Missouri divorce law: HB 1908 bans judges from delaying divorces involving a pregnant spouse
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed HB 1908 into law, banning state judges from delaying divorce proceedings due to a spouse's pregnancy, addressing a longstanding issue from a 1970s measure.
- The original law required disclosure of pregnancy status, often causing judges to prevent finalizing divorces, which put spouses, especially those in abusive relationships, at risk.
- Rep. Cecelie Williams, who sponsored the bill and shared her personal experience with abuse during pregnancy, emphasized the importance of removing this legal barrier for women seeking to escape abusive marriages.
- Gov. Kehoe expressed a personal connection to the issue, citing his family's history with domestic violence, and highlighted the greater risk of abuse during pregnancy as noted by health experts.
- In addition to HB 1908, Kehoe also signed two other bills related to juvenile criminal justice and child sex trafficking penalties on the same day.
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