Missouri
Sex Laws 2026

Missouri's age of consent is 17. There is a close-in-age exemption: sexual activity with a 14-, 15-, or 16-year-old is a lesser offense if the defendant is less than four years older, under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 566.034. The exemption reduces exposure from felony to misdemeanor in qualifying circumstances.

Missouri has no statewide sex education mandate. When districts choose to offer sex ed, they must use an abstinence-only approach. Positive portrayals of homosexuality or bisexuality are not permitted in sex education under state statute. There is no requirement for medical accuracy, no LGBTQ+ inclusion, and no consent education component. Many Missouri districts offer no sex education at all.

Missouri's adult entertainment environment is restrictive. Kansas City and St. Louis have adult entertainment industries, but the state's regulatory posture has historically supported restriction. Missouri has used licensing, zoning, and local option laws to limit adult businesses in many jurisdictions. The state's sodomy law was ruled unenforceable by Lawrence v. Texas (2003) but was not formally repealed until 2006.

No mandate. When offered, abstinence-only. Cannot include LGBTQ+ discussion.

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