Bill > HB2040

This bill modifies the criminal penalties for offenses involving interference with child custody and parental kidnapping in Missouri. Under the new provisions, interference with custody would be elevated from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony, and if the child is removed from the state, detained in another state, or concealed, the offense would become a Class D felony instead of a Class E felony. For parental kidnapping, the bill increases the severity of the penalties based on the duration of the child's detention. If a parent detains a child without good cause and without a court order, it would be a Class D felony; if the detention lasts between 60 and 119 days, it becomes a Class C felony; and if the detention continues for 120 days or more, it would be a Class B felony. In both offenses, the court would retain the ability to assess restitution to the legal custodian or parent for expenses incurred in searching for or returning the child. These changes aim to provide more significant legal consequences for individuals who unlawfully remove or detain children from their legal custody.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2040&year=2026&code=R