MO HB3184

Creates a civil cause of action allowing a married person to sue a third party who knowingly engaged in adultery with their spouse and caused emotional, financial, or relational harm to the marriage

Prevailing plaintiffs may recover compensatory damages (emotional distress, counseling costs, loss of consortium, financial losses), punitive damages, attorney's fees, court costs, and injunctive relief limiting future contact

Establishes adultery as a criminal offense: Class C misdemeanor for first offense, Class A misdemeanor for second offense, and Class E felony for third or subsequent offenses

Requires proof that the adulterous act resulted in demonstrable emotional, financial, or familial harm to the spouse or household

Provides affirmative defenses if spouses were legally separated, a divorce petition was filed, or the spouses had a written agreement permitting nonexclusive relations; statute of limitations is 5 years from the act or 2 years from discovery, whichever is later