Senator Tracy McCreery’s Legislation to Raise Missouri’s Marriage Age Passes with Bipartisan Support JEFFERSON CITY — Legislation sponsored by State Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-St. Louis County, to protect children from sexual predators by raising Missouri’s minimum age to marry to 18, has passed the Missouri Senate with bipartisan support. “If a 20-year-old man were to have sex with a 16-year-old girl, that would be second degree statutory rape. But, under existing Missouri law, that man could marry the minor to avoid being charged with rape. This is wrong, it puts girls at risk, and it needs to be stopped,” said Sen. McCreery. “I am very thankful to former senators Thompson-Rehder and Arthur for their tireless work on this issue, and I am thankful to the Missouri Senate for supporting this legislation.” Under current law, a Missouri marriage license can be issued to minors between the ages of 16 and 18 to individuals under the age of 21. This allows 16-year-old minors to be married to 20-year-old adults. Senate Bill 66 would prohibit the issuance of a Missouri marriage license to anyone younger than 18 years of age. After passing the Missouri Senate with bipartisan support, SB 66 now goes to the Missouri House of Representatives for consideration. To learn more about Sen. McCreery and her legislative priorities, please visit senate.mo.gov/McCreery. ### | 