while intoxicated

SB 1135, known as "Bentley's Law," requires courts to mandate child support payments for parents convicted of driving while intoxicated (DUI) who already have existing child support obligations. The bill directs judges to include specific child maintenance requirements in sentencing or court orders for these individuals. It directly affects parents with children who face DUI convictions and fail to meet current child support duties. The key provision ensures child support is formally integrated into DUI-related legal proceedings without requiring separate court action.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Signed Jul 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

4/15/2026 - SS S offered (Henderson)--(3858S.03F) 4/15/2026 - Adopted, as amended → 4/15/2026 - SA 1 to SS S offered & adopted (Washington)--(3858S03.05S) 4/15/2026 - Adopted · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to broaden the definition of the offense from 'driving while intoxicated' to include specific DUI statutes (577.010 or 577.012) and to include convictions where a guilty plea or nolo contendere plea was entered. Additionally, the amendment clarifies that any insurance payments received by a surviving parent for the death of a parent must be deducted from the child maintenance order, preventing double recovery.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to cover a wider range of DUI-related legal outcomes, including guilty pleas, rather than just convictions, and explicitly links the maintenance order to insurance recovery funds.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the required legal outcome from a 'conviction' to include 'pled guilty to' or 'entered a plea of nolo contendere' under specific DUI statutes.

FISCAL

Added a requirement that child maintenance payments be reduced by any amount the surviving parent receives from a motor vehicle liability insurer regarding the death of the parent.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the text to ensure consistency in how the offense and legal proceedings are described throughout the new section.

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 13, 2026

Signed into law

Signed by Governor

executive

May 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Duly Enrolled Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee

upper

May 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed

upper

May 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

H Third Read and Passed

lower

May 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass H Fiscal Review

lower

May 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass H Fiscal Review

lower

May 12, 2026

Committee

Referred H Fiscal Review Committee

lower

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass H Rules - Legislative

lower

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass H Rules - Legislative

lower

May 7, 2026

Committee

Referred H Rules - Legislative

lower

May 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass H Children and Families

lower

May 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass H Children and Families

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Committee

Referred H Children and Families

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

S Third Read and Passed

upper

Apr 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from S Fiscal Oversight Committee

upper

Apr 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Voted Do Pass S Fiscal Oversight Committee

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Committee

Referred S Fiscal Oversight Committee

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Truly Perfected S Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

SS, as amended, S adopted

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

SA 1 to SS S offered & adopted (Washington)--(3858S03.05S)

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from S Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Voted Do Pass S Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Hearing Conducted S Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee

upper

Dec 1, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors