New laws taking effect Friday in Missouri range from caps on traffic fines to changes in sex education. One new law reduces the amount of money cities can collect from traffic fines and court fees. That law was motivated in part the federal report stemming from the fatal police shooting in Ferguson last summer.

Victims of rape and sexual assault can get orders of protection against their assailants under another new Missouri law taking effect Friday. The law expands who can file and receive orders of protection. The new law also broadens what constitutes stalking to include unwanted activity directed toward members of a victim’s household.

Another bill becoming law Friday requires Missouri public and charter schools who teach sexual education to include information about sexting, sexual predators, and online predators. Proponents hope the change will protect children by teaching them to recognize and respond to dangers, but critics didn’t like the fact that broader legislation to reform sex education in Missouri wasn’t given consideration.

Another law takes effect Friday, but which largely becomes effective January 1, 2016, reduces the length of time a person can spend on the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Governor Jay Nixon vetoed that bill but the Republican-led legislature voted to overturn that veto before the session ended.

(Staff and wire reports)