Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill earlier this week declaring marital rape illegal and repealing the state's previous exemptions, reports AP.
The state of play: The state house approved the bill 132-0, while the Minnesota senate unanimously voted 66-0 this week. Previously, the law protected a rapist if he or she lived with the victim and had a prior voluntary sexual relationship. State Rep. Zack Stephenson, who wrote the bill, called the marital rape exception an "abominable law," in a statement, Reuters reports.