Today the Missouri House passed SB 49, known as the “Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act.” It is now “Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed.” It should be sent to Governor Mike Parson shortly.
Here is the final version of the bill in *.pdf format.
This is a summary of the bill from the Missouri Senate:
This act establishes the “Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act”. Under this act, no health care provider shall perform gender transition surgeries on any minor. Until August 28, 2027, no health care provider shall prescribe or administer cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor for a gender transition, unless such minor was receiving such treatment prior to August 28, 2023.
A violation of these provisions shall be considered unprofessional conduct and shall result in the revocation of the health care provider’s professional license. Additionally, the prescription or administration of cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor for a gender transition shall be grounds for a cause of action against the health care provider, as described in the act.
These provisions shall not apply to speech protected by the First Amendment.
These provisions shall not apply to services for minors born with medically verifiable disorders of sex development; treatment of any infection, injury, disease, or disorder caused or exacerbated by gender transition surgeries, drugs, or hormones; or procedures undertaken because the minor suffers from a condition that would place him or her in imminent danger of death or impairment of a major bodily function unless surgery is performed.
Finally, the MO HealthNet program shall not cover gender transition surgeries, cross-sex hormones, or puberty-blocking drugs for the purpose of a gender transition and health care services provided in prisons, jails, and correctional centers shall not include gender transition surgeries.
This act is similar to HCS/HB 419 (2023), SB 598 (2023), SCS/SB 843 (2022), 442 (2021), HB 2210 (2020), provisions in SB 848 (2020), SB 842 (2020), HB 1721 (2020), and HB 2051 (2020).
SARAH HASKINS
