Changes provisions relating to orders of protection

This bill updates Missouri's laws regarding orders of protection by redefining key terms used in domestic violence and stalking cases. It clarifies that "abuse" includes specific acts like abusing a pet to control or intimidate a victim, while explicitly excluding reasonable physical discipline of children. The legislation also expands the definition of "family or household member" to include people in continuing romantic or intimate relationships, regardless of whether they have lived together or are married. Additionally, the bill adjusts the age threshold for defining adults and children from seventeen to eighteen years old. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines for courts when issuing protection orders to victims of domestic violence and stalking.