Missouri’s hot weather law kicks in Monday
Alison Patton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A law that Missouri politicians passed last year to prevent utility companies from turning off air conditioning for people with unpaid bills during hot weather kicks in Monday.
The “hot weather” law will go into effect every year starting June 1 through Sept. 30, according to the Missouri Public Service Commission. The law prohibits disconnecting services when the National Weather Service predicts that the following day’s temperature will be over 95 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index is over 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ABC 17 News Stormtrack Weather Team isn’t predicting temperatures to break the mid-80s this week.
The Boone County Office of Emergency Management posted summer heat preparedness tips from the National Weather Service on Sunday.
According to the NWS, heat-related deaths are preventable, and some people are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses than others, including infants and children, older adults, people with medical conditions and pregnant people.
The NWS suggests friends or family members of people who fall into these categories should check in on them, especially if they don’t have AC.
Staying hydrated, taking breaks and limiting strenuous activities while outside are other ways to stay safe in the heat.
Last year, 32 children died across the U.S. from being in hot cars, according to the No Heat Stroke campaign. Five have died in 2026.
According to the NWS, it’s not safe to leave children in cars, even for as short as 10 minutes.