SB1740 • 2026

Creates a mobile device pilot project implemented by the Department of Social Services

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Washington, Barbara; House handler: N/A
Last action: 2026-05-07
Official status: Second Read and Referred S Families, Seniors and Health Committee
Effective date: 2026-08-28

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Creates a mobile device pilot project implemented by the Department of Social Services

The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Introduced Print SB 1740 - This act requires the Department of Social Services to implement a pilot project for the purchase of prepaid mobile devices to be distributed to domestic violence shelters through grants.

What This Bill Does

The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Introduced Print SB 1740 - This act requires the Department of Social Services to implement a pilot project for the purchase of prepaid mobile devices to be distributed to domestic violence shelters through grants.
The shelter shall distribute those devices to those victims of domestic violence in greatest need of a device.
The Department shall ensure that the devices are distributed equally across the state and in both rural and urban shelters.
This act creates the "Domestic Violence Shelter Cell Phone Fund", which may include grants, donations, gifts, and bequests, for the implementation of this pilot project.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-05-07 S1607
Second Read and Referred S Families, Seniors and Health Committee
2026-02-25 S455
S First Read

Official Summary Text

The following summaries of this bill are available:

Print All Summaries

Introduced

Print

SB 1740 - This act requires the Department of Social Services to implement a pilot project for the purchase of prepaid mobile devices to be distributed to domestic violence shelters through grants. The shelter shall distribute those devices to those victims of domestic violence in greatest need of a device. The Department shall ensure that the devices are distributed equally across the state and in both rural and urban shelters. This act creates the "Domestic Violence Shelter Cell Phone Fund", which may include grants, donations, gifts, and bequests, for the implementation of this pilot project.

This pilot project shall expire on August 28, 2032, unless reauthorized.
SARAH HASKINS

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1740
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR WASHINGTON.
7339S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapter 208, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to a prepaid mobile
device pilot project implemented by the department of social services.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 208, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 208.1375, to read as 2
follows:3
208.1375. 1. As used in this section, the following 1
terms mean: 2
(1) "Prepaid mobile device", a cellular telephone or 3
other communication device for which the mobile device user 4
purchases a set allotment of wireless communication services; 5
(2) "Shelters for victims of domestic violence", the 6
same meaning as in section 135.550; 7
(3) "Wireless communication services", any mobile 8
service that is provided for profit and makes interconnected 9
service available to the public. 10
2. Subject to appropriation, the department of social 11
services shall implement a pilot project to purchase prepaid 12
mobile devices and distribute those devices through grants 13
to shelters for victims of domestic violence for the 14
purposing of redistributing those devices to victims of 15
domestic violence for personal use. The department shall 16
develop a grant application for shelters to utilize to apply 17
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for the devices, including a requirement that the shelters 18
ensure that the devices are distributed to those victims in 19
greatest need of a prepaid mobile device. The department 20
shall distribute the devices in a manner that rural and 21
urban shelters across the state receive an equal allotment 22
based on need. 23
3. (1) There is hereby created in the state treasury 24
the "Domestic Violence Shelter Cell Phone Fund", which shall 25
consist of moneys collected under this section and any 26
grants, donations, gifts, and bequests made to it. The 27
state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. In 28
accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state 29
treasurer may approve disbursements. The fund shall be a 30
dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, moneys in this fund 31
shall be used solely by the department for the purpose of 32
administering the provisions of this section, including the 33
distribution of prepaid mobile devices to shelters. 34
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 35
to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end 36
of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the 37
general revenue fund. 38
(3) The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the 39
fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any 40
interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be 41
credited to the fund. 42
4. The department shall promulgate rules to implement 43
and administer the pilot project described in this section. 44
Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in 45
section 536.010, that is created under the authority 46
delegated in this section shall become effective only if it 47
complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of 48
chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This 49
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section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the 50
powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 51
536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove 52
and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, 53
then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed 54
or adopted after August 28, 2026, shall be invalid and void. 55
5. Pursuant to section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset 56
act: 57
(1) The program authorized pursuant to this section 58
shall automatically sunset on August 28, 2032, unless 59
reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; 60
(2) This section shall terminate on September first of 61
the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in 62
which the program authorized pursuant to this section is 63
sunset; and 64
(3) The provisions of this subsection shall not be 65
construed to impair or impede the state's fulfillment of any 66
obligations, including the authorization, issuance, or 67
redemption of tax credits, incurred pursuant to this section 68
prior to the date the program authorized pursuant to this 69
section is sunset. 70
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