Mo. lawmakers vote to bar Internet harassment

"Without a good, quality cyber stalking and harassment law, which we don't currently have, we have to go to federal courts in other states to make a stretching leap argument," said Rupp, R-Wentzville.

State Sen. Harry Kennedy, D-St. Louis, said the law is "definitely a warning shot for those folks who want to use the Internet for harassment."

There was no immediate response from Meier's parents, Tina and Ron Meier. Tina Meier earlier this year testified before a Senate committee urging lawmakers to pass the bill.

Under Rupp's bill, repeat offenders and someone who is at least 21 years old could be charged with a felony and face up to four years in prison if they harass a minor. Other instances of harassment would remain a misdemeanor with penalties of up to a year in jail.

The bill also requires school officials to tell police about harassment and stalking on school grounds and expands state laws against stalking to cover "credible threats" not only against the victim, but also family and household members and animals.

Currently, stalking is a misdemeanor, but the bill would let someone be charged with a felony and face up to four years in prison if they stalk more than once, make "credible threats," violate a court protection order and violate their probation or parole by stalking.