Jefferson City, MO. – On Wednesday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed multiple bills, including two bills dealing with transgender people in the state. The two bills causing the most controversy are SB 39 and SB 49, which the governor threatened the Missouri Congress with a special session if not passed before the end of their regular session in May.
Starting on August 28, 2023, Senate Bill 39 will ban healthcare providers from providing gender-affirming treatments to minors unless the minor was receiving treatment prior to the effective date. The bill will also ban gender transition surgeries on minors.
Additionally, SB 49 will block MO HealthNet from covering gender-affirming care such as hormone treatments, surgeries, and puberty blockers. With over 1.4 million Missourians enrolled in MO HealthNet, this part of the bill will likely affect many low-income members of the transgender community.
The second bill, Senate Bill 39, will block Missouri schools from allowing transgender students from participating in sports that align with their gender identity. There is an exception made for female students wanting to compete in male sports competitions if there is no female team available. Schools that violate the act will not be able to receive state aid. This ban will stop eight students in the state from participating.
These bans follow a national push by Republicans and conservatives, following the fall of abortion rights, to limit the rights and healthcare of transgender and non-binary people.
The ACLU of Missouri released a statement following the governor signing the bills, with talk of potential lawsuits: “These bills do nothing but harm transgender Missourians and their families while adding inequities to a system already ripe with discriminatory laws and practices. The ACLU of Missouri will continue to explore all options to fight these bans and to expand the rights of trans Missourians.”
Governor Parson also signed the following bills on June 7, 2023:
- House Bill 131 – allowing biweekly pay for state team members;
- SB 167 – modifying requirements for medical examiner’s certificates for commercial driver’s licenses (CDL);
- SB 111 – eliminating the Personnel Advisory Board;
- SB 25 – authorizing state income tax deductions for federal grants expanding broadband access; and
- SB 13 – modifying provisions related to the regulation of financial institutions.
