Bill > HB1682

This bill establishes the "Missouri Prenatal Equal Protection Act," which aims to provide legal protections for unborn children from the moment of fertilization. The bill expands the definition of "person" to include unborn children at every stage of development and seeks to apply criminal and civil laws equally to both born and unborn individuals. Key provisions include acknowledging the sanctity of human life, following constitutional requirements for equal protection, and effectively abolishing abortion in Missouri. The bill modifies several existing statutes to create new prosecution guidelines for offenses involving unborn victims, establishes justification defenses for medical procedures intended to save a pregnant woman's life, and introduces protections for pregnant mothers against being pressured to have an abortion. The legislation would be subject to voter approval in a special election in August 2027 and would only apply to offenses or causes of action occurring after its effective date. Importantly, the bill emphasizes constitutional supremacy and ensures that enforcement of these new provisions would be subject to the same legal presumptions, defenses, and protections that currently exist for born persons.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1682&year=2026&code=R