Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
Missouri’s kicking off 2025 with some pretty big changes. Let’s break down what’s actually changing – and what it means for you.
The two laws getting the most headlines are the minimum wage and enforcement of the new hands-free cellphone law.
Minimum wage and paid sick leave. November’s Proposition A raises the minimum wage for all private and non-exempt businesses from $12.30 to $13.75 an hour in 2025, according to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Employers are required to pay tipped employees at least 50 percent of the minimum wage, plus any amount necessary to bring the employee’s total pay to a minimum of $13.25 per hour. Employers in retail or service businesses who gross less than $500,000 a year are not required to pay the state minimum wage. Proposition A also requires all employers to provide an hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
Hands-free cellphones. Law enforcement offices will issue citations to drivers who violate the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law by using phones, computers or other devices while behind the wheel. Previously, police could only issue a warning for noncommercial drivers who violated the law.
For first conviction within the last 24 months, drivers could face up to a $150 fine. For a second violation, they could face up to a $250 fine, and after two or more violations, they could face up to a $500 fine. For violations that occur in a school zone or a work zone with workers present, the driver could face up to a $500 fine and, in the event of a crash:
- A Class D misdemeanor if the damage to property exceeds $5,000.
- A Class B misdemeanor if it causes serious physical injury to another person.
- A Class D felony if it results in the death of another person.
- Commercial driver’s license disqualification if a commercial vehicle was used.
The law, as in other states, has mixed results. A study by Cambridge Mobile Telematics’ (CMT) announced after a data analysis that the law has reduced distracted driving by just 5%. They estimate that it prevented 5 deaths. By contrast, approximately 360 deaths are caused annually by speeding and about half that many from improper lane changes.
Criminal justice reform. Missouri’s updated expungement law allows individuals to apply for multiple expungements, treating crimes from the same course of conduct as one unit. Limits on the number of crimes a person can expunge in their lifetime increase to two felonies and three misdemeanors or ordinance violations, and there is no cap on infractions. Waiting periods are shortened to three years after completing a felony sentence; one year for misdemeanors, municipal violations and infractions; and 18 months for arrests without charges, provided no other convictions occur during that time.
Other new laws in Missouri include:
Fresh Start: Easier Record Expungement
This one’s flying under the radar, but it’s huge for folks trying to move forward with their lives. Missouri’s making it easier to clear certain criminal records. We’re talking about giving people a real shot at starting fresh – whether that’s landing a job or finding a place to live without their past getting in the way.
Property Tax Relief for Seniors
Good news for our older residents – there’s new property tax relief coming for seniors. About time, right? With housing costs doing what they’re doing, this should help quite a few folks stay in their homes without breaking the bank.
Mental Health Screening for Expecting Moms
Maternity health, both physical and mental is getting a boost: Healthcare providers now have to screen pregnant women for mental health conditions.
Student Mental Health Days
Starting with the 2024-25 school year, students from 6th to 12th grade can now take excused absences for mental health reasons. .
Mobile Mental Health Units
The state’s taking mental health care on the road. Missouri’s Department of Mental Health is rolling out a statewide mobile mental health unit program, bringing care to folks who might not otherwise have access. Pretty smart move, if you ask me.
School Safety Updates
Schools are getting some extra muscle in the health department. There’s new state funding coming to help public schools hire both nurses and mental health professionals.
Pay Transparency Requirements
Last but definitely not least, employers will have to be upfront about pay ranges in job postings. No more of that “competitive salary” nonsense – you’ll know what you’re getting into before you apply.
Tougher Penalties for Celebratory Gunfire
And finally – because apparently, we needed to spell this one out – firing guns into the air to celebrate is now specifically illegal. The fines are steep, and you could be looking at jail time.
–Alan Goforth
