SB 893 Missouri Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Creates and modifies provisions regarding sexual offenses

The bill SB 893, titled "Creates and modifies provisions regarding sexual offenses," is in early legislative stages (prefiled and referred to committee as of January 2026). The provided context does not include specific details about the bill's content, such as which provisions are being created or modified, who it affects, or its key mechanisms. Without additional information on the bill's actual text or policy changes, a substantive summary cannot be provided. The abstract and recent actions only confirm the bill's subject area and procedural status.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Last action Feb 4, 2026
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What changed between versions

3820S.02I - Introduced Senate Committee Substitute - Committee Version · 8 edits
MODERATE
The Senate Committee Substitute for SB 893 significantly expands Missouri's sexual offense laws by creating a new 'grooming of a minor' crime (Sophie's Law), expanding existing nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images statutes to cover minors (not just adults), elevating penalties for offenses involving minors, and adding these new offenses to the sex offender registration system. The changes matter because they close a legal gap that previously left minors without protection under the state's revenge porn laws and create a standalone criminal offense targeting predatory behavior directed at children before any physical contact occurs.
Scope change
The bill's scope expands substantially: the nonconsensual dissemination statutes now cover minors (previously adults only), a new standalone grooming offense is created, and all three new/modified offenses are added to the sex offender registration system with tiered reporting requirements.
SCOPE

Creates a new 'grooming of a minor' offense (section 566.152, Sophie's Law) making it a class B felony for an adult to engage in a pattern of conduct directed at a minor with intent to prepare them for sexual conduct. Escalates to class A felony if sexual conduct actually occurs. Minimum five years imprisonment before eligibility for probation or parole.

ELIGIBILITY

Removes the 'at least eighteen years of age' requirement from sections 573.110 and 573.112, expanding nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images laws to protect minors as well as adults. Previously these statutes only applied to victims 18 or older.

ENFORCEMENT

Elevates the penalty for nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images from a class D felony to a class C felony when the victim is a minor or vulnerable person. Changes the base offense from class E to class D felony.

For threatening nonconsensual dissemination (section 573.112), elevates first offense from class E to class D felony, and makes it a class A felony if the image was of a minor or vulnerable person, or if the threat is the proximate cause of serious physical injury or death.

REQUIREMENT

Adds 'grooming of a minor,' 'nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images,' and 'threatening the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images' to the list of offenses requiring sex offender registration under section 589.400.

DEFINITION

Classifies grooming of a minor as a Tier I sex offender registration offense (15-year registration, annual in-person reporting). Classifies nonconsensual dissemination offenses involving minors or sexual coercion as Tier II (25-year registration, semiannual reporting).

FISCAL

Adds section 573.114 requiring courts to order restitution to victims of nonconsensual dissemination offenses, covering mental and physical rehabilitation, lost income, educational disruption, relocation costs, and costs for removal of the image from online platforms.

TECHNICAL

Updates cross-references in section 589.414 from sections 566.123 and 566.124 to section 566.125 for definitions of predatory sexual offender and persistent sexual offender.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
SCS Voted Do Pass S Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee (3820S.04C)
upper
Jan 21, 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

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jill Carter
Jill Carter
RRepublican
MO
32