From evictions to chicken coops, these 10 Missouri laws will take effect this week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri will have new laws surrounding Planned Parenthood, property taxes, chicken ownership and more starting Wednesday, Aug. 28.

This year’s session was remarkably unproductive, as the House and Senate passed just 28 non-budget bills, a record low in the modern era.

Republican infighting was a constant this election year, as voters will choose senators and legislators in November.

A number of prominent measures died before the end of the session in May, including a bill to ban child marriage and an attempt to overhaul ballot initiative petitions.

But some measures made it to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk that could still affect Missourians. Here are 10 of the Missouri laws that take effect this month.

Planned Parenthood funding

Public funds, including Medicaid reimbursements, can no longer go to Planned Parenthood under this new bill, HB 2634. For years, elected officials have attempted to defund the reproductive health care organization in various ways, including the budget and tax renewal.

Expanding senior tax credits

The new rule, SB 756, allows homeowners 62 or older to indefinitely freeze their property taxes at 2024 levels. Previously, only those eligible for Social Security could participate in the program. The specifics of the tax freeze vary by county.

Block Raymore landfill

This law, HB 1751, effectively blocks a proposed landfill south of Kansas City by requiring the approval of additional surrounding cities to build it. The bill follows two years of lobbying and debate in the statehouse between developers and residents.

Ban on eviction moratoriums

Cities and counties are prohibited from instituting or enforcing eviction moratoriums, unless approved by state law under HB 2062. This comes as a response to Jackson County stopping evictions at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ban on celebratory gunfire

This law specifically prohibits recklessly discharging a firearm within city limits. The first offense brings a misdemeanor penalty of up to one year in jail and/or a fine up to $2,000. Also called Blair’s Law, SB 754 is named after an 11-year-old girl who was killed by a stray bullet in 2011 in Kansas City.

Higher penalty for attacking or killing a police animal

The same crime law, SB 754, increases the penalty for attacking or killing a police animal to up to seven years of incarceration. Previously the penalty for assaulting a law enforcement animal was a misdemeanor of up to 15 days in jail and/or a fine up to $700. The bill is named Max’s Law, in honor of a St. Joseph police dog killed in the line of duty.

No arrest warrant for unpaid traffic violations

SB 754 also prohibits courts from issuing an arrest warrant for failure to pay or appear in court for a traffic violation. Instead, the court will schedule a second court date and if that person does not appear, the driver might receive the default judgment.

Charging minors as adults

Finally, the crime law, SB 754, will raise the minimum age a child can be charged as an adult for some felonies from 12 to 14 years old.

Establish an office of entrepreneurship

The Department of Economic Development will establish an Office of Entrepreneurship with one staff member under SB 894. The goal of the office is to support businesses with less than 10 employees, including those of marginalized groups like racial minorities, veterans and women.

HOAs can’t block chicken ownership

The bill, HB 2062, prohibits homeowners associations from banning small flocks of chickens. Neighborhood groups can ban roosters or groups of more than six birds.

(The Star’s Jonathan Shorman, Kacen Bayless and Natalie Wallington contributed to this report.)

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