One chamber down, one to go on an effort to ban child marriage in Missouri. The bill sponsored by Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette, would ban marriages for anyone under 18, with no exceptions.
She said it’s not just a legislative imperative; it’s a moral one.
“Currently, Missouri ranks 16th in child marriage per capita. Child marriage puts children at higher risk of mental and physical health issues, intimate partner abuse, social isolation, and poverty.”
Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, who supports the effort, said it took time for him to finally support the bill.
“I had aunts, uncles, they were married at extremely young ages, you know, back in the day, (they) had 60-70-year marriages,” he said. “It was difficult to kind of come to the realization that that’s not where we’re at any longer.”
Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, cast the lone ‘no’ vote on the bill.
The legislation would not affect any marriages that have already taken place.
Senate Bill 66 now goes to the Missouri House for further debate.
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