Missouri Revised Statutes
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 188.010 (2026)
Intent of general assembly
✓ current as of May 2026
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188.010. Intent of general assembly. — In recognition that Almighty God is the author of life, that all men and women are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life", and that Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution of Missouri provides that all persons have a natural right to life, it is the intention of the general assembly of the state of Missouri to:
(1) Defend the right to life of all humans, born and unborn;
(2) Declare that the state and all of its political subdivisions are a "sanctuary of life" that protects pregnant women and their unborn children; and
(3) Regulate abortion to the full extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States, decisions of the United States Supreme Court, and federal statutes.
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(L. 1974 H.B. 1211 § 1, A.L. 1986 H.B. 1596, A.L. 2019 H.B. 126)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14
cases, 1980–2016 · leading case: Cruzan Ex Rel. Cruzan v. Harmon, 760 S.W.2d 408 (Mo. 1988).
Cruzan Ex Rel. Cruzan v. Harmon, 760 S.W.2d 408 (Mo. 1988). “Section 188.010, RSMo 1986, announces the "intention of the General Assembly of Missouri to grant the right to life to all humans, born and unborn.”
State v. O'BRIEN, 784 S.W.2d 187 (Mo. Ct. App. 1989). “" [1] and (c) the Missouri General Assembly, by amending § 188.010, R.S.Mo., and in adopting § 1.205.”
Planned Parenthood Ass'n of Kansas City, Missouri, Inc. v. Ashcroft, 483 F. Supp. 679 (W.D. Mo. 1980). “Unless the language or context clearly indicates a different meaning is intended, the following words or phrases for the purposes of sections 188.010 to 188.085 shall be given the meaning ascribed to them: (1) “Abortion”, the intentional destruction of the life of an embryo or…”
City of St. Louis v. Klocker, 637 S.W.2d 174 (Mo. Ct. App. 1982). “This is made crystal clear by the legislative proviso: "It is the intention of the general assembly of the State of Missouri to reasonably regulate abortions in conformance with the decisions of our Supreme Court of the United States.”
State v. Holcomb, 956 S.W.2d 286 (Mo. Ct. App. 1997). “§ 188.010, RSMo 1994. Holcomb recognizes that the U.”
State v. Reproductive Health Servs. of Planned Parenthood of St. Louis Region, Inc., 97 S.W.3d 54 (Mo. Ct. App. 2002). “The State further argues that the legislature's intent to incorporate any constitutional limitations can be found in section 188.010, which declares the legislature's intention "to regulate abortion to the full extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States, decisions…”
State v. Knapp, 843 S.W.2d 345 (Mo. 1992). “205, pertaining to the rights of unborn children and the finding that life begins at conception; § 188.010, et seq., pertaining to abortion regulation; and § 565.”
Women's Health Ctr. of West Cty. v. Webster, 670 F. Supp. 845 (E.D. Mo. 1987). “Section 188.010 Section 188.010 provides as follows: It is the intention of the general assembly of the state of Missouri to grant the right to life to all humans, born and unborn, and to regulate abortion to the full extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States,…”
Reproductive Health Servs. of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, Inc. v. Nixon, 185 S.W.3d 685 (Mo. 2006). “knowingly performs or aids in the performance of any abortion or knowingly fails to perform any action required by sections 188.010 to 188.085 shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.”
Jalesia McQueen, Appellant. v. Justin Gadberry, 507 S.W.3d 127 (Mo. Ct. App. 2016). “Nor can it square its holding with §§ 188.010 and 188.015(3) and (10), providing that all humans, born and unborn, have the right to life; that unborn children include the offspring of human beings from the moment of conception through every stage of biological development,…”
State v. Rollen, 133 S.W.3d 57 (Mo. Ct. App. 2003). “205, pertaining to the rights of unborn children and the finding that life begins at conception; Section 188.010, et seq., pertaining to abortion regulation; and Section 565.”
Reproductive Health Servs. v. Webster, 662 F. Supp. 407 (W.D. Mo. 1987). “” The Act’s penalty section provides that “[A]ny person who contrary to the provisions of sections 188.010 to 188.085 knowingly performs .”
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