SB 1167 would create a new criminal offense in Missouri for knowingly possessing an abortifacient drug, such as mifepristone (RU-486) or any other drug used alone or with another drug to induce an abortion, when the person intends to use it to induce an abortion on themselves or another person. The bill also creates a separate offense for knowingly distributing, delivering, attempting to distribute or deliver, or possessing with intent to distribute or deliver such a drug when the intent is to induce or assist in inducing an abortion on another person.
Both offenses are classified as class C felonies. The bill includes an affirmative defense for conduct involving a medical emergency, as defined in existing Missouri law in section 188.015. In effect, the bill would add a new layer of criminal liability focused specifically on abortifacient drugs and their transfer or possession for abortion-related use.
Impact
The bill would amend chapter 579 of the Missouri Revised Statutes by adding section 579.017, expanding the state’s criminal code to cover possession and delivery of abortifacient drugs with abortion-related intent. It would affect individuals who possess, distribute, or deliver such drugs, as well as anyone attempting to do so, and would expose them to class C felony penalties unless a medical-emergency defense applies. The measure would also interact with existing abortion-related definitions in chapter 188, particularly the statutory definition of medical emergency.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes are available, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or formal support/opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be part of a restrictive approach to abortion regulation and would likely be viewed positively by abortion opponents and negatively by abortion-rights advocates. The absence of procedural history makes the overall sentiment difficult to gauge beyond the bill’s clear policy direction.
Contention
The central point of contention is whether Missouri should criminalize possession and delivery of abortifacient drugs when used with abortion-related intent. Supporters would likely frame the bill as a way to prevent abortion access and regulate distribution of abortion-inducing medications, while opponents would likely argue it criminalizes private medical decisions, expands felony liability, and could chill access to lawful care. The medical-emergency exception is another likely area of dispute, especially regarding how narrowly it would be interpreted and applied.