HB 2851 Missouri House · 2024 Regular Session

Modifies provisions relating to domestic relations

This bill updates the rules for spousal support in divorce cases by establishing specific time limits based on how long the marriage lasted. It creates three types of support: bridge maintenance for short-term marriages lasting less than seven years, which cannot last more than two years; rehabilitative maintenance for shorter marriages to help a spouse gain job skills, capped at four years; and durational maintenance for moderate to long-term marriages, limited to five, seven, or ten years depending on the marriage length. The legislation also requires courts to consider the payor's ability to retire and the likelihood that both spouses' living standards will decline as they age when setting these limits. Ultimately, the law aims to ensure that financial assistance following a divorce is temporary and encourages self-support, except in cases where strict limits would cause significant hardship.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 28, 2024 Last action May 16, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
4
Committee
6
Apr 24, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 7 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 0
lower
Apr 24, 2024
Lower · Passed
Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Apr 23, 2024
Committee
Referred: Rules - Legislative Oversight(H)
lower
Apr 17, 2024
Lower · Passed
HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 7 PRESENT: 0
lower
Apr 9, 2024
Lower · Passed
HCS Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Mar 7, 2024
Committee
Referred: General Laws(H)
lower
Feb 28, 2024
Introduced
Introduced and Read First Time (H)
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Greg Sharpe
Greg Sharpe
RRepublican
MO
4