Missouri

Overview of Missouri law, statistics, legislation, and news stories related to Safe Haven Baby Boxes in the state.

Law

• Mo. Rev. Stat. § 210.950 (2021)

Legislation

See appropriate Legislative Year page for details on each bill.) 2025 is here; links to other years on that page.

2025

• HB101 Creates a state financed Safe Place for Newborns Fund. Enacted. Effectiv August 28, 2025 

2021

• HB432 Amends the Missouri Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002 to authorize installation of “newborn safety incubators.” Enacted into law and effective August 28, 2021.
• HB76 Amends state Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safety device at hospitals, fire stations, maternity homes, and  “pregnancy resource centers. ” House 151-0-2; sent to Senate. Sine Die.

2020 (link not available)

• Amends state’s Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safe devices.  Sine Die

2016 (link not available)

• HB 1224:  Amends state’s Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safety devices.Sine Die

Hearings/Testimonies/Letters

None to date.

News and Commentary

2025

• Taxpayers Increasingly Paying for “Free” Baby Abandonment Boxes. SHBB Inc Continues to Lie about Funding. SHBBN, January 7, 2025
• Joplin adds “Safe Haven Baby Box” to Fire Station 7, KGRZ-AM/FM, January 22. 2025
• A Safe Haven: Andrew County installs baby box, St Joseph News-Press NOW, January 23, 2025
• Big River Ambulance District’s Post, Big River Ambulance District Facebook Page, January 27, 2025
• Joplin and Carthage receive first Safe Haven Baby box, KSNF-TV, January 28, 2925
• Safe Haven Baby Boxes open at Joplin Firehouse 7, KZRG AM/FM, January 30, 2035
• Big River Ambulance Unveils first baby surender box in county, Arnold-Imperial Leader, February 6, 2025
• Missouri House passes bill to help install more baby safe haven boxes, MissouriNet, March 5, 2025
• Lifeline on hold as citizens confused aboaut stalled baby saving project, KTVI-TV, March 18, 2025
• Eureka Welcomes Safe Have Baby Box: A Lifesaving Innovation in the St. Louis Area, BreakingNews.com, March 19, 2025
• Baby Box officially open in Savannah, St. Joseph News-Press, March 20, 2025′
• Bill establishing a “Safe Place for Newborns Fund” heard in committee, Columbian Missourian, April 2, 2025
• Eureka Fire unveils baby surrender box, thanks to local donations, Jefferson County Leader, April7. 2025
• NCMC C Savannah nursing students contribute to Safe Haven Baby Box Initiative, Nodaway News Leader, April 9, 2025
• MFPD board discusses proposed 2025 tax rates, addition of baby box, Call Newspapers, April 11, 2025
• Safe Haven Baby Box: An anonymous, compassionate surrender of newborns in Kansas City, KCTV-TV, April 11, 2025
• City Council approves city manager’s pay, advances baby box initiative, KCFD-TV, April 17, 2025
• Letter from Eleanor Klein–Baby Boxes: A Problem Not a Solution, Jefferson City News Tribune, April 23, 2025. (A terrific takedown of BBs and Jim Murphy, King of Missouri Baby Boxes, but behind a paywall. If you want to read it. I have a Word version I can send you.)
• Cole County approves Safe Haven Baby Box as the first in Mid Mid-Missouri, KOMU-TV, May 6, 2025
• Bill funding newborn rescue boxes heads to Missouri governor, KDSK-TV, May 9, 2025

2024

• St Louis Aldermanic Committee advance bill to create city’s first baby box,KMOX-TV, March 28, 2024
• Aldermen pass Baby Box bill in C ity of St Louis, KTVI-TV, April 15, 2024
• New Sikeston fire station to feature baby box, WSIL-TV, May 1, 2024
• Plans to install baby box move forward; fundraising underway, Sikeston Standard-Democrat, May 17, 2024
• Gotcha! The Safe Haven Baby Box Happy Dance. SSHBBN, May 23, 2024
• Osage Ambulance District seeks $40,000 to install anonymous surrender sites, KRCG-TV, August 23, 2024
• Savannah Safe Haven Baby Box still needing funding, KQTV-TV, November 3, 2024
• Safe Haven Baby Box will be Installed at new Cole County EMS building, KQFX-TV, November 25, 2024
• Mid-Missouri’s first safe haven baby box coming to Jefferson City, KOMU-TV, December 12, 2024
• Missouri Taxpayers Slated to Become Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc’s Newest Cash Cow, SSHBBN, December 19, 2024
• Liberty family pushes for Safe Haven boxes in KC to save newborns, WDAF-TV, April 4, 2025
• Drop babies off for adoption at KC firehouses? Council will consider drop-box proposal, Kansas City Star/MSN, April 4, 2025

2023

• Missouri’s first “Safe Haven” baby box coming to the St Louis area, KTVI-TV, July 25, 2023
• Dedication of first Safe Haven Baby Box in Missouri, KTVL-TV, August 9, 2023
• South St. Louis County fire station receives first Safe Haven Baby Box in Missouri, St, Louis Public Radio, August 8, 2023
• State’s first “baby box” insalled At Mehlville Fire Engine house in Oakville, Call Newspapers, August 16, 2023
• No One Can Sanitize a Safe Haven Box Transaction Like Missouri Rep. Jim Murphy, SSHBBN, August 19, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box possibe install at new Jopin Fire Station No 7, KOAM-TV, November 7, 2023

2021

• Proposal seeks to change Safe Place for Newborns Law in Missouri, KY3-TV, March 10, 2021

2020

• Among the legislation proposed this year was Murphy’s idea for “baby boxes,” South St. Louis County Call, May 19, 2020
• More good news out of Missouri . . . Baby Box bill dies, Daily Bastardette, May 23, 202

Updated July 9, 2025