This week, Missouri legislators are poised to send their initial bills to the governor. Among them is a significant proposal aimed at banning child marriage in the state.
The Senate has almost unanimously endorsed a measure that addresses a loophole permitting 16 and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent. The bill is now headed to the House, where it has received cautious backing from leadership. For it to reach the governor, it must be passed without alterations.
In 2018, Missouri raised the minimum marriage age from 15 to 16, requiring teenagers to obtain permission from at least one parent, and stipulating that their partner must be under 21. Two identical bills in both chambers aim to eliminate the existing loophole, ensuring that only individuals classified as legal adults can marry in Missouri.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers support the initiative. The Missouri Senate saw only one dissenting vote against this bill, cast by Senator Mike Moon from Ash Grove, who did not provide a statement today. However, some members in the House express concerns that this legislation might infringe upon the rights of religious groups that advocate for early courtship and marriage.
“Is there a way we can ensure that we’re not violating their religious freedoms by implementing this ban?” questioned Rep. Cath Jo Loy, a Republican from Carthage.
Former State Senator Holly Thompson Rehder, who introduced this legislation, experienced child marriage herself at the age of 15 in an effort to escape an abusive environment. Reflecting on her past, she believes she lacked the maturity to make such a pivotal choice.
“Delaying marriage until you turn 18 doesn’t affect your romantic life,” Rehder commented.
Now moving to the Missouri House, Speaker Rep. Jon Patterson expressed measured support for the proposal.
“I want to acknowledge some of the concerns raised in committee, but this is a bill that will progress, and I fully back it,” Patterson stated.
Although this bill passed in the Senate last year, it failed to garner sufficient support in the House. Advocates feel that educating lawmakers about its importance will be crucial for its success this year.
