MISSOURI — A Missouri bill that would ban child marriage passed the Missouri Senate and is now one step closer before going to the governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 66, a bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Tracy-McCreery D-Olivette, would ban marriage for anyone under 18.
Currently, in Missouri, 16- and 17-year-olds can get married to anyone under 21 if they have parental consent. The legislation would prohibit this act with no exceptions.
According to the Department of Health and Senior Services, between 2019 and 2021, 225 minors were married in Missouri. Roughly 75% of those marriages were girls under the age of 18.
SB 66 went to the Missouri House for further debate on Monday.
Note: The video above is from Jan. 29