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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri House Bill 1877 permits candidates to use campaign funds for childcare expenses
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsor: Renee Reuter
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What This Bill Would Do
House Bill 1877 allows public officials and candidates to use campaign contributions to pay for childcare expenses directly resulting from campaigning or official duties, provided payments are not made to household members. The measure also prohibits using campaign funds for court-ordered restitution or legal fines, and sets liquidity and investment rules for campaign committees.
Candidates and elected officials gain the legal option to draw on campaign donations to cover babysitting or childcare costs incurred during official duties, while facing explicit bans on paying fines or restitution from campaign accounts.
- Missouri campaign finance laws are codified under Chapter 130 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo), which regulates committee formations, contributions, and permitted expenditures. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
candidates
Candidates gain the legal authority to pay for childcare costs using campaign funds and face explicit new restrictions on investments and the prohibition of paying legal fines.
holders of elective office
Elected officials are permitted to use campaign contributions for childcare expenses incurred while performing official duties.
Key Facts
- Campaign contributions may be used for child care expenses resulting directly from campaigning or the duties of public office, provided payments are not made to a household member.
- Campaign funds are strictly prohibited from being used to pay court-ordered restitution or fines resulting from the conviction of any local, state, or federal law.
- Funds held in candidate, campaign, debt service, and exploratory committees must be kept liquid and may only be invested in short-term treasury instruments or bank certificates with durations of one year or less.
- Exploratory committee funds may be transferred to a candidate committee upon declaration of candidacy, or returned to contributors on a pro rata basis if candidacy is not declared.
Show all 5 facts
- Remaining funds after the death of a candidate and final settlement of their estate, or twelve months after death if no estate is opened, escheat to the state of Missouri general revenue fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a candidate pay a member of their own household for childcare using campaign funds?
Can campaign funds be used to pay legal fines or court-ordered restitution?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- May 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Emerging Issues(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 1, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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