Greitens Signs 77 Bills on Final Day in Office

Now former Governor Eric Greitens made the most of his final hours in office.  Prior to his resignation becoming official at 5pm Friday evening, Greitens signed 77 bills into law that had been passed during the general assembly.  Among them was a bill outlawing “revenge porn” in the state.  It is now illegal to disseminate images or video of anyone without their permission if those images depict sexual acts or states of undress for the purpose of sexual gratification.  It makes the crime a felony and the victims are eligible for rewards up to $10,000 or the amount of damages, whichever is greater.  The Governor also signed a bill changing the age at which a person accused of a crime is considered an adult.  SB 793 raises the minimum age from 17 to 18.  Missouri was one of only a handful of states remaining that automatically tried 17-year olds as adults. 

 

It will be easier to win office in small towns and municipalities across the state.  The governor has signed a bill that says towns with 2,000 people or less do not have to hold elections under certain conditions.  The bill’s designed to save smaller towns money.  If no one is opposed for office, or if the number of candidates running matches the number of available positions, no election is required and those on the ballot will automatically be deemed the winners.  The legislation is amendment to an already-existing statute that provided the same election exemptions to towns of 1,000 people or less.