The Time Is Now, We Need Your Help
To drive change, we MUST organize our population; We MUST raise our voices in solidarity to improve the lives of Persons Forced to Register (PFRs) in Missouri. With a large and committed organization, we can respond rapidly to proposed legislation and can fight for reform of existing restrictions.
Lobbyist Funding:
Please Give to Help Us Reach Our Goal
Missouri Alliance for Family Restoration successfully raised funds to hire one of the top lobbyist firms in Missouri, Gamble & Schlemeier, to assist in influencing state legislation during the January 2025 session. We are fighting for YOU!
Our dedicated lobbyists successfully prevented several harmful bills from passing in the recent session. One proposed bill aimed to permanently prevent any registrant from being removed from the Missouri registry. It would have escalated nearly all registrants to Tier 3 status, mandated lifetime GPS monitoring, and restricted most parents from participating in their children’s school events. Through extensive discussions with key legislators, we were able to defeat this bill. Another bill that our lobbyists halted would have displaced hundreds of registrants from their employment as delivery drivers or warehouse workers.
Meanwhile, our lobbyists worked tirelessly to restore the path for removal from the registry that was implemented in 2018 but invalidated by a 2023 Missouri Supreme Court case. Our lobbyists were on the verge of success until the session ended prematurely in mid-May. They will continue engaging with key legislators and stakeholders this summer and fall, and we remain optimistic about our potential success in the January 2026 session.
How can we oppose harmful legislation and advocate for beneficial bills that affect the daily lives of our community? We must raise the necessary funds to sustain our lobbyists’ exceptional work.
We need to achieve our 2026 Session goal of $30,000 to renew our lobbying contract. Your donation will aid our efforts. If you are able, please consider monthly contributions. As the 2026 session unfolds, we will keep our donors informed of progress through emails and webinars.
Please contribute what you can to support our cause using the Donation link, or send
checks payable to “Missouri Alliance for Family Restoration” to
P.O. Box 802, Ballwin, MO 63021
Other ways to donate
Overview of SB 134 Testimony and Legislative Activity (February 5, 2025)
On February 5th the Missouri Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee heard testimony regarding Senate Bill 134 (SB 134). This proposed legislation, introduced by Senator Travis Fitzwater, includes provisions addressing restrictions for individuals on the sex offender registry, particularly regarding their presence on school grounds and potential expansions of the registry’s requirements.
The hearing featured testimony from seven witnesses who spoke in opposition to key provisions of the bill. These witnesses represented a wide range of perspectives and expertise, including:
- Long-time registry participants, who shared personal stories about the challenges faced as a result of the current system and how SB 134 would exacerbate those difficulties.
- The President of Viewpoints-STL, an organization focused on providing transitional housing for men on the registry, who emphasized the barriers to reintegration caused by the proposed bill.
- The President of the Missouri Association for Families and Registrants (MOAFR), who highlighted the need for a path to removal from the registry and the disproportionate effect of lifetime registration requirements.
- A criminal defense attorney, who argued that existing mechanisms already address many of the concerns raised by the bill and cautioned against the blanket restrictions proposed in SB 134.
The witnesses were coordinated by lobbyist Jeff Smith, who has been actively engaging with the bill’s sponsor and committee members to advocate for more balanced and effective legislation alongside another member of our lobbying team, Sarah Schlemeier Henke, who dug into the legislative history of the issue and has taken the lead in crafting modifications to the SB 134 language.
Key Highlights from the Hearing
- Testimonies Against SB 134:
- Witnesses collectively stressed the punitive and overly broad nature of the bill, particularly its provisions that would prevent Tier 3 registrants from attending school-related events, even those involving their own children or grandchildren.
- Personal anecdotes illustrated the human impact of these restrictions, such as parents being unable to attend their children’s school plays, graduations, or parent-teacher conferences.
- Criticism focused on the shifting of offenses between tiers and how that could upend someone’s life who would be moving to a more severe tier.
- Concerns About the Registry:
- Witnesses and experts pointed out that Missouri’s registry system is already one of the most restrictive in the nation, requiring lifetime registration for all tiers due to the Missouri Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law.
- Calls were made to restore the petition for removal intended by the 2018 legislation, which aligned Missouri with the federal Adam Walsh Act but was later invalidated due to confusing statutory language.
- Committee Engagement:
- Committee members, including Senator Schroer and Senator Coleman, asked thoughtful questions about the nature of Tier 3 offenses, the restrictions that have placed huge burdens on families, recidivism rates, and the current enforcement mechanisms for registrants.
- The discussion revealed a genuine interest in understanding the balance between protecting public safety and ensuring fairness for individuals who have paid their debt to society.
Legislative Outlook and Next Steps
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Fitzwater, appeared receptive to compromise, referencing ongoing conversations with our lobbying team. He acknowledged concerns about unintended consequences and expressed an openness to revising the bill so that it meets the needs of the community without creating excessive burdens.

Matt Fry
Rosenblum, Schwartz, Fry & Johnson
Mobile 314-680-2420 Office 314-862-4332
Web CRIMINAL DEFENSE I DWI DEFENSE
Email mfry@rsfjlaw.com
120 S. Central Ave., Ste. 130, St. Louis, Missouri 63105
Bill Ekiss
The Ekiss Law Firm
An allegation or arrest with a federal charge can change your life. The Ekiss Law Firm is committed to defending you against criminal charges, and is experienced in criminal defense for Missouri Clients.
About Us
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