The Missouri legislative session began January 8, 2025. MOCADSV spent the majority of December and January reviewing bills proposed by the legislature, narrowing down policy priorities, and meeting with House and Senate leadership.

Governor Mike Kehoe delivers his first State of the State address:

Missouri’s newly elected governor, Governor Mike Kehoe, delivers his first State of the State address to the Missouri General Assembly on January 28, 2025. Read the full press release by clicking here.

Bills we’re following:  

A top priority for MOCADSV during every legislative session is to advocate for sustained funding for domestic and sexual violence service providers. This includes advocating for general revenue support for three core funding streams: Domestic Violence Support Services (DVSS), Sexual Violence Support Services (SVSS), and Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). 

Some legislative priorities this year include raising the age of marriage to 18 without exceptions and allowing a court to finalize a divorce while a woman is pregnant. 

Senate Bill 66, sponsored by Senator Tracy McCreery, would raise the age of marriage from 16 or 17 (with parental consent) to 18 without exception. This bill was voted out of the Senate Y-32, N-1. Its companion bill, House Bill 1200, sponsored by Representative Renee Reuter, has been voted out of committees. 

House Bill 243, sponsored by Representative Cecelie Williams, would prohibit pregnancy status from preventing a court from entering a judgment for a dissolution of marriage. This bill was voted out of the House, Y-155, N-0. This bill is being handled in the Senate by Senator Maggie Nurrenbern, who sponsored a companion bill, Senate Bill 93. 

Prior to the legislative spring break, which is considered the mid-point in the legislative session, MOCADSV issued an action alert on House Bill 567. This bill would reverse the new paid sick leave law created with Proposition A, a ballot initiative passed by voters in the 2024 November General Election. MOCADSV is opposed to HB 567 on the grounds that sick leave has a greater impact on survivors of domestic and sexual violence because they have a higher need to take time off of work to participate in the criminal justice system, and care for medical needs related to trauma they and/or their children have experienced. MOCADSV issued a similar action alert and published a Whitepaper when the bill was voted out of the House and sent to the Senate for debate.