Highway Patrol provides synopsis of new laws that went into effect August 28

(From Missouri State Highway Patrol)

Several laws related to public safety went into effect August 28, 2026. A synopsis of sections related to public safety follows. The abbreviated descriptions below are intended to make the public aware of some of the new legislation enacted by the Missouri General Assembly which is related to crime and public safety. 

For a complete description of these newly enacted laws, visit the Missouri House of Representatives or Missouri Senate websites or click on the link provided within this news release.

Critical Infrastructure Crime

Damage to a Critical Infrastructure Facility (Section 569.117, RSMo.)
A person commits the offence of damage of a critical infrastructure facility (see definition) either purposely or recklessly.

Unlawful Use of UAS Over Open Air or Critical Infrastructure Facility (Section 577.800, RSMo.)
Adds critical infrastructure facilities to the list of prohibited UAS overflight under 400 feet and reduces the capacity to be an “open air facility” to 500 people.

Traffic and Boating Related Changes

Speed Limit (Section 304.010, RSMo.)
Permits the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to increase speed limits to 75 mph on all rural interstates. Before action is taken, MoDOT will perform a study and action will be taken at a later date.

School Bus Safety (Sections 302.302, 304.070, RSMo.)
License Points - Section 302.302
Five points assessed for violation of Section 304.050 RSMo.

Classification of 304.050 Convictions - Section 304.070
If a person causes serious physical injury or death, the person will be charged with a class D felony. The law now includes a new fine scheme and license suspension scheme at the Missouri Department of Revenue for repeat offenders (see Section 304.050).

Driving While Intoxicated (Section 577.010, RSMo.)
Classifies “driving with criminal negligence in a manner that causes death to another person” to a class A felony.

Bently and Mason’s Law (Section 454.1050, RSMo.)
For those convicted under Section 577.010 or 577.012, RSMo., where the criminal act causes the death of a parent, child maintenance is due until the child/children die, marry, enter active-duty military status, reach 18, unless the child enters an institution of higher education, or reach 21, unless the child is physically or mentally incapacitated.

Mason’s Law (Section 301.287, RSMo.)
Individuals may register with DOR that they or a family member have a condition that could impact their ability to cooperate with law enforcement. This will go into effect on January 1, 2027. 

Boating Safety ID Cards (Section 306.127, RSMo.)
Those born on or after January 1, 2006, will now need a Boater’s safety card for all waters of the state to operate a boating vehicle.

RJ’s Law (Section 650.535, RSMo.)
Creates an alert system for individuals with certain disabilities affecting mental cognition who go missing. Will go into effect on or before July 1, 2027.

Offenses Against the Person & Sex Crimes Changes

Harassment First/Second Degree (Section 565.090, 565.091, RSMo.)
Adds levels of severity to harassment convictions where there is a prior offense. Will go into effect on July 1, 2027.

Stalking First Degree (Section 565.225 RSMo.)
A large-scale rewrite and includes technological abuse. Will go into effect on July 1, 2027.

Stalking Second Degree (Section 565.227, RSMo.)
A large-scale rewrite and includes technological abuse. Will go into effect on July 1, 2027.

Cyberharassment (Section 565.400, RSMo.)
A person commits the offense if they purposely or knowingly engage in threatening, aggressive, or fear-inducing conduct by using digital technology. Will go into effect on July 1, 2027.

Cyberstalking (Section 565.405, RSMo.)
A person commits the offense if they purposely or knowingly engage in threatening, aggressive, or fear-inducing conduct by using digital technology to intimidate, track, follow, or cause reasonable fear, alarm, anxiety, stress, or terror to another.

Orders of Protection (Section 455.050, RSMo.)
Adds the new offense of cyberstalking as an offense qualifying for a full order of protection.

Disclosure of an Intimate Digital Depiction (Section 573.570, RSMo.)
A person commits the offense if the person discloses an intimate digital depiction with the intent, to harass, annoy, threaten, alarm, or cause substantial harm to the finances or reputation of the depicted individual. The offender may also be charged if the actual knowledge that, or reckless disregard for whether such disclosure will cause harm to the depicted individual. 

Sadistic Online Exploitation (Section 573.575, RSMo.)
A person commits the offense if they use the internet to manipulate, intimidate, hurt, scare, control, or threaten a victim to undergo suffering for sadistic or sinister purposes. Other actions that apply are as follows: coercion of a victim to perform self-harm, animal harm, harming another, sharing personal information, or suicidal actions/ideations; use nonphysical forms to extort another into providing sexually explicit content to further extort, threaten, or control the victim; or use intimate depictions to demand financial gain.

Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Section 568.045, RSMo.)
Reduces the age of a “child” to any person under the age of 18-years-old.

Gift Card Fraud (Section 570.137, RSMo.)
A person commits the offense of gift card fraud if they knowingly alter or tamper with a gift card or its packaging or devise a scheme to obtain a gift card or gift card redemption information for a card holder, issuer, or seller by means of deceit.