Friday, July 13, 2018

Parson signs final bills of 2018 legislative session, minimum marriage age raised to 16

(From Gov. Mike Parson)

Governor Mike Parson signed six additional bills on Friday. Legislation that was signed included improving education, protecting children, and amending Missouri’s prevailing wage law.

HB 1606, an education bill sponsored by Rep. Elaine Gannon, will help students with their high school equivalency, choosing between the ACT and ACT WorkKeys assessment, and the creation of a virtual school program that will open up a variety of courses that will especially benefit students in small, rural, or financially challenged schools.

SB 655, sponsored by Sen. Scott Sifton, will further protect children by removing the statute of limitations for sexual offenses committed against minors and raising the minimum age for marriage to 16.

“The welfare of our children must always be a top priority,” said Governor Parson. “These two pieces of legislation are a step in the right direction as we look to provide proper education throughout Missouri while also ensuring that their safety and overall well-being improves.”

Other bills that were signed include: SB 581, HB 1729, HB 1796, and HCR 63. In addition to the bill signings, the Governor vetoed SCR 50, SB 894 & 921, and HB 2562. The Governor will be reaching out and meeting with House and Senate leadership next week to explore options and discuss efforts to address veto concerns.

Governor Parson added, “I want to thank the General Assembly for their hard work during this past session. Missourians should be proud of the work that was done this year to fully fund the education foundation formula, stabilize higher education budgets, and make investments to infrastructure and workforce development”



Governor Parson has now signed a total of 63 bills since he took office.

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