In Missouri, it is not illegal to put a GPS tracking device on someone’s vehicle to secretly monitor where they are going. But that could soon change.

The Missouri House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill that would make it a crime to place GPS devices, such as Apple AirTags, on vehicles to track people without their permission.

Rep. Cecelie Williams, R-Dittmer, is the sponsor of House Bill 971 . Her bill would create the offense of unlawful tracking of a vehicle, with the punishment being a misdemeanor. Repeat offenses would be a felony.

“Did you know that 1 in 4 customers who purchased GPS tracking devices had a history of domestic violence offending,” asked Williams, who is a domestic violence survivor.

Reps. Kemp Strickler, D-Lee’s Summit, and Bill Irwin, R-Lee’s Summit, are co-sponsors.

“This is a bipartisan bill. This is a public safety bill,” Strickler said. “This is going to help protect domestic abuse survivors.”

Exceptions would include for criminal investigations, a parent or guardian who wants to monitor their child driving the vehicle without them, “vulnerable adults” with disabilities, rental car companies, or if the vehicle is being repossessed.

The next stop for the legislation is the Missouri Senate for more debate.