The House of Delegates passed a bill to remove a marital exemption for some criminal sexual offenses
Senate Bill 190 would remove a provision in criminal code where an allegation of inappropriate sexual contact applies only when the victim is not married to the aggressor.
“It removes marriage as a defense to first degree and third degree sexual assault,” said House Judiciary Chairman Tom Fast, R-Fayette, in explaining the bill.
The House already passed a bill that included this change in state policy. That was a bill called the “Women’s Bill of Rights.” Senators amended the marital exemption back out of the “Women’s Bill of Rights” and passed each bill independently.
So now the House considered the policy to remove the marital exception in sexual abuse cases as a standalone bill.
There was no debate in the House today, and the bill passed 99-0.
The vote in the House completed the bill, so it now goes to the governor.
