Culture & Conversation Law and Policy
Missouri Marriage Solemnization Refusal Bill (HB 205)
This law was last updated on Jul 11, 2017
This law is Anti–LGBTQ
Number
HB 205
Status
Failed to Pass
Proposed
Jan 4, 2017
Sponsors
Primary Sponsors: 1
Total Sponsors: 1
Full Bill Text
HB 205 would permit any person authorized to solemnize marriages under Missouri law to refuse to solemnize a marriage if the solemnization of the marriage is contrary to the religious beliefs or sincerely held moral convictions of the person authorized to solemnize marriages.
Current Missouri law allows clergymen, religious organizations and judges, including municipal judges, to perform marriage solemnizations.
The First Amendment already covers the right of religious organizations to refuse to perform marriages that conflict with their religious beliefs. This bill takes it a step further and would allow civil servants to refuse to provide marriage services to same-sex couples, or any other couple they believe shouldn’t be married.
Related Legislation
Identical to HB 1337, which failed to pass in 2016.
STATUS
Prefiled on December 12, 2016.
People
Primary Sponsor
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