HB 491 Missouri House · 2025 Regular Session

Modifies provisions relating to legally married minors

HB 491 modifies laws to grant legal capacity to minors aged 16 or 17 who are legally married. It allows these minors to independently contract for housing, employment, education, healthcare, and shelter services (including domestic violence or sexual assault support) under specific conditions: they must be homeless, a domestic violence victim, self-supporting, and have parental consent (expressed or implied through actions like abandonment or neglect). The bill also permits minors in foster care (children's division custody) to obtain auto insurance and bank accounts with agency consent, but they bear all associated costs and liability. Service providers contracting with these minors are protected from liability unless they act with gross negligence. This bill directly affects married minors under 18 and foster youth, removing barriers to essential services while clarifying financial and legal responsibilities.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Dec 10, 2024 Last action May 15, 2025
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 15, 2025
Committee
Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
lower
Dec 10, 2024
Introduced
Prefiled (H)
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Dean VanSchoiack
Dean VanSchoiack
RRepublican
MO
9