Missouri Revised Statutes § 568 is a typical criminal statute that makes it a crime to put children (under 18) in serious risk of harm and makes it criminal endangerment to fail to provide children (under 17) with necessary care.  In 2025, however, this law was amended through H.B. 737 to add  the following language to protect parents from criminal prosecution if they allow their children to be unsupervised. Section (5) of this statute now provides: “(1) A person does not commit the offense of abuse or neglect of a child by virtue of the sole fact that the person allows the child to engage in independent activities without adult supervision and the person is a parent to the child or is responsible for the child’s care, provided that the: (a) Independent activities are appropriate based on the child’s age, maturity, and physical and mental abilities; and(b) Lack of adult supervision does not constitute conduct that is so grossly negligent as to endanger the health or safety of the child. (2) As used in this subsection, “independent activities” shall include traveling to or from school or nearby locations by bicycle or on foot, playing outdoors, or remaining at home for a reasonable period of time without adult supervision.”

In addition, in Missouri, Crimes involving children left in vehicles without someone over 14 are limited to crimes in which the unaccompanied child causes an accident. Mo. Rev. Stat. 577.300.

“Neglect” is defined under Missouri’s Public Health and Welfare Code, Title XII, RSMo Section 210.110(12). In 2025, the Missouri legislature amended this language in 2025 through H.B. 737 to include the following underlined  language that amends that state’s definition of neglect. Missouri parents are now protected from facing neglect charges when they allow their children to engage in independent activities.

The law as amended states that: “Neglect” is failure to provide, by those responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child,  the proper or necessary support, education as required by law, nutrition or medical, surgical, or any other care necessary for the child’s well-being, except that neglect shall not be found by virtue of the sole fact that a person allows a child to engage in independent activities without  adult supervision including, but not limited to, traveling to or from school or nearby locations by bicycle or on foot, playing outdoors, or remaining at home for a reasonable period of time, provided such activities are appropriate  based on the child’s age, maturity, and physical and mental abilities, and the lack of adult supervision does not constitute conduct that is so grossly negligent as to endanger the health or safety of the child.

Read about the process of passing Missouri’s law.

This webpage is not a legal document, and Let Grow does not take responsibility for the content. Be mindful that some localities have rules and guidelines even when the state does not. When in doubt, consult your local authorities to confirm the laws where you live. What’s more, laws change, as do judicial interpretations of them, and this webpage may not be updated immediately.