Missouri Legislature Wraps Session with 100 Bills, Hemp Ban and Child Support for Drunk‑Driving Deaths

TL;DR: Missouri’s 103rd General Assembly approved 100 bills, including a ban on high‑THC hemp products and a law forcing drunk‑driving killers to pay child support to their victims’ children.

The two‑year legislative session in Jefferson City concluded with a tidy docket of 100 measures. Lawmakers cleared 42 House bills, 41 Senate bills and 17 budget items, then returned to their districts.

Key actions include a $50.7 billion state budget and a health‑care package that expands virtual services, pregnancy‑related coverage and EpiPen access in schools. A small‑business shield blocks frivolous lawsuits over website compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, while a juvenile‑crime overhaul raises penalties for sexual offenses and lets counties levy a 1 % sales tax for new detention facilities.

Governor Mike Kehoe signed a hemp restriction bill that limits sales of products that produce a marijuana‑like high to state‑licensed cannabis dispensaries. The rule, effective Nov. 12, forces those products to meet the same testing, labeling and packaging standards as marijuana.

Bentley and Mason’s Law, another headline measure, requires convicted drunk drivers who kill a parent or guardian to pay child support to the victim’s child, potentially until the child turns 21. The law aims to provide financial stability for children left without a caregiver.

Other notable statutes create a Purple Alert system for missing individuals with developmental disabilities, mandate age verification on porn sites, and raise the speed limit on rural interstates to 75 mph. A new elections bill eases clerical burdens, and a tax incentive package targets critical minerals and pharmaceuticals to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

The session fell short of delivering property‑tax relief, a top Republican priority that stalled in the final week. Nonetheless, the legislative output reflects a focus on public safety, health access and economic incentives.

What it means: The hemp ban will push retailers into licensed cannabis channels, reshaping the market for CBD‑type products. Bentley and Mason’s Law adds a financial remedy for families affected by drunk‑driving fatalities, setting a precedent for victim‑focused restitution. Watch for implementation guidelines from the governor’s office and any legal challenges to the new hemp and child‑support provisions.