Bill > HB1072

This bill establishes the "Missouri Prenatal Equal Protection Act," which aims to provide legal protection for unborn children from the moment of fertilization. The bill expands the legal definition of "person" to include unborn children at every stage of development and seeks to abolish abortion in Missouri by repealing existing provisions that permit prenatal homicide or assault. The legislation introduces new provisions that would allow prosecution of offenses against unborn children in multiple counties, modify defenses such as coercion and justification, and explicitly state the intent to follow the U.S. Constitution's equal protection clause. The bill creates legal pathways to protect pregnant mothers from being pressured to have an abortion and ensures that medical procedures necessary to save a pregnant woman's life are still permissible. Notably, the bill is subject to a public referendum vote in August 2025 and would only apply to offenses committed or causes of action arising after its effective date. The bill's underlying philosophical framework emphasizes the "sanctity of innocent human life, created in the image of God" and seeks to provide unborn children with the same legal protections afforded to born persons.

Health and Social Services

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1072&year=2025&code=R