Latest News on “Overview of SB 134” Read Now

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

Each person reading this has probably been justice-impacted by the registry, either directly or as a caring and supportive family member or friend.

Missouri Alliance for Family Restoration became a not-for-profit organization in 2023. We have a website to provide information and 800 number for receiving support calls. Many Missourians are just learning of our organization thanks to an amazing team of snail mailers participating in this outreach at their own expense. Soon we will have a ‘Zoom Room’ with a variety of guests to provide empirical data and teach advocacy.

We have a major hurdle in 2025 because a pending Bill in the Missouri Senate could reverse 2018 legislation and if passed and signed, would take our state back to registration for life for everyone on the registry, regardless of offense or tier designation. We can’t allow that to happen. How can we push back?

As of January 1, 2025, we have raised enough money to engage a prominent Jefferson City lobbyist firm. Our lobbyists have started having meetings with key legislators, including the sponsor of the bill that would really harm our population. The lobbyists will continue to flag and address harmful bills, while identifying potential sponsors for favorable bills.

We need to keep reaching for our $30,000 goal in 2025 to continue our relationship with this firm and we hope to continue this project in the years to come.

Please donate what you can to help us help you!

Created using the Donation Thermometer plugin https://wordpress.org/plugins/donation-thermometer/.$30,000Raised $27,462 towards the $30,000 target.$27,462Raised $27,462 towards the $30,000 target.92%

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Snail Mail

You may mail checks to:

Missouri Alliance for Family Restoration

P.O. Box 362

Festus, MO 63028

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

frank and jungel

https://www.fjrcriminaldefense.com/

MOAFR Attorney Sponsor

Frank & Juengel, Law Group, P.C.

We have built a reputation for success by tirelessly investigating our clients’ cases, leaving no stone unturned, in order to achieve the best possible result.


Matt Fry

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

https://theekisslawfirm.com/

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.

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