SB 1265 - This act modifies various provisions relating to illegal aliens. SANCTUARY CITIES (Section 67.307) The act provides that any municipality that enacts or adopts a sanctuary policy shall be subject to a fine of $25,500 for each day on which the municipality has such sanctuary policy in effect. E-VERIFY (Section 285.530) Current law requires only public employers to enroll and actively participate in a federal work authorization program, while all other employers are permitted, but not required, to enroll and participate. This act requires all employers to enroll and actively participate in a federal work authorization program. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 1038 (2026), a provision in SB 1070 (2026), SB 1373 (2024), substantially similar to provisions in SB 528 (2025) and HB 120 (2025), and similar to a provision in HB 1515 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 2489 (2024), a provision in HB 2844 (2024), and a provision in HCS/HB 188 (2023). OFFENSE OF TRANSPORTATION, CONCEALMENT, OR INDUCEMENT OF ILLEGAL ALIENS (Section 577.675) The act expands the offense of transportation of an illegal alien to include the concealment or inducement of an illegal alien. Any person is guilty of such an offense, punished as a class D felony, if he or she knowingly: • Conceals, harbors or shields or attempts to conceal, harbor or shield an illegal alien from detection in any place in this state, including any building or any means of transportation, if the person knows or recklessly disregards the fact that the alien has come to, has entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law; or • Encourages or induces an alien to come to or reside in this state. LOCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS (Section 590.250) The act allows any law enforcement officer or agency to enforce the provisions of federal immigration law that establish criminal penalties. This act is identical to SB 114 (2025) and substantially similar to SB 1138 (2024), SB 1373 (2024), HB 2470 (2024), SB 130 (2023), and SB 1227 (2022). SCOTT SVAGERA
HB 2511 requires state contractors, public employers, and businesses receiving state contracts or subsidies to verify employees' work authorization through a federal program (like E-Verify) and submit annual sworn affidavits confirming they do not knowingly employ unauthorized immigrants. It mandates that the state attorney general enforce these rules by investigating complaints, verifying immigration status via federal data, and suspending business licenses for violations after court findings. The law suspends verification requirements for 15 days during declared emergencies like natural disasters. This directly affects businesses working with Missouri state or local government, requiring them to implement new compliance procedures for employee eligibility.
SB 1038 requires all Missouri employers, including public employers and businesses receiving state contracts over $5,000, to enroll in and actively participate in a federal work authorization program. Employers must provide annual sworn affidavits confirming their enrollment and verifying they do not knowingly employ unauthorized workers. Violations result in fines of $2,000 per unauthorized worker and license suspensions (30 days for first offense, up to one year for third offense). The bill mandates employers to verify new hires' work eligibility through the federal program and provides an affirmative defense for compliant businesses. It suspends enrollment requirements for 15 days during declared emergencies like natural disasters.
The bill SB 1288, titled "Modifies provisions relating to employment of illegal aliens," has limited public detail available in the provided context. Its official abstract does not specify the exact nature of the modifications to employment rules for undocumented workers. Without additional details on specific provisions or changes to existing laws, a substantive summary of the bill's mechanisms or direct impacts cannot be provided. For concrete policy changes, the full bill text or official committee reports would be required.
HB 2412 requires money transfer businesses in Missouri to verify that senders of international money transfers are not "unauthorized aliens" (individuals without legal U.S. work authorization). Businesses must confirm this verification with the state division of finance quarterly and face a 25% penalty on the transfer amount for violations. The bill directly affects licensed money transfer companies, mandating new verification procedures before sending funds abroad. Penalties collected fund the Missouri disaster relief fund, and the division may audit businesses to enforce compliance starting in 2027.
HB 2366 prohibits Missouri employers from knowingly hiring individuals without legal work authorization. It requires businesses receiving state contracts over $5,000, tax credits, or state-administered loans to verify employees’ work eligibility through federal programs and submit annual sworn affidavits. The state attorney general would enforce these rules, with businesses able to use federal program participation as a defense against violations. Emergency periods (like natural disasters) temporarily suspend the verification requirement for 15 days.
HB 1763 modifies commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements for non-resident drivers, specifically targeting those working under U.S. temporary visa programs (H-2A agricultural, H-2B non-agricultural, or E-2 treaty investor). It requires verification of lawful U.S. presence before issuing a CDL and mandates that applicants provide proof of employment under these specific visa categories, including valid Form I-94 and foreign passports. The bill sets expiration dates for these non-resident CDLs to align with the holder's immigration status period (capped at one year), and requires the state to use the SAVE program to verify immigration status. These provisions apply directly to foreign workers in approved nonimmigrant visa categories seeking to operate commercial vehicles in the state.
