Missouri House advances bill targeting child grooming and trafficking

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A bill to strengthen protections for children against grooming and trafficking has cleared a Missouri House committee and is now headed to the Senate.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Ed Lewis (R-Moberly and Macon).

The bill passed the full House on Monday with a 148–2 vote. Rep. Lewis described the two representatives who voted against it, Michael Davis and Bryant Wolfin, as “misguided.” According to Lewis, both lawmakers said they believe the bill has merit but argued on the House floor that it is unconstitutional and should be divided into separate pieces of legislation.

The bill will the measure would allow survivors of child sex trafficking to file lawsuits up to 20 years after turning 21, rather than the current 10-year window. It would also increase criminal penalties for child trafficking and for purchasing sex from minors.

According to attorney Jill Harper, civil recovery in child sexual abuse cases is often difficult because offenders are frequently incarcerated, deceased, or lack insurance coverage for intentional misconduct, making it hard to collect damages. Successful civil cases typically involve institutions, such as schools, churches, or agencies that failed in their duty to supervise, where negligence claims and insurance coverage may apply.

"We do handle childhood sexual abuse cases, but they are complex, fact-intensive, and often emotionally difficult for survivors. While statute-of-limitations analysis is sometimes a key component of the case, identifying a viable source of recovery is usually the central issue on whether or not it will be successful." Harper said.

Included in the proposal is a provision known as the “Evie and Sophie's Law,” which would establish a specific criminal offense for grooming a minor in Missouri.

According to Representative Ed Lewis, Evie and Sophie are sisters from Southwest Missouri who were groomed by their Taekwondo instructor. Law enforcement later discovered more than 17,000 emails sent from the abuser to the sisters.

Under current Missouri law, lawmakers said prosecutors were unable to pursue charges related specifically to grooming. The proposed legislation aims to close that gap. If passed, grooming a minor would be classified as a Class C felony. However, if the offense involves sexual activity, sexual performance, or a commercial sex act, the charge would be elevated to a Class B felony.

Anyone convicted under the law would be required to serve at least five years before becoming eligible for probation, parole, or any conditional release.

Lewis said that he supports positive role models in children’s lives, including coaches, teachers, and family members. However, he said the bill was written carefully to avoid misinterpretation or unintended consequences.

"Someone might construe some of the behaviors in a negative light. So we have to be specific enough," Lewis said. "You don't want to write laws and have unintended consequence and so we we've been very careful,"

Under the bill, a person 21 years or older could be charged if they knowingly and intentionally engage in ongoing behavior that includes at least one clearly sexual act or communication directed at a minor. The behavior must be such that a reasonable person would believe the intent is to prepare, condition, or manipulate the minor for sexual activity, sexual performance, or a commercial sex act.

Missouri does not have a specific law that makes grooming a minor a standalone crime, but Illinois does. On Wednesday, a Columbia man was charged in Boone County in connection with several alleged sex offenses committed in Illinois, including grooming.

“We want to see if we can prevent some of that. Sextortion and grooming are the pieces that would be even perhaps in front of that," Lewis said.

According to Safe Home data from 2024, Missouri had 26,294 registered sex offenders, ranking among the states with the most registered offenders per 100,000 residents. The data also shows 91 child sex abuse victims per 100,000 children in the state.

Lewis said he would not be surprised if the number registered sex offenders increased five times more if the bill is approved by the Senate.

National Human Trafficking Hotline data indicate that the number of minors identified as trafficking victims in Missouri has slightly decreased in recent years but remains steady at around 100 cases annually:

• 2020: 102 cases
• 2021: 102 cases
• 2022: 102 cases
• 2023: 106 cases
• 2024: 94 cases

Lawmakers said their goal is for the bill to be the first approved by the Senate, which Lewis hopes will happen after spring break.