Establishes the "Missouri Prenatal Equal Protection Act"

HB 1072, titled the "Missouri Prenatal Equal Protection Act," proposes to treat unborn children as legal persons from conception under Missouri law, effectively making most abortions a crime. It would criminalize actions harming a fetus (including abortion) with new penalties, require prosecution in specific counties, and eliminate duress defenses for most such offenses - except when the mother is the defendant. The only exception allows medical procedures to save the pregnant person’s life if all alternatives to save the fetus failed. This bill directly affects pregnant people in Missouri, healthcare providers, and law enforcement, as it would replace existing abortion laws with new criminal provisions. The bill is currently pending after failing a committee vote in April 2025.