HB 1282 -- MARRIAGE LICENSES

SPONSOR: Schnelting

COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Downsizing State Government by a vote of 7 to 5.

This bill changes the laws regarding marriage by replacing "marriage licenses" with "contracts of domestic union". It further modifies "marriage" as a "contract of domestic union" and defines "married" and "unmarried" insofar as the individual is a party to that contract.

This bill is similar to HCS HB 2173 (2021).

PROPONENTS: Supporters say that the bill will reduce government regulation of marriages. The bill does not change any government benefits received by being married.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Schnelting.

OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that there is a question as to whether changing the term "marriage" in Missouri law will call into question the legitimacy of the union in other states or by the federal government. Married Missourians may lose their legal status because of this bill.

Testifying against the bill were Arnie Dienoff; and PROMO.

Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (2348H.01): 1.020, 36.020, 50.1250, 56.110, 56.830, 57.967, 57.980, 57.982, 59.310, 59.313, 59.330, 59.410, 59.450, 64.090, 67.1421, 67.1876, 70.661, 70.675, 71.011, 71.590, 86.093, 86.251, 86.253, 86.254, 86.260, 86.280, 86.283, 86.287, 86.547, 86.1151, 86.1230, 86.1240, 86.1310, 86.1540, 86.1580, 86.1610, 87.045, 87.050, 87.195, 87.220, 87.235, 87.440, 87.445, 87.450, 87.455, 87.615, 88.080, 89.020, 104.012, 104.090, 104.140, 104.312, 104.372, 104.395, 104.420, 104.610, 104.612, 104.620, 104.1027, 104.1030, 104.1051, 104.1054, 104.1091, 105.915, 108.470, 115.167, 135.090, 135.096, 143.124, 143.125, 143.161, 143.1160, 166.435, 169.075, 169.076, 169.141, 169.460, 169.572, 169.590, 169.676, 169.715, 170.015, 172.310, 173.260, 173.275, 182.050, 182.190, 182.640, 190.060, 190.294, 190.339, 191.1604, 192.016, 192.2200, 193.015, 193.085, 193.087, 193.185, 193.195, 193.205, 193.215, 193.265, 193.275, 194.115, 198.088, 199.009, 199.043, 205.970, 208.010, 208.026, 208.040, 208.784, 209.030, 209.625, 210.481, 210.565, 210.818, 210.822, 210.824, 210.829, 210.841, 211.021, 214.270, 227.297, 273.110, 287.240, 287.812, 301.443, 301.682, 301.3121, 302.171, 302.178, 314.100, 320.320, 321.220, 321.600, 354.095, 354.536, 375.936, 375.995, 376.426, 376.428, 376.450, 376.776, 376.777, 376.806, 376.820, 376.892, 376.893, 376.894, 376.920, 376.960, 379.930, 404.051, 404.550, 404.570, 404.717, 404.719, 408.550, 408.575, 431.058, 431.061, 431.064, 431.065, 431.066, 432.010, 435.405, 442.025, 442.040, 442.160, 443.863, 443.1003, 446.340, 451.005, 451.010, 451.020, 451.022, 451.030, 451.040, 451.080, 451.090, 451.100, 451.110, 451.115, 451.120, 451.125, 451.127, 451.130, 451.150, 451.151, 451.160, 451.190, 451.200, 451.210, 451.220, 451.230, 451.240, 451.250, 451.260, 451.270, 451.290, 452.075, 452.130, 452.150, 452.160, 452.170, 452.180, 452.190, 452.200, 452.220, 452.240, 452.300, 452.305, 452.310, 452.312, 452.314, 452.315, 452.317, 452.318, 452.320, 452.325, 452.330, 452.335, 452.340, 452.360, 452.370, 452.372, 452.375, 452.380, 452.402, 452.412, 452.423, 452.430, 452.600, 452.605, 453.090, 453.170, 454.440, 454.460, 454.485, 454.618, 455.010, 455.050, 455.060, 455.070, 455.085, 455.220, 455.523, 455.534, 456.014, 456.950