New laws set to take effect Jan. 1 in Missouri

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - As the new year approaches, there’s a few new laws going into effect.

The Siddens-Bening Hands-Free law started in 2023 with a grace period where police have been giving out warnings for holding your phone while driving. That law official goes into effect on New Years Day where tickets will now be issued.

“You are not supposed to be using your phone to make those phone calls and update your Facebook status and record your movies and everything else from there,” said Steve Sitzes, Washington Missouri Police Department.

This is considered a secondary offense.

“You have to have some other traffic infraction or violation that you have to be stopped for, for that to be a companion ticket,” said Sitzes.

For example, the traffic violation could be due to speeding or reckless driving.

“It’s a law for everyone, so everyone needs to pay attention to the law and be aware of the law,” said Sitzes.

Another law going into effect in 2025 is an increase to Missouri’s minimum wage.

Nearly half a million Missourians will be getting a raise. The minimum wage is set to increase to $13.75 an hour. That’s $1.45 increase from the current minimum wage of $12.30. In 2026, it will then increase to $15.00 an hour.

Lastly, Missourians with a criminal record will be able to apply for more expungements come New Year’s Day. This means that criminal convictions could be removed from public records.

In the past, the statute said a person could be granted no more than two misdemeanor expungements and no more than one felony expungement. Now, in 2025, that increases to no more than three misdemeanors and no more than two felony expungements.

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