Missouri has launched the Missouri nonprofit safety task force, a new statewide initiative designed to protect faith-based groups and community organizations amid rising threats. Signed into law Friday by Governor Mike Kehoe, the task force is part of Senate Bill 71—a sweeping public safety package welcomed by Jewish and nonprofit leaders across the state.
New task force responds to local need
On Friday, July 11, at the St. Louis Fire Department headquarters, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 71, a broad public safety package aimed at protecting Missouri communities and nonprofits in a time of rising threats.
Among its provisions is the creation of the “Missouri Task Force on Nonprofit Safety and Security.” Jewish leaders across the state, many of whom have advocated for the task force for months, say it couldn’t come soon enough.
“This task force will help ensure that all Missourians can work and pray safely, and that nonprofits can fulfill their mission in safety and security,” said Jordan Kadosh, ADL Heartland regional director. “We are incredibly grateful to Missouri’s legislators and Governor Kehoe for enacting this important part of a broad public safety agenda.”
Jewish groups welcome statewide security focus
The task force, now state law, will bring together voices from law enforcement, emergency management, homeland security and the nonprofit sector. Its mission: assess threats, recommend statewide best practices and determine how Missouri can support organizations that serve vulnerable populations.
It’s a direct response to data that’s become harder to ignore. According to the Anti-Defamation League, Missouri saw a 250% rise in antisemitic incidents over the past three years. Last year, the state ranked seventh in the nation for white supremacist propaganda incidents.
“This is a big step forward,” said Nancy Lisker, AJC St. Louis regional director. “SB 71 is crucial to ensure the safety of members of nonprofit organizations, minority groups and faith-based communities. We applaud the leadership that got it done.”
At the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, Executive Director Myron Freedman said institutions like his live with the realities of this threat every day. “The Museum was built with security in mind—a testament to the threats that institutions like ours face,” he said.
Danny Cohn, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, said the bill is the result of collective, bipartisan advocacy. “The threats facing our Jewish community are very real,” said Cohn. “This law recognizes that the safety of faith-based institutions is a public issue, not a partisan one.”
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More than a task force: Bill expands safety resources
While the task force has drawn the most interest, Senate Bill 71’s reach goes further. The bill also establishes the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act, which offers full tuition coverage to Missouri-based public safety personnel and their dependent children. Eligibility is tied to years of service, and recipients must live in Missouri during their education or for five years afterward.
It also increases penalties for vehicle-related crimes and expands benefits for families of officers killed in the line of duty.
“This legislation is about supporting those who serve and protecting those who need it,” Kehoe said during the St. Louis ceremony.
The “Missouri Task Force on Nonprofit Safety and Security” is expected to begin its work later this year.
