Five new Missouri laws to know that become official Thursday

Date:2025-08-28 05:26:11 Category:US Views:1 Comment:0

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A series of bills approved in this year’s Missouri legislative session will officially take effect on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, as laws.

Here’s a closer look at five new prominent state laws, addressing the economy, public safety, and vehicle temp tags, among other topics.

HB 567 – Changes to sick leave and minimum wage

Simply put, Missouri employers will no longer be required to offer paid sick leave, and the state will eliminate an annual cost-of-living adjustment tied to minimum wage.

Last fall, voters approved Proposition A to expand sick leave benefits, requiring private employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and allowing employees to use the accrued leave for qualifying reasons.

These obligations end when this legislation takes effect, repealing several provisions tied to guaranteed sick leave pay, including requirments for when paid sick leave must be provided, recordkeeping rules and complaint and investigative procedures.

Starting Thursday, employers can choose whether to keep offering paid sick leave, roll back to older policies or drop paid sick leave benefits entirely.

Additionally, while the legislation also keeps the state minimum wage at $13.75 per hour and extends that wage to public employers, it eliminates scheduled cost-of-living adjustments that were previously tied to the Consumer Price Index.

SB 28 – Expired temp tags? A thing of the past

Missouri is moving to phase out temporary license plate tags, aiming to close a loophole that leaves millions of dollars in unpaid vehicle sales taxes.

Currently, buyers can use a temp tag with the expectation to pay the vehicle sales tax and register their vehicle 30 days after purchase. Some drivers, however, opt to use a temp tag for the long-term, paying any resulting tickets rather than the sales tax, which can be more expensive.

Under the legislation, vehicle buyers at dealerships would pay sales tax at the point of the sale. And in return, they receive receive a printed license plate to use until their permanent plates arrive by mail, eliminating the need for temporary tags altogether.

Private sales will also change. Buyers in these transactions are now required to take their bill of sale directly to a licensing office, pay the tax immediately, and receive a printed plate on the spot while waiting for their official plates.

The change will be supported by a new Department of Revenue system, called Fifty Unique Systems in One Nexus (FUSION), though it isn’t expected to be fully operational until at least late 2026.

The legislation also raises the administrative fee that supports the state’s electronic vehicle titling and registration system, from 1% to 3.5%, and increases the maximum speed limit for cotton haulers from 40 to 70 miles per hour.

SB 43 – Hazing now a criminal offense and changes to childhood marriage

Starting Thursday, it will be a criminal offense in Missouri for anyone who knowingly participates in hazing that endangers a student or member of a private or public university.

This measure is part of broader legislation known as “Danny’s Law,” named after Danny Santulli, a University of Missouri – Columbia student who suffered severe brain damage in a 2021 hazing incident. Danny was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning and is not in a wheelchair, blind, and unable to talk or care for himself. The new law aims to prevent similar injuries in the future.

The legislation also provides limited immunity from prosecution for people present during a hazing incident who call 911 or provide relevant information and remain at the scene until help arrives. Those who can prove they administered first aid to the victim before help arrives are also protected.

Furthermore, the legislation also tackles childhood marriage. It prohibits the state from issuing marriage licenses to individuals under 16 years old or when one party to the marriage is under 18 years old while the other is over 21 years old. Additionally, the state will not issue marriage licenses to anyone under 18 without parental consent.

Additionally, the legislation expands certain youth tax credits, revises the definition of childhood sexual abuse and child endangerment, and changes various procedures in juvenile court proceedings.

SB 82 – Limiting water exports to other states

Anyone who wishes to move water out of Missouri to another state must now obtain a water exportation permit from the Department of Natural Resources. The legislation is designed to help Missouri better preserve its water supply amid ongoing drought concerns.

The legislation bans water withdrawals or exports through pipeline facilities unless the withdrawal and end use are within 30 miles of the state’s border. Exporters must annually report water use volumes, withdrawal rates and end use to the DNR.

From there, the director of the DNR reviews each permit application for compliance before opening a 30-day public comment period, and after that, the director sends a recommendation to the state soil and water districts commission, which can approve or deny the permit. Permits last three years and may be renewed through a similar process.

Additionally, if the governor were to declare a drought-related emergency in the state, the DNR must reevaluate all existing water export permits. And the Missouri Attorney General could potentially pursue civil action for violations, drought or no dought.

SB 133 – New digging guidelines

Starting Thursday, Missourians planning any kind of digging project, including to install a fence or plant trees, will need to follow new safety guidelines. The biggest requirement: Excavators will be required to contact Missouri 811 at least two business days before beginning any digging project.

Once approved, projects must be completed within 21 days of the start date, and diggers will ned to request a new 811 ticket if the work extends beyond that period. Excavators must also notify Missouri 811 if they encounter any unmarked underground facilities during their project.

The legislation is primarily designed to reduce infrastructure damage and utility service disruptions while also preventing personal injuries.

It also clarifies liability, when damage occurs due to incorrect or missing information, accountability falls on the facility owner or their contractors rather than the excavator who followed the request for digging.

Other notable laws taking effect on Thursday include….