Missouri 2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 3 R · 2 D cosponsors

HB 2505 — Provides that a grandparent shall be given priority if it is in the best interest of the child to be placed in the custody of a third party

Last action — Placed on Informal Calendar - SA 1 adopted, SA 2 pending

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 17, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 72% · high confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

Grandparents are prioritized for custody if it serves the child's best interest.

This bill amends custody laws to give priority to grandparents when determining custody arrangements if it benefits the child. The court must always decide custody based on the best interests of the child.

What this means for you
  • Families: This bill may affect family dynamics by prioritizing grandparents in custody cases.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

2 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill HB 2505 has been updated to reflect changes in its official classification, shifting from version "C" to version "P." This change indicates that the bill has gone through additional revisions and is now considered a perfected version. This matters because a perfected version typically means it has been refined and is closer to being finalized for approval, potentially increasing its chances of becoming law.

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SECOND REGULAR SESSION HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NOS.
SECOND REGULAR SESSION [PERFECTED] HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NOS.
2505 & 2044 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY 6301H.02C JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk AN ACT To repeal section 452.375, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the custody of children.
2505 & 2044 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY 6301H.02P JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk AN ACT To repeal section 452.375, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the custody of children.
Such presumption is rebuttable only by a preponderance of the evidence in accordance with all relevant factors, EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law.
Such presumption is EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law.
HCS HBs 2505 & 2044 2 including, but not limited to, the factors contained in subdivisions (1) to (8) of this subsection.
HCS HBs 2505 & 2044 2 rebuttable only by a preponderance of the evidence in accordance with all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the factors contained in subdivisions (1) to (8) of this subsection.
(a) A felony violation of section 566.030, 566.031, 566.032, 566.060, 566.061, 566.062, 566.064, 566.067, 566.068, 566.083, 566.100, 566.101, 566.111, 566.151, 566.203, 566.206, 566.209, 566.211, or 566.215;
HCS HBs 2505 & 2044 3 (a) A felony violation of section 566.030, 566.031, 566.032, 566.060, 566.061, 566.062, 566.064, 566.067, 566.068, 566.083, 566.100, 566.101, 566.111, 566.151, 566.203, 566.206, 566.209, 566.211, or 566.215;
HCS HBs 2505 & 2044 3 (b) A violation of section 568.020;
(b) A violation of section 568.020;
(4) Sole custody to either parent;
HCS HBs 2505 & 2044 4 (4) Sole custody to either parent;
HCS HBs 2505 & 2044 4 (a) When the court finds that each parent is unfit, unsuitable, or unable to be a custodian, or the welfare of the child requires, and it is in the best interests of the child, then custody, temporary custody or visitation may be awarded to a person related by consanguinity or affinity to the child with priority given to the grandparent or grandparents of the child.
(a) When the court finds that each parent is unfit, unsuitable, or unable to be a custodian, or the welfare of the child requires, and it is in the best interests of the child, then custody, temporary custody or visitation may be awarded to a person related by consanguinity or affinity to the child with priority given to the grandparent or grandparents of the child.
Such plan may be a parenting plan submitted by the parties pursuant to section 452.310 or, in the absence thereof, a plan determined by the court, but in all cases, the custody plan approved and ordered by the court shall be in the court's discretion and shall be in the best interest of the child.
Such plan may be a parenting plan submitted by the parties pursuant to section 452.310 or, in the absence thereof, a plan determined by the court, but in all cases, the HCS HBs 2505 & 2044 5 custody plan approved and ordered by the court shall be in the court's discretion and shall be in the best interest of the child.
HCS HBs 2505 & 2044 5 10.
10.
Except as otherwise precluded by state or federal law, if any individual, professional, public or private institution or organization denies access or fails to provide or disclose any and all records and information, including, but not limited to, past and present dental, medical and school records pertaining to a minor child, to either parent upon the written request of such parent, the court shall, upon its finding that the individual, professional, public or private institution or organization denied such request without good cause, order that party to comply immediately with such request and to pay to the prevailing HCS HBs 2505 & 2044 6 party all costs incurred, including, but not limited to, attorney's fees and court costs associated with obtaining the requested information.
Except as otherwise precluded by state or federal law, if any individual, professional, public or private institution or organization denies access or fails to provide or disclose any and all records and information, including, but not limited to, past and present dental, medical and school records pertaining to a minor child, to either parent upon the written request of such parent, the court shall, upon its finding that the individual, professional, public or private institution or organization denied such request without good HCS HBs 2505 & 2044 6 cause, order that party to comply immediately with such request and to pay to the prevailing party all costs incurred, including, but not limited to, attorney's fees and court costs associated with obtaining the requested information.
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Action History

  1. Placed on Informal Calendar - SA 1 adopted, SA 2 pending

  2. SS Offered

  3. Taken Up for Third Reading (S)

  4. Placed on Informal Calendar

  5. SCS Reported Do Pass (S)

  6. SCS Voted Do Pass (S)

  7. Executive Session Held (S)

  8. Public Hearing Held (S)

  9. Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 8:15 a.m., Senate Lounge - 3rd Floor

  10. Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - CANCELLED: Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 8:15 a.m., Senate Lounge-3rd Floor

  11. Second read and referred: Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence(S)

  12. Reported to the Senate and First Read (S)

  13. Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 144 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

  14. Taken Up for Third Reading (H)

  15. Perfected (H)

  16. HCS Adopted (H)

  17. Title of Bill - Agreed To

  18. Taken Up for Perfection (H)

  19. Placed on the Informal Perfection Calendar (H)

  20. Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 11 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

  21. Voted Do Pass (H)

  22. Executive Session Completed (H)

  23. Referred: Rules - Legislative(H)

  24. HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 14 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

  25. HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

  26. Executive Session Completed (H)

  27. Public Hearing Completed (H)

  28. Referred: Children and Families(H)

  29. Read Second Time (H)

  30. Read First Time (H)

  31. Prefiled (H)

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 194 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (194)

194 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 194 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 2505?
HB 2505 is sponsored by John Hewkin (Republican), Deanna Self (Republican), Marty Joe Murray (Democratic), Marla Smith (Democratic), and David Dolan (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 2505?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 17, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 2505?
Track HB 2505 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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