Keshet is working with secular LGBTQ+ rights organizations and Jewish organizations to fight for LGBTQ+ equality in Missouri. Along with local synagogues, we are working with Equality Texas to mobilize Jewish communities for LGBTQ+ rights. To get involved in Missouri, sign up here.

2024 Bills to Watch

HB 1405 (-)

Enacts provisions relating to the use of identifying pronouns by school employees and independent contractors.

HB 1519 (-)

Prohibits discrimination against health care professionals who refuse to assist in medical procedures or treatments relating to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning.

HB 1520 (-)

Removes sunset and grandfather clause to 2023's SB 49 (gender-affirming care ban).

HB 1523 (-)

This is a forced outing bill that requires district and charter employees to report any request to be addressed by a name or pronoun different than the name or pronoun used for such student's registration to school administration which must report such information to the student's parent or guardian.

HB 1563 (-)

Prohibits public funds from being expended to any abortion facility, or affiliate or associate thereof.

HB 1574 (-)

Prohibits the state librarian from disbursing funds to libraries that offer obscene materials to children.

HB 1576 (-)

Requires instruction on human sexuality and development in schools to include a video showing the process of fertilization and every stage of human development.

HB 1650 & HB 1849 (-)

These bills are drag bans that defines drag as "adult cabaret performance" and creates the offense of engaging in an adult cabaret performance, which is a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class E felony for a second or subsequent offense. A person commits the offense of engaging in an adult cabaret performance if the performance is on public property or is in a location where the performance could be viewed by a child.

HB 1674 (-)

This is a bathroom ban that declares it the public policy of the state to prohibit employers from requiring employees to share multiple-occupancy restrooms, changing areas, or locker rooms with members of the opposite sex. Employers cannot require sharing restrooms or locker rooms with members of the opposite sex, but they may provide single-occupancy restrooms or locker rooms designated as unisex and gender-neutral facilities open to all employees regardless of gender identity in addition to facilities designated for single-sex use.

HB 1737 (-)

This anti-DEI bill is under the guise of protecting against ideological discrimination. It defines "discriminatory ideology" as any ideology that promotes the differential treatment of any individual or group of individuals based on characteristics of race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, national origin, or ancestry.

HB 1739 (-)

This bill creates the "Parents' Bill of Rights Act of 2024", which gives parents a timeline for approving classroom instruction, requires notification to parents if their kids request to use pronouns, and more generally prohibits the use of pronouns to refer to people.

HB 2308 (-)

The bill defines "sex", "female", and "male" based on the presence or absence of a reproductive system that produces, transports, and uses eggs or sperm for fertilization, regardless of any developmental or genetic anomaly or historical accident. The bill prohibits individuals of the female sex from using a bathroom or changing facilities designated for the male sex, and vice versa, in public schools.

HB 2448 (-)

Prohibits state departments from spending money on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

HB 1789 (-)

This bill establishes the "Missouri Covenant Marriage Act", which allows interested parties intent on marriage the option to apply for a covenant marriage license, which will be considered the equivalent of a standard marriage license. The bill outlines the requirements for a covenant marriage which include that it be between a man and a woman and that the parties obtain eight hours of premarital counseling and 40 hours of marital counseling before a dissolution of marriage. The bill outlines restrictions on when a divorce may be granted for a covenant marriage, including that the divorce must not be granted until at least two years have passed since the initial filing for a legal separation. The bill requires the state to include on its website, a page providing information on the covenant marriage opportunity and requirements.

HB 2885 (-)

Establishes the offense of contributing to social transition and requires a person to be placed on the sexual offender registry if guilty of the offense of contributing to social transition.

HB 918 (-)

This act prohibits school districts from teaching about The 1619 Project, critical race theory, or any divisive concepts, as such term is defined in the act. Districts are also prohibited from certain actions listed in the act relating to curriculum and instruction.

HB 1999 (+)

This bill allows school districts to teach students information on the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in United States history, government, literature, art, music, values, and culture.

HB 2263 (+)

Prohibits certain mental health professionals from engaging in conversion therapy with minors.

HB 2343 (+)

Requires school districts to excuse students with mental or behavioral health concerns from attendance at school.

HB 2478 (+)

Prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Pro-LGBTQ+ Laws

  • Nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation for parents in adoption and foster care 
  • Nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in housing and public accommodations
  • Nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ state employees
    • However, state law explicitly excludes transition-related healthcare in their state employee health benefits
  • Protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system
  • Hate crime law covers LGBTQ people
  • Change process for gender marker on driver’s licenses

Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws

  • No nondiscrimination protections on the basis of gender identity for parents in adoption and foster care 
  • No second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, confirmatory adoption, or Voluntary Acknowledgement of Parentage (VAP)
  • No recognition for parents using assisted reproduction
  • Nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment or credit/lending
  • Broad religious exemption law which weaponizes religion as justification for LGBTQ+ discrimination
  • Laws that ban local schools and districts from passing nondiscrimination or anti-bullying laws covering LGBTQ+ students
  • State curriculum not required to be LGBTQ+ inclusive
  • State law prevents transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity
  • No conversion therapy ban covering LGBTQ+ youth
  • Ban on best practice medical care for transgender youth
  • State Medicaid Policy does not cover transgender people
  • There is no ban on the gay/trans panic defense
  • No nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in jury service
  • State criminalizes transmission of HIV
  • No gender-neutral option on driver’s licenses or birth certificates
  • No change process for gender markers on birth certificates
  • No name change process